Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Title:   Protecting Environmental Rights Defenders in Racial Sacrifice Zones in the Caribbean: Towards a Rights-based Framework for Reparatory Environmental Democracy (RRED Framework)

Date: April 15, 2025

Time: 6:00pm – 7:30pm Eastern Time

Sponsoring Organization. Freedom Imaginaries

Languages: English

Location: Virtual Zoom Event
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/EnvironmentalRightsDefenders

Contact for organizer: Malene Alleyne
malene@freedomimaginaries.org


Summary Event:
Environmental rights defenders in the Caribbean face serious challenges. They often inhabit racial sacrifice zones - places where racially marginalized nations and persons are disproportionately burdened by environmental and climate crises. They stand on the frontlines of catastrophic harm, yet they are routinely excluded from access to environmental information, access to participation in environmental decision-making processes, and access to effective remedies for historical and contemporary injustices. In this context, this session continues the discussion on the situation of environmental rights defenders in the Caribbean. This iteration focuses on a proposed framework for rights-based reparatory environmental democracy (RRED Framework) as a tool for protecting environmental rights defenders and building pathways to reparations for structural environmental and climate injustice. The session will also take a critical look at the reparatory possibilities and limitations of the Escazú Agreement - the first environmental treaty for the Caribbean and Latin America.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/EnvironmentalRightsDefenders