On International Mother Earth Day, the Argentine Republic welcomes the entry into force of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, and congratulates the 11 Member States and ECLAC, as Technical Secretariat, for having contributed to this regional milestone.
The Escazú Agreement is the first environmental treaty in Latin America and the Caribbean setting regional standards on the right of access in environmental issues and promoting capacity building and strengthening as well as international cooperation in the field.
In this context, Foreign Minister Felipe Solá participated in the event celebrating the entry into force of the Agreement that was organized by ECLAC and he highlighted the fact that from now on, our region begins to build the basis needed for the full exercise of rights of access to information, participation, and justice in environmental matters.
In addition, Solá noted that for Argentina in particular the Escazú Agreement is a key element to guarantee the right of all people to enjoy an environment that is healthy, balanced, and suitable for human development, as stated in our Constitution. This is also consistent with our Government’s commitment to human rights and an inclusive and to sustainable post-pandemic recovery, leaving no one behind.
The Foreign Minister also stated that, as active promoters of the Agreement’s negotiation, Argentina is pleased to have completed its ratification and the deposit on 22 January together with Mexico, thereby facilitating the entry into force of the agreement.
In closing, he reiterated the invitation for the Signing Countries to promptly ratify the Escazú Agreement and thus have an instrument with the greatest regional scope possible.
