Popular News

HomeNewsVaticanHuman rights issue overshadows COP27 meeting

Human rights issue overshadows COP27 meeting

Hundreds of people have joined a march inside the COP27 climate summit to protest the issue of human rights in Egypt.

By Nathan Morley

On Friday, US President Joe Biden delivered a tough address to the COP27 climate summit, mixing grim warnings on the fate of the planet with promises to lead and fund the fight against climate change.

“The climate crisis is about human security, economic security, environmental security, national security, and the very life of the planet,” Biden stated.

Human rights and climate change

Before his speech, Biden met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss human rights and climate change.

Pressure is growing on Egypt to free prominent British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah who this week stopped taking liquids after seven months of a partial hunger strike.

In response, Sisi said his government had adopted a strategy for human rights, adding a presidential committee had been given the task of reviewing the cases of government critics held in pre-trial detention.

On Saturday, a large group of protesters at the summit chanted slogans like “no climate justice without human rights.”

Now, the first week in Sharm El Sheikh is almost over – there will be a break on Sunday, before the summit resumes next week.

Popular News

Pope encourages Leo XIV Study Center to help build a civilization of love

Pope Leo XIV welcomed members of an international study center that bears his name...

‘Sounds of Loss’ to mark International Day of Peace at St Peter’s Basilica

An audio installation by filmmaker Philip Gröning will be presented in the Atrium of...

Children in Gaza and West Bank face new dangers as winter approaches

As winter approaches, humanitarian agencies warn that children and families in Gaza are facing...

Pope Leo’s visit to France to focus on faith, culture, Europe

Pope Leo XIV’s September 25–28 Apostolic Journey to France will include meetings with civil...