Glion VIII report launch and discussion: The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment: what does it mean for States, for rights-holders and for nature?

Invitation

28th September 2022, 13h00 – 14h00 (CEST), Mezzanine (2nd floor, E-Building, Palais des Nations)

On behalf of the Governments of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Universal Rights Group, we are delighted to invite you to a reception to mark the launch of the informal report of the eighth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion VIII).

The Glion VIII report will be launched and presented at a reception to be held on 28th September 2022 at 13h00 on the side-lines of the 51^st session of the Human Rights Council (mezzanine, 2nd floor, E-Building, Palais des Nations).

A light lunch and drinks will be served.

Report of the eighth Glion Human Rights Dialogue

The eighth Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion VIII), organised by the Governments of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Universal Rights Group (URG), in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, and Thailand, was held on 16-17 May 2022 and focused on the following topic:

The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment – what does it mean for States, for rights-holders and for nature?

As with each Glion Human Rights Dialogue, the outcome of the retreat, and the three policy dialogues held in preparation for the meeting, have been summarised in an informal document presenting some of the key messages, ideas, and recommendations, which seeks to encourage and contribute to wider consideration of the issues.

This Glion VIII report is divided into three parts.

Part one looks at questions around the scope, international legal meaning, and human rights guarantees of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Part two provides reflections on the impact of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, where it is already recognised at national level, on domestic environmental/climate laws, policies, and jurisprudence, as well as on the protection of environmental human rights defenders.

Finally, part three considers the various implications of UN recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for relevant stakeholder groups including governments, civil society, businesses, UN Country Teams, and international and regional human rights mechanisms.

Each part of the report includes a brief situation analysis, followed by a summary of the main issues discussed and ideas put forward at Glion VIII.

The report is an informal document summarising (in a non-attributable manner) some of the key ideas developed during the Glion retreat, based in-turn on the three preparatory policy dialogues. The document does not represent the positions of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Fiji, Iceland, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Thailand, nor of any of the participants, but is rather a non-exhaustive collection of ideas generated during those meetings.

Programme

13h05 – 13h11          Welcome and introductory remarks

H.E. Mr. Jürg LAUBER, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Switzerland (3 minutes)

 

H.E. Kurt JÄGER, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein (3 minutes)

 

13h11 – 13h16          Keynote addresses: ‘The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment – what does it mean for States, for rights-holders and for nature?’

Ms. Peggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development, OHCHR (5 minutes)

 

13h16 – 13h25          Presentation of the report

 Mr. Marc Limon, Executive Director, Universal Rights Group (8 minutes)