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- Ελληνικά
The UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, Mr Michel Forst, is visiting Cyprus between 5 and 9 February, following an invitation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. Mr Forst is visiting Cyprus as a Contracting Party to the Aarhus Convention (UNECE-United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters). It is noted that this is the first official visit that the Special Rapporteur has made to Cyprus since taking office.
Mr. Forst has recently been elected as an independent Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders, under decision VII/9 of the parties to the Convention on the establishment of a rapid response mechanism to address cases of sanctions, persecution, harassment and other forms of retaliation against any person exercising his or her rights under the provisions of the Convention. More information is available here.
The purpose of his visit is to raise awareness about his role at the international level, but also about Cyprus' obligations under the Convention regarding the protection of environmental defenders and the principles of the Convention. The visit of the Special Rapporteur is an initiative of the Environment Department, as the competent authority for the implementation of the Convention, in the context of strengthening its work, which we are called upon to do as a State, but also as an effort of the Department to develop the knowledge and skills on environmental justice issues in Cyprus.
As part of his visit, Mr Forst will have a meeting today, Tuesday 6 February, with the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr Maria Panayiotou, during which issues of protection of environmental defenders and better implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention will be discussed. The effective implementation of the rights of access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters is an obligation of the state both through the Aarhus Convention and its Strategic Plan for 2022-2030 and in view of the priority actions recommended by the European Commission in its latest Cyprus Environmental Implementation Report (EIR for 2022). Mr Forst will participate as a keynote speaker at the conference, during which he will present his mission and role. The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Commissioner for the Environment, Ms Antonia Theodosiou, will address the conference, among others. The participants will address issues such as the Aarhus Convention and its implementation in Cyprus, access to justice for environmental issues in Cyprus and legal shortcomings in view of the Aarhus Convention and European Union law.
The programme of the visit of Mr. Forst will conclude with a working dinner at which he will be joined by Dr Panagiotou, Ms Theodosiou, the Director General of the General Directorate of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Kostas Hadjipanagiotou and officials, during which an evaluation of his visit to Cyprus will be made.
(EN/EAθ)
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