Rights group: Egypt stifles environmental work ahead of COP

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — A leading human rights group has called on the United Nations to ensure that countries hosting the international climate conference are meeting human rights standards after documenting instances of repression against environment activism in Egypt, this year’s host. Human Rights Watch has said in a report that government restrictions amount to a violation of basic human rights and throw into question the country’s ability to meet basic climate commitments. Egypt’s government has engaged in a widespread crackdown on dissent in recent years that has detained thousands, many without trial, according to rights groups.