Notes with appreciation the analytical study on the relationship between human rights and the environmentsubmitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 16/11;4
Decides to appoint, for a period of three years, an independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, whose tasks will be:
a
To study, in consultation with Governments, relevant international organizations and intergovernmental bodies, including the United Nations Environment Programme and relevant multilateral environment agreements, human rights mechanisms, local authorities, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, including those representing indigenous peoples and other persons in vulnerable situations, the private sector and academic institutions, the human rights obligations, including non-discrimination obligations, relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;
b
To identify, promote and exchange views on best practices relating to the use of human rights obligations and commitments to inform, support and strengthen environmental policymaking, especially in the area of environmental protection, and, in that regard, to prepare a compendium of best practices;
c
To make recommendations, consistent with her or his mandate, that could help the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular Goal 7;
d
To take into account the results of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in June 2012, and to contribute a human rights perspective to follow-up processes;
e
To apply a gender perspective by, inter alia, considering the particular situation of women and girls and identifying gender-specific discrimination and vulnerabilities;
f
To work in close coordination, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, with other special procedures and subsidiary organs of the Human Rights Council, relevant United Nations bodies and the treaty bodies, taking into account the views of other stakeholders, including relevant regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and academic institutions;
g
To submit a first report, including conclusions and recommendations, to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session and annually thereafter;
3
Requeststhe High Commissioner to ensure that the Independent Expert receives the resources necessary to enable him or her to discharge the mandate fully;
4
Calls uponall States, United Nations agencies, other relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and national human rights institutions to cooperate fully with the Independent Expert, and invites them to share best practices with the Independent Expert and to provide him or her with all the necessary information relating to the mandate to enable him or her to fulfil the mandate;
5
Encouragesthe Office of the High Commissioner to participate in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in order to promote a human rights perspective;
6
Decides to continue its consideration of the matter under the same agenda item at its twenty-second session.
The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its nineteenth session (A/HRC/19/2), chap. I.
