QNA
Geneva
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights (GANHRI) Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah has described climate change as an urgent threat to both human life and the full enjoyment of fundamental human rights, emphasising that such a threat places climate change among the top priorities of GANHRI and its members in various territories.
During the opening of a side event organised by GANHRI at the United Nations Palace on the sidelines of the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) titled “Climate Change, Human Rights, and the Role of National Human Rights Institutions,” Al Attiyah clarified that national human rights institutions have played a pivotal role for many years and continue to play a pivotal role in dealing with climate change on the routine agenda.
She stated that GANHRI is a global network for national institutions for human rights that works closely with regional networks of national institutions for human rights, United Nations partners, and civil society to help members in various territories apply their mandate and ensure the existence of human rights as a central theme in the enforcement of all climate-related measures at the local, regional, and international levels.
She noted that GANHRI is preparing for engagement as an observer in the UN climate change conference (COP27), which is set to convene in Egypt, by focusing on the role of national institutions for human rights in promoting the assiduous and comprehensive engagement in the climate change process in partnership with UN partners and the special rapporteur on climate change.
The NHRC chairperson revealed that GANHRI had submitted a request to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to participate in the conference as an observer, noting that the HRC is set to consider and discuss a decision submitted by Australia on the role of national human rights institutions in dealing with human rights in the context of climate change.
