Culture Change: Creative Approaches and the Rights of Nature Initiative The Rights of Nature call for more than just legal change – they demand a cultural shift in how humans relate to their environment. Across Europe, artists and activists are embracing this movement through sound art, theater, exhibitions, publications, and performative gatherings. By Imke Horstmannshoff
An Urgent Shift: Wild Law in South Africa and beyond Initiative The protection of nature requires a new legal foundation. In South Africa and worldwide, the Wild Law Institute demonstrates how the rights of nature can redefine our relationship with the environment – for a more sustainable future. By Lesai Seema
Legacy of Quiet Resistance: Feminism in Tunisia through the Lens of History Background What does it mean to have a feminist perspective? Feminism has many faces. From the silent resilience of my grandmother to the current challenges - how has the feminist movement in Tunisia developed? By Sonia Hedhili
Underground Feminism: How Decolonization is Framing the Fight for Gender Equality in Zambia Background While the voices of women in Zambia have often been overlooked throughout history, feminist movements are fighting for social justice and equality. Is feminism a colonial construct or the key to liberation? By Esther Mwema
Femicides and Silence: Navigating the Struggle for Feminist Solidarity in North Macedonia Background Can digital activism replace the power of in-person protests? In North Macedonia, dwindling protest numbers and rising anti-gender movements challenge the fight for gender equality. Activist Sara Milenkovska's insights on the urgent need for solidarity. By Angela Boshkoska
Voicing Rivers Atrato for other possible futures Case Study The Atrato River in Colombia was recognized as a legal entity in 2016. Yet, environmental destruction and violence continue to threaten it. A community of guardians is fighting to voice the river and enforce its rights. By Dr. Phil. Elizabeth Gallon Droste
Rivers and Rights: Rights of Nature and Systemic Transformations in India Case Study India’s rivers are sacred yet heavily polluted. In 2017, the Ganges and Yamuna rivers were granted legal personhood, but the ruling was suspended. What role can the Rights of Nature play in India and what changes are needed to make them effective? By Shrishtee Bajpai
The Rights of Mother Earth in Bolivia: Progress and Challenges Case Study Bolivia made global headlines over a decade ago when it legally recognized the rights of nature. But how effective is this concept in the face of ongoing extractivism? A look at the opportunities, challenges, and limits of this legal paradigm shift. By Dr. Paola Villavicencio-Calzadilla
Mar Menor: Europe's first ecosystem with legal 'personhood’ Case Study In 2022, the Spanish salt lagoon Mar Menor was recognized as a legal entity – a milestone for the Rights of Nature in Europe. A report on the history of this unique ecosystem and its path to legal subjectivity. By Eduardo Salazar-Ortuño and María Teresa Vicente Giménez
The River as a Legal Person: The case of the Whanganui River in New Zealand Case Study In 2017, New Zealand became one of the first countries in the world to grant rights to a river: the Whanganui River. Here, we presents five ways in which the recognition of the River as a legal person could help to shape law and policy. By Klaus Bosselmann and Timothy Williams