Global and regional developments on Global and regional developments on issues related to Principle 10 of UNCED issues related to Principle 10 of UNCED

Rio Declaration.Rio Declaration.

A Latin American perspective.A Latin American perspective.

II MoP Aarhus Convention,II MoP Aarhus Convention,

Almaty, KazakhstanAlmaty, Kazakhstan

27 th May. 200527 th May. 2005

Ab. Victor Hugo RiccoAb. Victor Hugo Ricco

Center for Human Rights and Environment Center for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA) Cordoba, Argentina.(CEDHA) Cordoba, Argentina.

Latin America contextLatin America context

A Region with very young A Region with very young democracies after periods of democracies after periods of military regimes.military regimes.

Remains still the culture of secrecy.Remains still the culture of secrecy. Last decade Summit of the Last decade Summit of the

Americas Process. Americas Process. The Nuevo Leon DeclarationThe Nuevo Leon Declaration

Nuevo Leon Declaration, Mexico Nuevo Leon Declaration, Mexico Jan 2004.Jan 2004.

We agree that, through citizen participation, civil society organizations We agree that, through citizen participation, civil society organizations should contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of public should contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies adopted by different orders or levels of government. We recognize policies adopted by different orders or levels of government. We recognize the role of civil society and its contribution to sound public administration and the role of civil society and its contribution to sound public administration and we reaffirm the importance of continuing to forge new partnerships that will we reaffirm the importance of continuing to forge new partnerships that will enable constructive ties to be built between governments, nongovernmental enable constructive ties to be built between governments, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, and the diverse sectors of civil organizations, international organizations, and the diverse sectors of civil society to work in favor of development and democracy.society to work in favor of development and democracy.

We encourage the participation of civil society in the Summits of the We encourage the participation of civil society in the Summits of the Americas process and we undertake to institutionalize meetings with civil Americas process and we undertake to institutionalize meetings with civil society and with the academic and private sectors.society and with the academic and private sectors.

  Access to information held by the State, subject to constitutional and legal Access to information held by the State, subject to constitutional and legal norms, including those on privacy and confidentiality, is an indispensable norms, including those on privacy and confidentiality, is an indispensable condition for citizen participation and promotes effective respect for human condition for citizen participation and promotes effective respect for human rights. We are committed to providing the legal and regulatory framework rights. We are committed to providing the legal and regulatory framework and the structures and conditions required to guarantee the right of access and the structures and conditions required to guarantee the right of access to information to our citizens.to information to our citizens.

Rio Declaration implications for the Rio Declaration implications for the region.region.

National Constitutional Reforms. Inclusion of National Constitutional Reforms. Inclusion of the right to a healthy environment.the right to a healthy environment.

Many ratifications of the San Salvador Many ratifications of the San Salvador Protocol to the American Convention on Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights. Art 11 recognizes the right Human Rights. Art 11 recognizes the right to live in a healthy environment and to to live in a healthy environment and to basic public servicesbasic public services

Special Initiatives related to principle 10: Special Initiatives related to principle 10: TAI in the region (several countries on the TAI in the region (several countries on the region have started it), the PP10 which has region have started it), the PP10 which has now Chile, Mexico and Argentina.now Chile, Mexico and Argentina.

MERCOSUR (Common market of MERCOSUR (Common market of the south) Arg, Brazil, Paraguay the south) Arg, Brazil, Paraguay

and Uruguay.and Uruguay. Entry in force of the Environmental Framework Entry in force of the Environmental Framework

Agreement for MERCOSUR. States reaffirm the Agreement for MERCOSUR. States reaffirm the commitments on Rio Principles, promote commitments on Rio Principles, promote effective public participation, analyze the effective public participation, analyze the possibilities of instrument Rio Principles possibilities of instrument Rio Principles

Sub working group N* 6 on environment. The Sub working group N* 6 on environment. The need to establish priorities to implement the need to establish priorities to implement the EFA of Mercosur.EFA of Mercosur.

A process towards the harmonization of A process towards the harmonization of legislation and a possible protocol on access to legislation and a possible protocol on access to environmental information and public environmental information and public participation for the MERCOSUR. First steps.participation for the MERCOSUR. First steps.

Final Remarks.Final Remarks.

Latin America is yet not prepared to join Latin America is yet not prepared to join Aarhus and it is starting to have its own Aarhus and it is starting to have its own process.process.

Latin American Civil Society is pushing Latin American Civil Society is pushing this agenda, and is willing to support this agenda, and is willing to support any regional and/or global initiative to any regional and/or global initiative to promote principle 10 in a Convention or promote principle 10 in a Convention or Treaty, in parallel support with national Treaty, in parallel support with national initiatives.initiatives.

Thank you very much.Thank you very much.

For further information:For further information: victor@victor@cedhacedha.org..org.arar

www.www.cedhacedha.org..org.arar Center for Human Rights and Center for Human Rights and

Environment (CEDHA) Cordoba, Environment (CEDHA) Cordoba, Argentina.Argentina.