Wealthy countries silencing climate protests worldwide while promoting rights: Study

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Rich, democratic countries in the global north are using harsh and vague measures, aiming to silence the climate protests in the world, however, at the same time, they are slamming similar draconian practices by authorities in the global south, according to a report. 

A Climate Rights International report revealed the increasingly heavy-handed treatment of climate activists in Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and the US. 

The measures also include lengthy prison sentences, preventive detention, and harassment. These crackdowns are a violation of the government's legal responsibility to protect basic rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. 

Further, it also sheds light on how these same governments frequently criticise regimes in developing countries for not respecting the right to protest peacefully. 

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Brad Adams, director at Climate Rights International, said, "Governments too often take such a strong and principled view about the right to peaceful protest in other countries, but when they don’t like certain kinds of protests at home they pass laws and deploy the police to stop them." 

The authorities across Europe, the US, and the UK, have been seen attempting mass arrests and using draconian new laws against non-violent climate protests, which have further resulted in long prison sentences. 

Protesters have been called 'hooligans', 'ecoterrorists' 

Moreover, in some cases, those who have taken part in the protests, have been called hooligans, saboteurs, or ecoterrorists by politicians and the media. 

Last year, Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, told the Guardian, "These defenders are basically trying to save the planet, and in doing so save humanity."

"These are people we should be protecting but are seen by governments and corporations as a threat to be neutralised. In the end, it’s about power and economics," she added. 

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"Instead of jailing climate protesters and undermining civil liberties, governments should heed their call to take urgent action to address the climate crisis," he continued. 

The Climate Rights International called on democratic governments across the world to pause the authoritarian crackdown and protect people's rights to protest. 

“Governments should see climate protesters and activists as allies in the fight against climate change, not criminals,” said Adams. “The crackdown on peaceful protests is not only a violation of their basic rights, it can also be used by repressive governments as a green light to go after climate, environmental, and human rights defenders in their countries.”

(With inputs from agencies)