ASEAN Peoples Declaration on Environmental Rights

We invite civil society to follow the developments and engage in the process of institutionalizing the ASEAN environmental rights framework. Genuine participation is important, especially in communities that are most affected by climate change and are at high risk of attacks. The ongoing process to develop an ASEAN environmental rights framework presents a great opportunity for all to advance the status of environmental rights in the region. Since 2021, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has recognized the need for a regional instrument that promotes environmental rights and incorporates the narratives between human rights and environmental rights. ACIHR established a Working Group that has been meeting in 2023 and 2024. The Fifth Meeting of the Working Group in July referred the draft ASEAN declaration on the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment was referred to the AICHR for consideration.

Civil society members of the Working Group considered that there was a need to continue the conversation around environmental rights. As a result, they developed a ASEAN Peoples Declaration on Environmental Rights. The Peoples Draft is designed to be ambitious and respond to submissions received during the stakeholder consultation process in April and May 2024. The Peoples Draft will be the subject for further consultation during 2024 and 2025.