From April 7 to 10, the city of Basseterre hosted the Third Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, a key gathering for strengthening environmental democracy in the region.

The event was organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in its capacity as Secretariat of the Escazú Agreement, together with the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, UNEP, and UNDP. The forum took place in person, with a live broadcast that enabled broad regional and international participation.

Preparations and Preliminary Sessions

Activities began on April 7 with workshops aimed at a Caribbean audience. One of the sessions focused on the roadmap for implementing the Escazú Agreement in Saint Kitts and Nevis, while the second addressed capacity-building on the content of the Agreement.

On the morning of April 8, two open preparatory meetings were held, led by the elected public representatives and the coordinators of the Working Group on Human Rights Defenders, respectively. The morning concluded with an ActionHub session to showcase community initiatives and connect those who promote and protect human rights in environmental matters.

Opening and High-Level Dialogues

The official opening ceremony took place on the afternoon of April 8, featuring prominent authorities such as Dr. Terrance Michael Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis; Ms. Michelle Brathwaite, CARICOM representative; Dr. Marcelo Cousillas from the Ministry of Environment of Uruguay; and Ms. Nicole Leotaud, elected public representative for the Escazú Agreement.

This was followed by a high-level dialogue on women’s political leadership in environmental protection, and the first panel discussion, which addressed the challenges and risks faced by defenders from a regional and multidisciplinary perspective.

Progress, Challenges, and Gender Perspective

The second day of the forum, April 9, was dedicated to plenary sessions featuring panels, dialogues, and roundtables that delved into the current situation of environmental human rights defenders, the challenges they face, and the responses of States and other actors.

On April 10, the final day of the forum, the focus shifted to mainstreaming a gender perspective in the implementation of the Agreement, particularly with regard to Article 9 on human rights defenders. The working groups presented their conclusions in a plenary session, and training workshops were held on access to justice and digital security, further enhancing participants’ practical knowledge.

The Third Forum concluded with an emotional and powerful closing session, marked by the voices of key regional figures: Whitney Melinard, a young Kalinago Indigenous woman from Dominica; Bishnu Tulsie, elected public representative; Gomin Camacho, founder of the Guyana Environmental Initiative; Ariel Montoya, Member of Congress from Honduras; and Dr. Joyelle Trizia Clarke, Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Their messages reaffirmed the collective commitment to environmental protection and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information, the final agenda, and event materials, visit the Third Forum’s webpage.