Abuja, Nigeria – December 7, 2023 – Friends of the Earth Africa (FoEA), a leading environmental organization has urged the ECOWAS Parliament to enact legislation protecting the environment and upholding human rights.
In a statement delivered by Rita Uwaka, Coordinator Forest & Biodiversity Program, Friends of the Earth Africa, at the ongoing Second Ordinary Session of the Parliament, FoEA highlighted the devastating impacts of industrial plantations and called for action to address deforestation, land grabbing, and the violation of communities’ rights.
“The expansion of industrial plantations across West Africa poses a serious threat to our forests, biodiversity, and communities,” stated FoEA representative, Rita Uwaka. “We urge the ECOWAS Parliament to take concrete steps to protect our environment and ensure the well-being of our people.
FoEA also aurged the Parliament to “Promote agroecology and other sustainable farming practices, reject trade and investment agreements that undermine environmental and human rights protections; support the adoption of a legally binding treaty on transnational corporations and human rights at the United Nations.”
FoEA presented evidence of widespread environmental and human rights violations associated with industrial plantations, including::
Deforestation:Â Large-scale clearing of land for plantations destroys critical ecosystems and contributes to climate change.
Land grabbing:Â Communities are forcibly displaced from their traditional lands to make way for plantations.
Pollution:Â Agrochemical use pollutes water sources and harms human health.
Exploitation of workers:Â Plantation workers often face unfair labor practices and dangerous working conditions.
Violence against women:Â Women are particularly vulnerable to violence and harassment in plantation areas.
FoEA called on the ECOWAS Parliament to develop regional policies that address these issues,” continued Uwaka. These policies should include restrictions on financing for environmentally destructive projects, protection of indigenous peoples’ rights, and mechanisms for holding companies accountable for their actions.
In retrospect, Friends of the Earth Africa is a regional network of environmental and social justice organizations working across 10 countries in Africa. The organization campaigns for environmental protection, climate justice, food sovereignty, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
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