ZELA implores govt, media practitioners to defend ...

ZELA implores govt, media practitioners to defend environmental human rights defenders

Zim Now Writer

The Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association has condemned the continued lack of political power and legal recognition of the groups that are often most affected by the increasing demand for resource extraction, direct involvement by State officials or representatives in violence against Environmental Human Rights Defenders.

ZELA said that there is failure by governments to investigate and punish harassment and violence directed against EHRDs.

ZELA Legal Officer, Effort Dube said most human rights violations are well known and documented except environmental human rights, but environmental activists are losing their lives in numbers globally.

He said the media play a critical role in the advancement of EHRDs work by covering their stories and advocating for their protection.

Dube implored media practitioners to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including in actions relating to environmental challenges.

“There is need to adopt and implement laws ensuring, among other things, the rights to information, participation and access to justice in the field of the environment.

“Facilitating public awareness and participation in environmental decision-making, including of civil society, women, youth and indigenous peoples, by protecting all human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and to freedom of peaceful assembly and association;

“Implementing fully their obligations to respect and ensure human rights without distinction of any kind, including in the application of environmental laws and policies;

Dube further said there is need for effective remedies for human rights violations and abuses, including those relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, in accordance with their international obligations and commitments.

He stated that environmental human rights defenders include journalists, bloggers, members of human rights NGOs, academics, lawyers, trade unionists, and representatives of indigenous communities but noted that the majority are ordinary citizens who are unaware of their EHRD status.

According to global statistics, this group of human rights defenders is facing increased violence and harassment because of growing demand for the extraction and exploitation of natural resources.

ZELA Project Officer Obert Bore, who is an International Trade and Human Rights Lawyer, said the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment indicated that for every EHRD murdered, many more, in every region of the world, were subjected to other types of violence or harassment.

Bore revealed that between March 2015 and 2023, there were more than 4 700 global attacks against human rights defenders raising concerns about harmful business practices, with 75% of these attacks being against environmental human rights defenders.