Transcript Global and regional developments on issues related to Principle 10 of UNCED Rio Declaration. A Latin American perspective. II MoP Aarhus Convention, Almaty, Kazakhstan 27 th.

Global and regional developments on issues
related to Principle 10 of UNCED Rio
Declaration.
A Latin American perspective.
II MoP Aarhus Convention,
Almaty, Kazakhstan
27 th May. 2005
Ab. Victor Hugo Ricco
Center for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA)
Cordoba, Argentina.
Latin America context
A Region with very young democracies
after periods of military regimes.
 Remains still the culture of secrecy.
 Last decade Summit of the Americas
Process.
 The Nuevo Leon Declaration
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Nuevo Leon Declaration, Mexico Jan
2004.
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We agree that, through citizen participation, civil society organizations
should contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of
public policies adopted by different orders or levels of government. We
recognize 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 enable constructive ties to be built between
governments,
nongovernmental
organizations,
international
organizations, and the diverse sectors of civil society to work in favor of
development and democracy.
We encourage the participation of civil society in the Summits of the
Americas process and we undertake to institutionalize meetings with
civil society and with the academic and private sectors.
Access to information held by the State, subject to constitutional and
legal norms, including those on privacy and confidentiality, is an
indispensable condition for citizen participation and promotes effective
respect for human rights. We are committed to providing the legal and
regulatory framework and the structures and conditions required to
guarantee the right of access to information to our citizens.
Rio Declaration implications for the
region.
National Constitutional Reforms. Inclusion of
the right to a healthy environment.
 Many ratifications of the San Salvador
Protocol to the American Convention on
Human Rights. Art 11 recognizes the right to
live in a healthy environment and to basic
public services
 Special Initiatives related to principle 10: TAI
in the region (several countries on the region
have started it), the PP10 which has now
Chile, Mexico and Argentina.
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MERCOSUR (Common market of the
south) Arg, Brazil, Paraguay and
Uruguay.
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Entry in force of the Environmental Framework
Agreement for MERCOSUR. States reaffirm the
commitments on Rio Principles, promote effective
public participation, analyze the possibilities of
instrument Rio Principles
Sub working group N* 6 on environment. The need
to establish priorities to implement the EFA of
Mercosur.
A process towards the harmonization of legislation
and a possible protocol on access to environmental
information and public participation for the
MERCOSUR. First steps.
Final Remarks.
Latin America is yet not prepared to join
Aarhus and it is starting to have its own
process.
 Latin American Civil Society is pushing this
agenda, and is willing to support any regional
and/or global initiative to promote principle
10 in a Convention or Treaty, in parallel
support with national initiatives.
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Thank you very much.
For further information:
 [email protected]
www.cedha.org.ar
 Center for Human Rights and
Environment (CEDHA) Cordoba,
Argentina.
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