Latin America and the Caribbean meet to advance implementation of environmental democracy

One year after the entry into force of the Escazú Agreement, the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 1) of the Escazú Agreement has been taking place where the rules of procedure were being defined to guide its implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this context, organizations from the entire region were participating in the April 20-22 Conference, with the aim of guaranteeing standards of participation that leave no one behind, a release from ECLAC states.

The Escazú COP is being held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in Santiago, Chile. Official representatives of the countries that are part of the Agreement, Observers and of those that are in the process of becoming parties are present. Thus, this is a key moment for the implementation of the Escazú Agreement, since in this first COP the rules that will lay the foundation for the effective implementation of the treaty will be adopted, among which are the financial provisions necessary for the implementation of the Agreement; the rules for the structure and function of the Committee to Support Implementation and Compliance and the procedural rules of the COP itself are down for consideration. 

Despite the fact that the recognition and protection generated by the Agreement have begun to contribute to a change in the narrative surrounding the defense of environmental rights, violence is on the rise. Once again, last year, Latin America was recognized as the most dangerous region for human rights and environmental defenders, with Colombia for the second consecutive year being the country in the world where the most defenders are killed, closely followed by Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Peru. As a result of this, in the Amazon basin, the indigenous peoples have declared themselves in constant emergency due to the growing violence and state inaction. 

In this first COP of the Escazú Agreement, the party countries need to accelerate action regarding its implementation. In relation to those countries that have not yet ratified or adhered, they must continue working to become a Party to the Agreement very soon, the release states.

The 12 State Parties are participating in the first Escazú COP; that is, those States that have ratified the treaty. The first country to ratify was Guyana. Other States Parties from the Caribbean are Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.