Strengthening Protections Through the UN Human Rights System | Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) Skip to content Skip to navigation

Strengthening Protections Through the UN Human Rights System

We see it time and again. Industries spew toxic pollutants into the air. Fracking fouls water with poisonous chemicals. Large dams flood people out of their villages. Mines ruin farmland. People lose their health, their jobs, their access to water, even their homes. All of these events violate basic human rights protected by international law.

Enforcing human rights law provides another effective strategy for targeting problems caused by environmental degradation. The United Nations Human Rights System offers several mechanisms that AIDA uses to protect human rights—including the right to a healthy environment—in Latin America.

What AIDA is doing: 

  • Participating in the Universal Periodic Review by documenting human rights violations and government compliance with UN Human Rights Council recommendations. In so doing, we increase international pressure on States to guarantee human rights within their borders.
  • Informing Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, and Working Groups appointed by the Human Rights Council to monitor and investigate human rights violations. We also support these experts when they make site visits to communities. They can and do apply pressure on governments to resolve human rights violations.

The Latest

Human Rights, Indigenous Rights | 28 August 2016

Civil society urges the United Nations to document human rights violations committed by businesses in Mexico

A group of organizations delivered their report highlighting more than 60 cases of violations across the country. Mining, infrastructure and energy projects were responsible for the greatest number...read more

Human Rights, Indigenous Rights | 10 February 2015

UN registered Barro Blanco Hydroelectric Dam temporarily suspended over non-compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment

In a landmark decision, Panama’s National Environmental Authority (ANAM) temporarily suspended the construction of the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam yesterday over non-compliance with its...read more

Fracking, Indigenous Rights | 21 February 2014

Indigenous leader condemns Brazil’s rights abuses at United Nations

Speakers highlight violations stemming from Amazon dams at Human Rights Council.read more

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