Join over 3500 events, in over 160 countries on October 24 to call for strong climate action.

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:00:32 +0000

Join over 3500 events, in over 160 countries on October 24 to call for strong climate action.

Why is climate change a human rights issue?

Unless states take prompt, adequate action to address its effects, climate change could become a major threat to the realization of human rights, with those already living in poverty feeling the effects sooner and more acutely. As global attention turns to the upcoming round of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December, it is more essential than ever to bring human rights to the table.

(What is happening in Copenhagen? Why the number 350? )

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The Global Campaign for Climate Action is a broad coalition of civil society organizations calling for an ambitious, fair and binding climate agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

TckTckTck is an unprecedented global alliance of civil society organizations, trade unions, faith groups and people like you—all calling for an fair, ambitious, and binding climate change agreement. If enough of us stand up, world leaders will listen.

Human Rights and Climate Change:

Upholding human rights while confronting climate change

As global attention turns to the upcoming round of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December, it is more essential than ever to bring human rights to the table.

Observed and projected changes attributable to climate change include the contraction of snow-covered areas; shrinking of sea ice and melting of polar ice caps; rise of sea levels; increased frequency of hot extremes and heat waves; increase in areas affected by drought; and increased intensity of tropical cyclones.

There is an intrinsic link between such environmental impacts and the ability to realize a range of human rights. State failure to act effectively to curb climate change could result in widespread violations of the right to life, right to health, right to water, right to food, and the right to housing. Acute water shortages and decreased crop yields in the poorer region of the world, to take just two examples, would undermine the rights of millions of people.

State responses to the threat of climate change must ensure that human rights are protected. Strategies for adaptation (preparing for the foreseeable adverse effects of climate change) and mitigation (slowing climate change and reducing its harmful effects) must be firmly rooted in a human rights analysis of the legal obligations of states. Amnesty International believes that the following rights and principles must be an integral part of efforts to address climate change:

Non-discrimination: The effects of climate change will be felt disproportionately by those who are also vulnerable to human rights abuses because of their poverty, age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or other status. Climate change policies must not discriminate and must ensure protection against discrimination, particularly of the most vulnerable groups.
Freedom of information: Access to information is critical to addressing climate change. States must promote and facilitate the flow of information on climate change and measures taken to address it. States have a duty to disseminate information about environmental risks.
Right to active participation: States must conduct adequate and meaningful consultation with affected people, involving them in decision-making on the policies that would shape their lives. States must ensure participation of civil society, including representative of vulnerable groups, in the design of national adaptation and mitigation strategies
Rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly: The right to peacefully protest against government action or inaction in relation to climate change is a crucial safeguard that must be respected and protected. Individuals must enjoy the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, and must not be persecuted or otherwise harassed for exercising these human rights.
Accountability and the right to effective remedy: Where states’ actions and omissions in relation to the impacts of climate change result in human rights violations, victims should have access to an effective remedy.

ACT: Millions facing food shortages, possible starvation in Afghanistan

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:16:09 +0000

GENEVA–The most severe drought in a decade is fueling a grave food crisis in Afghanistan that now threatens millions of people with food shortages and possible starvation, reports ACT International. Church World Service (CWS) and Christian Aid, members of ACT International with long-established programmes in Afghanistan, have developed plans to assist the most vulnerable in four challenged provinces. “Funding for this emergency remains a significant challenge,” reports ACT director, John Nduna. “What are we saying when only high profile emergencies receive our support?” The US$1.26 million ACT appeal for the drought in Afghanistan is severely underfunded, receiving less than three percent of the requested support. Mr Nduna stresses that dramatic funding is needed for the ACT alliance to do its part to address this crisis and support Afghan communities. “Life continues to be difficult for all Afghans, but the tens of thousands of displaced Afghans and returnees from Pakistan and Iran are particularly at risk,” says CWS Asia and Pacific regional coordinator Marvin Parvez.

Competing agendas
“In Afghanistan, the heroin trade, suicide bombings and the ‘war on terror’ has put the humanitarian agenda on the sidelines,” says Mr Parvez. “The international community has promised the Afghans so many times that we will not abandon them. Yet what we don’t abandon is our own agendas and then hunger, poverty and human rights are always the last issues to be addressed.” Poverty and conflict dominate the recent history of Afghanistan. The majority of poor Afghans have seen limited change in their villages since 2001 with consecutive years of drought leading to a significant impoverishment of the poorest families. Over time families have had to sell their assets just to survive. “Inequality in communities and in households remains firmly ingrained in the Afghan society, while fragile political balances often stand in the way of policies to promote equity,” says Serena Di Matteo, the country director in Afghanistan for Christian Aid. “With the already desperate humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the attacks on aid convoys have made it even more difficult to get supplies to reach the most vulnerable people,” adds Ms Di Matteo. “Armed groups don’t distinguish between convoys carrying food supplies for affected communities and convoys transporting supplies for foreign military troops.” In addition, Christian Aid reports that a combination of food price hikes, a downturn in the global economy, the effects of climate change, weak governance and the intensification of the armed conflict, threaten to push even more Afghans into the ranks of the desperately poor. “Unless the international community responds to the issue of hunger in Afghanistan, we will not be able to fulfill any other promises we are making to the Afghan people,” notes Mr Parvez. “The humanitarian agenda should be the top agenda.”

Severe lack of funding
CWS and Christian Aid are prepared to respond in the provinces of Nangarhar, Takhar, Laghman and Herat, where recent droughts have severely affected the residents’ food security and the inflow of Afghan returnees from neighboring countries has increased the demand for food. The ACT members plan to work alongside communities to increase sustainable food production, improve irrigation systems, provide clean water and strengthen livelihoods. However, all plans depend on the availability of external funding. Based on UN estimates, some 2.2 million tons of cereals need to be imported into the Afghanistan this year just to meet basic needs. Commercial imports were expected to supply 1.5 million tons. But, in the current situation — marked by high prices and the smallest wheat harvest in years — any meaningful commercial imports of food and agricultural inputs are unlikely. The bulk of the nearly one million-ton shortfall will need to be met by the international donor community. Speaking on the resilience of affected communities, Mr Parvez said, “The Afghans never fail… It is us who fail them.”

### ACT International members, Christian Aid and Church World Service, are working together under a joint ACT appeal for the drought emergency in Afghanistan. The ACT Coordinating Office communications team contributed to this content. Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

Media contacts:
Tomm Kristiansen, Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6039 / mobile: +41 79 358 3171 / tkr@act-intl.org ) Sidney Traynham, Assistant Communications Officer (office: +41 22 791 6711 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868 / sjt@act-intl.org )

Asia Pacific Youth Network » NGOs

Join over 3500 events, in over 160 countries on October 24 to call for strong climate action.