Justice in the Amazon

GCR Environmental Officer Aline Ribeiro (MSc Water Science, Policy and Management, 2025) recently ran a seminar series.

Aline reports

‘Justice in the Amazon’ brought together an inspiring group of scholars, judges, and practitioners to reflect on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: environmental justice in the region.

Over two days, the event featured outstanding speakers who shared rich local and international perspectives, bridging insights from both the judiciary and academia.

The first day, dedicated to International Law Perspectives, explored how international legal frameworks can actively contribute to advancing justice in the Amazon. Discussions emphasised the importance of evidence-based approaches, the work of human rights academic clinics, and the evolving role of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Contributions were delivered by Dr Rupert Stuart-Smith, Dr Silvia Loureiro, and Dr Natália Castro.

The second day, focused on Perspectives from the Brazilian Judiciary, engaged with the challenges faced by courts in addressing urgent environmental conflicts and local vulnerabilities in the Amazon region. Speakers included Judge Vania Marinho, Judge Margareth Hoagen, and Maud Sarliève.

The seminar series was organised in collaboration with Matheus Mendes and St Antony’s College GCR, and was kindly supported by the Green Templeton College Annual Fund.

The series fostered meaningful dialogue between academia and judicial practice, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing environmental justice in the Amazon.