MEXICO: Ratification of Escazú Agreement triggers entry into force
In November 2020, Mexico became the 11th country to ratify the Escazú Agreement – the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean – triggering the clause that determined its entry into force in February 2021. Negotiations towards the Agreement on environmental rights had begun in 2015, and it had finally been adopted in 2018, in the Costa Rican town of Escazú, after extensive civil society involvement that ensured the inclusion of ambitious commitments on prior informed consent from affected communities and the protection of environmental human rights defenders under threat.
A very important aspect was that throughout the negotiation process, CSOs had a voice in the meetings. We could raise our hands to make proposals to the document. Some important developments, such as the inclusion of article 9 on the protection of human rights defenders, were CSO contributions. This is a unique article, not found in any other instrument.
Olimpia Castillo
