,,iii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #adb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #cj1 #bjbc,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,markey1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,expressing concern about environmental crimes and attacks on the human rights of environmental and land defenders in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean4 ,whereas rising instances of environmental crimes1 land grabbing1 unregulated and illegal natural resource destruction and extraction1 and irresponsible infrastructure development threaten biodiversity and rural and ,indigenous community livelihoods in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean1 which is home to #dj percent of the world's species and more than #bd percent of the ,earth's forests2 ,whereas harassment1 threats1 assaults1 and killings against environmental and land defenders protesting such crimes and development have increased throughout the region since #bjah2 ,whereas1 according to ,global ,witness1 ,latin ,america is the deadliest region in the world for environmental and land defenders1 with nearly #ge percent of the #bjj known attacks against such defenders during #bjba taking place in the region1 including-- 7#a7 in ,mexico1 where #ed environmental and land defenders were murdered in #bjba1 representing the highest number of such murders in any country that year2 7#b7 in ,colombia1 where #cc environmental and land defenders were murdered during #bjba1 representing the second highest number of such murders in any country that year2 7#c7 in ,brazil1 where #cdb environmental and land defenders have been murdered since #bjab1 representing the highest number of such murders of any country since the reporting of such murders began2 and 7#d7 in ,peru1 ,venezuela1 and ,brazil1 where #gh percent of the attacks against environmental and land defenders in the ,amazon region occurred2 ,whereas more than #be percent of the attacks on environmental and land defenders during #bjba were reportedly linked to resource exploitation1 including logging1 mining1 large scale agribusiness1 hydroelectric dams1 and other infrastructure2 ,whereas1 approximately #dj to #fj percent of logging activities in the ,peruvian ,amazon are illegal1 according to ,,interpol1 and approximately #ie percent of deforestation in ,brazil in #bjba was irregular1 according to the ,brazilian ,annual ,land ,use and ,land ,cover ,mapping ,project2 ,whereas1 in #bjba1 ,indigenous peoples made up more than #dj percent of victims in fatal attacks against environmental and land defenders worldwide1 despite ,indigenous peoples only comprising approximately #e percent of the world's population2 ,whereas ,indigenous peoples1 who steward more than #hj percent of the world's biodiversity1 are disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of environmental loss and more frequently targeted in attacks on environmental and land defenders2 ,whereas women acting in defense of their lands and natural environments in ,latin ,america face additional threats to their human rights1 as ,latin ,america has the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world2 ,whereas many countries in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean lack sufficient oversight capacity1 transparency1 and accountability for regulations of environmental permits and investigations of environmental crimes1 especially in ,indigenous lands1 nationally protected forests1 and other remote geographical areas with limited government presence1 forcing affected populations to advocate for their land and natural resources at great personal risk2 ,whereas corruption in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean enables the subversion of laws designed to prevent environmental crime and protect natural resources1 undermining efforts to prevent ecological destruction2 ,whereas the ,,covid-#ai pandemic has strained the resources and institutional capacity of ,latin ,american and ,caribbean ,governments to address environmental crimes and prevent the expansion of nonstate actors into remote areas and border regions where these groups target environmental and land defenders and engage in illicit mining and drug trafficking activities2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development has developed programs to reduce environmental crimes and other threats to the ,amazon's forests1 waters1 and peoples throughout ,brazil1 ,colombia1 ,ecuador1 ,guyana1 ,peru1 and ,suriname2 ,whereas all ,latin ,american and ,caribbean countries have ratified the decision by the #bast ,conference of ,parties of the ,united ,nations ,framework ,convention on ,climate ,change1 adopted at ,paris ,december #ab1 #bjae 7commonly known as the ,paris ,climate ,agreement71 which states1 ,parties should1 when taking action to address climate change1 respect1 promote1 and consider their respective obligations on human rights1 the right to health1 the rights of indigenous peoples1 local communities1 migrants1 children1 persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations2 ,whereas #ae countries in ,latin ,america ratified the ,indigenous and ,tribal ,peoples ,convention1 #aihi 7,no4 #afi7 of the ,international ,labor ,organization1 establishing the rights of ,indigenous people to land1 natural resources1 and prior consultation on projects affecting their communities1 although many such countries have consistently failed to respect these legally binding standards2 ,whereas #be countries in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean have signed1 and #ad of these #be countries have ratified1 the ,regional ,agreement on ,access to ,information1 ,public ,participation and ,justice in ,environmental ,matters in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean1 adopted at ,escaz1 ,costa ,rica ,march #d1 #bjah 7commonly known as the ,escaz ,agreement71 to ensure the protection of environmental defenders across the region2 and ,whereas1 on ,june #i1 #bjbb1 at the ,ninth ,summit of the ,americas in ,los ,angeles1 heads of ,state and ,government of the ,western ,hemisphere adopted ,our ,sustainable ,green ,future1 a commitment to draft and approve national plans1 before the commencement of the ,tenth ,summit of the ,americas in the ,dominican ,republic in #bjbe-- 7#a7 to respond to threats and attacks on environmental defenders and collect data on such threats and attacks1 in accordance with domestic law2 7#b7 to enact1 as appropriate1 and enforce domestic laws to protect environmental defenders and the resources they defend3 and 7#c7 to carry out and implement environmental assessments in accordance with existing domestic law3 ,now1 therefore be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 underscores the urgency of protecting biodiversity in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean1 ending impunity for environmental crimes1 protecting environmental and land defenders1 and confronting risks and addressing threats to such actors2 7#b7 urges governments in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean to protect the rights of ,indigenous peoples and other environmental and land defenders1 including-- 7,a7 strengthening efforts and initiatives aimed at combating environmental crimes and protecting the territory of environmental and land defenders2 7,b7 complying with commitments made under the ,paris ,climate ,agreement1 ,convention #afi of the ,international ,labor ,organization1 and the ,escaz ,agreement to pursue environmental justice and protect the rights of ,indigenous peoples and other environmental and land defenders1 particularly in relation to rights to land titling and prior consultation2 and 7,c7 implementing ,our ,sustainable ,green ,future commitments made at the ,ninth ,summit of the ,americas to advance the protection of environmental and land defenders2 7#c7 calls on the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 to support and assist governments in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean in meeting regional and international standards and commitments for the protection of ,indigenous peoples and other environmental and land defenders1 including through-- 7,a7 capacity building initiatives aimed at strengthening networks of environmental and land defenders1 ,indigenous peoples1 and civil society organizations2 7,b7 providing technical assistance and other support to combat corruption within agencies dealing with forestry management and environmental crimes2 7,c7 collaborating with law enforcement authorities1 including through the sharing of intelligence1 to help dismantle criminal groups responsible for committing environmental crime and violence against environmental and land defenders2 7,d7 reinforcing the importance of free1 prior1 and informed consent of ,indigenous peoples within such regional and international commitments2 7,e7 promoting the participation of women1 ,indigenous peoples1 ,afro-descendant communities1 environmental and land defenders1 and other affected and vulnerable communities in regional and international forums related to human rights1 environmental protection1 and climate change2 and 7,f7 hosting summits and other multilateral forums1 with the participation of governments in the region and relevant civil society organizations1 to share the experiences of environmental and land defenders and advance solutions to protect biodiversity and confront impunity around environmental crime2 and 7#d7 calls on the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,state1 to develop comprehensive regional and subregional action plans with input from environmental and land defenders to counter environmental crime and attacks against environmental and land defenders in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean1 including by-- 7,a7 strengthening current programs in ,brazil and ,colombia2 7,b7 expanding key pillars of ongoing programs to ,mexico1 ,peru1 ,honduras1 ,guatemala1 and ,el ,salvador1 where such initiatives are largely absent2 and 7,c7 ensuring that projects supported or funded by the ,united ,states ,government in ,latin ,america and the ,caribbean take into account the protection of ,indigenous peoples and environmental and land defenders4