Human Rights Council 63rd session
General Debate on Agenda Item 8
Joint Statement on the work and international participation of environmental human rights defenders.
Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations
[Check against delivery]
[FULL VERSION]
30 September 2026
Mr. President,
I deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of YY countries.
Five years ago, this Council recognized the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Despite this achievement, those who are at the frontline protecting and advancing this right, are still among the most targeted. Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs), including women and Indigenous EHRDs, are amongst the most at-risk human rights defenders in the world.
These defenders frequently seek to exercise their human rights to push back against unsustainable and environmentally damaging projects. For their contribution and work, they often face grave risks, including to extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention, and criminalisation. This also includes strategic lawsuits against public participation, creating a chilling effect. Moreover, we are concerned that some defenders are facing reprisals for engaging in international climate fora as indicated in the latest Secretary General report.
Let us be clear, the work of EHRDs is in favour of sustainable development and as such we should all protect their work. They also play a positive and legitimate role in favour of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
EHRDs do incredibly important work to protect the environment, from biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. The best way to protect the environment, is to protect and empower those who seek to defend the environment.
Mr. President,
This Council should step up its efforts to better protect and empower EHRDs, by promoting their equitable, geographically diverse, meaningful and safe representation, in all our relevant work.
EHRDs should also be able to safely participate in other UN fora, including international environmental conferences on biodiversity, climate change, and pollution – including the upcoming COP31 on climate change in Türkiye, the 1st International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals in Switzerland,c and COP17 on biodiversity in Armenia, and their situation and agency should be recognized in the host country agreements and the outcome documents of those meetings.
We urge all States to play an active role and uphold their responsibility to guarantee their safe and inclusive participation.
Thank you.