International calls intensify to respect human rights as COP29 approaches

As Azerbaijan prepares to host the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) it is facing intensifying criticism for neglecting vital human rights issues, where political repression is widespread. According to Human Rights Watch, the final agreement from COP29 lacks substantial provisions concerning human rights violations, disregarding numerous appeals from international actors to confront the troubling situation in Azerbaijan, where civil society activists and independent journalists are at significant risk.

In the most recent move, On October 24, European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia strongly condemning the authorities for the dire human rights situation and calling for considering sanctions and EU institutions to suspend energy trade agreements with Baku.

Azerbaijan’s treatment of political prisoners and dissenters has drawn increasing scrutiny from other global human rights organisations as well, including joint and separate calls by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Freedom Now, Freedom House and others. These groups have urgently appealed to the Azerbaijani government to release political prisoners and halt its repression of dissent. Notable voices, such as the European Union, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), U.S. lawmakers, and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, have joined the chorus calling for the release of political prisoners and respect for human rights in Azerbaijan.

Despite these calls, the human rights situation in Azerbaijan shows little improvement, with reports indicating that the number of political prisoners remains above 300. Authorities have not expressed any formal commitment to reform, and the atmosphere remains tense, with activists facing travel bans and many prisoners expecting lengthy sentences. As the conference draws to a close, the future of international solidarity on human rights appears uncertain. Concerns abound that without concrete measures to address these violations, the voices of political prisoners and civil society in Azerbaijan and beyond will go unheard, further entrenching authoritarian control.