The United Nations announced, Tuesday, April 25, the accession of Guinea-Bissau to an international agreement on the responsibility of governments in matters of human rights and the environment; becoming the first non-European country to join and the 47th signatory country.
This is the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. Concretely, according to the UN, the text protects the right of everyone to live in an environment capable of ensuring their health and well-being, offers citizens the right to participate in the decision-making process in environmental matters and recognizes an obligation to act for future generations.
This membership “opens up new opportunities to strengthen environmental democracy in the country and share experience with other countries in Africa and around the world,” said the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ( UNECE), Olga Algayerova, who welcomed Bissau’s initiative.
Also in his words, “transparency, effective and inclusive public participation and access to justice, are fundamental pillars for the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are essential for climate action and protection of biodiversity”.
She also encouraged countries from all regions to accede to this convention, also known as “the Aarhus Convention”.
On the side of the adhering country, the advantages of the approach are highlighted. “Guinea-Bissau hopes to take advantage of the instruments of the Convention to combat climate change and promote its biodiversity… by allowing the public to participate in the decision-making process and to have access to justice when their rights to the environment are violated,” said the Bissau-Guinean Minister of the Environment, Viriato Luis Soares Cassama.
This Portuguese-speaking West African country intends to promote the convention in the sub-region.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1146 of 25/04/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
