Environmental Law, Policy & Economics

AG/RES. 1896 (XXXII-O/02)
Human Rights and the Environment in the Americas

(Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 4, 2002)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN the report of the General Secretariat on human rights and the environment (CP/CAJP-1898/02), the report of the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) with regard to its work on this link, and the presentations and inputs of civil society experts on human rights and the environment (CP/CAJP-1895/02, 1896/02, and 1897/02);

RECALLING its resolution AG/RES. 1819 (XXXI-O/01), “Human Rights and the Environment,” in which it underscored the importance of studying the link that may exist between the environment and human rights;

BEARING IN MIND the work of institutions involved in human rights and the environment at the global level, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Environment Programme;

CONVINCED of the importance of keeping abreast of the preparatory process for and plan of action that may emerge from the World Summit on Sustainable Development, being organized by the United Nations (Johannesburg, South Africa, August 26 to September 4, 2002); and

BEARING IN MIND the human rights enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights and in other human rights instruments, in particular, the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, or “Protocol of San Salvador,”

RESOLVES:

To remain seized of the issue “human rights and the environment,” paying special attention to the work being carried out by the relevant multilateral fora in this area.
To encourage institutional cooperation in the area of human rights and the environment in the framework of the Organization, in particular between the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the OAS Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment.
To request the Secretary General to present a report on the implementation of this resolution to the General Assembly at its thirty-third regular session.