We are about to ratify at the first debate this great Regional Agreement that ensures environmental democracy, information access and measures to protect the life of environmental defenders, Alianza Verde Senator Antonio Sanguino noted.

The agreement introduces a new approach on environmental issues like environmental democracy, based on the consideration of human rights and citizens’ participation, which are necessary requirements to ensure a prosperous economy and the right to a healthy environment, the National Forum for Colombia pointed out.

The organization claims that it is a powerful instrument for conflict prevention because, instead of hindering private investment, it tends to create better social conditions for its realization.

Besides, it is an ideal complement for the implementation of the regulation on the access to public information and the citizen participation in environmental issues, the Forum added.

It stressed that even though the country already has regulations for it, not all of them were exclusively designed for environmental issues and they find huge social, cultural, institutional and political barriers for its proper and timely implementation.

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