Human Rights And The Environment Under African Union Law

Foreword......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 7
About the Book......Page 8
Contents......Page 10
Abbreviations......Page 13
Notes on Contributors......Page 16
International Treaties......Page 22
UN/AU Resolutions and Other Official Documents......Page 24
National Legislation and Other Official Reports......Page 26
International Cases......Page 27
National Cases......Page 28
Part I: New Frontiers in Human Rights and Environment: Environmental Protection Under African Union Law......Page 30
1	 Introduction......Page 31
2	 Integrating Human Rights in Regional Environmental Governance in Africa......Page 34
The Intersection of Human Rights and the Environment in Africa......Page 35
The Emergence of Human Rights in the Field of Regional Environmental Governance......Page 38
3	 Key Themes in the Connection Between Human Rights and the Environment: African Perspectives......Page 44
References......Page 49
1	 Introduction......Page 52
2	 Human Rights, Health, Development and the Environment......Page 54
3	 The Right to a Healthy Environment in International Human Rights Law......Page 58
4	 The Nature of the Right to a Healthy Environment......Page 62
Regional Standards......Page 63
Domestic Standards......Page 68
Foundational Values and Principles......Page 70
Content and Scope of the Right......Page 72
Obligations of State Actors......Page 74
Obligations of Non-state Actors......Page 77
6	 Conclusion......Page 78
References......Page 79
1	 Introduction......Page 82
2	 Defining Human Vulnerability and Climate Change in Africa......Page 85
3	 The Criteria for Establishing Safe Climate as a Human Right: Testing the Waters......Page 89
4	 Conclusion......Page 101
References......Page 102
1	 Introduction......Page 107
2	 Background to Environmental Protection in Africa: Taking Control......Page 110
3	 An Environmental Rule of Law?......Page 113
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights......Page 116
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights......Page 121
Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court)......Page 124
Environment and Land Court of Kenya (ELC)......Page 125
6	 Conclusion......Page 128
Journal Articles......Page 129
Internet Sources......Page 130
1	 Introduction......Page 132
2	 Interrelationship Between African Women and the Environment......Page 135
3	 The International Legal Framework for the Protection of Women’s Environmental Rights......Page 139
The Link Between Environment and Development......Page 140
Women’s Environmental Rights Under CEDAW......Page 142
Women’s Environmental Rights Under the African Charter......Page 144
Women’s Environmental Rights Under the Maputo Protocol......Page 149
Domestication of Women’s International Environmental Rights......Page 154
4	 Conclusion......Page 157
Books......Page 158
Journal Articles......Page 159
Online Sources......Page 160
1	 Introduction......Page 162
2	 The Ecocentric Approach......Page 163
3	 Environmental Rights Protection in Africa......Page 165
4	 Rights of Nature and Earth Jurisprudence......Page 169
5	 The Potential Viability of Rights of Nature in Africa......Page 175
6	 Conclusion......Page 176
References......Page 177
Part II: Enforcement of Environmental Rights by Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Institutions......Page 178
1	 Introduction......Page 179
2	 A Glimpse into the Environmental Challenges in the Three Selected African Countries......Page 183
Tanzania......Page 185
Kenya......Page 191
Uganda......Page 195
4	 The Nexus Between the Rules of Procedure on Access to Courts and the Judiciary’s Role in Enforcement of Environmental Rights......Page 199
5	 Theories on Judicial Decision-Making: Making Sense of Courts’ Approaches to Environmental Issues in Africa......Page 204
6	 Conclusion......Page 206
References......Page 207
1	 Introduction......Page 210
2	 The Growth of Environmental Human Rights at the International and Regional Level in Africa......Page 213
3	 African Regional and Sub-Regional Human Rights Tribunals and the Protection of Environmental Human Rights: African Union Law and Policy in Practice......Page 218
4	 Conclusion......Page 228
References......Page 229
1	 Introduction......Page 232
2	 Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa......Page 236
Roles of Sub-regional Judiciaries in Environmental Governance Architecture in Africa......Page 237
3	 The ECOWAS Court of Justice......Page 238
Enforcing ECCJ Judgments......Page 243
4	 The East African Court of Justice......Page 247
5	 Conclusion......Page 249
References......Page 252
1	 Introduction......Page 255
2	 Constitutional ‘Essentials’: Climate Change in Context......Page 258
Direct Linkage of Climate Change to the Constitution......Page 263
Indirect Linkage of Climate Change to the Constitution......Page 269
4	 The Significance of Constructing Climate Change as a Constitutional Essential......Page 273
References......Page 276
Part III: Environmental Protection and Human Rights: Regional and National Case Studies......Page 282
1	 Introduction......Page 283
2	 Recognition and Coverage of Environmental Rights in Ethiopia......Page 286
3	 Legislative Challenges......Page 289
Lack of Timely Legislative Making or Revision......Page 290
Lack of Standards......Page 293
Lack of Inter-sectoral Integration......Page 296
Lack of Technological Infrastructure......Page 299
Lack of Adequate and Qualified Manpower......Page 301
5	 Conclusion......Page 302
References......Page 303
1	 Introduction......Page 306
2	 Women’s Role in Environmental Conservation and the Need for Their Participation in Environmental Decision-Making......Page 309
3	 Legal Recognition of Women’s Right to Participation in Environmental Decision-Making: Assessing the Adequacy of the Law......Page 314
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992)......Page 315
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (1992)......Page 317
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1975)......Page 319
The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003)......Page 320
4	 Women’s Right to Participation in Environmental Decision-Making in Uganda: Policy and Practice......Page 321
The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995)......Page 322
The National Environment Act (NEA) (2019)......Page 325
References......Page 328
1	 Introduction......Page 334
2	 The Environment as a Human Right: Contextual Background......Page 336
3	 Environmental Human Rights Protection in Cameroon......Page 343
The Environmental Rights......Page 344
Access to Information......Page 347
Public Participation......Page 349
Access to Justice......Page 353
Substantive Limitations......Page 355
Procedural Limitations......Page 358
5	 Conclusion......Page 362
References......Page 363
1	 Introduction......Page 368
The Separation of Powers......Page 371
Judicial Independence......Page 373
“Environmental” Rule of Law......Page 375
3	 Constitutional Right to a Healthy Environment......Page 376
The Constitutional Framework on Environmental Rights......Page 377
4	 The Courts and the Right to a Healthy Environment......Page 383
5	 An Appraisal of the Judiciary and Environmental Protection in Zimbabwe......Page 389
6	 Conclusion......Page 393
Articles......Page 394
Reports and Other Secondary Sources......Page 396
Online Sources......Page 397
1	 Introduction......Page 399
2	 Conceptualizing the Link Between Human Rights and the Environment......Page 402
3	 The African Context and Realities......Page 408
4	 Experiences of Select Countries in Africa......Page 413
Kenya: The 2010 Transformation Constitution......Page 414
South Africa......Page 420
Nigeria......Page 423
5	 The Merits and Limits of a Human Rights-based Approach......Page 425
6	 Conclusion......Page 428
References......Page 430
Part IV: Business Practices, Human Rights and the Environment......Page 433
1	 Introduction......Page 434
2	 Human Rights, Neoliberalism and Energy in the Global South: A Theoretical Overview......Page 438
3	 The Legal and Policy Framework Governing the Zambezi River Basin......Page 444
Mozambique......Page 447
Zimbabwe......Page 449
4	 The Historical Impacts of Law and Policy on Indigenous Zambezi Riverine People......Page 450
Mega Dams and Energy Politics’ Impact on Human Rights......Page 452
The Case for Alternatives to Contemporary Neoliberalism’s Impacts on Environmental and Human Rights......Page 453
References......Page 454
1	 Introduction......Page 458
2	 Trade, Human Rights and the Environment: Theoretical and Conceptual Considerations......Page 461
AfCFTA Objective, and Ramifications on Extractive Industries and Mining Communities......Page 463
Challenges and the Weaknesses Related to Operationalization of AfCFTA......Page 464
The Banjul Charter......Page 465
ACHPR......Page 466
African Commission......Page 467
Extractive Business and the Mandate of WGEI Resolution 48 of 2009......Page 469
The Malabo Protocol......Page 471
Abuses, Human Suffering and Human Rights Violations......Page 474
Iniquitous Beneficiation and Exploitation......Page 476
Extractive Industry Sector, Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability......Page 477
Harmonized Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability Framework......Page 478
Partnerships, Public Participation and Open Governance......Page 479
Continental Governance and Management Framework......Page 480
References......Page 481
Index......Page 488