The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), in a press release on Thursday said it remains open to collaborating with the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) to arrive at a fair and transparent resolution to its appeal in relation to a carbon credits programme funded by US company Hess.
The APA had, in a previous public statement on October 27, explained that it was informed by the ART Secretariat that its appeal would be dismissed at 6:01pm of that day if the advocacy body did not sign ART’s terms of reference for the appeal.
According to the APA, following consultations with its executive committee and staff, it determined that ART’s terms of reference, without the APA’s proposed revisions, did not ensure impartiality, effectiveness, nor transparency of the appeal process. The APA said it could not move ahead in full confidence with the process if it [the process] did not contain the minimum guarantees for fairness and accountability for all parties in line with international best practices, as reflected in ART’s own Complaints Guidance. The APA says that at this stage, ART has not published its dismissal order and the indigenous advocacy body says it continues to remain hopeful that the ART is seriously considering its recommendations and remains open to engaging the organisation to ensure an equitable consultation process in the implementation of the appeal mechanism.