Judicial Colloquium “Judicial protection of human rights and public interests against environmental pollution from chemicals and wastes” took place in Geneva, Palais des Nations, on 3 - 4 (morning) April 2023. The event was held back-to-back with the fifteenth meeting of the Convention's Task Force on Access to Justice that took place on 4 (afternoon) - 5 April 2023.
The Colloquium aimed to bring together high-level representatives of judiciary, judicial training institutions and other review bodies. Its objective was to strengthen capacity of judiciary to effectively handle cases related to environmental pollution from chemicals and wastes and explore trends and good practices related to adjudication of these cases, in particular with regard to standing, scope of review and remedies.
The meeting thereby supported attaining of target 16.3 of Sustainable Development Goal 16 on promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensuring equal access to justice for all and other related goals and targets. The meeting will also address the role of the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and other relevant international law in this context.
The Judicial Colloquium was convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) pursuant to decision VII/3 of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, which calls on promoting a network of judiciary, judicial training institutions and other review bodies in the pan-European region. The meeting was organized in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Development Programme, Organization for Co-operation and Security in Europe, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law, Global Judicial Institute on Environmental Law, European Union Forum of Judges for the Environment, and other partner organizations.
For further information about the meeting, please contact the secretariat public.participation[at]un.org.