AICHR Philippines Calls for Advancing Human Rights towards Environmental Protection, Sustainable Development 

AICHR Temporary Philippine Representative and Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda chairs and moderates Session 3 of the workshop on “Mainstreaming Human Rights in SDGs on Environment”. 

MANILA, 10 November 2021 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Philippines called for the ASEAN human rights body and relevant sectoral bodies to advance human rights in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development during the AICHR Workshop on Human Rights, SDGs, and ASEAN Recovery from COVID-19 held on 08-09 November 2021.

The Workshop, organized by AICHR Indonesia and attended by more than 100 participants, served as a platform to lay out concrete efforts to ensure that mainstreaming human rights pertaining to the environment is guaranteed to all peoples in ASEAN.

The Philippines’ Representative to AICHR and Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda chaired and moderated Session 3 of the Workshop on Mainstreaming Human Rights in SDGs on Environment.

The session discussed the correlation between human rights and environmental protection, and recognized the need to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, vis-a-vis their impact on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Mr. Albert Salamanca, Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute highlighted the critical need for countries to develop their respective National Adaptation Planning to address mid- and long-term priorities for climate change adaptation. On the other hand, the other workshop speakers recognized that sustainable development cannot be attained without the enjoyment of basic rights and a clean and safe environment, while noting how environmentally-sound pandemic recovery plans can shape the 21st Century economy. 

AICHR Philippine Representative Ledda also mentioned the upcoming project of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Asia Pacific entitled “Principles and Policy Guidance on Children’s Rights to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment in the ASEAN Region” on 23 November 2021. END

AICHR Temporary Philippine Representative Jaime Victor Ledda (top middle) is joined by speakers – Mr. Albert Salamanca, Senior Research Fellow of the Stockholm Environment Institute (top left), Dr. Georgina Lloyd Rivera, Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (top right), Ms. Romchat Wachirarattanakornkul, Human Rights, Climate Change and Environment Focal Point of the Regional Office for South-East Asia, Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (bottom left) and Ms. Vera Pokornv, Associate Specialist, Climate Change, Gender and Human Rights, Asia and Pacific Office of the UNEP (bottom right).