Critics are blasting Poland's far right government for trying to silence environmental defenders planning to attend the UNited Nations COP24 climate talks in the country later this year.

A group of more than 100 environmental, women's and indigenous organizations have signed a statement calling on Poland to repeal a law that critics say exclude members of civil society from the Paris Agreement process, as well as endanger green campaigners in their home countries.  This is of particular concern as 197 land and environmental defenders were murdered in 2017, the deadliest year for environmental human rights on record.

President Andrzej Duda signed the bill at the end of January; it bans all spontaneous gatherings in the host city Katowice from 26 November until 16 December.  That's the entire length of the world climate change conference.  It also allows the Polish government to spy on registered conference  participants, and authorizes police to obtain, collect, and use personal data of attendees without their consent or judicial oversight.

Spontaneous protests, flash mobs, street theater, and other tactics have been essential tools for green campaigners to get their messages across during international environmental conferences.  But the idea of surveillance that be shared with oppressive home governments is chilling.

"We would clearly advise some of our partners who come from regions where there is already a threat to their lives not to attend COP24," said Sascha Gabizon, Executive Director of Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF).  "The UN stands for human rights defense.  They should not hold this event in Poland if the Polish government cracks down on basic human rights," she added.

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) the law sets "a dangerous precedent that undermines basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and of speech, and the right to privacy".

"There is a feeling that the law contributes to shrinking spaces for civil society engagement, which is regretful as this year's negotiations will be particularly important for defining rules and procedures for the implementation of the Paris Agreement," says Patricia Bohland, campaigner at the non-governmental organization GenderCC-Women for Climate Justice to Germany's DW News.  "We must not forget that climate change affects people and we, the people, should have the opportunity to raise our voices."