Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino addressed the United Nations General Assembly and announced that Panama will lead an effort to secure international recognition of the rights of nature. He called on fellow leaders to support a treaty affirming that nature has inherent rights, framing the initiative as a global cause for Panama to champion.
The proposal, described as a universal declaration, would mark a shift in how legal systems treat the natural world—moving beyond the view of nature as property to one where it holds its own rights. Mulino's announcement positions Panama at the forefront of this movement on the international stage.
The source does not provide further details on the treaty's specific provisions or the next steps in the UN process. The announcement adds to a growing global conversation about rights of nature, though the exact scope of the proposed declaration remains to be seen.