The Escazú Agreement at the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development

The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (“Escazú Agreement”) was highlighted on numerous occasions during the Third Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, held at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago from 24 to 26 April 2019.

The Government of Costa Rica, in its capacity as co-chair of the Agreement, presented a report of the developments related to the Escazú Agreement to the plenary on 25 April 2019. Furthermore, in its conclusions and recommendations, the ministers and high representatives of the countries of the region noted the adoption and the opening for signature, at United Nations Headquarters, of the Escazú Agreement and took note of the signature of 16 countries and the ratification by one country of Latin America and the Caribbean to date as a contribution to sustainable development.

In the framework of the Forum, several related events also took place:

• Wednesday, 24 April (1-2:30pm): Side event “Escazú Agreement: A tool to empower people and ensure inclusiveness and equality”.

• Thursday, 25 April (8:30am-4:30pm): Regional meeting on progress and challenges in the implementation of the Escazú Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean: towards an early entry into force

• Friday, 26 April (1-2:30pm): Side event “Improving accountability and involving National Human Rights Institutions in the 2030 Agenda”

Furthermore, at the event “Youth of Latin America and the Caribbean 2030”, the youth of the region issued a Declaration of Youth of Latin America and the Caribbean 2030 “Building a different future”, where they urged to strengthen environmental governance, prevent socio-environmental conflicts and the ratification of the Escazú Agreement by States.