9 March 2018
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Peoples’ organisations and movements from the Global South along with our allies are deeply concerned about the passage of the ‘On specific solutions related to the organization of the session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the Republic of Poland’ Bill in the Polish parliament, which will prevent any ‘spontaneous’ public gathering of climate groups during COP24. The Bill is specifically drafted to target any organising and mobilisation of environmental defenders and people’s movements against detrimental climate policies. It also gives power to the Polish government to subject human rights defenders to state-led surveillance including access to all personal information.
The Bill initiated by the government of Poland is setting a dangerous precedent that undermines the basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and of speech, and the right to privacy in the context of digital technologies, multilateral process, and the role and importance of peoples’ organisations in fighting climate change. This Bill infringes upon the rights protected under regional and international human rights conventions to which Poland is a member state, especially Articles 11 (right to freedom of assembly and association) and 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights; Article 12 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (freedom of assembly and of association); Article 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; as well as its own Constitutional Law. A step like this gives a legal license with impunity to states and non-state actors to intimidate and undermine the work of environmental, human rights defenders. The year 2017 was the deadliest year for environmental human rights defenders, where at least 197 human rights defenders were killed for protecting their land and resources. If patriarchal, authoritarian governments make this trend a norm, then 2018 could be an even worse year for human rights defenders and their communities.
Clearly, environmental defenders, especially indigenous, urban poor and rural women human rights defenders from every region of the world who plan to participate in COP24 this year in Poland will face great risks, barriers and restrictions in raising their concerns and protesting against policies that accelerate climate change. We are concerned that the climate negotiations will be a farce if they are conducted in this atmosphere of fear, threat and intimidation.
We demand the following actions from respective entities:
- United Nations, Fiji Presidency of 2017, Talanoa Dialogue and Constituencies take action to redress this, failing which our organizations and movements will resort to non-cooperation towards COP24.
- Polish government repeal this harmful Act and ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and speech of all person prior to, during and post COP 24.
- European Union and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urge the government of Poland to uphold their legal, human rights obligations by repealing the Act, as a signatory to key regional and international human rights instruments.
The deadline to sign the statement has been closed.
For further information please contact:
References:
- Polish police set to restrict protest and gather personal data at UN climate talks
- Polish Crackdown Ahead of Climate Talks
- Poland: New law threatens public participation of UN Climate Conference 2018
- Eroding Checks and Balances: Rule of Law and Human Rights Under Attack in Poland
- Tekst ustawy przyjęty przez Senat bez poprawek
List of signatories:
Organisations:
- 350.org Argentina
- 350.org Brasil
- 350.org Paraguay
- African Women’s Network for Community management of Forests (REFACOF)
- Aksi! for gender, social and ecological justice, Indonesia
- All India Women’s Conference (AIWC)
- All India Women’s Education Fund Association (AIWEFA)
- Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
- Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
- Asociación Civil Centro de Cultura Popular Labor, Cerro de Pasco, Perú
- Association Adéquations, France
- Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l’Environnement (ANSEN)
- Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament
- Barnabas Charity Outreach
- Biofuelwatch, UK/US
- Brighter Green, Kenya
- Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st)
- Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society (COECODECON), India
- Center for Human Rights and Climate Change Research
- Climate Watch, Thailand
- COESUS Brasil
- COESUS Latinoamericana contra el Fracking
- Colectivo Salvaginas, Bolivia
- Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center (CWEARC), Philippines
- Danish Family Planning Association
- Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality, Fiji
- Earth Forever, Bulgaria
- Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia, México
- ETC Group
- The Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO)
- Feminism in India
- Feminist League, Kazakhstan
- Feministiskt perspektiv
- Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM)
- Focus on the Global South
- Foundation for Grassroots Initiatives in Africa (GrassRootsAfrica) Ghana
- Free the Marginalized Women Advocates (FREMWA), Ghana
- FREMWA
- Fundación Arayara
- Fundación Guatemala
- Fundacion para estudio e Investigacion de la Mujer (FEIM)
- GenderCC – Women for Climate Justice, Germany
- GenderCC – Women for Climate Justice, South Africa
- Grupo Carta de Belém, Brazil
- Grupo Para o Desenvolvimento da Mulher e Rapariga
- IBON International
- Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India
- Italian Climate Network
- Jago Nari Unnayon Sangsta, Bangladesh
- Koalisi Rakyat untuk Hak atas Air (KRuHA), Indonesia
- Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO)
- MADRE
- Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climatico, Perú
- NEthing
- Organizacin nacional de mujeres indigenas andinas y amazonicas del peru-ONAMIAP
- Pacific Conference of Churches
- Pacific Islands Climate Action Network
- Pacific Partnerships on Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (PPGCCSD)
- Pacific Urgent Action Hub for Climate Justice
- Project Survival Pacific Western Hub, Fiji
- Public Advocacy Initiatives for Rights and Values (PAIRVI), India
- Rainbow Pride Foundation Fiji
- Reacción Climática, Bolivia
- RITES Forum, Odisha, India
- Salvaginas, Bolivia
- Servicios Ecumenicos para Reconciliacion y Reconstruccion
- Soroptimist International
- TierrActiva, Colombia
- WeGovern Institute, Inc. Philippines
- We Rise Coalition (DIVA for Equality, FWRM, femLINKPACIFIC, IWDA)
- Women Center, Sri Lanka
- Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF)
- Women for Safe Energy
- Women for Water Partnership
- Women for Women’s Humans Rights – New Ways, Turkey
- Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International
- Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
- Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Germany
- Women’s UN Report Network – WUNRN
- World Animal Net
- YouthNet for Climate Justice
Individuals
- Annemarie Mohr
- Anupriya Ghosh
- Audrey Ledanois
- Daniel Santi
- Elizabeth Cox
- Emil Samuel
- Ender Rence
- Fenton Lutunatabua
- Frances Namoumou
- Hali D Hammer
- Isadora Cardoso
- Joanna Krawczyk, Poland
- John Baaki
- Kalis Vaeceece, Fiji
- Kelvin Anthony
- Kimbowa Richard
- Kiyomi Nagumo, Bolivia
- Kris Prasad
- Jenny Rönngren
- Joey Joleen Mataele
- Maryann Lockington
- Michelle Reddy
- Nele Marien
- Noelene Nabulivou, Fiji
- Oliver Hasenkamp
- Prince Nkezimana
- Priscilla Samson (VCAN), Vanuatu
- Quisia Gonzalez
- R C Ramshaw
- Reed Kurtz
- Sepesa Rasili
- Sharin Vile
- Tara Chetty
- Veera Vehkasalo
- Véronique Moreira