51st Session of the Human Rights Council General Debate - Item 3, 21 September 2022

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) emphasizes the critical role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in integrating human rights into the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing climate-induced loss and damage. CIEL advocates for NHRIs to help States apply a human rights lens to financial mechanisms, coordinate with national statistical offices for redress, and ensure that domestic climate policies align with international human rights obligations and UN Climate Agreements.

• National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are essential for integrating human rights into the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and play a critical role in addressing climate change, regardless of whether a country is highly vulnerable to climate impacts or possesses the capacity to provide financial and technical aid. This is exemplified by the Philippines Commission on Human Rights, which identified a duty for all governments to cooperate in protecting people from climate-related harm.
• NHRIs are well-positioned to assist States in managing climate-induced loss and damage, which affects various human rights and disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations. Addressing loss and damage is necessary for the implementation of multiple SDGs, including SDG1, SDG2, SDG3, SDG5, SDG6, SDG10, and SDG13 (climate action).
• To establish pathways for remedy and redress regarding loss and damage, CIEL supports the OHCHR's suggestion to improve coordination between NHRIs and national statistical offices.
• NHRIs can assist States in applying a human rights perspective to national and international financial mechanisms. This ensures that rights-based funding is available for vulnerable groups to address climate-related losses and damages both domestically and extraterritorially. This aligns with a 2020 GANHRI statement and a call from the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and climate change for an international loss and damage fund.
• CIEL urges NHRIs to advocate for independent participation in UN mechanisms and to support the domestic implementation of UN Climate Agreements to ensure national climate policies remain consistent with human rights obligations.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2022). 51st Session of the Human Rights Council General Debate - Item 3, 21 September 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HRC52_CIEL_Statement_NHRIsCC.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. 51st Session of the Human Rights Council General Debate - Item 3, 21 September 2022. 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HRC52_CIEL_Statement_NHRIsCC.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=51st Session of the Human Rights Council General Debate - Item 3, 21 September 2022 |date=21 September 2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HRC52_CIEL_Statement_NHRIsCC.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw202251st, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{51st Session of the Human Rights Council General Debate - Item 3, 21 September 2022}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, month = sep, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HRC52_CIEL_Statement_NHRIsCC.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }