CEMDA Urges Prompt Action on Escazú Agreement Implementation

The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) urged the federal government to take immediate action toward the adoption of a regional action plan aimed at ensuring a safe environment for environmental defenders.

As the third Conference of the Parties (COP3) of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (the Escazu Agreement) convenes in Santiago de Chile from April 22 to 24, member organizations of the Access Mexico Initiative (IAMEX) are advocating for immediate steps toward the construction of the national implementation plan with significant public participation by the Mexican delegation.

The COP3 of Escazu serves as the primary decision-making space for the Agreement's member states. Anticipated outcomes include the adoption of the Regional Action Plan, aiming to fulfill the obligation of ensuring a safe environment for environmental human rights defenders in Latin America and the Caribbean, as outlined in Art. 9 of the Agreement. Additionally, a draft decision on gender perspective has been announced, proposing the integration of gender equality perspectives in the Agreement's application, as well as national implementation plans and roadmaps. 

The Escazu Agreement stands as the region's inaugural environmental treaty, uniquely incorporating provisions for environmental human rights defenders. It acknowledges the vital contributions of the public and defenders of environmental human rights to democracy, access rights, and sustainable development.

In a recent report, CEMDA highlighted Mexico's ongoing challenges, revealing it as one of the most violent and insecure countries globally for environmental defenders. In 2023 alone, 123 aggression events against defenders were recorded, including threats, intimidation, physical attacks, criminalization, harassment, and 20 lethal attacks. Consequently, civil society reiterated the urgency for the Mexican government to reinvigorate national efforts for the proper implementation of the Escazu Agreement, swiftly designing a roadmap for the National Implementation Plan.