The newly adopted Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (the Escazú Agreement) promotes environmental governance in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) provides a legal international framework for governments to engage the public effectively in biosafety-related matters by guaranteeing rights to access information, participate in decision-making and to seek justice. The GMO Amendment to the Aarhus Convention, which entered into force on 20 April 2025, strengthened provisions on public participation and access to information regarding decisions on the deliberate release into the environment and placing on the market of GMOs, thereby enhancing transparency and inclusiveness in biosafety-related decision-making processes. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety’s Article 23 promotes public awareness and participation, including access to information, regarding LMOs. 

 

The side event highlighted key needs and recent developments under the Escazú Agreement, the Aarhus Convention and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as identified by treaties’ Parties and stakeholders, including from the private sector and non-governmental organizations. These included:

 

•            Raising awareness of the benefits and implementation of the Escazú Agreement, Article 23 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Aarhus Convention, including its GMO Amendment, on issues related to awareness, access to information, public participation and access to justices;

 

•            Identifying capacity-building needs with regards to awareness, access to information, public participation and access to justice; and 

 

•            Showcasing best practices and opportunities regarding awareness, access to information, public participation and access to justice (e.g., inter-regional cooperation, synergies, including on making use of new frameworks/plans/road maps).   

 

Parties to all the instruments benefited from the shared experiences to support establishment and/or strengthening national systems that promote awareness, access to information, public participation, and access to justice.