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	For a sustainable, human and social development by Emmanuel Decaux International Permanent Secretariat for Human Rights and Local Governments France   Sustainable development represents, to some extent, the new dimension, or even the new global expression of Human Rights.   Through inevitably complex and contradictory transformations, Human Rights may be threatened by policies that, for the sake of sustainable development, affect the coherence and the balance of rights.   Human rights defenders must take into account the radical changes triggered by sustainable development and contribute accordingly towards the fulfillment of rights said Michel Savy, member of the central committee, Human Rights League.   As we are experiencing a series of concurrent crises - environmental, financial, economic, social, food-related … - and as the reduction of poverty proves extremely difficult, leading some to the conclusion that the current development model is a failure, the issue of sustainable development has become even more crucial.   Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations Secretary General, has stated: “Sustainable development is one of our top priorities. We need to work harder in order to reduce the risk of disasters and to prevent crises caused by climate change, food insecurity, water and energy supply.”   The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) can only have a successful outcome if the following conditions are met:   It should formulate a vision – shared and supported by the largest number of states and key players – for a new mode of development, sustainable (respectful of the environment and natural resources), human and socially fair (respectful of human rights and international labour regulations),   This shared vision – discussed democratically between States, employers, unions and the civil society – should lead to concrete commitments as well as short-term, medium-term and long-term actions.   The contemporary crises raise two questions: firstly, the question of needs and how to meet the needs identified (including actions to be taken to tackle North / South inequalities). The second question relates to international legal standards, and in particular, how to respect Human Rights, in their universal and indivisible aspects.   All current crises, including environmental threats, are impacting on Human Rights. In 1992 already, the Rio Declaration stated that “human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development… They are entitled to a healthy and productive life, in harmony with nature".   What is the situation 20 years later? Beyond official declarations, what has been achieved in terms of Human Rights being part of sustainable development issues and what remains to be done? Particularly in the following areas:   Right to a Healthy Environment   If having a healthy environment has been given the status of a fundamental right, it is because it has become the expression of a collective public policy with new types of solidarity, not only within the states themselves, but also at an international level (protection of the marine world and coastal zones, protection of the ozone layer and protection of biodiversity).   Today, the environment represents a social value and an ethical objective. It requires collective responsibility from the states and also from all economic and social players.   Right to Food and Access to drinking water   In these early years of the 21st century, people die more from starvation, malnutrition, lack of drinking water and illnesses - with no access to medication- than from wars and direct repression.. This significant change may foster a different vision of the world. It may bring profound changes in the long run as a result of reassessing the rules of international trade for food products and medicine.   Right to Healthcare and to Social Protection   The environmental crisis – climate change, depletion of natural resources and decline of biodiversity – all has an impact on health with ever-increasing chronic illnesses all over the planet (cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, respiratory illnesses…). Human activities, with their negative impact on environment, are largely responsible for this situation, described by the World Health Organization as “the main challenge faced by mankind at the start of the 21st century ".   However, it is not only a health-related issue. It also concerns the economic and social system in general, threatening healthcare and life-insurance schemes developed in industrial countries after World War II.   Healthcare is an essential factor for the well-being of the population and the development capacity of a country. Yet, it is threatened by a sharp increase of chronic illnesses.   Environment and Prevention of Conflicts   The world population is growing fast and may reach 9 billion by 2050. As a result, the growing demand for resources (food, industrial raw materials…) could lead to a significant potential for conflicts, exacerbated by the consequences of climate change. It is therefore essential to take into account the cross-border nature of ecosystems and the environmental deterioration.   Right to Development (human and sustainable)   The right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.   The human right to development also implies the full realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, which includes, subject to the relevant provisions of both International Covenants on Human Rights, the exercise of their inalienable right to full sovereignty over all their natural wealth and resources. - Article 1 of the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 1986.   Green Economy (new economy) and Poverty Eradication   Poverty eradication and the question of natural resources and ecosystems are interrelated, as the life of the poor is largely linked to nature or natural capital. Extreme poverty is both the cause and the consequence of human rights violation. Sustainable development, as “a new global expression of Human Rights" is a prerequisite for the fight against exclusion and poverty.   Therefore, the adoption of a strategy based on human rights – in particular, the rights to a healthy environment and to decent working conditions – should be at the core of all the efforts made towards the eradication of extreme poverty, with the concurrent aim to achieve, by 2015, the Millenium development goals.   Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Natural Resources and Environment   According to the United Nations Organization, the planet counts today over 370 million indigenous people. They represent one third of the at least 900 million people living in extreme poverty. By helping these people regain their rights, especially in the area of natural resources, the environment which is common to all and should benefit everyone, will be better protected.   The following sectors are particularly concerned: Mine exploitation; Oil and gas exploitation; Land farming.   Democratic Governance and Access Rights   These rights refer to the democratic governance of societies. It is assumed that democracy is a prerequisite for the construction of a new development model:   Access to information : the right to ask governments for information on the environment as well as the right to obtain that information.   Right to participation: (participative or even collaborative democracy): the right to be heard, to be listened to and to be actively involved in public decision-making and policy-planning.   Access to Justice: the right to seek solutions and obtain legal compensation when a healthy environment is endangered.   In order to take up all these challenges, at the heart of which the Human Rights dimension is inevitable, local authorities must play a key role, on the field as well as at national and international levels, should they have developed global networks.   This is fundamental as local governments – especially in urban areas (counting for half the world population) – play an increasing political part.   For example, in the context of decentralization and organization of local governance, transferring the management of natural resources to the territories represents, for some, an essential condition.   Likewise, the global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City raises the issue of sustainable development and encourages local authorities to introduce policy frameworks in favour of sustainable, human and social development that are respectful of universal, indivisible and interdependent Human Rights.   In this perspective, the International Permanent Secretariat for Human Rights and Local Governments, based in Nantes, will continue to contribute to the international discussion on sustainable development and the fulfillment of Human Rights.   * Nantes will be the European Green Capital in 2013. 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	Frontline - Championing Independent Journalism by Frontline Staff   The Frontline Club opened its doors soon after the Frontline Television News agency closed down. Frontline TV was created in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the Romanian revolution. It went on to become a key player in independent television newsgathering.   "Frontline will be remembered as one of the high peaks of journalism. Martha Gellhorn certainly thought so, and she was a pretty good judge" - John Simpson.   The Club quickly became a centre for a diverse group of people united by their passion for quality journalism and dedication to ensuring that stories that fade from headlines are kept in sharp focus.   It exists to promote freedom of expression and support journalists, cameramen and photographers who risk their lives in the course of their work.   A weekly round up of world events from Monday, 23 to Sunday, 29 July from Foresight News.   Following the horrific shooting at the Dark Knight Premiere in Aurora, Colorado on Friday that killed at least 12 people and injured 58, suspect James Holmes appears in court on Monday morning. Police spent much of the weekend disabling explosives in Holmes’ apartment, and are still trying to piece together a motive for the attack.   EU Foreign Ministers meet in Brussels to discuss a host of issues, from energy policy to South Sudan. But the real focus will be on Syria – French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius confirmed last week that ministers would seek to impose new, stronger sanctions on the Assad regime, a move which gained renewed importance after China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on 19 July that would have authorised stronger global sanctions.   Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is in Moscow to hold his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Syria is on the top of their agenda, too. Given Russia’s recent stance, though, it’s unlikely that Monti will be able to persuade Putin to change his mind.   Officials from the IMF, EU and ECB make their quarterly-ish visit to Greece on Tuesday to check on how economic plans are progressing. The mission is the first since Greece’s new government under Prime Minister Antonis Samaras took over after elections last month, and was delayed from June due to Samaras’ health problems. Discussion will reportedly focus on securing a ‘bridging loan’ for Greece while the new government tries to find nearly €12bn in further spending cuts.   Tuesday also sees the latest hearing in Baghdad in the trial of Iraqi Vice President Tareq al Hashemi, who is accused of operating a death squad. The trial was postponed earlier in the month to allow an appeals court to review the case and rule on the conduct of the trial, including a request by Hashemi’s lawyers to call senior government figures as witnesses, which was denied by the trial court.   The Pakistani Supreme Court has given new Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf until Wednesday to issue a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to re-open graft investigations against President Asif Ali Zardari. Ashraf’s predecessor Yousuf Raza Gilani declined to submit the same request to Switzerland; he was subsequently found to be in contempt of court and disqualified from standing as Prime Minister, so it’s a deadline Ashraf will be looking at with some consideration.   Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is in London on Thursday. In addition to attending the Olympic opening ceremony and reportedly meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Chancellor George Osborne, Labour Leader Ed Miliband, and former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Romney is also playing host to two fundraisers for wealthy American ex-pats. Those whose wallets can only spare $2,500 will attend an evening reception with Romney, while donors who can dig up $75,000 will find themselves sitting down to dinner with the man himself.   Friday.. Well there must be something going on Friday. Oh yes, the small matter of the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. The Queen officially opens the Games, and in return she and other attendees can enjoy Danny Boyle’s ‘Isles of Wonder’ spectacle, a concert with Paolo Nutini, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran and Paul McCartney, and a Red Arrows flypast.   Meanwhile, the mood may be a bit less celebratory in Spain, where the latest quarterly unemployment figures are released. Despite relatively positive figures recently, including a drop in unemployment of 100,000 last month, figures still hover near the 25 per cent mark, and hundreds of people took part in demonstrations in Madrid last week to protest against unemployment and austerity.   Former US President Bill Clinton delivers the closing address at the AIDS 2012 Conference in Washington on Friday. He caps off a week of speakers that have included his wife (otherwise known as Secretary of State) Hillary, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, former First Lady Laura Bush, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg.   Romanians go to the polls on Sunday to decide whether or not President Traian Basescu should be impeached. Basescu was suspended from his post in a 6 July parliamentary vote, after Prime Minister Victor Ponta accused him of exceeding his authority and acting in a partisan manner. Basescu and his supporters have in turn accused Ponta of trying to oust the president in order to consolidate his own power.   The challenges ahead for Egypt''s first democratically elected president, by Jonathan Couturier.   Mohammed Mursi has become Egypt''s first democratically elected president - but while he may have been chosen as the people''s representative, the country still has to contend with the powerful Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), who may thwart any attempt at change. The panel was divided over Mursi''s ability to bring the country together and to pursue the desperately needed reforms to security, the economy and the political landscape.   Dr Maha Azzam from Chatham House and Dr Omar Ashour from Exeter University were both concerned by the enormity of the task faced by Mursi. But they remained hopeful that he would succeed in moving away from a military dictatorship so long as he could mobilise popular support. They both argued that his democratic mandate was already a major political and institutional step in the right direction, however he faced challenges in steering the institutions of state away from the shadows of Mubarak''s regime.   Tariq Ramadan from Oxford University struck a more pessimistic note, arguing that Mursi''s election was nothing more than a symbol behind which the military continued to govern. The panel seemed to agree with his claim that the military had their finger on the ''reset button'', and could reverse democratic reform at any moment.   Khalid Abdalla, a British-Egyptian actor, producer and activist also suggested that the political transition was more symbolic than real, and that military were still ''writing the rules of the game''. However he passionately argued that the greatest change occurred in the hearts and minds of the people: they were no longer afraid, and would continue to challenge the military - a point upon which all the panel agreed.   Carina Kamel, a senior correspondent for Al Arabiya drew attention to the loss of trust suffered by the Muslim Brotherhood, and argued that it was a divisive force in Egypt - making it even harder for Mursi to govern. Her claims split the panel, underlining the uncertainty surrounding the Brotherhood''s ability to govern and stand up to the military. She then rounded on Egypt''s economy, its dire state and the extent to which it was controlled by the Generals - further undermining Muri''s mandate.   The panel were united in their analysis of external influences on Egypt. They agreed that in the past the US was never far behind Egypt''s military, but warned that their influence could decline as Egypt sought to forge new links with emerging powers.   The audience made incisive interventions, drawing attention to the struggle of women under an Islamist government, the tendency for military regimes to endure, while pushing the panel to talk more about Egypt''s economy and its relations with the military.   * Frontline blogs: http://www.frontlineclub.com/news/blogs.html   * Access over 150 audio podcasts: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-frontline-club/id319581114?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=2 Visit the related web page
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