Environmental pollution: A human rights perspective

Abstract

National constitutions throughout the world contain enumerated rights and freedoms for individuals residing within the state’s territory or subject to its jurisdiction. In the twentieth century, the international community increasingly recognized that such constitutional guarantees sometimes prove inadequate or even illusory when military coups, armed conflicts, or repressive governments disrupt or deliberately ignore the rule of law, including constitutional limits on the exercise of power. Responding to this awareness, international and regional organizations created or reformed after the Second World War recognized that human rights must be considered a matter of international concern if individuals and groups are to be ensured their fundamental rights and freedoms. With the leadership of a group of states and strong advocacy from civil society groups, intergovernmental organizations began elaborating the international law of human rights.