Human Rights

“We would like to express our deep concerns regarding the potential impacts of the Barbuda Ocean Club Project on human rights, including the rights to food, water and sanitation, housing, and a healthy environment, as well as cultural rights.”

— UN Special Rapporteurs’ Joint Statement to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda

Concern at the United Nations

On 22 June 2021, a group of UN experts sent a letter to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, expressing “deep concerns” about the impacts of the Barbuda Ocean Club and PLH’s supporting airport.

To date, the Government has declined to respond.

This joint letter was authored by the:

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;

  • UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises;

  • UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights;

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development;

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food; and the

  • UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.

 

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is required to protect and promote human rights.

All international legal obligations must be respected, including the following, of key concern to these UN experts.

  • The right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living condition.

    Article 11.1, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

  • The right to non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights. 

    Article 2.2, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

  • The right to life.

    Article 6, the International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights

  • The right to non-interference with privacy, family, home or correspondence.

    Article 17, the International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights

  • The freedom of expression.

    Article 19, the International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights

  • The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

    These include the obligation on States to “prevent, investigate, punish and redress” human rights abuses committed by business enterprises within their territory.

  • The Framework Principles on Human Rights and the Environment on the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

    These include the principles that States should protect the rights of the most vulnerable to environmental harm, and ensure effective enforcement of environmental standards against both public and private actors.

  • The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    The “Escazu Agreement”, on rights of access to environmental information and public participation in environmental deicsion-making.

  • The UN Declaration on the right to development.

    This includes the right to development as an inalienable human right, of which every person and peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy (Article 1.1). The Declaration also requires that States encourage popular participation in development (Article 8.2).