German, Swedish and Norwegian ambassadors call on Colombia to ratify the Escazu Agreement for environmental defenders

Infobae reports: “After months of debate, this Thursday, June 17, the second committees of the Senate and the House, in charge of voting on bills related to international treaties, will finally decide whether Colombia enters the Escazú Agreement.”

That article adds: “Senators from the ruling party have spoken out against the agreement. Recently, Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal launched a social media campaign in which she rejects Colombia’s subscription to the pact.”

Germany, Sweden, Norway

Yesterday, El Tiempo published this opinion piece by the German, Swedish and Norwegian ambassadors to Colombia.

Peter Ptassek (Germany), John Petter Opdahl (Norway) and Helena Storm (Sweden) write: “At this time, Colombia has the opportunity to move towards strengthening peace and environmental democracy, and Colombia’s ratification of the Escazú Agreement would send a very important political signal.”

Their statement concludes: “We support the President and the National Government in the ratification of the Escazú Agreement.”

Canada

PBI-Canada has shared this online petition calling on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to express support for the Escazu Agreement.

To date, Canada has not publicly called on the Colombian government to ratify Escazu.

That said, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Leslie E. Norton, told the UN Human Rights Council this past March: “Some states have established specific protection mechanisms to prevent risks and attacks against HRDs and to intervene when need be. Canada wants to stress these important milestones such as the Escazu Regional Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

At the G7 summit earlier this month, Canada also affirmed: “The importance of civic space and partnership with diverse, independent and pluralistic civil societies, including human rights defenders, in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Peace Brigades International

In September 2018, Peace Brigades International endorsed the Escazú Agreement as “a means to guarantee a safe environment in which individuals, groups and organizations that promote and defend human rights related to the environment can act without facing threats, restrictions, attacks or danger.”

We will watch with interest today.