ALHR announces new national Environment and Human Rights Subcommittee
We are now seeking EOI’s for Chairs and Youth Chairs
The Time is Now to stand up for the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment (R2E).
Human rights and the environment are intertwined; human rights cannot be enjoyed without a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable environmental governance cannot exist without the establishment of and respect for human rights.
In March 2018 the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, John Knox, presented the Framework Principles to the UN Human Rights Council. These set out states’ obligations as they relate to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment and recognise that whilst there may not yet be a treaty specifically devoted to addressing human rights and the environment, States’ obligations under existing human rights treaties are very clearly engaged by their approach to environmental issues.
At the same time, the push for the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to take action at the international level is gaining increasing momentum. In September 2020, Costa Rica, the Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia and Switzerland delivered a joint statement at the 45th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC45) committing to bring forward resolutions declaring universal recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. More than 1,150 organisations from civil society, social, environmental, youth, gender equality and human rights movements, trade unions, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, from more than 100 countries also delivered to HRC45 an appeal, entitled “The Time Is Now“, a Global Call for the United Nations to Recognise the Right to a Healthy Environment.
Last month at HRC46 the UN Environment Programme delivered a joint statement on behalf of 15 UN entities expressing that that the time for global recognition, implementation, and protection of the human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is now. The HRC core group on human rights and the environment also issued a statement on 9 March calling for States to engage in the process of the recognition of the right to a healthy environment at the HRC, which was supported by more than 60 countries.
# The time is Now for Australia to embrace a new approach to environmental decision-making, one which ensures that proper consideration is given to relevant human rights.
ALHR’s Environment and Human Rights Subcommittee will engage locally, nationally and internationally with a diverse range of stakeholders in order to:
- Undertake advocacy to stand up for recognition of the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment; and sustainable environmental governance.
- Highlight the need for decisions about the environment to be made from within a human rights framework.
- Promote awareness of the growing body of international discourse on human rights and the environment and adherence to the Framework Principles.
- Promote awareness of human rights issues raised by environmental issues such as climate change.
- In recognition that young people are a key group amongst those most likely to suffer the long term future human rights impacts of climate change and environmental neglect, the subcommittee will specifically seek to engage with and offer a voice to children and young people.
Inviting EOI’s for the role of Co-Chair EHR Subcommittee
ALHR is now seeking expressions of interest from experienced lawyers to Co-Chair the EHR Subcommittee.
The Co-Chairs will be responsible for leading ALHR’s work in the environment and human rights space at a local, national and international level. The successful applicants will be lawyers who are passionate about the environment and human rights and have significant knowledge, experience and expertise in the area. The successful applicants will also be committed to ALHR’s inclusive constitutional purpose and the universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature of human rights.
The Co-Chairs will work collaboratively with members of the EHR subcommittee, the Chairs of ALHR’s other thematic subcommittees, State/Territory convenors and ALHR’s governing bodies in order to facilitate research, coordinate submissions and comprehensive advocacy on the environment and human rights. They will undertake advocacy that is consistent with international human rights law principles, and present this to key legal, political and media figures in order to keep the thematic area at the forefront of public discussion.
The Co-Chairs will also work with the ALHR national Committee to build a strong membership base for the new subcommittee, comprising lawyers, academics and law students, in Australia and beyond, with a keen interest in the thematic area.
ALHR Co-Chairs are supported, guided by and accountable to ALHR’s National Committee and Executive Management Committee.
The successful applicant will need to be a current member of ALHR
Please see the attached ALHR Co-Chair Position Description for further information about the role.
How to Apply
If you would like to formally nominate for this role, please send an expression of interest and copy of your CV to president@alhr.org.au
Inviting EOI’s for the role of Youth-Chairs EHR Subcommittee
ALHR is also seeking expressions of interest from young lawyers and law students to act as Youth-Chairs of the EHR Subcommittee.
Young people are a key group amongst those most likely to suffer the long term future human rights impacts of climate change and environmental neglect.
The Youth-Chairs will support the work of the Co-chairs in leading ALHR’s work in the environment and human rights space at a local, national and international level. The successful applicants will be young lawyers or law students who are passionate about the environment and human rights and will ideally have some knowledge, experience or expertise in the area. They will also be committed to ALHR’s inclusive constitutional purpose and the universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature of human rights.
With the support and supervision of the EHR Subcommittee Co-Chairs and the ALHR National Committee, the Youth Co-Chairs will also work to lead environment and human rights advocacy initiatives that are especially relevant to children and young people, including via meeting with stakeholder groups, politicians, engaging in campaign work, contributing to social media communications and acting as a media spokesperson.
ALHR Youth Co-Chairs are supported, guided by and accountable to their Subcommittee Co-Chairs, ALHR’s National Committee and Executive Management Committee.
The successful applicants will need to be a current member of ALHR
How to Apply
If you would like to formally nominate for this role, please send an expression of interest and copy of your CV to president@alhr.org.au
Please also feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the role.