Every year on June 1, Togo celebrates Arbor Day. This is an initiative by the highest authorities, aimed at rehabilitating the country's declining tree cover. Responding to the government's call, the country's authorities perform their civic duty on this date. A few hours before the celebration of this national day and World Environment Day, the President of the CNDH, ME KWAO Ohini Sanvee, spoke to his communication unit in an interview. Here is the interview in full.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman of the CNDH. You've been at the head of the Commission for a few weeks now. Can you tell us how the institution is faring and what it is actually doing?
I would like to thank you for this opportunity to address the public on the occasion of National Tree Day and World Environment Day.
I've been president of the CNDH since April 26, 2024, but I should point out that I was in the outgoing office as vice-president, in charge of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (MNP) since 2019. I can therefore say that the CNDH is doing very well.
It is a national mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights, created in 1987 and enshrined in the Constitution in 1992.
The CNDH's main missions are to promote and protect human rights; prevent torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in places of deprivation of liberty or any other place it has identified; and protect human rights defenders.
June 1 and 5 are days dedicated to the environment. What meaning does the CNDH give to these days? Is there a link between human rights and the environment?
These two days symbolize the crucial importance of taking care of our environment and preserving our ecosystem for future generations by limiting the negative impacts of human activity on the environment.
June 1st was instituted in Togo in 1977 as National Tree Day, following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972. It is one of the national environmental policies dedicated to reforestation and the promotion of green spaces in general. On this date, every citizen is invited to plant trees to symbolize reforestation and sustainable development, given that forest diversification is a sine qua non for biological balance in a natural environment, and for regulating the climate and conserving water resources in a given area.
Back in 1972, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 5 as World Environment Day (WED). Its aim is to raise public awareness and celebrate environmental action. Over the years, the day has become a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on pressing challenges, such as droughts and floods, marine pollution, rising sea levels, sustainable production and consumption, wildlife and biodiversity crime, global warming and more.
Is there a link between human rights and the environment?
Human rights and the environment are closely linked. The environment encompasses people and their surroundings, and is essential to human life and well-being. Environmental protection is a human right in itself. On October 21, 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Council recognized for the first time that a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a human right. In its resolution 48/13, the Council called on states around the world to work together, and with other partners, to implement this newly recognized right. Guaranteeing a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential to ensure the full enjoyment of rights such as the right to life, the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to adequate food, the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, the right to housing, the right to take part in cultural life, the right to development and the right to a healthy environment. At regional level, it should be noted that Article 24 of the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights states that "All peoples have the right to a satisfactory and comprehensive environment, conducive to their development".
Ultimately, man interacts with the environment he needs to live in order to satisfy his physiological needs. The water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat all come from our immediate environment. Everything we consume or produce has a land footprint. It is therefore essential to promote and protect the right to a healthy environment, as a prerequisite for the realization of all human rights.
How can environmental issues affect human rights, and what are the main threats to the environment and human rights today?
As human rights and the environment are closely linked, environmental problems have a negative impact on human rights in a number of ways.
For example, air and water pollution can cause health problems, affecting the right to health. Environmental degradation can also cause economic and social losses, such as the loss of natural resources essential to human subsistence and well-being.
The main threats to the environment and human rights are deforestation, pollution, global warming, overfishing, overexploitation of natural resources and soil degradation. These problems have serious consequences for the economy, health and culture of local communities, as outlined above, and are the source of the disproportionate impact of climate change on the most vulnerable populations.
For several years now, the CNDH has been taking part in the National Tree Day and World Environment Day by planting trees. What impact do these days have on environmental protection in Togo?
By making its modest contribution to the celebration of these two days, the National Human Rights Commission intends to promote human rights related to the environment. On this occasion, it is collaborating with other institutions and civil society organizations to raise awareness of a number of environmental issues.
What message does the CNDH wish to convey to the public?
The CNDH's message is clear and simple: "Protecting the environment means protecting everyone's human rights". Indeed, by taking care of our planet, we preserve our health, our well-being and our lives. If we can't turn back time, we can grow forests, revive water sources and bring back the soil. Each of us has a role to play in helping to protect the environment and promote human rights.
I would say to the younger generation that protecting the environment and promoting human rights are two important and interdependent causes. As responsible citizens and leaders of the future, it is essential that they understand and act on these inseparable issues.
The younger generation can use their innovative skills and talents to support and promote environmental protection and the promotion of human rights. This can include awareness-raising initiatives, fund-raising or mobilization campaigns, and projects to improve the quality of life of their peers.
Younger generations can also encourage their friends, families and communities to take action to protect the environment and promote human rights.
Every action, no matter how small, can make a difference. Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and for generations to come. So let's act together today for a better world for all.
What's your final word?
To conclude, I'd like to mention a few of the benefits of trees. They produce oxygen through photosynthesis, sequester carbon dioxide, purify the air, are a source of life and generate rain.
Trees fight soil erosion, improve water quality, mitigate temperature variations, bring comfort to a stressful urban landscape, and enhance the beauty of homes.
Many of the foods and pharmaceutical products we consume are derived from plant extracts. Among the best-known remedies is Aspirin, made from willow bark.
In economic terms, for example, fruit production is a major source of income for farmers. They are an undeniable economic driving force, and consequently generate employment.
You will then agree with me that preserving and protecting our environment (planet) is everyone's business. Let's work together to restore the land, stop desertification and build resilience to drought. This is the theme around which the commemoration of World Environment Day 2024 focuses.
Thank you very much!
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