Make the language a little less hagiographic, and request one citation as needed.
| ← Previous revision |
Revision as of 09:30, 19 April 2026 |
| Line 2: |
Line 2: |
|
{{Orphan|date=February 2023}} |
|
{{Orphan|date=February 2023}} |
|
|
|
|
|
'''Melinda Janki''' is a Guyanese born lawyer leading the fight against big oil in Guyana.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmog.com/2024/11/19/qa-meet-the-lawyer-fighting-to-pry-the-jewel-from-exxonmobils-crown/|title=Q&A: Meet the Lawyer Fighting To Pry the ‘Jewel’ From ExxonMobil’s Crown|first=Matthew|last=Green|date=November 19, 2024}}] In 2023 she received the Commonwealth Lawyers Association Rule of Law Award for her work to uphold the rule of law in Guyana and internationally.[{{Cite web|url=https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2023/02/17/intl-lawyer-melinda-janki-cops-prestigious-commonwealth-lawyers-association-rule-of-law-award/|title=Int'l Lawyer Melinda Janki cops prestigious Commonwealth Lawyers Association Rule of Law Award|date=February 17, 2023}}] In 2024 the press recognised her as Guyana’s ‘Woman of the Year.’[{{Cite web|url=https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/12/28/guyanas-woman-of-the-year/|title=Guyana’s woman of the year|date=December 28, 2024}}] In June 2025 she delivered a TED talk in Nairobi on her work fighting oil. [{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_janki_how_we_took_on_an_oil_giant_and_won|title=How we took on an oil giant — and won|first=Melinda|last=Janki|date=September 22, 2025|via=www.ted.com}}] |
|
'''Melinda Janki''' is a Guyanese born lawyer who has taken part in litigation against large multinational oil companies in Guyana.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmog.com/2024/11/19/qa-meet-the-lawyer-fighting-to-pry-the-jewel-from-exxonmobils-crown/|title=Q&A: Meet the Lawyer Fighting To Pry the ‘Jewel’ From ExxonMobil’s Crown|first=Matthew|last=Green|date=November 19, 2024}}] In 2023 she received the Commonwealth Lawyers Association Rule of Law Award for her work to uphold the rule of law in Guyana and internationally.[{{Cite web|url=https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2023/02/17/intl-lawyer-melinda-janki-cops-prestigious-commonwealth-lawyers-association-rule-of-law-award/|title=Int'l Lawyer Melinda Janki cops prestigious Commonwealth Lawyers Association Rule of Law Award|date=February 17, 2023}}][{{Cite web |title=Melinda Janki |url=https://www.commonwealthlawyers.com/melinda-janki/ |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=Commonwealth Lawyers Association |language=en-GB}}] In 2024 a news article called for her to be recognised as Guyana’s ‘Woman of the Year.’[{{Cite web|url=https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/12/28/guyanas-woman-of-the-year/|title=Guyana’s woman of the year|date=December 28, 2024}}] In June 2025 she delivered a TED talk in Nairobi on her work in litigation against oil companies in Guyana.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_janki_how_we_took_on_an_oil_giant_and_won|title=How we took on an oil giant — and won|first=Melinda|last=Janki|date=September 22, 2025|via=www.ted.com}}] |
|
|
|
|
|
Janki was instrumental in writing into Guyana’s Constitution the right to a healthy environment as well as drafting legislation to protect the environment. She is a former member of the Steering Committee of the World Council on Environmental Law.[{{Cite web | url=https://www.iucncongress2020.org/programme/speakers/melinda-janki | title=Ms Melinda JANKI | website=www.iucncongress2020.org}}] She is currently a member at large on the Council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. [{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonwealthlawyers.com/cla/council-member-at-large-melinda-janki-reports-on-a-lecture-in-guyana-by-the-right-hon-lord-carnwath-cvo-on-climate-change-litigation-a-global-perspective/|title=Council Member at Large Melinda Janki reports on a lecture in Guyana by the Right Hon. Lord Carnwath CVO on "Climate change litigation – a global perspective" - News - CLA|date=March 4, 2025}}] |
|
Janki took part in the work to write into Guyana’s Constitution a right to a healthy environment, and also took part in drafting legislation to protect the environment.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}} She is a former member of the Steering Committee of the World Council on Environmental Law.[{{Cite web | url=https://www.iucncongress2020.org/programme/speakers/melinda-janki | title=Ms Melinda JANKI | website=www.iucncongress2020.org}}] She is currently a member at large on the Council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonwealthlawyers.com/cla/council-member-at-large-melinda-janki-reports-on-a-lecture-in-guyana-by-the-right-hon-lord-carnwath-cvo-on-climate-change-litigation-a-global-perspective/|title=Council Member at Large Melinda Janki reports on a lecture in Guyana by the Right Hon. Lord Carnwath CVO on "Climate change litigation – a global perspective" - News - CLA|date=March 4, 2025}}] |
|
|
|
|
|
Janki has worked extensively with Guyana’s Amerindian peoples for years and was the lead drafter of the Amerindian Act which guarantees Amerindian land rights whether indigenous [{{Cite web|url=https://www.melindajanki.org/publications/making-an-amerindian-land-claim-justice-institute-guyana-2012|title=Publication | Making an Amerindian Land Claim (Justice Institute Guyana, 2012)|website=www.melindajanki.org}}] or non-indigenous and protection against mining. [{{Cite web | url=https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6407399645627c225e98c711/64663e3b2ff4ee444aa28ee2_the-amerindian-veto-over-mining.pdf | title=Current practice}}] Janki is also an international lawyer. Her paper on ‘West Papua and the right to self-determination’ transformed the Papuan independence struggle from illegal secession to lawful self-determination. [{{Cite web | url=https://www.ipwp.org/background/act-of-free-choice/west-papua-and-the-right-to-self-determination-under-international-law-melinda-janki/ | title=West Papua And The Right To Self-Determination Under International Law – Melinda Janki | website=www.ipwp].org}}[{{Cite web | url=https://www.ulmwp.org/west-papua-and-the-right-to-self-determination-under-international-law-melinda-janki | title=West Papua and the Right to Self Determination under International Law - Melinda Janki | website=www.ulmwp.org}}] |
|
Janki has worked extensively with Guyana’s Amerindian peoples for years and was the lead drafter of the Amerindian Act which guarantees Amerindian land rights whether indigenous[{{Cite web|url=https://www.melindajanki.org/publications/making-an-amerindian-land-claim-justice-institute-guyana-2012|title=Publication | Making an Amerindian Land Claim (Justice Institute Guyana, 2012)|website=www.melindajanki.org}}] or non-indigenous and protection against mining.[{{Cite web | url=https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6407399645627c225e98c711/64663e3b2ff4ee444aa28ee2_the-amerindian-veto-over-mining.pdf | title=Current practice}}] Janki's writings also have an international scope, and in a paper entitled ‘West Papua and the right to self-determination’ she argues that the Papuan independence fight should not be seen as an illegal secession but rather as a lawful struggle for self-determination.[{{Cite web | url=https://www.ipwp.org/background/act-of-free-choice/west-papua-and-the-right-to-self-determination-under-international-law-melinda-janki/ | title=West Papua And The Right To Self-Determination Under International Law – Melinda Janki | website=www.ipwp.org}}] |
|
|
|
|
|
==Early career== |
|
==Early career== |
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
