‘Protect the Earth's Defenders,’ urges UN Rights Chief

"Protecting the environment goes hand in hand with protecting the rights of those who defend it," she said at the UN Human Rights Council's annual month-long session in Geneva. Bachelet revealed how speaking out and fighting for environmental rights can come at a high price, with activists being killed or subjected to abuse, threats, and harassment.

Dangers of Speaking Out

"Those who speak out against deforestation, extractives, loss of cultural heritage or identity, or large scale-agribusinesses and development projects – including those intended to produce clean energy, such as mega-dams," she said, are particularly vulnerable.

Many environmental human rights defenders are indigenous peoples, members of local communities, or members of minority groups - or those who represent them.

Ensure Accountability

She stated that when someone speaks out on their behalf, entire communities may face threats and intimidation. Bachelet emphasized that states owe it to environmental human rights defenders and the communities they represent to respect and protect their rights. Authorities must also prevent and hold attackers accountable for their actions.

According to her, these actions are in line with a Council resolution passed last year that upholds the right to a healthy environment.

Duty to Regulate

"It is also critical that States effectively regulate businesses and hold them accountable for human rights violations," she added, noting that corporations have a similar obligation, as outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Bachelet stated that before embarking on any climate project, both governments and businesses must conduct human rights risk assessments. "If indigenous peoples' rights are at risk of being jeopardized by such projects," she says, "it is critical that their free, prior, and informed consent be obtained."

Furthermore, the rights to information, participation, and justice are protected under international human rights law and are further specified in environmental treaties. When these rights are respected, "both the earth and those who defend it are better protected," according to Bachelet.

UN Support Worldwide

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also reported on some of her staff's global work.

"All over the world, my Office is dedicated to assisting States, businesses, and environmental human rights defenders in their efforts to protect our planet," she said. Over 200 Pacific human rights defenders, for example, have been trained to promote sustainable development, business, and human rights in the context of climate change.

In Southeast Asia, OHCHR is monitoring cases of harassment, arrest, killings, and disappearances of environmental human rights defenders, and is collaborating with governments to put an end to punitive measures against activists. Meanwhile, staff in Mexico and Kenya are providing assistance to environmental human rights defenders and their networks.