Türkiye: COP31 Host Curbs Environment Defenders

Click to expand Image Local residents of Perşembe Plateau and representatives of environmental organizations stage a protest against gold mining exploration in the area, July 19, 2026. © 2026 Private (Istanbul, October 13, 2026) – The authorities in Türkiye, the host of the upcoming 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), are arbitrarily arresting and prosecuting activists and others involved in environmental protests even as the summit nears, Human Rights Watch said today. “With