Passage of UN HRC Resolution recognizing the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment

ATM Statement on Passage of UN HRC Resolution recognizing the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment.

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) welcomes the recent passage of the UN Human Rights Council recognizing the right to a safe, health and sustainable environment in Geneva.

While the resolution is not binding to all member-states, this sends a strong message to all countries on the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and listening to the demands of the most vulnerable countries as we face greater risks especially in the midst of this pandemic.

ATM believes that the Philippine government must immediately pass domestic laws and national policies that will subscribe and fulfill this mandate. It is necessary to recall that the 1987 Philippine Constitution already recognizes this under Article 2, Section 16 which states “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”.

To meaningfully implement this UN HRC resolution, our alliance demands concrete action from the Duterte administration by immediately revoking Executive Order 130 and to stop the aggressive promotion of large-scale mining across the country. In particular we call for a moratorium on the processing and operations of offshore and seabed mining the western coast, from Cagayan down to Bataan provinces.

As deadliest country in Asia for environmental activists, the UN HRC resolution reminds everyone of the dangers and risks of stading up for environmental protection and land rights.

This resolution should also motivate and encourage Congress to fast-track the enactment of the Green Bills, which have languished in this 18th Congress. These include proposed laws on land use (NLUA), forest management (SFMB), mining (AMMB), indigenous and community conservation (ICCA), rights of nature (RON) and human rights defenders (HRD bill).

This resolution is timely to properly frame the position and negotiating points of the Philippines for the upcoming CoP26 as well as other UN meetings about business and human rights (UN Forum on BHR) and the 7th meeting on the proposed legally-binding treaty on trans-national corporations.

For more information, pls contact:

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator (0917) 5498218 / nc@alyansatigilmina.net

Photo used by: Geneva Environment Network