COUNCIL - Earth Charter Initiative

Mirian Vilela (Brazil)
Earth Charter International Secretariat
c/o University for Peace
P.O. Box 138-6100 El Rodeo de Mora
Ciudad Colón, Costa Rica
Mirian Vilela is the executive director of Earth Charter International and has been involved in the initiative
internationally since early 1996. She has coordinated an international process of consultation, and set
up partnerships with organizations and individuals who contributed to the consultation process and who
continue to be involved in the implementation phase of the Charter. She has organized and facilitated
numerous international workshops and seminars on values and principles for sustainability. Prior to her
work with the Earth Charter, Ms. Vilela worked for the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) for two years in preparation of the 1992 UN Earth Summit. She is currently a
faculty member of the University for Peace. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the
Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she was an Edward Mason Fellow.
Erna Witoelar (Indonesia)
United Nations
P.O. Box 2338
- Jakarta 10001, Indonesia
Erna Witoelar
2003. She is the former minister of human settlements and regional development (1999-2001) and a
former member of the National Assembly of Indonesia. She currently serves as chairperson of the Indonesia
Biodiversity Foundation (KEHATI), co-chair of the Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia, and an
Earth Charter Commissioner. Before joining the Indonesian government, she pursued a long career in civil
society and led the Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI), founded and led both the Indonesia Forum
for the Environment (WALHI) and Friends of the Environment Fund (DML), among others. At the global
level she has been elected president of Consumers International (1991-1997), member of the Commission
on Developing Countries and Global Changes (1990-1992), and member of the Advisory Committee on
Industry and Sustainable Development of the Brundlandt Commission (1985-1986). She is currently the
board member of several civil society organizations at national and international levels, including chairing
the YIPD (Foundation for Local Governance Innovation), and serves as an advisor to both the Indonesian
Association of Municipalities and Association of Districts. She was a recipient of the UNEP Global 500
Award during the Rio Summit in 1992, the Earth Day International Award at the UN in 1993, and the
Indonesian Presidential Medal for the Environment in 1995.
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