Highlighting the risks that environmental defenders face around the world and commending their role in defending human rights, combating climate chaos, and supporting a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
The resolution calls for several actions by the United States government to enhance the safety and support for environmental defenders. It urges the government to engage in good faith consultations with Indigenous communities, ensuring their rights are respected during project approvals that affect their lands and resources. Additionally, it requests the establishment of focused positions within government agencies to advocate for and safeguard the rights of environmental defenders, particularly in areas vulnerable to persecution. This could lead to heightened diplomatic discussions around human rights and environmental protections on a global scale.
HCR31 is a concurrent resolution that highlights the risks faced by environmental defenders worldwide and commends their critical roles in defending human rights, combating climate change, and supporting a clean and sustainable environment. The resolution acknowledges the challenges environmental defenders encounter, including persecution from government entities, private sectors, and criminal actors, which manifest as harassment, intimidation, and in some cases, violence. It emphasizes that the need for protection of these individuals is crucial as they strive to safeguard the environment and advocate for the rights of their communities, many of whom are Indigenous Peoples.
HCR31 addresses a range of global issues surrounding environmental defenders, notably the alarming statistics of their treatment, including over 1,700 reported killings since 2012. The resolution especially highlights the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, where environmental defenders face the highest rates of violence and persecution. It encourages the U.S. to take a leadership role internationally in safeguarding these defenders' rights and ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not support adverse actions against them. However, the global response to these issues may be complicated by political and economic ties to countries where such violations are prevalent.