During his recent trips to India and Vietnam, the UN secretary Antonio Guterres reportedly pressed for the safety of environmental activists and human rights advocates in public forums.
Throughout a press conference just at the COP15 Species diversity Convention in Montreal last week, Guterres stated: “One of the main points I clearly got as well as that I also attempted to convey extremely clearly would be that civil liberties must be included in the center of any and all environmental issues.
He continued, “And one of the things that concern me more is the harassment of defenders of human rights generally, but also environmental campaigners.
He was answering a query regarding government repression of environmental protests.
And not just because of governments, Guterres continued, “but also because of some business interests that see a roadblock to their profit goals that are utterly unacceptable since profits based on nature’s destruction are exactly the antithesis of what we are addressing here.”
Prior to the Sharm el-Sheikh Conference on Climate Change in November, Guterres went To India from October 18 to 20, where he met Prime Minister Modi.
In a speech to IIT Bombay students, Guterres stated that India’s voice on the international stage could only become more authoritative and credible if there was a firm commitment to diversity and human rights respect domestically.
State countries and human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized India over claims that liberties have degraded.
The Indian government claims that India has strong institutions to protect everyone’s rights as well as well-established democratic norms.
From India, Guterres headed to Vietnam, where he made the statement that “unleashing the finest of our society” and fostering solidarity while advancing inclusion, equality, and progress are all rooted in human rights.
“They finance freedom. They guarantee long-term stability,” he had stated.
