Countries Will Launch Negotiations on a Regional Instrument on Rights Related to Access in Environmental Matters

Representatives of countries in the region will meet from May 5-7, 2015, at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile, to start the negotiations phase for a regional instrument on access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters.

The first meeting of the Negotiating Committee for the regional agreement on access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean will provide follow-up to the agreements adopted in the framework of the process initiated in Rio+20 about the Declaration on the aplication of Principle 10—which promotes access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters. This Declaration has been signed by 19 countries in the region since 2012. ECLAC holds the technical secretariat in this process.

The inauguration of this gathering will take place on Tuesday, May 5 at 9:30 a.m., with the participation of representatives from the governments of Chile and Costa Rica, which are serving as co-presidents of the Negotiating Committee, from ECLAC and the public.

Members of the media are invited to cover the inauguration and the event’s sessions.

The gathering will be broadcast live via Internet on ECLAC’s website.

What: First meeting of the Negotiating Committee for the regional agreement on access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Who: Authorities and delegates from Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The inauguration (Tuesday, May 5, 9:30 a.m.) will be presided by:

• Representatives from the governments of Chile and Costa Rica.
• Representative of ECLAC.
• Representative of the public.

When: May 5 - May 7, 2015.

Where: ECLAC’s headquarters Av. Dag Hammarskjöld 3477, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile.