Environmental crisis: the role of the judicial system to ensure the safety of the critical voice

The aim of the workshop is to analyze the role of the judiciary – both judges and prosecutors – to promote freedom of expression and ensure the safety of journalists, environmental and human rights defenders investigating and reporting on environmental crimes, and exposing human rights-related violations. 

The theme would be in line with 2024 World Press Freedom Day, that will be dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. The aim is to highlight the significant role that the press, journalism, access and dissemination of information play to ensure and secure a sustainable future that respects the rights of individuals and their diversity of voices, as well as gender equality. Independent journalists as well as environmental defenders, human rights defenders and scientists are crucial actors in helping our societies to separate facts from lies and manipulation in order to take informed decisions, including about environmental policies. 

Programme:

14h00-14h15: Opening session

• Ricardo Luis Hernán Blanco Herrera, President of the Supreme Court of Chile

• Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO

14:15-15h45: Session 1: Freedom of Expression and Environment – a necessary debate. 

Speakers 

• Guilherme Canela, Chief of the FEJ/CI Section at UNESCO - Moderator

• Sergio Muñoz Gajardo, Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of Chile

• Suntariya Muanpawong, Dr.Jur., Judge of the Appeal Court Region 2 of Thailand - The role of the judiciary in shaping Environmental Law and jurisprudence: the experience of Thailand

• Juan Bautista Mahiques, President of the International Association of Prosecutors and Attorney General of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires: Investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes: the Latin American experience 

Q/A

15h45-16h Coffee Break

16h00-17h30 Session 2: The role of the judiciary to ensure safety of critical voices.

• Karen Kaiser, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of The Associated Press - Moderator

• Giovanni Salvi, former Attorney General of the Supreme Court of Italy – Organized crime and environmental crimes. The protection of journalists: the Italian experience

• Ricardo Perez Manrique, Justice of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights – Consultative opinion of the IACHR on climate change and human rights

• Karla Mendes, Investigative reporter at Mongabay (Brazil-based), Fellow of the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network and Second Vice President and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair of Society of Environmental Journalists – Sharing of a specific case of investigative journalism on environmental crisis in the Latin American region 

Q/A

17h30-17h40 Conclusion and recommendations

• Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Communication and Information
• Representative of the Supreme Court of Justice of Chile (TBC)