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Environmental procedural rights in Africa with specific reference to South Africa and Uganda

Mutesasira, P.D.

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Citation for published version (APA):Mutesasira, P. D. (2018). Environmental procedural rights in Africa with specific reference to South Africa andUganda.

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Download date: 09 May 2020

Environmental Procedural Rights in

Africa

with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

Mutesasira Peter Davis

Environmental Procedural R

ights in Africa

Mutesasira Peter D

avis

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa

With Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

___________________________________________

Mutesasira Peter Davis

ISBN 978-9970-9881-0-5

Printed by Omega Graphics Limited, Kampala Uganda

Copyright © 2018 by Mutesasira Peter Davis. All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced by any

means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the

author.

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT

ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam

op gezag van de Rector Magnificus prof. dr. ir. K.I.J. Maex

ten overstaan van een door het College voor Promoties ingestelde commissie, in het openbaar te verdedigen in de Aula der Universiteit

op de woensdag 21 november 2018, te 13:00 uur

door Mutesasira Peter Davis

geboren te Kololo, Oeganda

i

Promotiecommissie:

Promotor: Prof. mr.dr. R.J.M. Lefeber Universiteit van Amsterdam

Overige leden: Prof. R. Uylenburg Universiteit van Amsterdam Prof. mr. dr. A.J.C. de Moor-van Vugt Universiteit van Amsterdam Prof. dr. Y.M. Donders Universiteit van Amsterdam Prof. dr. E. Hey Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam Prof. dr. J.I. Glazewski University of Cape Town

Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

ii

Dedication

To my beloved late elder sister, Dr. Alice Nanono Mutesasira Igbigbi, who was my source of inspiration but did not

live to see me complete this PhD thesis.

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

iii

Abbreviations

ACCC Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee ACODE Advocates Coalition on Development and Environment ACP-EU Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of states-European Union ADR Alternative dispute resolution AfC African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights AIA Access to Information Act of the Republic of Uganda AmCHR American Convention on Human Rights ANAW Africa Network for Animal Welfare APPA Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of the Republic of South Africa ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations BA Broadcasting Act of the Republic of South Africa CBS Central Broadcasting Corporation CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CEC Commission for Environmental Cooperation CSOs Civil Society Organizations DFR Department of Fisheries Resources of the Republic of Uganda EAC East African Community EACJ East African Court of Justice ECA Environment Conservation Act of the Republic of South Africa ECHR European Convention on Human Rights ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EEC European Economic Community EIA Environmental impact assessment EIS Environmental impact statement EMA Electronic Media Act of the Republic of South Africa EU European Union FHRI Foundation for Human Rights Initiative FIELD Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms HRC Human Rights Committees IAmCtHR Inter-American Court of Human Rights ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ICJ International Court of Justice ICNL International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law IDC International Development Corporation IIED International Institute for Environment and Development ILO International Labour Organisation IOs Information Officers ISP Inter-American Strategy for the Promotion of Public Participation in Decision-Making for Sustainable Development ITPGRFA International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JEL Journal of Environmental Law JPAC Joint Public Advisory Committee KCC Kampala City Council LEAD Law Environment and Development LRA Labour Relations Act of the Republic of South Africa LRC Legal Resource Centre

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

iv

LUA Labour Unions Act of the Republic of Uganda MOP Meeting of the Parties MOU Memorandum of Understanding NAAEC North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement NAPE National association for professional environmentalists NEA National Environment Act of the Republic of Uganda NEMA National Environment Management Act of the Republic of South Africa NEMA National Environment Management Authority of the Republic of Uganda NFTPA National Forestry and Tree Planting Act of the Republic of Uganda NGOs Non-governmental Organisations NOA Non-profit Organisations Act of the Republic of South Africa OAS Organization of American States OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PA Police Act of the Republic of Uganda PAIA Promotion of Access to Information Act of the Republic of South Africa PAJA Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of the Republic of South Africa PAT Pensions Appeal Tribunal PELJ Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal POIB Protection of Information Bill of the Republic of South Africa POMB Public Order Management Bill of the Republic of Uganda PPOA Political Parties and Organisations Act of the Republic of Uganda PRTRs Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers PSAs Production Sharing Agreements SAIFAC South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law SAJELP South African Journal of Environmental Law and Policy SAJHR South African Journal of Human Rights SAPS South African Police Service SCA Supreme Court of Appeal of the Republic of South Africa SCOUL Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited SERAP Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project SSCS Sea Shepherd Conservation Society TAI The Access Initiative TEEAC Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community UBOS Uganda Bureau of Statistics UCT University of Cape Town, South Africa UDHR Universal Declaration on Human Rights UHRC Uganda Human Rights Commission UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNGA United Nations General Assembly UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research UPC Uganda Peoples' Congress UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority WB World Bank WRI World Resources Institute

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

v

Table of Contents Promotiecommissie: ........................................................................................................................................................ i

Dedication ...................................................................................................................................................................... ii

Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................................ iii

Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................................... v

Part I: Background to the Study ................................................................................................................................. 1

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY .................................................................................................... 1

1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 1

1.2. Conceptual Aspects of Environmental Rights ......................................................................................................... 3

1.2.1. The Biocentric/ Ecocentric Approach ............................................................................................................... 3

1.2.2. The Anthropocentric approach ........................................................................................................................ 5

1.2.3. The classification of rights ............................................................................................................................... 7

1.2.4. The Duty to Respect, Protect and Fulfil ........................................................................................................... 9

1.2.5. Environmental rights as procedural rights...................................................................................................... 10

1.2.6. Environmental rights as rights of future generations ...................................................................................... 11

1.2.7. Environmental rights as rights of the environment ......................................................................................... 12

1.3. Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................................................................... 13

1.4. The aims and objectives of the study .................................................................................................................... 14

1.5. Scope of the study ................................................................................................................................................ 15

1.6. Chapter synopsis .................................................................................................................................................. 15

1.7. Research Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER TWO: THE CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEDURAL RIGHTS: AN OVERVIEW .................... 18

2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 18

2.2. Environmental Procedural Rights .......................................................................................................................... 18

2.3.1. The Right of Access to Information ................................................................................................................ 19

2.3.2. The Right of access to Public Participation .................................................................................................... 25

2.3.3. The right to protest ......................................................................................................................................... 33

2.3.4. The Right of Access to Justice ...................................................................................................................... 41

2.4. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................ 46

CHAPTER THREE: BACKGROUND TO THE EVOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEDURAL RIGHTS ....... 47

3.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 47

3.2. The International Arrangements ............................................................................................................................ 47

3.2.1. Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) .......................................................................................... 47

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

vi

3.2.2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ...................................................................................... 49

3.2.3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights .................................................................. 55

3.2.4. The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment ............................................................................... 58

3.2.5. The World Charter for Nature ........................................................................................................................ 59

3.2.6. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development ................................................................................ 61

3.2.7. Agenda 21 ..................................................................................................................................................... 64

3.2.8. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Guidelines for the Development of National

Legislation on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters .......... 65

3.3. Regional Arrangements ........................................................................................................................................ 70

3.3.1. Africa ............................................................................................................................................................. 70

3.3.1.1. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights .................................................................................. 70

3.3.1.2. The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ........................................ 73

3.3.1.3. The East African Protocol on Environment and Natural Resources Management...................................... 75

3.3.2. America ......................................................................................................................................................... 80

3.3.2.1. The American Convention on Human Rights .............................................................................................. 80

3.3.2.2. The North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation ................................................................ 86

3.3.2.3. The Inter-American Strategy for the Promotion of Public Participation in Decision Making for Sustainable

Development ........................................................................................................................................................... 97

3.3.3. Asia .............................................................................................................................................................. 100

3.3.3.1. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and

Natural Resources ................................................................................................................................................. 101

3.3.4. Europe ......................................................................................................................................................... 103

3.3.4.1. The European Convention on Human Rights ........................................................................................... 103

3.3.4.2. The Aarhus Convention ............................................................................................................................ 111

3.3.4.3. The Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers ...................................................................... 123

3.4. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 130

Part II: The Domestic Implementation of Environmental Procedural Rights in South Africa and Uganda ...... 132

CHAPTER FOUR: THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ........................................................................... 132

4.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 132

4.2. Persons entitled to information ............................................................................................................................ 134

4.3. Information which should be made available ...................................................................................................... 137

4.4. The forms in which information should be made available ............................................................................. 140

4.5. Information which should be automatically be made available ....................................................................... 143

4.6. Time Limits and considerations ........................................................................................................................... 145

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

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4.7. Exempt Information ............................................................................................................................................. 147

4.9. Costs of accessing Information ........................................................................................................................... 157

4.10. Appeal procedures against refusal of access to information ............................................................................. 160

4.11. Offences and penalties ..................................................................................................................................... 164

4.12. Immunities and protection of whistle blowers .................................................................................................... 165

4.13. Challenges to Accessing Environmental Information ........................................................................................ 167

4.14. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ 172

CHAPTER FIVE: THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ............................................................ 174

5.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 174

5.2. Public participation in decision making ............................................................................................................... 174

5.3. Access to public participation in policy, plans and programmes relating to the environment .............................. 179

5.4. Access to public participation in decision-making with regard to the issuance of permits and concessions ....... 183

5.5. Public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ......................................................................... 189

5.6. The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Public Participation ................................................... 196

5.7. Challenges to the right of access to public participation in environmental decision-making ............................... 198

5.8. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 202

CHAPTER SIX: THE RIGHT TO PROTEST .............................................................................................................. 203

6.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 203

6.2. Protests and Demonstrations .............................................................................................................................. 204

6.3. The Freedom of press and the media ................................................................................................................. 214

6.4. Freedom to form and join trade unions ............................................................................................................... 219

6.5. Non-governmental organisations ........................................................................................................................ 223

6.6. Political associations ........................................................................................................................................... 227

6.7. Challenges to enjoying the right to protest .......................................................................................................... 229

6.8. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 234

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE ................................................................................... 235

7.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 235

7.2. Legal Standing .................................................................................................................................................... 236

7.3. Public Interest Litigation ...................................................................................................................................... 245

7.4. Costs ................................................................................................................................................................... 252

7.5. Judicial Review ................................................................................................................................................... 261

7.6. Challenges to Accessing Environmental Justice ................................................................................................. 267

7.7. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 270

Part III: Overall Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 271

Environmental Procedural Rights in Africa with Specific Reference to South Africa and Uganda

viii

CHAPTER EIGHT: GENERAL CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 271

Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................... 283

Summary .................................................................................................................................................................... 299

Samenvatting ............................................................................................................................................................. 303

Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................... 308