The Latin American Network of Environmental Prosecutors (LANEP) is an innovative communication tool with the goal of bringing together environmental prosecutors in ** Latin American countries and the international community. By bridging the gap and advancing the exchange of experiences between these important actors, LANEP aims to achieve higher levels of compliance, effectiveness, and evolution of national and international environmental law.
LANEP was created on November 26, 2008, in Bonito, a city located in Middle West Brazil. Environmental prosecutors from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Peru realized they were dealing with the same issues while fighting to protect the environment. Inspiring the creation of LANEP was the perception that only by joining forces and sharing technical and legal resources prosecutors could overcome the challenges aheadof them. After all, environmental harms do not recognize political borders. Likewise, international crimes against the environment (animal or timber trafficking, e.g.) cannot be solved by one country alone.
Later, the Network incorporated prosecutors from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Currently, LANEP has members from every country in Latin America sharing resources and experiences,seeking to strengthen the rule and effectiveness of environmental law.
In addition, LANEP is also an important communication channel with civil society, governments and environmental groups from other countries.Since prosecutors in Latin America are often independent from the Executive Branch, the Network is a source of news coming directly from the frontline of public interest environmental advocacy in an important group of developing countries.
Moreover, as one of its main tools LANEP operates this website where anyone can research the body of environmental statutory and case law, in addition to current lawsuits and other texts from the countries of its members. The website also provides all members’contact information.
Based on the principles of transparency, solidarity, and equality among its prosecutors, LANEP’s Mission Objectives are: