Newspaper article
OA Policy
English

Granting Rivers Legal Rights: Is International Law Ready for Rights-Centered Environmental Protection?

Published inNew Security Beat, no. June 19
Publication date2018
Abstract

In 2017, four rivers were granted legal rights: the Whanganui in New Zealand, Rio Atrato in Colombia, and the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in India. These four cases present powerful examples of the increasing relevance of rights-centered environmental protection. Like corporations, which have legal rights in many jurisdictions, these rivers are rights-bearing entities whose rights can be enforced by local communities and individuals in court. But unlike corporations, these rights are not yet recognized in international treaties. Which raises the question: what are the implications of rights for nature for international environmental law?

Keywords
  • Water law
  • Rights for nature
  • Rights for rivers
  • Human rights
NoteAlso available on Expert:ISE blog : http://www.expert-ise.ch/granting-rivers-legal-rights-international-law-ready-rights-centered-environmental-protection
Citation (ISO format)
TIGNINO, Mara, TURLEY, Laura. Granting Rivers Legal Rights: Is International Law Ready for Rights-Centered Environmental Protection? In: New Security Beat, 2018, n° June 19.
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Article (Published version)
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  • PID : unige:125194
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