A global coalition of non-governmental organisations have called on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to stop hosting the annual Conference of Parties (COP) in authoritarian countries. In an open letter to the Secretariat for the UNFCCC, organisations such as the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in the framework of the Observatory for the protection of human rights defenders, “protest the continuous awarding of repressive governments with hosting privileges of United Nations conferences.” The coalition cites crackdowns on civil society in Egypt (host of COP27), the UAE (host of COP28) and Azerbaijan, which will host the upcoming COP29. The letter calls for the UNFCCC to publicise host agreements for future COPs, and to ensure that host countries comply with international human rights law, including by protecting the rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
