Human Rights, Health and the Environment
Where human rights shape sustainable health and environmental action
10 April 2026 | 10:00 - 11:30 CEST 
Online
Objective
This event provided an opportunity to explore how human rights standards, principles and monitoring mechanisms can support the objectives of the One Health approach, while ensuring the protection of human dignity, equity and participation. By analysing existing legal and policy tools, as well as relevant case law, the event highlighted ways in which a human rights-based framework can strengthen integrated and sustainable responses to complex health and environmental challenges.
Documents
- Council of Europe Strategy on the Environment
- The European Social Charter
- Chisinau Declaration
- Council of Europe Landscape Convention
- Explanatory Report on Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States for the implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention – Landscape and Health
- Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law
- Florence Declaration
- Landscape mosaics: Thoughts and proposals for the implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention
Programme
10:00 - 10:10 Opening Remarks
- Rafael Benitez, Director of Social Rights, Health and Environment, Council of Europe
10:10 - 10:20 Keynote Address
- Sarah Barnier-Leroy, Chair of the Steering Committee on the Environment (CDENV), Council of Europe
10:20 - 10:25 How the right to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment supports the objectives of the One Health approach
- Wondwosen Asnake Kibret, Policy and Partnerships Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme Europe Office
10:25 - 10:35 The role of the European Committee of Social Rights in recognising the link between health protection and a healthy environment
- Tatiana Puiu, Vice-President of the European Committee of Social Rights
10:35 - 10:45 The Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation on Landscape and Health: highlighting the contribution of landscape quality to physical and mental well-being
- Michael Oldham, Founding President of the IFLA EU International Federation of Landscape Architects Europe and former head of delegation from IFLA EU to the CDCPP and Council of Europe Landscape Convention
10:45 - 10:55 Strengthening integrated and sustainable responses to complex health and environmental challenges – Youth Perspective
- Szymon Górny, Member of the Youth Scientific Advisory Board, Youth and Environment Europe; representative of M-Lab, Poland
10:55 - 11:30 Interactive Discussion
Speakers
