Briefing note
The Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), gathered in Belén, Costa Rica, on 28 and 29 January 2015, stressed the importance of access rights in the promotion of sustainable development and underscored the developments of the process on the application of Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration.
The Latin American and Caribbean leaders also reaffirmed their firm determination to eradicate poverty, hunger and inequality in the region as an essential requirement to achieve sustainable development, through economic, social and environmental policies with the comprehensive and equitable participation of citizens. Furthermore, they agreed to guarantee the full respect of democracy, Rule of Law and all human rights and recognized the importance of promoting full, plural, wide and diverse civic participation.
In addition, they undertook to enhance transparency in public policies, strengthening access to information, civic participation, social control and efficient and effective public management.
Finally, the countries of the region reiterated their commitment with sustainable development and with the agreements reached at the Rio+20 Sustainable Development Summit and encouraged the adoption of public policies in the framework of Agenda 21 for the full implementation of its results.