The UK must recognise the role of environmental human rights defenders in resisting climate change
PBI UK and Amnesty International UK are calling on the UK Government to act decisively to help protect environmental human rights defenders. 19 organizations, including PBI UK and AI UK have signed the Open Letter to Alok Sharma MP - the cabinet minister serving as President for the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
All over the world, Indigenous peoples and environmental defenders risk their lives for the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. According to Global Witness, 227 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2020 simply for standing up for their rights and fighting for a greener, fairer planet. We cannot stand by as activists lose their lives. The violent attacks and inherent risks they face must be tackled at all levels if we are to avert certain environmental disaster.
The work of environmental human rights defenders is integral to the protection of the planet and the transition to greener economies. Activists and communities play a crucial role as a first line of defence against ecological collapse, as well as being frontrunners in the campaign to prevent it, which must be recognised. This is why we have called on the UK Government to set an example and do more to tangibly recognise the crucial role of defenders and act to support them at COP26.
Susi Bascon, Director of PBI UK, said:
“The knowledge, perception, and invaluable experience of environmental human rights defenders can no longer be ignored by any State that wishes to fully implement the Paris Agreement and avoid climate breakdown, ecological collapse, and escalating social inequality. Partnering with them is a must.
“Putting environmental human rights defenders at the centre of policy is imperative if we are to honour the UK’s legacy of leadership on protecting human rights and safeguard the planet for future generations.”
Karla McLaren, Amnesty International UK’s Government and Political Relations Manager, said:
“As the climate emergency worsens, the threat to those who are protecting the environment is increasing. But instead of being recognised for their bravery, many have faced an increase in attacks, reduced protection and draconian repression disguised as emergency responses.
“The UK’s voice has power. It’s time to use it and to be a world leader at COP26 by committing to recognise and protect environmental human rights defenders.”
We are asking the UK government to take the lead in partnering with human rights defenders on climate change policy. Decisive action is needed. The UK must:
Improve minimum standards of support for environmental human rights defenders across its network of embassies and diplomatic posts;
Strengthen protection arrangements for environmental human rights defenders, through measures such as protection grants, amnesties and funding for rapid response emergency mechanisms.
Increase access to flexible and core funding for environmental human rights defenders.
Facilitate and support access to justice and resilience building, through UK pro bono partnerships and legal clinics.
Establish and facilitate access to effective judicial and non-judicial grievance mechanisms to address business-related human rights and environmental abuses committed by UK companies domestically and extraterritorially.
Integrate a human rights-based approach in policies, and condition its climate finance on such an approach, in consultation with human rights defenders and civil society
Ensure UK business enterprises, including financial institutions, apply and publish human rights due diligence measures to identify, prevent, and mitigate against potential and actual human rights abuse, including the criminalisation of defenders.
Open letter signed by:
Peace Brigades International UK, Amnesty International UK, ABColombia, Action4Justice, Bond, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, CAFOD, Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines, Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy, Defenders Protection Initative, Environmental Justice Foundation, Hansen Palomares Solicitors, International Service for Human Rights, Lawyers Against Poverty (LAP), London Mining Network, Peru Support Group, SCIAF, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), West African Human Rights Defenders' Network (WAHRDN).
“Those that they have killed, are not dead to us.
They have left us an example to follow.”
