46 nations agree to better protect eco-defenders

Geneva, October 22

Nearly four dozen countries in Europe and Central Asia have agreed to improve protections for environmental defenders who voice concerns on issues like the construction of dams, harmful agricultural policies, fallout from oil projects and illegal logging in forests, a UN body aimed to foster European integration said on Friday.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe says 46 countries, plus the European Union, that are behind a pact on environmental protection known as the Aarhus Convention agreed on Thursday to set up the “rapid-response mechanism” to help those who want to protect the environment. “This landmark decision is a clear signal to environmental defenders that they will not be left unprotected,” said UNECE executive secretary Olga Algayerova.

“We have seen an increasing trend of environmental defenders living under the threat of retaliation,” said Algayerova. — AP