What is the Human Right to a Healthy and Safe Environment?
Every woman, man, youth and child has the human right to a safe and healthy environment, and to other fundamental human rights linked to and dependent upon a healthy environment. The Human Rights at Issue Human rights relating to the environment are set out in basic human rights treaties and include: • The human right to a safe and healthy environment. • The human right to the highest attainable standard of health. • The human right to ecologically sustainable development. • The human right to an adequate standard of living, including access to safe food and water. • The human right to freedom from any type of discrimination. • The human right to safe working conditions, including adequate safeguards for pregnant and lactating women. • The human right to education and information, including information relating to links between health and the environment. • The human right to full and equal participation in environmental decision-making and development planning, and in shaping decision
