Governments at the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP27, have been charged to adopt a resolution insisting on additional commitments that guarantee the protection of environmental and human rights defenders against reprisal attacks and killings.
The demand was made by the Mano River Union Civil Society Natural Rights and Governance Platform, MRU-CSO Platform, after attending the 27th edition of COP27.
In a statement made available to The Abuja Inquirer, the civil society group strongly recommended the adoption of a framework document that would outline the elements of the human rights obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
“Under the said framework, supporting and ally countries must make commitments against attacks, reprisals, imprisonment, the release of detainees, and the killing of defenders,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, “governments must commit to zero tolerance for reprisals against political prisoners and climate defenders, in fulfillment of the National Determinant Commitments of countries under the Paris Accord. This would serve as a strategic engagement tool during the post-COP27 process to build trust, and confidence and minimize reprisals.”
The MRU CSO Platform noted that a baseline assessment of the experiences, struggles, challenges, and expertise of Frontline Grassroots Defenders across West Africa and Equatorial Guinea reveals with utter dismay, the troubling trend in West Africa and other parts of Africa in which defenders are subjects of increasing surveillance, frivolous criminal charges, imprisonment, threats and stigmatization in the performance of their work.
“The report captures a dire account of some of the harsh legal regimes, arbitrary arrests and difficult situations frontline grassroots defenders are faced with around the subregion and despite the scale of the reprisal attacks, these violations passed largely underreported or undocumented.
“Because these abuses are perpetrated by multinational investment companies with the full backing of their host governments and the acquiescence of their home governments, the urgent need for consolidated action to confront reprisals against indigenous and grassroots defenders on the frontline of the climate crisis cannot be overstated.
“We are aware of the escalating energy and food crisis facing millions of people around the world, especially the most vulnerable in the poorest of the poor countries, but we cannot afford to allow defenders to be used as a sacrificial lamb in our demand for climate financing,”
The body decried a situation where parties to the Paris Agreement turn their countries into risky places for climate activists to live. “We, therefore call for the unconditional release of all environmental and human rights activists who are in prisons across Africa and elsewhere.”
