Milbank LLP partner Viren Mascarenhas represented a group of United Nations special rapporteurs regarding the advisory opinion on climate change at the 166th Session of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, held April 22–26, 2024, in Barbados.
The first part of the Public Hearing on the Request for Advisory Opinion OC-32 on “The Climate Emergency and Human Rights” was held on April 23–25. Submissions by 62 delegations were heard during the three days.
Milbank and the Vance Center for International Justice represented the UN special rapporteurs in submitting an amicus brief in December 2023 on the climate emergency and human rights to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The special rapporteurs filed the brief, available here, in response to an advisory opinion request from Chile and Colombia regarding obligations of states under the American Convention on Human Rights and international law.
Milbank has represented the UN Special Rapporteurs on Toxics and Human Rights (Marcos Orellana), Human Rights and the Environment (David Boyd), and the Right to Development (Surya Deva). Milbank and the Vance Center previously represented Dr. Orellana, Dr. Boyd and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change (Ian Fry) in submitting an amicus brief to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea addressing national governments’ responsibilities to protect the world’s oceans from the effects of climate change.
Learn more about the 166th Session of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
