Statement to Human Rights Council: Realise children's right to a healthy environment
On 3 March, the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative (CERI) and Child Rights Connect Working Group on Child Rights and the Environment are launching a statement at the Human Rights Council 46th Session. It draws attention to the relationship between children's rights and the environment and calls on governments to recognize the right to a healthy environment. Over 80 organizations across the world have endorsed the statement.
Realising children’s right to a healthy environment
This statement is made on behalf of the Child Rights Connect Working Group on child rights and the environment and the Children’s Environmental Rights Initiative.
No group is more vulnerable to environmental harm than children. The numbers are truly shocking. More than 1.7 million children under the age of five lose their lives every year as a result of avoidable environmental impacts, while millions more suffer disease and permanent forms of harm. We welcome the focus on children’s rights in the latest report from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, which states that every day, more than 700 children under the age of five die from water- and sanitation-related disasters. By 2040, almost 600 million children will live in regions with extremely limited water resources. From toxic water pollution and chemicals, to the climate crisis and global biodiversity loss, environmental risks pose grave and wide-ranging threats to children’s rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, with particular burdens faced by children facing intersecting forms of discrimination and marginalisation, including girls, children with disabilities, indigenous children and those living in poverty.
Although this has been widely documented in the past couple of years, there is still a gap in the recognition of the links between environmental harm and children’s rights. Children are not sufficiently recognised as holders of environmental rights; violations of their rights in relation to environmental breakdown are still underreported and are not met with adequate remedies. Strong normative standards to advance children’s environmental rights are missing.
The UN should formally recognise the right to a healthy environment as soon as possible. It would provide comprehensive protection against environmental harm, spur all states to prioritize actions to implement this vital human right and empower those working to protect the environment. Such a step would be of particular relevance to children and future generations, who shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden of environmental harm. It is beyond debate that children are wholly dependent on the natural environment to lead dignified, healthy and fulfilling lives, including a safe climate, clean air, safe water and adequate sanitation, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environments to learn and play in, and healthy biodiversity and ecosystems. In the face of an unprecedented environmental crisis, children and youth across the world are calling for more urgent and ambitious action.
Signatories
Advocates of Hope Zimbabwe
AFCOD-UGANDA
Africa Movement of Working Children and Youth
Association des Citoyens pour le Développement Durable en Haïti
Awometrust
Burundi Child Rights Forum
Centre for Children's Rights, Queen's University, Belfast
Centre for Environment and Rural Development
Child Rights Coalition Asia
Childline
Children and Young People Living for Peace (CYPLP)
Children and Youth Movement - Philippines
Children Rights Advocacy and Legal Aid Foundation (CRALAF)
Climate Warriors India
Collective Community Action
Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE)
Connecting
Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
CRN COMMITTEE
Environment Africa
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Kenya
Gatef organizations
Give Hope Uganda
Green Institute
How Impact
Human Rights Watch
Humanium
IAM Mbare Youth Development Centre
International Institute for Child Rights and Development
Joy Village Foundation
Kiambu county CHV CBO
Kishoka Youth Community Based Organization
Kiwangala Community Early Childhood Development Centre
Kiwangala Community Library
Kiwangala Community Primary School
Kiwangala Community Social Initiatives
Let Girls Learn Kenya Initiative
Letsema Child Right Ambassadors
Letsema Child Rights Network
Livingstone Rhinos Rugby Union Club
LRC ambassadors
Make Mothers Matter
Manyatta Development is Power
MDT
MenEngage Uganda Network
Midlands AIDS Services Organisation
Midlands State University
Midlands State University Environmental Society(MSUES)
Mtoto News
Mubimba Primary School
Mwanakwaye Movement
Nest Foundation
New Zimbabwe Youth Forum
Pahchan Foundation
PIVJET International
The Boys Brigade Nigeria
Rede de jovens
REPSSI
Retsepile Support and Development Group
Revival NGO
RNCYPT
Save the Children Sweden
SGE Initiatives
Soka Gakkai International (SGI)
Somero
Sonke Gender Justice
SOS Children's Villages - Eswatini
Strive Foundation Uganda
SUHAKAM - Human Rights Commission Malaysia
TERRE DES HOMMES DEUTSCHLAND E.V.
The B Team
The Community Human Rights Defenders Network (ACPDH)
The Conscientization Movement
The Future Generations Project
Trinity Project
TROVOCO
University Student Chamber International
UNMGCY
Village of Hope for Development and Rehabilitaton for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Vunja Kimya Foundation
Young People's Network on Sexual Reproductive Health on HIV and AIDS, Zvishavane
Young Voices Trust
YOUNGO
Youth Environment Service
Youth Network for Positive Change
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Youth Network