16-19 April 2013. Guadalajara, Mexico. Second meeting of the focal points designated by the governments of the countries that signed the declaration on the application of Principle 10 and Realizing the Future We Want in Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards a Development Agenda Post-2015

16-17 April 2013: Second Meeting of the focal points designated by the governments of the countries that signed the Declaration on the implementation of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development


ON-LINE REGISTRATION: To attend the meeting please register here.

HOTEL REGISTRATION: For hotel reservations, please click here.

Date and Place: Hilton Hotel, Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 April, 2013

Purpose of Meeting: The second meeting aims to discuss and approve the Action Plan until 2014 to implement the Roadmap process of creating an instrument on the implementation of Principle 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean, proposed by the Bureau Directive.

Documents of the meeting:
Preliminary program

Proposed Action Plan for 2014

17-19 April 2013: Realizing the Future We Want in Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards a Development Agenda Post-2015, Guadalajara, Mexico

The Government of Mexico, with the support of ECLAC, is organizing a regional consultation of civil society "Performing the future we want in Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards a Development Agenda post-2015" to be held on 17 to 19 April 2013.

Documents of the meeting:

Preliminary Program (in Spanish)

Information Note (in Spanish)

NOTE: Persons accredited to the Second Meeting of the Focal Points of the Declaration of Principle 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean will be automatically registered in the Regional Consultation "Making the Future We Want in Latin America and the Caribbean: Towards an Agenda for Development post-2015 "to be held from 17 to 19 April 2013. However, only those interested in participating in the Regional Consultation must register directly with the organizers.

Background

At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, the Declaration on the implementation of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development was signed. In the Declaration, the signatories agreed to develop and implement an action plan for 2014, with the support of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) as technical secretariat to enhance the implementation of a regional agreement or other instrument to advance the full implementation of the rights of access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters.

Signatory Countries:

The importance of access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters was recognized 20 years ago in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992). On that occasion, 178 governments stated that:

"Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided." (Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992).

At 20 years after the adoption of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, the importance of access to information, participation and justice in environmental matters has been reaffirmed and expanded in various international and regional initiatives.

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