Despite the increased recognition of the important role played by human rights defenders, and women in particular, when confronting adverse impacts of investment projects, much remains to be done to enhance their protection and participation and to put an end to the abuses they face.
Women and men who promote and protect land and environment-related human rights still face in return a large range of abuses committed by State and non-State actors on all continents. In Latin America, Africa and Asia particularly, those defenders have been under surveillance, criminalised, slandered, attacked, arbitrarily detained, harassed or otherwise threatened, and in some cases killed, in a climate of impunity. Because of this growing and worrying trend, there is clearly a great need for the international community, States and businesses to seek concrete ways to actively respect and protect land and environment defenders.
This side event therefore aims to encourage all stakeholders to take into account the special situation – in terms of protection and participation - of those who advocate on the respect of land and environmental rights. It will also address challenges faced by women and men human rights defenders to access remedy when their rights are violated and the effectiveness of the remedies on offer.
* The Observatory will be presenting its 2014 Annual Report entitled: ”We Are not Afraid”. Land Rights Defenders : attacked for confronting unbridled development.
Panelists
- Gerald Staberock – OMCT Secretary General
– Debby Stothard, FIDH Secretary General
– Irrael Manuel Aguilar Solano - Governor of the Zenú Indigenous Reserve (Resguardo) of Alto San Jorge – Colombia
– Donald Hernández Palma – Honduras Center for the Promotion of Community Development (CEHPRODEC) – Honduras
– Jaybee Garganera - Tampakan Forum – Philippines
– Key Note: Hila Elver – UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (video message)
– Moderator: Denise Auclair, CIDSE