The Environment in DR Congo

The human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is enshrined in constitutions, laws, policies and some regional agreements adopted by more than 150 states. Realizing this right requires guaranteeing a safe and stable climate, the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and a non-toxic environment.

Individuals must also be able to participate in environmental action and benefit from access to information and justice in this area. Environmental protection is a necessary condition for the effective enjoyment of human rights enshrined in treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These treaties, together with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, guarantee the above-mentioned rights to everyone, without discrimination based on sex or gender. . When protecting the right to a healthy environment, States should take into account the needs of individuals and populations who are disproportionately affected by environmental damage or who are at high risk of being affected. They should in particular take into account the impacts of environmental damage differentiated by gender