Report of the First Annual Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean

The First Annual Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Quito on 22 and 23 November 2022. The Forum was convened by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in its capacity as Secretariat of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Agreement), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Government of Ecuador, and it was supported by the Human Rights, Inclusion and Empowerment trust fund of the World Bank. The purpose of the Forum was to create a space for reflection and dialogue on the situation of human rights defenders in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing together the Parties to the Escazú Agreement, recognized specialists on the subject and the public in general, especially human rights defenders, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and individual and groups of environmental defenders in vulnerable situations. To this end, the Forum focused mainly on the following topics: The situation and challenges experienced by human rights defenders in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean and testimonies of defenders. Experiences and good practices in promoting the rights of environmental defenders. Mechanisms for the protection of defenders within the framework of the Escazú Agreement and specific contents of article 9. An initial discussion on the preparation of the action plan on defenders of the Escazú Agreement. This document contains the official report of the First Annual Forum and summarizes the various panels, discussions and presentations. It also contains a systematization of the proposals made by the breakout groups during the proceedings, which will serve as input for the preparation of the action plan on human rights defenders of the Escazú Agreement.