<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 16 September, Terra Cypria \u2013 The Cyprus Conservation Foundation participated in a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, regarding the \u201cimpacts of the activities of specific activist organisations and activists operating in the field of environmental protection and the assessment of the need to take measures to address the phenomenon\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n During the meeting, we presented our positions, according to which everyone is equal under the law, the administration, and the justice system, and are entitled to equal protection and treatment, without any discrimination whatsoever. Consequently, any individual who commits an offense must be subject to the sanctions prescribed by law. However, an individual who has not committed any offense must not be targeted or prosecuted, nor subjected to inadequate protection or unequal treatment\u2014particularly on account of their participation in a citizens’ association with the statutory aim of environmental protection, or their actions to combat serious wildlife crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also stressed the need for a clear distinction between legal hunting and poaching, as well as zero tolerance towards the illegal killing, trapping and trade of wild birds and game species. Moreover, we emphasized the need for more effective law enforcement, as well as for strict and deterrent penalties in cases of committing wildlife crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, we highlighted the importance of safeguarding the fundamental environmental rights of citizens, environmental organisations and environmental defenders, including access to information and justice, participation in decision-making processes, and the freedoms of opinion, expression and peaceful protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protecting the environment requires both the effective implementation of environmental legislation and the safeguarding of civil society\u2019s right to participate actively and freely in the protection of nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n