WELCOME TO
THE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS OF NATURE TRIBUNAL

Concept

Rights of Nature is a new approach to environmental law, which views nature not as a series of resources that human beings can use, but as a living subject with its own interests and rights. 

Read more

Mission

To make the Rights of Nature an inextricable part of our legal system and society demonstrating how courts and judges should treat environmental cases through the Right of Nature Tribunals. 

Read more

Values

That the interests of nonhuman beings are of equal importance to human interests.That we as a society need a fundamental paradigm shift in how we relate to Nature.

Read more

We Care About Nature

The Tribunal aims to create a forum for people from all around the world to speak on behalf of nature, to protest the destruction of the Earth, destruction that is often sanctioned by governments and corporations, and to make recommendations about Earth’s protection and restoration.

The Tribunal also has a strong focus on enabling Indigenous Peoples to share their unique concerns and solutions about land, water, and culture with the global community.

Why it matters
Read more
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal

TRIBUNALS' MAP

“To facilitate their efforts, Rights of Nature (RoN) advocates, Global alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), created a new international governing institution: the International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature. The idea was inspired by the International War Crimes Tribunal and the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, established by citizens to investigate and publicize human rights violations.

Just as these tribunals provided social pressure to create and strengthen international Human Rights Law, the International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature is meant to foster international Rights of Nature law.” 

– CRAIG M. KAUFFMAN and PAMELA L. MARTIN

0

International

0

Regional

0

Local
Home Placeholder
Home
Latest Tribunal

OUR TRIBUNALS

Glasgow rights of nature tribunal illustration Jaguar back body running spots flames. Rights of Nature

Glasgow 2021

The Glasgow 2021 Rights of Nature Tribunal’s was held parallel to the COP26 (Glasgow). Due to COVID and traveling restrictions, this Tribunal was a hybrid event.

Read more
Europe rights of nature tribunal illustation Mandala water veins constellation leaf

Europe 2021

The Europe 2021 Rights of Nature Tribunal’s was transmitted virtually. Cormac Cullinan acted as President with an important group of 4 other judges, listening to 5 Aquatic Ecosystems cases.

Read more
Chile rights of nature tribunal illustration water drop sea blue waves

Chile 2019

The Chile 2019 Rights of Nature Tribunal has held in Santiago on December 5th 2019, as the first Regional Tribunal. Its President was Yaku Pérez with 5 important judges from the region revising 5 cases devoted to water.

Read more
Bonn rights of nature tribunal illustration mandala animals amazonia marine wild life Indigenous people farmer

Bonn 2017

The Bonn 2017 International Rights of Nature Tribunal Was held on November 7th-8th during COP23 Its President was Tom Goldtooth accompanied by 8 important judges. Seven cases from around the world were reviewed during this 2 day audience.

Read more
Paris rights of nature tribunal illustration Tree of life moon indigenous people owl people of the corn snake turtle farmer

Paris 2015

The Paris 2015 International Rights of Nature Tribunal was held on December 4th-5th 2015, parallel to COP21. Its President was Cormac Cullinan, who together with 8 judges listened to 7 cases from around the world.

Read more
Lima rights of nature tribunal illustration Tree of life sun indigenous people of corn wildlife farmers snake parrot butterfly fish turtle

Lima 2014

The Lima 2014 International Rights of Nature Tribunal was held on December 5th and 6th, 2014, parallel to COP21. Its President was Alberto Acosta, Natalia Greene served as Secretariat and Ramiro Ávila Santamaría served as Earth Prosecutor.

Read more
Quito rights of nature tribunal illustration tree of life birds red yellow black

Quito 2014

The Quito 2014 International Rights of Nature Tribunal was held on January 17th 2014. Its President was Vandana Shiva who together with 9 judges heard 9 cases in this first Tribunal. Ramiro Ávila Santamaría served as Earth Prosecutor.

Read more

CASES AROUND THE WORLD

ASSEMBLY OF JUDGES

From world-renowned philosophers and scientists to indigenous leaders, political organizers, and activists, the judges of the International Rights of Nature Tribunals have always represented some of the best and brightest of a community of people dedicated to give Nature a voice in both social and legal areas.

Vandana Shiva Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Vandana Shiva
President of Tribunal | Judge

View profile
Alberto Acosta Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Alberto Acosta
President of Tribunal | Judge

View profile
Antontio Elizalde Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Antonio Elizalde
Judge

View profile
Antoni Pigrau Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Antoni Pigrau
Judge

View profile
Arturo Escobar Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Arturo Escobar
Judge

View profile
Ashish Kothari Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Ashish Kothari
Judge

View profile
Atossa Soltani Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Atossa Soltani
Judge

View profile
Blanca Chancoso Rights of Nature Tribunal judge

Blanca Chancoso
Judge

View profile
casey camp

Casey Camp-Horinek
Judge

View profile
Judge_Cormac_Cullinan

Cormac Cullinan
President of Tribunal | Judge

View profile
Judge_Damien-Short

Damien Short
Honorary Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Dominique-Bourg

Dominique Bourg
Honorary Judge

View profile
Elise-Monge

Elsie Monge
Judge

View profile
Enrique-Leff-600

Enrique Leff
Judge

View profile
Judge_Enrique_Viale

Enrique Viale
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Felicio-Pontes

Felicio Pontes
Judge

View profile
Francesco-Martone

Francesco Martone
Judge

Read More
JUDGES-Francois-Houtart

François Houtart
Judge

View profile
Horacio-Machado

Horacio Machado
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Hugo-Blanco

Hugo Blanco
Judge

View profile
Judge_Julio_Cesar_Trujillo

Julio César Trujillo
Judge

View profile
Lisa-Mead,jpg

Lisa Mead
Judge

View profile
Mario-Melo

Mario Melo
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Maristella-Svampa

Maristella Svampa
Judge

View profile
Nancy Yáñez

Nancy Yañez
Judge

View profile
nnimmo5_0

Nnimmo Bassey
Judge

View profile
Osprey

Osprey Orielle Lake
Judge

View profile
Patricia Gualinga Ecuador

Patricia Gualinga
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Philippe-Desbrosses

Philippe Desbrosses
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Raúl-Sohr

Raúl David Sohr Biss
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Raúl-Prada-Alcoreza

Raúl Prada Alcoreza 
Judge

View profile
Judge_Richard_Falk

Richard Falk
Judge

View profile
Rita-Segato

Rita Segato
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Rocío-Silva-Santiesteban

Rocío Silva Santisteban
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Ruth-Nyambura

Ruth Nyambura
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Shannon-Biggs

Shannon Biggs
Judge

View profile
Simona-Feudatario

Simona Feudatario
Judge

View profile
Judge_Tantoo_Cardinal

Tantoo Cardinal
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Terisa-Turner

Terisa Turner
Judge

View profile
Judge_Tom_Goldtooth

Tom Goldtooth
President of Tribunal | Judge

View profile
Ute-Koczy

Ute Koczy
Judge

View profile
Valérie-Cabanes

Valérie Cabanes
Judge

View profile
JUDGES-Veronika-Mendoza

Veronika Mendoza
Judge

View profile
Yaky Peréz

Yaku Pérez Guartambel
President of Tribunal 

View profile

Nature Needs Your Help

Help us to keep promoting the Rights of Nature

DONATE NOW

Global Impact

Click on the pictures to revisit the moments lived in several Rights of Nature Tribunals. 

International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
volunteer2
Volunteer Global Lawyers

If you want to join our team of volunteer lawyers for the Rights of Nature Tribunal please send your CV and a letter of intent.

Become a volunteer
endorse3
SUBMIT A CASE

Submit here your case of potentially violated Nature Rights so it will be reviewed by the International Rights of Nature Tribunal.

Submit now
endorse3
JOIN THE COMMUNITY

The Tribunal aims to create a forum for people from all around the world to speak on behalf of nature. Subscribe and join us.

Join Now
endorse3
SIGN PETITION SUPPORT JUDGES

THE TIME HAS COME FOR AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE AND THE RIGHTS OF NATURE! Sign our petition to demand the United nations to take action.

Sign petition

Statements

Read a couple of testimonies and statements from our distinguished participants.

Although the framework of the Rights of Nature is, among indigenous peoples and traditional cultures, everywhere, in our modern world there has been such repetition of the market economy and of our purpose on this world being, to be in search of jobs, and in search of a sacred market economy, so much so that we have forgotten, we don’t hear enough about these different frameworks.
Atossa Soltani Rights of Nature Tribunal judge
Atossa Soltani
We find ourselves here today reflecting on the fact that we have violated the Rights of Nature. But the Rights of Nature are nothing in themselves. They are something that we see in Nature. The Rights of human beings, for that matter, are nothing in themselves. They are something that we accept and concede in order to coexist. The real issue is that we coexist with Nature, and the Rights of Nature appear because we care about this coexistence.
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
Humberto Maturana
Lithium Mining, or the “Mining of Water,” as it’s been called. They call it the Mining of Water because there’s no other commercial way to do it, other than by evaporating large quantities of water. And in Atacama you get this paradox, of the evaporation of thousands of litres of water, for lithium mining, in a desert, in one of the driest areas on earth. It truly is a sacrifice zone. And in this case, a sacrifice, it would seem, on the altar of the energy exchange of the Global North.
International Rights of Nature Tribunal
Enrique Viale

Latest News

Read more about our latest news around the globe.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST