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Netherlands Civil Society Declaration: rights of the Maas / Meuse River

Netherlands
Drafted in 2023
National
Civil Society Declaration
Personhood, Rights Of Nature
Maas / Meuse River
Freshwater Ecosystem
Jessica den Outer; Maas Cleanup campaign (Network of citizens)
Civil Society

Summary

In 2022 a network of citizens collaborating in the campaign Maas Cleanup launched a petition to recognize the River Maas as a subject with rights. The petition is to recognize the Maas/Meuse River as possessing the fundamental rights: (1) to flow; (2) to perform the essential ecological functions in its ecosystem, including providing healthy housing for fish, amphibians, aquatic plants and other river life; (3) to be free from pollution; (4) to feed and be fed by a healthy underground aquifer; (5) to native biodiversity; (6) to restoration.

In early 2023 citizens were collecting signatures to present to the Netherlands House of Representatives, asking members to investigate how to use current legislation and regulations to establish the fundamental rights of the Maas River.

Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/netherlands-petition-to-recognize-rights-of-maas-river-2/.

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Legal Document

Petition: Rights of Maas River
Access PDF

Media

Rights of the Maas River Campaign
Maas CleanupWebsite
Press Release
Maas CleanupArticle

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