Amplifying frontline voices for climate justice and human rights

Rodrick Holness Hollands is a lawyer and Solomon Islands climate advocate, recognized for his leadership in regional, youth-driven climate justice efforts. His work spans grassroots mobilization, international advocacy, and organizational leadership across the Pacific. “Every morning young children wake up and see that their island is being swallowed by the ocean, this is what climate injustice looks like in the Solomon Islands,” he said. “We care about our children and future generations. How can we become more resilient in terms of adaptation?” 

Sousa Gonçalves Chele, representing the Forum for Monitoring the UPR Mechanism in Mozambique noted that the Southern African nation “is one of the most vulnerable and worst affected countries in the world for climate change in two dimensions – cyclones and drought- which impacts negatively on human rights.”  She noted that efforts to address those challenges through climate policies include an initiative that the Forum launched in partnership with the relevant government ministries, the institute managing disaster risk reduction, and the UN Development Program.  

As climate impacts intensify, participants stressed that centering human rights and local voices in climate action is essential to achieving a just and sustainable future. The dialogue and other meetings which the advocates held with diplomatic missions in Geneva, reaffirmed the importance of solidarity between faith-based organizations, civil society, and frontline human rights defenders.  

Sikhonzile Ndlovu, LWF Senior Advocacy Officer for Gender Justice concluded, “It is encouraging to see faith actors from different contexts coming together for joint action on human rights at the global level. In spaces like Geneva, home to key multilateral platforms such as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, our shared presence sends a powerful message: working for justice is both a moral and human rights imperative. When we stand alongside one another, across communities, regions, and traditions, we move from speaking about change to becoming a collective force that helps to create it.”