Water and environment protection in Inter-American human rights system

Abstract

At the beginning, this paper reviews, very briefly, which are the most important general instruments of the Inter-American human rights system and which place, among them, water and the environment protection occupies. Then, taking into account specific cases, some of the most relevant decisions are described. Indeed, first, various Inter-American Commission on Human Rights actuations and after some other of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in exercise of its jurisdiction are analyzed, trying to display a balanced sample of different conflicts around environment and natural resources involving various actors, showing progress and setbacks to conclude, finally, with a commitment to improving rights at issue protection.