Intersections of Climate Justice and Human Rights: Lessons from South Asia

South Asia’s jurisprudence relating to environmental rights and sustainable development is a good example to the rest of the world. For instance, judiciaries in South Asia have used existing rights creatively and articulated the right to a healthy environment. This trend continues in relation to climate change. Download the presentation to learn more.

Recent Climate Litigation Concerning Environmental Rights

An emerging feature of more recent climate change litigation is the use of some type of environmental right as the basis of the claim. The environmental rights invoked include the right of the public under the public trust doctrine; constitutional rights, particularly the right to life and the right to a clean and healthy environment; and more generally, human rights. This trend is likely to continue.

Petra Butler

Petra specializes in domestic and international human rights, public and private comparative law, and international commercial law with an emphasis on international commercial contracts and dispute resolution. She has published extensively in those areas (including together with Andrew Butler, The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990: a commentary (2nd ed, Lexis Nexis, 2015) and together with the late Professor Peter Schlechtriem, UN Law on International Sales (2nd ed, forthcoming)) and regularly is invited to speak at conferences, workshops, and seminars.

Britta Monika Baer

Britta Monika Baer has worked with the World Health Organization since 2011, including the last four years as Technical Officer (gender, equity, human rights, and aging) in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines. She supported the development of the Regional Framework for Action on Ageing and Health in the Western Pacific (2014-2019) and its endorsement by the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in 2013. As part of the Framework dissemination and implementation, Ms.

Imrana Jalal

A lawyer by profession, Imrana Jalal was formerly a Commissioner of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, and the Fiji Law Reform Commission. She is the author of Law for Pacific Women and architect of the Family Law Act 2003 which addressed children's needs and removed systemic legal discrimination against women. Her book is a recommended text book at the University of the South Pacific Law School. She is a founding member of the Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team which in 1998 received the UNICEF Maurice Pate Award for its cutting edge work in women’s rights.

Marrying Too Young: Policy Options for Actions to Address Child Marriage in Asia

This presentation examines the global and regional realities with respect to child marriages. It discusses key challenges such as harmful practices to girls' survival and well-being, gender-biased sex selection, violence against women and girls, and legal impediments. It also pointed to a way forward in eight critical areas.