ID: 1558
Presenting Author: Laura Plata
Session: 552 - Accelerating with Integrity: Strengthening Social Impact Assessment in the face of urgency and misinformation
Status: pending
Ensuring access to information and participation in environmental decisions strengthens democracy, prevents conflict, and promotes social and ecological justice.
In democratic societies, the rights to participation and access to information are essential human rights, directly linked to self-determination and state accountability. These rights become particularly critical when decisions affect land, ecosystems, and community well-being.
From a human rights perspective, participation must be active, voluntary, and informed. Communities must genuinely influence decision-making processes, not just attend formal consultations or receive incomplete information. Meaningful participation requires open dialogue that acknowledges power imbalances and values local knowledge.
In environmental licensing, these rights are often undermined by purely technical approaches that overlook social realities. Environmental impact assessments should be transformed from procedural exercises into democratic spaces that integrate local voices, identify real social and environmental risks, and uphold collective rights.
Timely, clear, and accessible information is also fundamental. Without understandable information about projects, communities cannot effectively express concerns, defend their rights, or shape fairer outcomes.
Guaranteeing participation and access to information strengthens democratic legitimacy, prevents social conflict, protects ecosystems, and promotes more sustainable and equitable decisions.
Environmental and social consultant specialized in IFC standards, sustainability, and human rights compliance across Latin America and developing regions.