Access information on Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Stemming from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the Regional Agreement was adopted at Escazú, Costa Rica on 4 March 2018 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC). Open to the 33 countries of the region, its objective is to guarantee the full and effective implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean of the rights of access to environmental information, public participation in the environmental decision-making process and access to justice in environmental matters, and the creation and strengthening of capacities and cooperation, contributing to the protection of the right of every person of present and future generations to live in a healthy environment and to sustainable development. It is also the first treaty in the world to include specific provisions to ensure a safe and enabling environment for environmental human rights defenders. The treaty will open for signature on 27 September 2018 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. It shall enter into force once 11 instruments of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession have been deposited.