HRC: Human rights and Environment

After its decision in March 2012, the Human Rights Council has appointed an Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment (Resolution 19/10). John Knox began his mandate in August 2012 and will submit his first report to the 22^nd session of the Human Rights Council in March 2013. 

Building on several other resolutions related to human rights and the environment and human rights and climate change, resolution 19/10 requests the Independent Expert to, among other things:
· Study the human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
· Identify and promote best practices on the use of human rights obligations and commitments to inform, support and strengthen environmental policy making and prepare a compendium of best practices; and
· Make recommendations that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular Goal 7, and contribute a human rights perspective to the Rio +20 follow-up process.

UN/HRC: Resolution on Climate Change

The Human Rights Council closed its 18th regular session, adopting 33 texts on a wide range of issues, including a resolution on human rights and climate change (A/HRC/18/L26/Rev.1). Therein, the Council reiterates its concern that climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world, and has adverse implications for the full enjoyment of human rights.

UN/HRC: Right to Water and Sanitation

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted, by consensus, a resolution on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation (A/HRC/18/L1).

Indigenous Peoples: Report from UN/HRC Special Rapporteur

 

Addressing the 18th session of UN/HRC, James Anaya presented his report mainly devoted to analyzing the impact of extractive industries operating within or near indigenous territories. The report is the result of answers by Governments, indigenous peoples, corporations and civil society to a questionnaire on the issue. Conclusions of the Special Rapporteur include the need to continue study of the issue through further consultations, towards operationalizing the rights of indigenous peoples in the context of natural resource extraction affecting indigenous territories, in order to be able to present a specific set of guidelines or principles by 2013.

Right to Water and Sanitation

In July 2010, the UN/GA adopted a resolution recognizing the right to drinking water and sanitation as a human right. Then, in September, this resolution was affirmed by the Human Rights Council (HRC), explaining that the right to water and sanitation was derived from the right to an adequate standard of living. Catarina de Albequerque, Independent Expert for the Council stated that this “first step” could be turned into a reality by placing it at the core of MDG policy and implementation. UN/GA Resolution and HRC Decision