Story | 21 Aug, 2017

4-6 September, 2017: OAS 2nd Inter-American Congress on the Environmental Rule of Law

The 2nd Inter-American Congress on the Environmental Rule of Law will take place in Santiago (Chile) from 4-6 September, 2017. WCEL is honored to join the Organization of American States (OAS), UN Environment, the Supreme Court of Chile, and other partners to further support the development and strengthening of legal and institutional frameworks grounded in the rule of law and principles of international law.

OAS 2nd Congress logo       Photo: Event logo screen capture
Objectives of this second Congress are to promote debate on the state, challenges, opportunities, and trends of environmental law in the Americas in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the upcoming 3rd United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) under the motto “Towards a Pollution-free Planet”.

Opening speakers include H.E. Luis Almagro (Secretary-General, OAS), H.E. Marcelo Mena Carrasco (Minister of Environment, Chile), and Justice Hugo Enrique Dolmestch Urra (President, Supreme Court of Chile). A high-level panel will also feature:

  • Justice Sergio Muñoz (Supreme Court of Chile);
  • Minister Edgar Edgar Gutiérrez (Ministry of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica);
  • Justice Ricardo Lorenzetti (President, Supreme Court of Argentina);
  • Justice Antonio Benjamin (National High Court of Brazil and Chair, WCEL);
  • Justice Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz-Mena (Supreme Court of Justice, Mexico); and
  • Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (President, Senate of Chile).

Over two days, thematic sessions will discuss:

  • Legal frameworks for management of water resources;
  • Trade, investment, and environment
  • Prevention and management of conflicts associated with development
  • Enforcement and environmental compliance
  • Access rights: information, justice and procedure
  • Trends in the environmental rule of law and emerging issues (“Towards a Pollution-free Planet”, 2030 Agenda, and human rights)

The overall goal of OAS and partners in their endeavors is to support the development and strengthening of legal and institutional frameworks for sustainable development and environmental protection. Therefore, the Congress will also feature a two-hour dialogue with participants from civil society organizations, academia, youth, judges, prosecutors, parliamentarians, attorneys from the private sector, and intergovernmental organizations. Final sessions include a “town hall” style meeting for open discussion among participants, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the OAS General Secretariat and UN Environment.