The Human Rights Approach to Rio +20

Here is a link to a letter signed by UN special rapporteurs about the need for Rio to follow a rights based approach and include  “strong accountability mechanisms”.  The document is worrying for a two main reasons:

1. Special Rapporteurs should not be expressing their opinions on processes that fall outside of their competences. Not one of their mandates has anything to do with Rio.

2. They seem to see themselves as the backbone of “accountability” at the UN, and they are nothing of the sort. They are merely human rights observers, that submit reports concerning their observations.

The letter is part of a larger initiative headed by the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to encourage states to:

“to work to advance a human rights-based approach to the green economy, based on the principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, empowerment and the rule of law in green economy efforts, and to pursue a model of economic growth that is socially and environmentally sustainable, just and equitable, and respectful of all human rights”

View online at: https://c-fam.org/turtle_bay/the-human-rights-approach-to-rio-20/

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