HE the Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah underscored the desperate need for setting out a collaborative rights-based approach to climate change and crystallizing the increasing global demand for laying out an international human rights instrument on climate change.
In her inaugural speech before the International Seminar for National Human Rights Institutions "Impacts of Climate change on Human Rights" hosted by the Human Rights Ombudsmans Office (PDDH) in Salvador, HE al-Attiyah said such an approach must be handled through practical means, such as representing the rights of affected communities, integrating and protecting them in all relevant programs, policies and operations to fulfill the pledge that was upheld at the centre of the sustainable development plan.
She outlined that the year 2023 marks the midpoint on the global efforts devoted to achieving the sustainable development plan for 2030 which identified climate change as a major challenge in the goal 13 which is closely related to all sustainable development goals affecting people's livelihood in each country and continent.
The chairperson of the NHRC added that climate change remained a threat to humanity, and although it impacts all countries of the world, however, feeling its impact is mounting among communities which live in fragile and marginalized situations, pointing out that addressing the adverse effects of climate change is a priority for the GANHRI and its members in multiple areas.
HE al-Attiyah emphasized that national human rights institutions have developed their role as effective and resolute entities in addressing climate change within their ordinary function to encompass provision of counseling to states on climate measures that place human rights at the centre of their interests and orientations, cooperating with vulnerable groups and individuals whose rights would be most susceptible to the risk of damage due to climate change, monitoring climate change effects on human rights and reporting them both at the national and international levels, engaging in achieving climate justice and holding those tasked with functions accountable.
In addition, HE al-Attiyah pointed out that national human rights institutions represent a bridge that supports information exchange with their other peers at the international level, along with policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders, including the most vulnerable groups.
HE al-Attiyah talked about the most prominent efforts undertaken by the GANHRI and national institutions to counter the increasing threats arising from climate change, asserting that the UN Human Rights Council and international community acknowledged the critical contributions that can be afforded by national human rights institutions to address effects of climate change on human rights.
She noted that one of the major outcomes of advocacy provided by the GANHRI is the adoption of the resolution No. 51/31 by the Human Rights Council to promote human rights in the context of climate action and encourage national human rights institutions to continue strengthening their work in this regard.
She highlighted the critical contributions provided by the international community and defenders of human rights of indigenous peoples and environmental justice, indicating that they commonly face risks and threats and sometimes lose their lives, because of their advocacy for human rights against climate change effects and environment degradation.
She stressed the major role played by states and their core responsibility to protect all human rights defenders, adding that international human rights institutions should significantly contribute to promoting positive narratives on the critical role played by human rights defenders, protecting them and holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable.
HE al-Attiyah noted the GANHRI's efforts aimed at promoting efficiency and engagement in climate talks, pointing out that the alliance submitted a request to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) last August to grant the GANHRI, national human rights institutions and regional networks an observer status to help the UN climate change operations capitalize on the unique expertise that can be virtually provided by national human rights institutions to discuss climate change and taking decisions.
She affirmed that the seminar is an opportunity to proceed with sharing expertise and approaches and learning from them in pursuit of addressing multiple complex challenges arising from climate change. Attended by Vice-President of El Salvador Felix Ulloa, Head of the Ombudsman Office in El Salvador Raquel Caballero de Guevara, President and GANHRI Secretary-General in Morocco Amina Bouayach and Representative of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) Katharina Rose, the seminar intends to provide a venue of discussion and analysis between representatives of national human rights institutions from all over the world to identify the joint activities of technological and academic nature, in addition to paving the way for the presence of specialists in climate change and laying out a roadmap that directs the procedures of national human rights institutions concerning human rights protection in countering climate change effects all over the world and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups. (QNA)