The Advisory Council of Jurists of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions met at UNSW's Faculty of Law to begin a four day meeting to consider the right to the environment.
The Advisory Council of Jurists (the Council) of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) were briefed by experts on the environment and international environmental law when they met at UNSW last week.
The session, which was part of the APF's annual meeting, was hosted by the Faculty of Law. The jurists met with a number of environmental experts including UNSW's Professor Matthew England from the Climate Change Research Centre, and Professor Anthony Zwi from UNSW's School of Public Health and Community Medicine, who addressed the issue of health and the environment.
Associate Professor Andrea Durbach, the director of the UNSW Australian Human Rights Centre, is the Australian representative on the Council and hosted the Council's meetings in Sydney.
"It is very timely to be debating human rights and the environment in the Asia Pacific Region so soon after the APEC meeting issued its revised Declaration on Climate Change," she says.
"It is a great honour and privilege to be working with eminent jurists from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand to develop practical recommendations to assist APF members protect and promote human rights in their own countries and in partnership across the region."
The Advisory Council of Jurists advises the APF on the interpretation and application of international human rights law. The Council is made up of one representative from each of the APF's members.
Media contact: Louise McDermott on 04019 258 597