“The #escazu treaty has been approved as law. The defense of environmental rights will now be a reality. A great tribute to the environmentalists who gave their lives in the noble cause of environmental protection in a violent and intolerant country,” Senator Piedad Cordoba wrote on her Twitter account.

The ambassador of Colombia in Argentina, Camilo Romero, expressed his satisfaction with the approval of the law. “They delayed this agreement for years while making us the country with the most murdered environmentalists in the world. What happened shows that there is a new time: that of the citizen mandate for the care of life, the environment and humanity,” said the diplomat.

The Escazú Agreement was approved by the Chamber of Representatives of the Colombian Congress 120 votes in favor and one against, and will be sent for conciliation and subsequent presidential sanction to become the Law of the Republic.

“Let actions begin to materialize in the territory and dissipate conflicts that put vulnerable communities in a very delicate position,” said Susana Muamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development.

She stated that once it has been sanctioned by the head of state, it will become a reality through five short-term actions: an environmental information management policy, a strategy to accompany environmental defenders, expansion of citizen participation in environmental decisions, support for the creation and strengthening of citizen oversight offices, and an information system on socio-environmental conflicts.

Colombia remains among the top countries in the world with the most murders of environmental leaders and, although it went from first to second place on the list, these crimes remain a pending issue.

llp/mem/otf