Legal Feasibility of Guatemala's Accession to the Escazú Agreement

Subject Areas :

Mohammadreza Jodyvash Mohammadreza Jodyvash ¹ , pooneh tabibzadeh ²

1 -
2 - عضو هیات علمی دانشگاه آزاد رفسنجان

Received: 2024-11-12 Accepted : 2024-11-23 Published : 2025-01-03

Keywords: Escazú Agreement, Constitution of Guatemala, Vienna Convention, Environmental Law, Constitutional Court of Guatemala,

Abstract :

This article explores the legal feasibility of Guatemala’s accession to the Escazú Agreement and highlights the significant challenges that the agreement faces within Guatemala’s constitutional framework and domestic laws. The Escazú Agreement aims to enhance public access to environmental information, promote public participation in environmental decisions, and ensure environmental justice for all. However, Guatemala’s legal system, particularly some constitutional provisions, poses significant obstacles to the effective implementation of these ambitious goals. Furthermore, political and legal factors limit the enforceability of the agreement in practice. This study, using a descriptive-analytical method, identifies the core legal barriers to the Escazú Agreement’s provisions and demonstrates that Guatemala’s current legal structure complicates full adherence to its commitments. The study suggests that unless key legal reforms are enacted, especially through modifications to certain existing laws or the introduction of new regulations, the intended benefits of the Escazú Agreement may remain out of reach for Guatemala. To address these pressing issues, the article thoughtfully proposes several legislative amendments aimed at harmonizing Guatemala’s domestic laws with the international commitments outlined in the Escazú Agreement. The goal is to create a more supportive legal environment that facilitates the country’s potential accession and enables it to effectively uphold essential environmental protections and the rights of environmental defenders.

References:

منابع:
فارسی

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