Vincentain youth leader recognised for her work on the environment

A VINCENTIAN IS one of five Youth Leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean who have been recognized for their work on the Environment.

On the second anniversary of the adoption of the Escazú Agreement, a groundbreaking treaty recognizing environmental rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, five Youth Champions of Escazú from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) were announced and honored at a ceremony in Santiago, Chile at the offices of UN ECLAC.

Among the honorees was Nafesha Richardson, a 23-year-old law student from SVG. Richardson is the founder of SPARK SVG, a nonprofit youth organization that motivates, empowers and inspires young people to ignite positive change in their communities, with themes of planet, people, peace, prosperity and partnership.

The Escazú Agreement, adopted in 2018, aims to ensure access to environmental information, participation in environmental decision-making and justice in environmental matters for people in countries across the region, and to decrease socio-environmental conflicts and protect environmental defenders.

Currently, five countries have ratified the Agreement — Guyana, Bolivia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Uruguay. Eleven countries in the region must ratify the treaty to bring it into force and allow implementation to begin.

David Boyd, United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment, is already a Champion of Escazú.

The other new Youth Champions of Escazú are Nicole Becker, 19, from Argentina; Sebastián Benfeld, 19, from Chile; Kyara Cascante, 16, from Costa Rica; and Laura Serna, 23, from Colombia.

Carole Excell, Acting Director, Environmental Democracy Practice, WRI said: “The advocacy and voice of youth is critical to ensure the right to a healthy environment. These five young people

are being recognized as Champions of Escazú for their leadership, commitment to actively promote the historic treaty in their country and communities, and dedication to advocating for the rights of all citizens and young people across the region.

“The Champions of Escazú have an opportunity to engage on environmental rights with their governments and local communities. Environmental rights acknowledge the connection between people and the environment, the right people have to live in a healthy environment and the right to participate in decision- making. Young people have an important role in utilizing the provisions of the convention and ensuring greater awareness of the agreement.”

Andrea Sanhueza, a civil society negotiator who participated in the creation of the Escazú Agreement said: “We received applications from 58 young people from Latin America and the Caribbean and were astounded by their level of commitment to the environment and human rights. Many of them have personal knowledge of the challenges that environmental defenders face.

“With the Champions of Escazú, we now have five Champions who will help us lead on environmental rights and decision-making in the LAC region. We remain interested in staying in contact with all of the candidates. This initiative would not be possible without the help of Rosario Garavito from Peru, of the Millennials Movement and Benjamín Carvajal from Chile, of COY15. Together, with these Champions, we are a step closer to making the Escazú Agreement a reality.”