UNEP Regional Office for Africa Newsletter

UNEP Regional Office for Africa Newsletter

The UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were amongst the first international agreements to frame the notion of \"universality\". Since then the term has been used in various fora and processes, for example in the context of common principles and standards, of global public goods, and in the notion of leaving no one behind. Sustainable development is a universal aspiration, requiring international cooperation and joint responsibility for a greater common good.

This paper on the Rio Principle 10 and the Guidelines on the Development of National Legislation, Access to Information and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (hereafter referred to as the Bali Guidelines) describes the importance of the Principle 10 and the Bali Guidelines in the context of Africa, as well as the progress made in its implementation and existing gaps.