We the undersigned organizations advocating for climate justice, understand the importance of peaceful dissent, participation, and advocacy to demand climate action and to ensure the actions taken advance human rights. We stand in solidarity with Egyptian human rights defenders and climate justice advocates, who continue to bravely work for a better future for Egypt and the planet in the face of unrelenting government repression and draconian restrictions.
Prior to and during the recent COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, we learned about the situation of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and thousands of others arbitrarily detained in Egypt. During COP, we were honoured to align our efforts with Egyptian activists and others from all over the world to assert that there is “no climate justice without human rights”, as outlined in this petition, which was supported by over 325 organizations. In panels at side events, UNFCCC-approved civil society actions on the COP premises, and on social media we spoke out to demand that the Egyptian government free all those who are arbitrarily detained and ease its stranglehold over independent civil society.
Egyptian authorities responded to our activities at COP27 with acts of intimidation and harassment, as security agents filmed participants in panel discussions and civil society actions, hecklers attempted to disrupt human rights side events, pro-government media and trolls defamed human rights defenders, and the government organized protests condemning advocacy for Egyptian prisoners at COP.
After the end of COP27, Egyptian human rights defenders, many of whom are arbitrarily banned from travel and whose assets are frozen, remain at risk of reprisals by the Egyptian authorities. A looming April 2023 deadline for NGOs to register under the repressive NGO law risks obliterating the remaining independent NGOs in Egypt. The few independent national media outlets are censored and subject to harassment. The Egyptian authorities have arrested and continue to arbitrarily detain scores of people since 25 October in relation to calls for protests during COP27. Alaa Abdel Fattah remains unjustly behind bars amid deep concerns for his physical and mental health, while authorities continue to bar his lawyer and British consular officers from visiting him.
COP27 is over, but we, the under-signed organizations, have not forgotten about our colleagues in Egypt. We will continue monitoring the situation, and pledge to keep up pressure on the Egyptian authorities to release Alaa Abdel Fattah and all those arbitrarily detained. We will respond to any reprisals, and fully support efforts to demand the establishment of a monitoring and reporting mechanism on the human rights situation in Egypt at the UN Human Rights Council.
SIGNATORIES:
350.org 350.org Japan AbibiNsroma Foundation (ANF) Alliance for Future Generations – Fiji Amnesty International Actions pour la Réinsertion Sociale de la Femme “ARSF” Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development Asian- Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Asociación La Ruta del Clima Association of Women of Southern Europe AFEM Association For Progressive African Youth AJAP-NIGERIA Bangladesh Indigenous Women’s Network BIOGET Break.The.Ice Caribbean Youth Climate Council Center for Biological Diversity Center for Rights & Democracy (CRD) South Sudan Centre For Climate Change Action and Advocacy Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC) Changemaker CIDSE Climate Action Network Europe Climate Action Network France Climate Action Network International (CAN-I) Climate Action Network Japan Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK) Climate Action Network Zimbabwe Climate Clock Climate Justice Union CNCD-11.11.11 Deriba Center for Environmental Studies Earth Advocacy Youth EcoEquity Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education Education International Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ Inc Federación Nacional de Trabajadores del Agua Potable del Perú Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN) FNV the Netherlands Förderverein Imece Germany e.V. Forum for Development and the Environment Fridays for Future Uganda Fuerza Mundial Global Global Focus Global Forest Coalition Green Africa Youth Organisation Green Climate Action Human Rights Watch Iceland Nature Conservation Association Imece France Indigenous Environmental Network IndustriALL Global Union International Trade Union Confederation IUF Johannes Technology Solution JOMO Climate Change Initiative Journalists for Human Rights Kikandwa Environmental Association (KEA) Klimadelegation e.V. Latinas for Climate Let’s Green The Future Trust MenEngage Global Alliance Nepalese Space Research Association NGO UJPOD TOGO NYCA ObbyPress Foundation Observatório do Clima Oil Change International ONG-ASHAD Pacific Islands Climate Action Network Parents for Climate Aotearoa PCS Trade Union Peoples Rising for Climate Justice Physicians For Social Responsibility Pennsylvania Powering Young Initiatives Reaccion Climatica – Bolivia RECODEFSENEGAL Resource Lin Foundation Scientist Rebellion Smart Youth network initiative Sociedad Amigos del Viento Somaliland Help Age Organisation (Somho) Sustainable Environmental Development (Suswatch Kenya) TEAL Climate The POP (Protect Our Planet) Movement Third Generation Environmentalism (E3G) Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Unite for Climate Action Water Justice and Gender World Peace & Climate Change Diplomatic Organization You-lean Chad YOUNGO (civil society constituency of the UNFCCC) Youth Agro-Marine Development Association (YAMDA) Youth Association for Development (YAD) Pakistan Youth for Better Baseco Youth Sénégal climate change Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN) Zoba Advisory ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável