Novice

Dear friends,

We can have a human right to a healthy and clean environment in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)! This is not just a wish: codifying this right in the ECHR is currently on the agenda of the Council of Europe. Please support and spread word regarding our call to have a human right to a healthy and clean environment codified in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

In recommendation 1885 (late 2009) and by an almost unanimous vote, The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) recommended for the drafting of an additional protocol to the ECHR, which would codify the right to a healthy environment in the ECHR.

The Committee of Ministers, consisting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 47 Member States, is now to decide whether it this right will be add to the other rights codified in and protected under the ECHR. The final decision on this will probably be made well before summer 2010.

The Committee of Ministers recently was advised by the Steering Committee on Human Rights (CCDH) not to follow the recommendation and to deny this human right, despite the vast support for it in The Parliament. The arguments of CDDH, however, have been dealt with by The Parliament in the recommendation process and have been proven to be invalid.

Having a right to environment acknowledged in the ECHR will benefit many missions, campaigns and goals, whether you are into human rights, development, aid, environmental, peace building, (child) care or other issues.

Such a right will lead to greater environmental protection, will contribute in realising a number of human rights, in particular the right to life, to health, to property and to respect for private and family life and will contribute to a (more) adequate standard of living for all humans (thus including the poor, women and children and future generations).


We therefore call out to you to show your support for this initiative and to actively push and lobby for it as this human right is crucial to what we all stand for.

We ask you to join, but also kindly, but urgently ask you, to use your local and international contacts and networks in all 47 Council of Europe countries to spread this message and to have other organisations and individuals push this at their Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Members of Parliament. Together we stand strong.


The website www.RightToEnvironment.org will tell you more on the topic of a human right to a healthy environment and what you can do. So will our website www.StandUpForYourRights.org


Planet Earth needs all we can do to protect her and all life on her for current and future generations. This includes the people of planet earth, as they are part of – not mere rulers of – nature. We count on you to support this effort. Let’s stand together as one and stand up for our planet and the people on it. Thanks!


“Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have nature protected, for the benefit of present and future generations.”



Jan van de Venis - Stand Up For Your Rights

http://www.standupforyourrights.org/default.asp?pid=90