MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has approved a resolution calling for the protection of human rights defenders, including those working against degradation of the environment. It noted the increasing rate of incidents that include gender-based violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns, criminalization, judicial harassment, forced eviction and displacement of environmental human rights defenders. It added that this is also true for the indigenous and women human rights defenders and human rights defenders who are addressing issues relating to land rights. The human rights body underscored the need to develop protection mechanisms for environmental human rights defenders, taking into account the intersectional dimensions of violations against women human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, rural and marginalized communities and persons belonging to minorities. They must also promote a safe and enabling environment, as well as provide for effective remedies for human rights violations and abuses.

Source: Philippine Star March 24, 2019 21:11 UTC