Glossary of Terms

Indigenous rights recognize the collective and individual rights of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands, territories, and natural resources. These rights encompass cultural, social, and economic aspects, emphasizing self-determination, cultural preservation, and meaningful participation in decision-making processes that affect their communities.

Labor rights encompass a range of fundamental rights and protections for workers involved in energy projects. These rights include fair wages, safe working conditions, reasonable working hours, the right to form trade unions, protection against discrimination and harassment, and access to social security benefits and healthcare. Upholding labor rights ensures dignity, equality, and well-being for workers across the energy sector.

Environmental justice advocates for the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all individuals and communities, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in environmental decision-making processes. It seeks to address environmental inequalities and disparities, ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable populations do not bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards or lack access to environmental benefits.

Community consultation refers to the process of engaging with local communities and stakeholders affected by energy projects to seek their input, address concerns, and incorporate their perspectives into decision-making processes. Meaningful consultation fosters trust, transparency, and mutual understanding, leading to more socially responsible and sustainable energy developments.

Free, Prior, and Informed Consent is a principle enshrined in international law, requiring that indigenous peoples and local communities have the right to give or withhold their consent to projects or activities that may affect their lands, territories, or resources. FPIC ensures that affected communities have the autonomy and agency to make decisions about developments that impact their lives and livelihoods.

Access to justice entails ensuring that individuals and communities affected by environmental harm or human rights violations resulting from energy projects have effective access to legal remedies and recourse mechanisms. This includes avenues for seeking redress, holding perpetrators accountable, and obtaining restitution or compensation for damages incurred.

Gender equality and women's rights emphasize the equal participation, representation, and empowerment of women in all aspects of energy projects and decision-making processes. This includes promoting gender-sensitive policies and practices, addressing gender-based discrimination and violence, and creating opportunities for women's leadership and economic empowerment within the energy sector.

The right to a healthy environment encompasses the fundamental human right to live in a clean, safe, and sustainable environment. It includes the right to clean air, water, and land, as well as the right to access information, participate in environmental decision-making, and seek redress for environmental harm. Upholding this right requires proactive measures to prevent pollution, protect ecosystems, and promote environmental conservation and sustainability.

Child rights ensure that children, as rights-holders, are protected from exploitation, abuse, and hazardous work in the context of energy projects. This includes safeguarding children's right to education, health, and a safe environment, as well as prohibiting child labor and ensuring that children's best interests are paramount in all decisions affecting them.

Non-Discrimination: Non-discrimination prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, or other status in the context of energy projects. It ensures equal opportunities, access to resources, and treatment for all individuals and communities, regardless of their background or characteristics. Non-discrimination is essential for promoting inclusivity, diversity, and social cohesion within the energy sector.