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Extraordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention

Extraordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention

23 (pm) -24 June 2022

23 - 24 June 2022
Salle XVIII, E building, Palais des Nations Geneva Switzerland

The third extraordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties (ExMoP3) to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the twenty-sixth meeting of the Convention’s Working Group of the Parties (WGP26) took place back-to-back in Geneva on 22-24 June 2022 (Palais des Nations). The meetings were held in an in-person format.

The Meeting of the Parties elected by consensus Mr. Michel Forst as the  independent Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders, in accordance with decision VII/9 of the Meeting of the Parties (ENG FRE RUS) adopted at its seventh ordinary session (Geneva, 18–21 October 2021). Information on nominations of candidates for the election of the Special Rapporteur is available here. In addition to the election of the Special Rapporteur, the Meeting of the Parties  convened a round table where delegates discussed the main trends, challenges and good practices with regard to the protection of environmental defenders. The discussion was organized in a format of keynote statements and interventions by representatives of Governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations and other stakeholders, followed by a general discussion. The topics for discussion were based on decision VII/9 and the key issues addressed through the work of the Task Forces and Working Group of the Parties. Programme for the Round Table is available below.

Documents for the meeting and statements delivered at the event will be uploaded on this webpage as soon as they become available. For additional information, please read article on the meetings


 

Meeting outcomes and Report

29524 _ AC/ExMoP-3/Inf.2 - List of decisions and outcomes, as adopted _ 368824 _ English _ 773 _ 357022 _ pdf
29524 _ ECE/MP.PP/2022/2 - Report, advance edited copy _ 372336 _ English _ 773 _ 369401 _ pdf

Pre session documents

25875 _ ECE/MP.PP/2022/1 - Provisional Agenda _ 366212 _ English _ 773 _ 353079 _ pdf
25875 _ ECE/MP.PP/2022/1 - Provisional Agenda _ 366212 _ French _ 780 _ 353080 _ pdf
25875 _ ECE/MP.PP/2022/1 - Provisional Agenda _ 366212 _ Russian _ 864 _ 353081 _ pdf
25875 _ AC/ExMoP-3/Inf.1 - Provisional programme for the Round Table on Environmental Defenders _ 368412 _ English _ 773 _ 356741 _ pdf

List of Participants

32300 _ List of Participants _ 370573 _ English _ 773 _ 361866 _ pdf

Statements and other materials

       
Title
ENG
FRE
RUS
Item 1: Opening of the session
     

Opening statement by Ms. Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

PDF

 

 

European Union

PDF

   
United Kingdom PDF    

NGO European ECO Forum/Justice & Environment

PDF

 

 

Item 4 (a): Election of the Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders

 

 

 

European Union

PDF

 

 

Norway (also for item 1)

PDF

 

 

Mr. Forst, Special Rapporteur on environmental defenders elected by the Meeting of the Parties PDF    

NGO European ECO Forum/European Environmental Bureau

PDF

 

 

Albania

PDF

 

 

Item 4 (b): Round table on environmental defenders

 

 

 

NGO European ECO Forum/Justice & Environment

PDF

 

 

NGO European ECO Forum/Green Network

PDF

 

PDF

European ECO Forum/Guta Environmental Law Association

PDF

 

 

European Union

PDF

 

 

Kazakhstan

 

 

PDF

United Kingdom

PDF

 

 

Public Defender’s Office, Georgia

PDF

 

 

European Union Forum of Judges for the Environment

PDF

 

 

Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

PDF

 

 

Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe

PDF

 

 

International Code of Conduct Association

PDF

 

 

United Nations Environment Programme

PDF

 

 

FORUM-ASIA

PDF

 

 

Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network

 

 

 

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

video link

 

 

General discussion :

 

 

 

Armenia

PDF

 

 

Republic of Moldova

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Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 

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NGO European ECO Forum/Youth and Environment Europe

PDF

 

 

Closing of the session
     
NGO European ECO Forum/Justice & Environment      
Other material
     

Material of the Council of Europe

Environmental Rights Activism and Advocacy in Europe

Human Rights Comment by Commissioner for Human Rights

 

PDF

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