PBI-Colombia accompanies CAHUCOPANA at meeting prior to COP16 that could strengthen protection for defenders
The PBI-Colombia accompanied Humanitarian Action Corporation for Coexistence and Peace in Northeast Antioquia (CAHUCOPANA) has posted:
“Now in Bogota. Cahucopana Nordeste participates in the capital of Colombia in the meeting prior to #COP16 #PeaceWithNature, highlighting the importance of biodiversity in the territories #SerraniaSanLucas to advance towards #Peace.”
The United Nations COP16 Biodiversity conference will take place this coming October 21 to November 1 in Cali, Colombia.
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has also posted:
“The spaces for participation continue #TowardCOP16, the COP of the people! The #PeaceWithNature and Environmental Justice meeting is taking place in Bogotá, a dialogue to propose strategies to strengthen the capacity of defenders in the protection of human rights in Colombia and Latin America.
In this meeting, environmental leaders from Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Venezuela, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala and El Salvador, who will share their regional perspectives and consolidate their contributions to the COP16 Colombia agenda.
The main themes of this meeting are: Implementation of the Escazú Agreement. Human Rights of Environmental Defenders: Target 22 of the Kunming-Montreal Framework. Extractive Economies and violent contexts in relation to environmental leaderships.”
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development social media post includes the photo above to which Yuli Andrea Velasquez of the Federation of Artisanal, Environmental and Tourist Fishermen of Santander (FEDEPESAN) comments: “FEDEPESAN PARTICIPATES, AND SHARES EXPERIENCE AND STRUGGLE IN OUR TERRITORY.”
FEDEPESAN is accompanied by the Regional Corporation for the Defence of Human Rights (CREDHOS), that is in turn accompanied by PBI-Colombia.
Photo of Carlos Morales (CAHUCOPANA) and Yuli Andrea Velasquez (FEDEPESAN) by the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombia.
Target 22
COP16 has the potential to build on Target 22 of the Global Biodiversity Framework reached almost two years ago at COP15 in Montréal, Canada.
Target 22 says: “Ensure the full, equitable, inclusive, effective and gender-responsive representation and participation in decision-making, and access to justice and information related to biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities, respecting their cultures and their rights over lands, territories, resources, and traditional knowledge, as well as by women and girls, children and youth, and persons with disabilities and ensure the full protection of environmental human rights defenders.”
The ”historic opportunity” of COP16
Molly Robson, Javier Garate and Ashley Thomson from Global Witness have commented:
“Around the world, those who speak out against the drivers of biodiversity loss – deforestation, pollution, land grabbing, mining and oil extraction – face alarming levels of violence and intimidation.
If we are to have meaningful climate action, this must include robust policies, stringent corporate accountability and safeguarding the communities risking their lives to protect biodiversity and climate-critical ecosystems.
The Colombian Government has a historic opportunity to make CBD COP16 a turning point for both biodiversity and those who protect it – and to live up to its promises to place defenders’ voices at the centre of the agenda.
On top of this, CBD COP16 could provide defenders with recourse to justice through heightened recognition, security, legislative protection and corporate accountability for the industries behind reprisals.
It must also ensure that those profiting from the destruction of nature at the expense of those who depend on it are held accountable.”
We will continue to follow this.
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