UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 57th session .
Item 3 General Debate.
EUROPEAN UNION. Joint Statement on the importance of civil society participation in international climate discussions.
18 September 2024
Mr President,
The European Union has the honour to deliver this Joint Statement on behalf of xx countries.
The ongoing climate crisis requires immediate accelerated action and strengthened ambition of the whole international community. We again underscore that global responses to climate change and other environmental crises must be grounded in human rights. The global green transition needs to be just and inclusive.
A crucial element to advance this agenda is to ensure transparent, inclusive, safe and meaningful participation and leadership, both online and offline, by civil society, including climate activists, human rights defenders, women, youth, and persons with disabilities and others marginalized, in international climate discussions.
For COP29 to meet the expectations from people worldwide, especially those particularly affected by climate change, such as children and elderly, Indigenous Peoples, citizens of small island states, small scale farmers, just to name a few, the conference needs to provide an enabling environment for civil society, free from intimidation, harassment, arbitrary surveillance and reprisals.
COP29 is an opportunity for the host country to reaffirm its commitment to its obligations under international human rights law and ensure the conditions for the work of a free and independent civil society. We hope that the constructive engagement of civil society with governments at the conference will encourage Azerbaijan to recognize civil society’s role and to respect, protect and fulfil the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of expression, including media freedom in the future.
We must all act together to fulfil our responsibilities towards our planet, present and future generations. Nobody knows this better than those particularly affected. Let’s ensure that their voices can resound strong and free and contribute to all international climate discussions.
Thank you.