Bolivia Will Defend Mother Earth in UN Human Rights Council

President Evo Morales announced that Bolivia will focus on the rights of Mother Earth in the country's new capacity as a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council. Bolivia was elected as a member of the Council on Tuesday for the period of 2015 to 2017.

In a press conference from the Government Palace in La Paz, Morales stated “The best contribution we could share inside the United Nations, will be not only to defend human rights, but our experience with collective rights, also with those of Mother Earth.”

Bolivia received international recognition for its law on the rights of Mother Earth, passed in 2010. It enshrined the rights of the planet into law, giving seven specific rights to Mother Earth, such as the right to life, water, clean air, and to live free of pollution.

Morales announced at the press conference that 144 countries supported Bolivia's seat on the Human Rights Council, saying, “These 144 votes are a recognition of the struggle for human rights. This makes all Bolivian people proud.” This is the second time that Bolivia will sit on the council, following a previous term from 2007 to 2010.

The Council is comprised of 47 countries, 13 from Africa, 13 from the Asia-Pasific region, 8 from Latin America and the Caribbean, six from Western Europe and seven from Eastern Europe. The focus of the Council is the defense and preservation of human rights throughout the world.