Participatory democracy and good governance: Fundamental tools for a human rights approach to sustainable development

Date: Monday, August 26, 2002 Time: 13:15-14:45 Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Ballroom 3   Discussion theme This side event focused on environmental rights (public rights of access to information, participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters) and their contribution to sustainable development within the framework of good governance. It succeeded in deepening the understanding of the interrelationship between the frameworks for human rights and sustainable development. It promoted the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and integration of the pillars of social and economic development and environmental protection. Ministers, high-level representatives, parliamentarians and non-governmental organisations presented an integrated human rights approach to sustainable development. They then discussed the benefits of good governance -- with an emphasis on environmental democracy -- as well as obstacles to be overcome and possible solutions.  Representatives of member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Council of Europe gave an account of their countries' experiences in committing to the promotion and implementation of UNECE's Aarhus Convention, which is widely recognised as the most far-reaching elaboration of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration. Drawing on its experience as an independent international organisation, the REC focused its input on regional governance, public participation, capacity building, fostering partnerships on a variety of levels and multi-stakeholder cooperation. The REC was represented in the panel discussion by the following speakers: Bozo Kovacevic, Minister of the Environment of Croatia Alexander Juras, Deputy Executive Director, the REC Svitlana Kravchenko, European ECO Forum For further information on the event, please contact: REC Country Office Hungary E-mail: coh@rec.org Tel: (36-26) 504-076

The REC's contribution was also covered by the 26 September 2002 issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin   Our partners in this event: The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe