Grievance Redress and Remedy Featured Among Newly Released Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders

As recognized under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a human rights-based approach is integral to halting and reversing nature loss in a sustainable manner. Those seeking to deliver on nature-positive impacts now have access to instruction on how to protect the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the endeavor–the Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders (“Core Principles”). The set of ten principles reflect and clarify existing international human rights norms and standards applicable to private conservation efforts, including the responsibility of taking action to prevent and remediate adverse human rights impacts.

The Human Rights and Conservation Connection

All of human life relies on a thriving natural world for health, sustenance, and wellbeing, but communities that have protected the resiliency of all through environmental stewardship subsistence are now especially vulnerable to nature loss. Further, as environmental defenders they are also among the most at risk of human rights violations and abuse, including with respect to conflicts caused by top-down conservation efforts undermining traditional knowledge and stewardship (case in point, Indigenous Karen community experience asserting their right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent with respect to the now-cancelled Ridge to Reef Conservation Project in Myanmar).

Sustainable conservation impact is achievable only by respecting the rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The Core Principles, developed through consultation facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), therefore seek to enhance respect for human rights and adherence to international human rights norms and standards. While they are intended to be applied by actors that engage or support conservation activities directly, they are also relevant to more indirect conservation activities such as the pursuit of nature-based solutions in voluntary carbon markets, however problematic they may be.

Every Conservation Organization and Funder Must Have Effective Grievance Mechanisms to Prevent and Remediate Adverse Human Rights Impacts

With reference to existing human rights norms and standards, the Core Principles call on conservation organizations and funders to respect, protect, engage, and report on human rights impacts. Specifically, Principle Six asserts that every conservation organization and funder should prevent and cease adverse human rights impacts caused or enabled by their efforts. Should harm occur, Principle Seven instructs on the need to “provide for the effective remediation of adverse human rights impacts,” chiefly by establishing, participating in, or facilitating access to effective and independent grievance mechanisms. Principle 10 articulates the importance of publicly reporting the steps taken to address potential and actual human rights impacts, including on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

With its discrete instructions on grievance redress and reporting, the Core Principles not only ask conservation actors to pursue high-level policy commitments, but also to develop the specific mechanisms intended to ensure accountability for and justice under those commitments. Accordingly, the Core Principles provide clear minimum steps for conservation organizations and funders to begin integrating human rights into their work.

Moving from Core Principles to Best Practice

The Core Principles will promote more deliberate and proactive consideration of human rights impacts only to the extent that conservation organizations and funders hold themselves to account through grievance redress and reporting. While the principles represent only baseline expectations, pursuing accountability under them will nonetheless promote respect for the knowledge, traditional stewardship, and rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples. Moreover, in addition to providing a means to prevent harm and facilitate remedy, accountability through grievance redress will help advance other best practices in human rights and the management of adverse impacts as new issues arise and learning is integrated into operations.

The Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders are available in English (Spanish and French forthcoming) on the UNEP publications website.