Legal empowerment

Poor people in developing countries often rely heavily on their immediate environment for their livelihoods and as a result, are the most exposed to environmental risks and degradation. Despite this, poor people are often under-represented or absent from decision making processes regarding their environment and the natural resources that sustain their communities.

Development can only take place sustainably when citizens have the right and ability to influence these decisions. In 1992, Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration, adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, called for public access to information, participation in decision-making and access to justice as key principles of environmental governance. Only when these principles are protected by the law and embodied in government practices can decisions be equitable, responsive to people's needs and environmentally sustainable.

Principle 10 of the Final Declaration of the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (June 1992)

"Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided."

FIELD is a member of the Partnership for Principle 10, launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. PP10 provides a platform for governments, civil society organisations, donors and other stakeholders to work together to develop practical solutions for translating the principles into action.

Effective access to meaningful information is the first step to empowering citizens to exercise control over resources and institutions. In 2008, FIELD undertook research on Access to environmental information in Uganda.

The Legal tools project helps local resource users in Africa gain greater control over the natural resources on which they depend within the context of large-scale investment projects. It combines action research with training and policy engagement, and legal expertise with participatory approaches.

In-country work is being piloted in Senegal, Ghana, Mozambique and Mali. To date two workshops were held in London (September 2006) and Accra (March 2008). Read more in the publication on 'Legal empowerment in practice. Using legal tools to secure land rights in Africa'.