The objective of DPDL in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean is to enable members of the region to develop integrated and coherent policy responses to environmental problems and to strengthen environmental law as well as to improve compliance with and enforcement of legal instruments.

Since UNEP’s establishment in 1972 under UN General Assembly Resolution (GA) 2997 (XXVII), environmental law has been one of UNEP’s priority areas of focus. This is emphasized under UN GA Resolution 3436 (XXX), which recalls the conviction that the development of adequate environmental law is an essential supporting measure for the implementation of UNEP policies, strategies and recommendations. In order to accomplish this, UNEP has devoted an entire DPDL branch to promote the development and application of environmental law.

Beginning in 1982, UNEP’s Environmental Law activities have been carried out within the framework of strategic Programmes for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programmes) approved by the Governing Council for ten year periods. UNEP is currently implementing Montevideo Programme III adopted by UNEP Governing Council (GC) Decision 21/23 on 9 February 2001. Under these programmes UNEP´s activities in the field of law have been based on the following strategic approach:

• The analysis, review and development of environment-related law and policies, and the articulation of policy positions in response to emerging environmental issues and events.

• The development of new and the strengthening of existing legal, economic and other policy instruments and institutional frameworks to promote the effectiveness of environmental law and policy.

• The enhancement of environmental law and policy coordination and information exchange within and outside the United Nations System.

• The promotion of the involvement of the private sector, NGOs, and major groups in the environmental law and policy dialogue development. (Chapter 38 of Agenda 21).

• The promotion of the liaison between gender and environmental issues.

The role of UNEP in promoting the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental law and policy at the global, regional and national levels has been further reinforced by UN General Assembly Resolution 47/191 Institutional Arrangements to Follow Up the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED – Rio Conference, also known as the Earth Summit), Agenda 21, the Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of UNEP, the Malmö Ministerial Declaration, adopted at the First Global Ministerial Environment Forum and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

It was in 1995, that UNEP put into operation the Environmental Law Programme (ELP) in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) as a Regional Unit of the Development and Enforcement of Environmental Law Unit of the Division of Policy Development and Law (DPDL). ELP aims at supporting the development of environmental law and policies and the improvement of their compliance and enforcement in the Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Since 1994, the scope of ELP in the Latin American and Caribbean region has embraced four main fields of action:

1) Technical Assistance

2) Capacity – Building and Training on Environmental Law and Policies

3) Crosscutting Major Groups

4) Dissemination of Information regarding Environmental Policy and Law