The First Session of the International Peoples' Tribunal on Human Rights and the Environment, Sustainable Development in the Context of Globalization

Background

The First Session of the International Peoples' Tribunal on Human Rights and the Environment Sustainable Development in the Context of Globalization will be held June 22-23, 1997 in New York during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS). Heads of State from around the world will gather to review progress in the implementation of Agenda 21.

June 1997 will mark five years since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) met in Rio de Janeiro and negotiated the Declaration of Rio. Its vision has been slow in coming and given the accelerating pace of the globalization process, environmental degradation, the persistence of poverty and the growing gap between developed and developing countries, the comprehensive implementation of Agenda 21 remains vitally important. It is even more urgent now than ever to shift the developed countries from their consumptive course to one of renewal and sustainability.

Human rights and environmental sustainability are indivisible and interconnected in a systemic way. Baselines by which each country will be held accountable by the Tribunal include: the 27 principles proclaimed in the UNCED; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples; the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mission Statement

The vision for the International Peoples' Tribunal on Human Rights and the Environment emerged during the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN-CSD), April 7-25, 1997 in New York. A historic coalition of international Non-Governmental Organizations is now forming, cognizant of the interlinkage of human rights and the environment and the need for a forum for presentation, discussion and advocacy of the practices necessary to achieve globally sustainable development.

World leaders have admitted there is an environmental crisis. In order for development to be directed towards sustainability and environmental accountability, it must be considered within a human rights perspective. The international community has too often affirmed human rights issues merely as goals or objectives without taking any action to regulate the new economic structures of globalization, liberalization and developmental aggression which are leading to increased land loss, evictions, displacement, disempowerment, homelessness, poverty, marginalization and environmental degradation. The vision of Rio, 5 years from now, must include genuine corporate accountability. Too often governments' policies, including the CSD process, are not addressing Indigenous peoples' and vulnerable or marginalized communities' rights to ancestral land, their resources and economic systems. Too often their resources are pillaged and dumped on and they become the objects of research, denied free and informed consent be

fore projects are undertaken or reviewed.

International human rights instruments provide criteria and standards to ensure that governments and intergovernmental structures discharge their legal-binding obligation to sustainable development including: disarmament, decommissioning and practical difficulties of waste management of weapons of mass and indiscriminate destruction, monitoring and accountability of the private sector including transnational corporations, post-conflict situations, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Sustainable development must be integrated within the context of globalization to ensure that trade rules are compatible with strong and effective environmental policies.

Process for the Identification of Cases

The cases identified will all demonstrate the interlinkage of human rights and the environment within the context of sustainable development and globalization. All cases selected will present testimonies on crucial and pivotal issues addressed or not addressed in the Rio+5 process.

Invitation to Participate

The environment is a human rights issue, development is a human rights issue and therefore must be examined in the context of peoples' struggles. All peoples have a human right to sustainable development.

This tribunal will provide a forum for those who have no forum. Decisions made by a panel of Tribunal Members will help mobilize public opinion and serve as an indictment of those in the private, public, governmental sector violating human rights and the environment by calling attention to specific international laws, standards, commitments and obligations.

We invite cases demonstrating the interlinkage of human rights and the environment to participate. We also invite other NGO caucuses to present interventions to the panel of Tribunal members.

Process for the Identification of Tribunal Members

Tribunal Members will be selected on the basis of their international credibility and expertise regarding issues before the Tribunal.

Sponsors

The Human Rights Caucus and the Peace Caucus of the NGO Steering Committee for the United Nations

Commission on Sustainable Development (UN-CSD) are hosting The First Session of the International

Peoples' Tribunal on Human Rights and the Environment Sustainable Develqpment in the Context of

Globalization June 22-23, 1997.

Invitation to Co-Sponsor

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is the main forum within the United Nations system for ensuring the full integration of economic and social development considerations with those of environmental protection. CSD 5 is a time to strengthen what was achieved in Rio, identify gaps and evaluate the status of governments implementation of the Programme of Action.

Time is of the essence to reverse the deterioration trend. The role of NGOs is essential for the principles of Agenda 21 to be implemented. Environmentally sustainable development will only be achieved when viewed within the context of peoples' struggles and fundamental inalienable human rights.

The international NGO community is participating in, supporting and Co-Sponsoring this Tribunal. We invite the NGO Steering Committee to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UN-CSD) and other caucuses to contact their members, nominate a representative to the organizing committee and become a co-sponsor. Please contact the International Peoples' Tribunal for further information.

Notification and Participation in the Tribunal

The deadline for the submission of case summaries will be Tuesday, June 3, 1997. These summaries should be accompanied by the names and address of all parties identified as allegedly having an adverse impact on the rights of the petitioners. The Organizing Committee will be responsible for providing two weeks notice to all parties adversely implicated in the cases that will be heard by the Tribunal, providing them with copies of summaries in which they are so identified. They will be given an opportunity to respond to any allegations made against them and will be invited to make a written submission if they are not able to send a representative to the Tribunal.

Agenda

Sunday, June 22,1997

Monday, June 23,1997

9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8th Floor, UN Church Center

2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Chapel, UN Church Center

The UN Church Center is located at the comer of 44th Street and lst Avenue, directly across the street from the United Nations.

Tribunal Contacts

International Peoples' Tribunal

c/o African Services Committee, Inc.

28 East 35th Street, New York, NY 10016

Telephone: 212/683-5019 or 212/683-5021 Fax: 212/779-2862 E-mail: peoples-tribunal@juno.com

Website: httpllwwwidc.netlintipeoplestribunal and httpllwwwserve.comlafricanservel

Acknowledgments

The Organizing Committee of the International Peoples' Tribunal on Human Rights and the Environment wishes to acknowledge contributions by Dr. Clarence Dias, President, International Center for Law in Development and Tara Krause, People's Decade of Human Rights Education for initial planning of the Tribunal.

Services

Secretarial services funded and provided by African Services Comminee, Inc.

Video services provided by American Youth for Sustainable Development (DAYS) Borough Academies

Graphic design provided by Pax Studios

Organizing Committee

Goodiuck Diigbo, Chair Human Rights Caucus, NGO Steering Committee to UN Commission on Sustainable Development (NGOIUN-CSD);

Executive Director, Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment (PIPE); Steering Committee member, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni

People (MOSOP); National President, National Youth Council of the Ogoni People (NYCOP); Served as First Editor, Rivers State Television (RSTV);

Senior Editor, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC); Author, Path to Self-Re (1989); Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Journalists

(NUJ)-Rivers State; Founder, Rural Africa Non-Govemmental Organization

Marsha Monestersky, Co-Chair (Alternate) Human Rights Caucus and Poverty Eradication Caucus, NGO Steering Committee to UN Commission on Sustainable Development (NGOIUN-CSD); Consultant, Sovereign Dinah Nation (SDN) and Black Mesa Dinah Mining Action Center (BM DMAC)

Dr. Delois Blakely, Peace Caucus, NGOIUN-CSD; Harlem Women International; Chairperson, National African American Delegation; newlyappointed Queen Mother of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Community Mayor, Harlem, NY

Anne Zanes, Peace Caucus, NGOIUN-CSD; United Nations Representative, Peace Links; Board of Directors, Communications Coordination Committee for the United Nations

Margaret deCaireS, Human Rights Caucus, NGOIUN-CSD; Sovereign Dineh Nation (SDN) NY Support Group

Terese Lewin, International Spanish America Media Committee, Inc. (ISAMC Inc.); NGO Committee on the United Nations Decade of the

World's Indigenous People; NGO Committee on the Day of the Indigenous People; Program Committee, Harvard Club, Harvard University

Robert Kaplan, Human Rights Caucus, NGOIUN-CSD; International League for Human Rights

Therese Chorun, Burma UN Service office; NY Affiliate, Rainforest Action Network; Sovereign Dineh Nation (SDN) NY Support Group Attorney Daniel Newman, Friends of Louis Armstrong House

Marynancy Clary, Human Rights Caucus, NGOIUN-CSD; Sovereign Dinah Nation (SDN) NY Support Group

Priscilla Felia, New York State Greens

Honorary Advisors

Dr. Clarence J. Dias

President, International Center for Law in Development

Ward Morehouse

President, Council on International and Public Affairs, Inc.