What is the Aarhus Convention? Citizen's environmental rights under the Aarhus Convention

The Aarhus Convention is an agreement which was signed by 35 European and Central Asian countries in June 1998. It relates to the public disclosure of documents relating to environmental matters. The convention guarantees the right to information, the right to participate, and recognises the right to a safe environment. It also guarantees citizens that they will have a way to enforce these rights. This booklet is basically an "every thing you need to know" about the convention. It covers the background and main areas of influence of the convention. It is arranged using short questions and answers to a variety of topics centred on a persons "right to know" and "right to justice". Underlying the concept is the theme of participation and citizenship.