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How to Integrate Human rights into Biodiversity Conservation in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework - Paper 2

Translations available: Spanish
Applying a Human Rights-Based Approach - Image

A human rights-based approach (HRBA) in the context of biodiversity conservation, means that biodiversity policies, governance and management do not violate human rights. Instead, they actively seek ways to support and promote human rights in the design and implementation of actions related to biodiversity.

The “Human Rights in Biodiversity Working Group'' established in Chiang Mai, 2020 have collaboratively compiled a human rights analysis of ”Draft One of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.”

Read the Analysis

The authors urge the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to integrate, maintain and strengthen elements of a human rights-based approach in the first draft of the framework (at their third meeting, 23 August - 3 September). As for now, the human rights-related advancements are not sufficient and without further improvement the framework risks falling short of its ambition to achieve transformative change.

Key messages: 

● Actions towards addressing the biodiversity crisis  are promoted by recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities nurturing  biological and cultural diversity in their daily life. 

● The shaping of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is an opportunity to enable transformational change through through human rights-based approaches.  

● Failure to adequately incorporate the protection of human and environmental rights defenders would mean risks not only  for expanding violations of human rights, but also increased destruction of biodiversity. 

The analysis brief was prepared by members of the “Human Rights in Biodiversity Working Group” including Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), CBD Alliance, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), ICCA Consortium, Natural Justice, SwedBio at Stockholm Resilience Centre, Tebtebba Foundation, WWF International, Friends of the Earth International, the CBD Women’s Caucus and Women4Biodiversity.

We invite you to learn more about the integration of HRBA in biodiversity contexts with the materials provided below.

Interested in reading further?

  • For more information on Human Rights approaches to conserving biodiversity read the newly released policy brief  and its Executive Summary from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, David R. Boyd and Stephanie Keene August 2021.
  • For more information on the Thematic Workshop on Human Rights as enabling condition in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, held in Chiang Mai in February 2020, do take a look at the SwedBio webpage.
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  • For more information on previous inputs from the Human Rights in Biodiversity working group, see Human Rights in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Options for integrating a human-rights based approach to achieve the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Overview

Resource Type:
Briefing Papers
Publication date:
23 August 2021
Programmes:
Culture and Knowledge Conservation and Human Rights Environmental Governance

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