This week has been critical for environmental rights in Southeast Asia, with significant discussions and developments focusing on enhancing legal protections for environmental human rights defenders and addressing the region’s environmental challenges.
Environmental defenders in Southeast Asia face significant risks, with many experiencing threats, harassment, and even violence. The region is one of the most dangerous in the world for environmental activists, with numerous documented cases of violence against those protecting their land and natural resources. For example, the Philippines has seen a sharp increase in the killing of land activists, largely attributed to military involvement.
There are calls for ASEAN to support the creation of specialized environmental courts and national human rights institutions to ensure accountability and legal recourse for environmental harm. Moreover, integrating human rights into multilateral environmental agreements, such as the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, is seen as essential for making significant progress in environmental protection.
Human Rights Watch and other organizations have highlighted the need for corporate accountability, emphasizing that businesses often contribute to environmental destruction and rights abuses. They advocate for ASEAN to include stronger provisions on corporate responsibility and to ensure the active participation of indigenous peoples in environmental decision-making processes. Read more here