The organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported this Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates, hosts of the United Nations Climate Summit (COP28), are not fulfilling the health and well-being promises they made to migrant workers.
In a note, HRW affirms that the commitment to put health at the center of climate action, made by 124 countries at the beginning of the climate meeting and assumed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as presidency of the meeting, continues without being important. importance “even outside the conference venue, where migrant workers are exposed to harm to their health.
These damages are “associated with the increasing effects of climate change and fossil fuels, including extreme heat and air pollution”, which migrants face “without adequate protection”, according to the non-governmental organization (NGO). .
The COP28 health declaration emphasizes “combatting inequalities within and between countries and implementing policies that achieve sustainable development goals,” but this, HRW notes, “rings false for millions of migrant workers in the Arab Emirates.” United States, which constitute 88% of the population. “.
“HRW has documented how UAE authorities are externalizing climate risks to migrant workers, who are disproportionately exposed to extreme heat and lack adequate protection, sending workers already suffering from chronic illnesses home without medication,” the agency said. NGO.
This shifts the health burden “to the already overloaded health systems of the immigrants’ countries of origin, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan or Nepal, which are already on the front line of climate catastrophes”, despite being minimal emitters of greenhouse gases. .
A migrant interviewed by HRW described the country as “a factory that produces sick people,” since “there are few who come out healthy.”
Likewise, the COP28 health declaration highlights the importance of “cross-cutting and interdisciplinary research in the field of health”, as well as “partnerships between populations most vulnerable to health impacts.”
However, the United Arab Emirates severely limits non-governmental groups, bans unions and has “zero tolerance for dissent,” making life even more difficult for immigrants who want structural reforms.
The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which began on Thursday, brings together representatives from almost every country in the world in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, until December 12, to discuss adaptation strategies. and mitigation, financial support, and take stock of eight years of climate action.
The summit’s host country is one of the world’s largest oil producers and is hotly contested in terms of human rights, refusing to release political dissidents.
The Emirati government’s legislation and practices impose severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly and violate other rights, including the right to privacy and the rights of migrants.
Unlike most countries, the United Arab Emirates has not signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Source: TSF
