Global Peer-to-Peer Dialogue on Human Rights, Biodiversity and SDGs

The dialogue was convened by SwedBio at Stockholm Resilience Centre, International Development Law Organization, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights-Special Procedures, UN Environment and Natural Justice

About the dialogue

The diversity of all forms of life on our planet and healthy ecosystems providing ecosystem services, such as provision of food, pollination of crops and fulfilment of people’s cultural life, are necessary for enjoying a broad range of universal human rights including the right to food, right to health and cultural rights. Conversely, exercising procedural rights, such as public participation, access to ecosystem-related information and access to justice in cases of non-compliance with environmental regulations are necessary for a stronger engagement of a diversity of individuals and groups for safeguarding ecosystems for present and future generations.

Considering the interdependency of human rights and the environment,  this peer-to-peer dialogue will bring together 50 legal practitioners, government officials, environmental human rights defenders, human rights and biodiversity experts, among others, drawn from developing countries and partner organizations.

Objectives of the dialogue

• Contribute to the conceptualization and design of draft elements to incorporate SDG 16 and principles of human rights and good governance into the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Governance Framework in a new dedicated target and as crosscutting dimensions of all targets in this framework;
• Clarify the ways in which the framework principles on human rights and the environment and legal tools can contribute to implement the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;
• Providing technical peer-to-peer review and contextual feedback with partners to the SwedBio collaborative policy report on weaving SDG 16 and human rights principles into the post 2020 global biodiversity strategic framework.

The roadmap

Co-chairs

Claudia Ituarte (SwedBio/Stockholm Resilience Centre) and Robert Kibugi (International Development Law Organization).

Steering committee

Benard Moseti (International Development Law Organization); Rodrigo Martinez (SwedBio/ Stockholm Resilience Centre); Angela Kariuki, Andreas Obrecht & Lara Ognibene (UN Environment); Soo-Young Hwang & Jamshid Gaziyev (UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights); Harry Jonas & Gino Cocchiaro (Natural Justice)