Safeguarding human rights for future generations
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 28 June 2024 (23rd sitting) (see Doc. 15999, report of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and
Sustainable Development, rapporteur: Mr Pedro Cegonho; and Doc. 16016, opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human
Rights, rapporteur: Ms Gala Veldhoen). Text
adopted by the Assembly on 28 June 2024 (23rd sitting).
1. The Parliamentary Assembly emphasises
that a sustainable world must not only meet the needs of the present
generation: it must also guarantee that future generations can likewise
meet their needs. This is nothing less than respecting intergenerational
equity and is all the more an absolute imperative in the face of the
climate change challenges of today.
2. Protecting the planet for future generations also means repairing
the environmental damage already caused.
3. Moreover, the Assembly stresses that while the climate crisis
has rightly been identified as the biggest existential emergency
facing humankind, we must not overlook other significant risks to
the rights of future generations, such as those generated by growing
socio-economic inequalities, public health emergencies, wars and
conflicts, and rapid technological advances.
4. Recalling its previous work on artificial intelligence, as
set out in
Opinion 303
(2024) “Draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence,
Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law”, the Assembly notes
that the unprecedented pace of technological progress will likely
become one of the key factors affecting the lives of future generations.
To this end, it welcomes the adoption of the Council of Europe Framework
Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and
the Rule of Law. The Assembly reiterates its readiness to contribute
to the preparation of additional binding and non-binding instruments
that will ensure that technological advancement is accompanied by
respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
5. The Assembly notes that numerous constitutional texts now
contain references to future generations and that the notions of
future generations and intergenerational equity are ever more frequently
used before national and international courts in environmental litigation.
6. The Assembly welcomes the fact that the Reykjavik Declaration,
adopted at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the
Council of Europe held on 16 and 17 May 2023, has recognised the
scale of the task ahead and that the Heads of State and Government
of Council of Europe member States committed therein to meeting
the current and future challenges, rising up to the expectations
of future generations and making the environment and intergenerational
solidarity visible priorities for the Organisation.
7. The Assembly notes with grave concern that human activity
is threatening the extinction of one million species of plants and
animals, leading to an irreversible loss of biodiversity and the
collapse of ecosystems. To this end, the Assembly welcomes the adoption
by the Standing Committee of the Council of Europe’s Convention
on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (ETS
No. 104, Bern Convention) of its Strategic Plan for the Bern Convention
for the period to 2030, which sets out goals for halting the decline
in biodiversity, recovering wildlife and habitats, improving the
lives of people and contributing to the health of the planet. The
Assembly recalls that States are under a continuous international
legal obligation to prevent activities on their territory causing
significant harm or damage to the environment of another State or
areas beyond national control.
8. In the light of these considerations, the Assembly invites
Council of Europe member States to seize and build upon this strategic
moment in the Organisation’s existence, and to strongly promote
both at the national level and in international forums:
8.1 their political will to uphold,
protect and develop the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
– both at the individual and the collective level – of future generations,
based on the fundamental principle of equality and non-discrimination
found in human rights law;
8.2 their political will to advance rapidly and with determination
on the existing environmental standards and practices, from a less
anthropocentric perspective and taking into account recent legal developments
in environmental matters, in particular the case law of the European
Court of Human Rights in climate-related cases;
8.3 the swift signature and ratification of the Council of
Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights,
Democracy and the Rule of Law, encouraging them to extend the potential of
recognising the full applicability of the principles and obligations
set forth therein (Chapters II to VI) to activities of private actors.
