Page 39 - อนุสัญญาว่าด้วยการเข้าถึงข้อมูลข่าวสาร การมีส่วนร่วมของประชาชนในการตัดสินใจ และการเข้าถึงความยุติธรรมในเรื่องสิ่งแวดล้อม: จัดทำขึ้น ณ เมืองออร์ฮูส ประเทศเดนมาร์ก วันที่ 25 มิถุนายน 2541
P. 39

by the state of the elements of the environment or, through these elements, by
                   the factors, activities or measures referred to in subparagraph              (b) above ;

                   4.    "The public" means one or more natural or legal persons, and, in
                   accordance with national      legislation or practice, their associations,
                   organizations or groups;

                   5.    "The public concerned" means the public affected or likely to be
                   affected by, or having     an interest in, the environmental decision-making,-           for
                   the purposes   of this definition, non-governmental organizations            promoting
                   environmental protection and meeting any requirements under national               law shall
                   be deemed to have an interest.


                                                            Article 3

                                                       GENERAL PROVISIONS

                   1.    Each Party shall take the necessary        legislative, regulatory      and other
                   measures, including measures       to achieve compatibility between the provisions
                   implementing the information, public participation and access-to-justice
                   provisions   in this Convention,     as well as proper enforcement measures, to
                   establish and maintain a clear, transparent          and consistent    framework to
                   implement the provisions      of this Convention.

                   2.    Each Party shall endeavour      to ensure that officials and authorities
                   assist and provide guidance       to the public in seeking access to information,          in
                   facilitating participation      in decision-making and in seeking access          to justice
                   in environmental matters.

                   3.    Each Party shall promote environmental education and environmental
                   awareness   among the public, especially on how to obtain access to information,
                   to participate in decision-making        and to obtain access to justice in
                   environmental matters.
                   4.    Each Party shall provide      for appropriate    recognition of and support to
                   associations, organizations or groups promoting environmental protection and
                   ensure that its national      legal system is consistent with this obligation.

                   5.    The provisions    of this Convention     shall not affect the right of a Party
                   to maintain or introduce measures providing          for broader access to information,
                   more extensive public participation        in decision-making and wider access to
                   justice in environmental      matters than required by this       Convention.

                   6.    This Convention shall not require any derogation from existing rights of
                   access to information,     public participation in decision-making and access to
                   justice in environmental      matters.

                   7.    Each Party shall promote      the application of the principles of this
                   Convention   in international    environmental decision-making processes          and within
                   the framework    of international    organizations    in matters relating to the
                   environment.

                   8.    Each Party   shall ensure that persons      exercising their rights in
                   conformity with the provisions       of this Convention     shall not be penalized,
                   persecuted or harassed      in any way   for their involvement.       This provision    shall

                                                                -4-
   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44