Amnesty International has issued a call to action ahead of the COP16 biodiversity summit, urging states to bolster human rights protections within the Global Biodiversity Framework. This statement comes as participants prepare for the summit scheduled from October 21 to November 1 in Cali, Colombia, where the ambitious goals of the COP 16 will be under the spotlight.
The Conference of the Parties, the governing body of the Convention on Biological Diversity, continues to focus on conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit-sharing of genetic resources. During this year’s summit, participants are expected to push forward the 2022 Biodiversity Action Plan, harness its implementation across nations, and enhance progress on access and benefit-sharing, as highlighted in the summit’s objectives.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, emphasized the necessity of a robust monitoring system within the Global Biodiversity Framework. Such a system would comprehensively involve feedback from indigenous peoples and various organizations, aim to hold states accountable, and thoroughly document all human rights guarantees. As stated in Callamard’s remarks, the monitoring must recognize the rights and knowledge of indigenous communities, descendants of Africans, and local land-reliant communities. This approach should include tracking financial resources allocated for biodiversity conservation and ensuring legal protection for land defenders.
The call for reinforced human rights dimensions within the Global Biodiversity Framework echoes a broader need for concrete mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities while advancing biodiversity goals. In order to effectively address these concerns, it is crucial that participating states agree on comprehensive frameworks during COP16, ensuring that environmental objectives and human rights protections are aligned.