Costa Rica joined a regional initiative that aims to guarantee the rights of access to information, participation and justice in environmental issues. Twenty-four Latin America and the Caribbean countries participated in the agreement during the IX Meeting of the Negotiation Committee held in Costa Rica.
“Escazú Agreement” is the instrument that also constitutes a historical milestone in the construction of an environmental democracy in the region and establishes obligations for countries to guarantee access rights, as well as measures to strengthen the protection of environmental rights defenders.
The Escazú Agreement is a visionary and innovative document. This initiative is born within the civil society and has been welcomed by the countries of the region that, with determination, have managed to advance firmly to achieve more democratic and sustainable societies,”
said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Alejandro Solano.
The instrument makes a fundamental contribution by recognizing the right of all people to a healthy environment and strengthens the voice and active and broad participation of citizens in the construction of a regional environmental democracy.
The initiative was led by Costa Rica, after which, together with Chile, the co-chairmanship of the Executive Board of the Negotiating Committee was assumed, with the support of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) as Technical Secretariat.
The instrument will be opened for the signature of the States on September 27, 2018, during the High Level segment of the United Nations General Assembly.