El 27 de septiembre los gobiernos de America Latina y el Caribe pueden hacer historia y firmar el Acuerdo de Escazú. Exijamos que lo hagan para proteger el medio ambiente y sus defensorxs: https://t.co/okAUeyQMd7 #TimetosignP10 #FirmaXelAmbiente pic.twitter.com/6k2BMdM9fl
— Amnistía Defensorxs (@AIDefensorxs) July 27, 2018
The #Sign4TheEnvironment campaign aims to promote the signature of the regional treaty for environmental democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean - known as the Escazu Agreement. The Escazú Agreement represents a major step forward for the rights of people to access information and participate in policies, projects and decisions that affect the environment. The right to participate in decision-making processes is key for an open civic space.
The agreement is also the first international instrument that includes obligations for the protection environmental defenders and the right of assembly in relation to the environment as the treaty obliges countries to recognize the role and protect activists and their organizations. Attacks and killings of environmental defenders in Latin America is a major concern, as the region is usually the most dangerous place on earth for environmental defenders according to the annual report of Global Witness:
EXPOSED: the massive rise in killings of #EnvironmentDefenders linked to consumer products - including brutal attacks on those defending their land from large-scale agriculture like palm oil and coffee plantations. #AtWhatCost https://t.co/yZwrln7Oos pic.twitter.com/T350vwIyY9
— Global Witness (@Global_Witness) July 24, 2018
The treaty will open for signature on September 27 during the General assembly of the United Nations. The Agreement will need the signature and ratification of 11 countries to entering into force.
Add your name to the government petition & learn more about the importance of the Escazú Agreement. For the latest updates on the state of citizen rights in each country in Latin America and the Caribbean see the CIVICUS Monitor.