In his 2011 report to the General Assembly, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food stated that the impacts of successive droughts had caused some children to be “removed from schools because education became unaffordable and because their work was needed by the family as a source of revenue”. 43 According to the World Bank, climate impacts can “exacerbate the existing development challenge of ensuring that the educational needs of all children are met.” 44 During the panel discussion, concerns were expressed that the right to education would be hampered by the transfer of funds earmarked for education to disaster relief budgets, or other adaptation measures. According to Mithika Mwenda, this is already transpiring as “funds earmarked for… providing quality education to children [are] diverted to address climate-inspired disasters”. Failure to ensure fulfilment of the right to education and the diversion of funds from education not only violates this right but also has long term developmental consequences with substantial implications for the enjoyment of all rights by all. The right to meaningful and informed participation Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decisionmaking processes. States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided. Principle 10, 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development The ICCPR guarantees to all persons the right to participate in public affairs and to vote. The Declaration on the Right to Development guarantees the rights of all persons to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development and to share in the benefits therefrom. According to the Declaration, “States have the right and the duty to formulate appropriate national development policies that aim at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals, on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development”. CEDAW provides for women’s equal right to participate in political and public life at the national and international levels and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) calls on State parties to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to political participation rights on an equal basis with others. In order for participation to be meaningful, it should be adequately informed. Freedom of information is enshrined in Article 19 of the ICCPR, which guarantees “the right to freedom of 43 United Nations General Assembly, A/HRC/16/49/Add.2: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter (2011), para. 13. 44 The World Bank, Turn down the heat 2013, p. xix. Page 20 of 28