Panel “The critical role of human rights defenders in seeking solutions to environmental and social harms in the context of business activities.”
Keynote Speech by Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe
Dear Moderator,
Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, friends,
On behalf of the Council of Europe, the oldest pan-European organisation gathering 46 member states with over 700 million Europeans united around the values of human rights, rule of law and democracy, I would like to thank the organisers of this panel and the moderator Madam Hopenhaym for the invitation to deliver the keynote speech at this panel.
It is an honour for me to join you at this year’s UN Business and Human Rights Forum, where we gather under the critical theme: the role of human rights defenders in meeting today’s environmental and social challenges arising from business activities.
First and foremost, let me underscore that Environmental Human Rights Defenders—EHRDs—are at the forefront of our efforts to address environmental and social harms, all while upholding the fundamental rights that form the bedrock of our democratic societies. Their courage and work are indispensable to the preservation of our environment and, ultimately, to the well-being and dignity of all people.
The Council of Europe has, for many years, recognised the deep connection between human rights and environmental protection. As far back as 2008, our Declaration on protecting human rights defenders called unequivocally for an enabling environment—one in which individuals, groups, and associations are free to act in accordance with international standards and values.
Our collective resolve was reaffirmed at the 4th Summit of the in 2023, where the Heads of State and Government of member States of the Council of Europe pledged support for a safe space in which civil society, including human rights defenders, can operate free from hindrance, insecurity, or violence.
Building on these foundations, the Council of Europe’s new Strategy on the Environment reflects a forward-looking vision. It does not treat the environment and human rights as separate silos but weaves them together within a framework of democracy and the rule of law. This Strategy places EHRDs and whistle-blowers at its heart, guiding Member States to both enable and protect their work, including by embedding protection standards into environmental governance and decision-making processes.
Moreover, we are pressing for stronger accountability, not just for states, but for businesses as well. The Strategy calls on businesses to foster a genuine culture of responsibility—integrating environmental considerations into decisions, in line also with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This requires a blend of voluntary and binding measures, including legislation and robust support systems for companies. To help the process, the Council of Europe is also trying to work with companies to ensure that the Council of Europe instruments and standards, including those related to environment and social rights, are complied with. The initiative was launched in the presence of the Council of Europe Secretary General at the BRAVE 2025 a month ago – the First Council of Europe Business and Human Rights Forum, an acronym which stands for Business, Rights, Action, Values, Ethics, when we launched our report on the business case for human rights which was drawn up together with the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights.
Freedom of association, which is enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights, remains a cornerstone—without it, civil society, activists, and journalists are unprotected and their vital work is stifled. This is why the Council of Europe Secretary General’s initiative, “Towards a New Democracy Pact for Europe,” places this principle front and centre.
Our legal frameworks must evolve as well. The European Court of Human Rights has built an extensive body of case law on environmental and climate harms, setting out clear duties for states to assess risks, adopt the precautionary principle, and conduct environmental impact assessments transparently and scientifically, with meaningful public participation. In a recent case, the Strasbourg Court reaffirmed that climate impacts must be assessed and disclosed in decision-making, ensuring transparency and reasoned, science-based procedures.
Our practical action continues. On the margins of COP30 in Belém, we partnered with OHCHR to organise a side event focused on creating an enabling environment for Environmental Human Rights Defenders and integrating stronger protection standards into environmental governance. We launched the European Forum on EHRDs—to unite defenders, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and others, to share experiences and promote greater protections. The first Forum meeting will take place at the Council of Europe next June (3-4 June 2026), reinforcing our partnerships and momentum.
Lastly, the Ad hoc Multidisciplinary Group on the Environment will soon exchange with the Special Rapporteur under the Aarhus Convention, exploring new measures to shield those at risk of penalisation, persecution, or harassment for exercising their rights. This action reflects our collective commitment to championing and defending those who often stand on the frontlines.
In conclusion, dear ladies and gentlemen, I would like to convey the following message: let us work together—across borders, sectors, and institutions—to strengthen the vital work of environmental human rights defenders and ensure that respect for human rights and protection of our planet go hand in hand. Such an action is not a business cost but an opportunity for greater legal certainty, innovation and growth. This is an important task not just for individual regions of the world, but rather a global task for the humanity. The Council of Europe will remain willing to contribute to this agenda.
Thank you.
