Comments and Suggestions for UNEP’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders Policy

Natural Justice suggests that UNEP diversify reporting channels via hotlines and apps to reach grassroots defenders, establish a coordinated international system for evidence collection, and streamline verification processes through a multi-stakeholder Committee to ensure decisions are made within 72 hours. The organization also advocates for long-term systemic legal reforms and specialized protection programs for women, indigenous peoples, and marginalized groups.

• UNEP should diversify its reporting channels to increase accessibility for grassroots defenders in marginalized areas, who often lack access to conventional communication. Recommended tools include 24/7 hotlines, reporting apps, and website forms to supplement email, alongside a communication strategy to ensure defenders are aware of available support.
• To address fragmented data on human rights violations, UNEP should implement a coordinated international collaboration plan for evidence collection. Natural Justice suggests establishing country-level mechanisms where supporting organizations can input case information directly, utilizing confidentiality measures like coding systems to protect victims.
• The vetting and verification process for intervention requests should be streamlined to avoid excessive delays. Natural Justice proposes a Committee including representatives from UNEP's Law Division, Regional Office, UN Resident Coordinator, and OHCHR to make decisions, with a recommended response timeline of 72 hours.
• UNEP's policy should move beyond short-term interventions to include long-term systemic changes, such as using collected evidence to pressure state parties into implementing national legal and policy reforms to protect defenders.
• Specialized protection and resilience programs are needed for women, indigenous peoples, and local communities. These should include training on sexual violence, digital security, and psychosocial support, as well as infrastructural support through technology to improve reporting access.

APA

Natural Justice (n.d.). Comments and Suggestions for UNEP’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders Policy. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NJ_Comment-Sheet_Comments-on-UNEPs-Draft-Policy-on-ELDs_2020.05.27.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. Comments and Suggestions for UNEP’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders Policy. n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NJ_Comment-Sheet_Comments-on-UNEPs-Draft-Policy-on-ELDs_2020.05.27.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Natural Justice |title=Comments and Suggestions for UNEP’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders Policy |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NJ_Comment-Sheet_Comments-on-UNEPs-Draft-Policy-on-ELDs_2020.05.27.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{naturaljusticendcomments, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Comments and Suggestions for UNEP’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders Policy}}, publisher = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/NJ_Comment-Sheet_Comments-on-UNEPs-Draft-Policy-on-ELDs_2020.05.27.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }