Amnesty International, an international human rights organization, has urged the organizers of the COP29 climate summit scheduled to take place in Baku this November to ensure that human rights are guaranteed in their agreement with the Azerbaijani authorities.

In a statement released on July 4, Amnesty International emphasized the need for this agreement to be published immediately after it is signed. This transparency would allow potential participants to assess the risks they may encounter at the event.

Despite numerous attempts, Amnesty International has only recently managed to secure the text of the agreement between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Arab Emirates, which hosted last year’s COP28. The organization noted that there were significant shortcomings and uncertainties regarding the protection of rights for participants in Dubai, raising concerns that the agreement with Azerbaijan may not fully safeguard human rights and civil liberties at COP29 nor be made public ahead of the summit.

The statement stressed, "The agreement between the UNFCCC and Azerbaijani authorities must ensure that all human rights are protected and respected both inside and outside the summit space. This includes the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly." This is particularly vital given that the Azerbaijani government routinely suppresses dissent and has intensified its repression of critics, recently arresting human rights defenders, journalists, and eco-activists, including Anar Mammadli.

Amnesty International called for the release of Mammadli and all others unjustly detained by the authorities.

The organization has documented how previous COP climate summits—in Poland, Spain, the UK, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—have imposed restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. They noted that these rights are severely violated in Azerbaijan, raising concerns about the safety of participants at COP29, set to take place in Baku from November 11 to 22.

The "Agreement with the host country" outlines the terms for conducting an international meeting between the organizers and the host nation. This typically includes any immunities and privileges applicable outside national law and is usually prepared several months before the event.