DESIRE LORDSON
Stakeholders in the environment sector have agreed to build a common human rights Agenda for sustainable Marine and ecological development in Africa.
They made their position known in a one day forum in Port Harcourt.
The meeting which brought together stakeholders from different sectors including the environment, academia, civil society Organisations, legal sector and the Media, brain stormed over ways to mitigate the violation of the rights to a healthy environment in Africa.
In their separate presentations, Professor Miebaka Ayotamuno of the Rivers State University and Professor Solomon Ebobrah of Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, looked at ways of enhancing the Ocean economy in Africa, as well as attaining development without violating environmental rights.
Also speaking, Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Dr. Emem Okon called for Local Government participation in policies to mitigate environmental hazards in order to address climate issues in communities more appropriately.
Earlier, the President, International Human Rights Commission, IHRC, Africa, Alhaji Musa Saidu said the forum was necessary to involve critical stakeholders on ways to achieve sustainable development in the marine and ecological sector in Africa.
The forum which was put together by the IHRC recommended amongst others, that Policies of government on marine, ecological rights should be translated to impact directly on the affected persons.
