Maldives secures adoption of resolution on human rights and environment

The Maldives yesterday secured the adoption of a resolution, at the UN Human Rights Council, highlighting the negative human rights impacts of environmental degradation, including as a result of climate change, and calling on States to be adopt a rights-based approach to environmental matters. The resolution secured the co sponsorship of 75 States and was adopted by consensus. When introducing the resolution, Liusha Zahir, the Maldives Deputy Permanent Representative, highlighted the crucial importance of the natural environment to the socio-economic development of the Maldives and to the rights of its people. 

 Resolution L.7 on Human Rights and the Environment, which the Maldives tabled with Costa Rica and Switzerland, notes that: environmental protection and sustainable development are essential for the full enjoyment of human rights; that, conversely, environmental damage undermines human rights especially amongst vulnerable population groups such as women, children, the poor, the elderly and disabled persons; that international cooperation to effectively address environmental damage is therefore essential to promote and protect human rights; and that human rights principles such as non-discrimination, equality and access to information and decision-making, can help strengthen environmental policy. 

 The resolution then calls for the UN to prepare an analysis of the relationship between human rights and the environment to be considered by the Human Rights Council. This analysis will looks at key issues such as the human rights obligations of States to protect the environment and thus human rights, the development of environmental rights around the world, and the question of whether a country which pollutes the global environment and thus undermined human rights in another country, can be held accountable for human rights violations.  

 Speaking after the adoption, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Naseem said: "The Maldives relies on its pristine natural environment for its social and economic well-being. The sustainability of key economic sectors such as the tourism and fisheries sectors require the careful management and conservation of the environment. It is also clear that environmental damage would severely undermine key human rights such as the right to food, the right to clean drinking water and sanitation, and the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

 It is for these reasons that the Maldives has always taken a lead on environmental matters in international fora. With the Human Rights Council resolution, the Maldives hopes to draw attention to the human rights implications of environmental damage, including climate change, as a way of putting pressure on polluting States as well as to improve environmental policy-making.

 The resolution also takes initial steps to explore the concept of environmental rights at international level, and to address key legal questions pertaining to human rights and environment"