WYCJ supports the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change
By: Tanvi Ravi Koushik
The call for a Special Rapporteur
The call for the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change originated from a call of Pacific leaders at the climate change negotiations of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Special rapporteurs are independent experts reporting to and advising the Human Rights Council.There are several special rapporteurs each with a specific focus, such as our dear supporter and Friend of the Initiative David R. Boyd, the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment of the UN Human Rights Council.
Human rights and climate change
Despite the collective understanding of peoples and (most) states of the urgency and emergency we are facing, the link between human rights and climate change is insufficiently drawn. (This is, as you will read on our website) one of the main reasons we are pursuing the path of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change and human rights.
A Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change can support awareness-raising, international cooperation, mainstream rights’ issues, increase and support access to justice, carry out monitoring activities and advise on technical cooperation at the country level.
WYCJ and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change
World’s Youth for Climate Justice is highly supportive of the calls for the establishment of a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change. We view this Special Rapporteur as an important potential ally for civil society and youth organizations in bringing across their needs to the Human Rights Council. We appreciate this facilitative approach and see value in the Special Rapporteur’s work, which, through [specify activity] is inclusive and collaborative in nature. Just like the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change and human rights, the Special Rapporteur is one piece of the puzzle we need to respond to the catastrophe at hand.
Read more on the establishment of a UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change here.
