06/11/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
Speakers at COP31 are being required to comply with “public morality” standards. Speaking to Spot Press Cooperative, lawyer Özlem Altıparmak warned that the requirement creates uncertainty around statements concerning LGBTI+ rights and could lead to self-censorship.
A declaration prepared for panelists speaking in the Green Zone at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference COP31, scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20 under Türkiye's presidency, includes a requirement to comply with “public morality standards.”
According to a report by Tuğçe Yılmaz of Spot Press Cooperative, speakers are required to pledge that their presentations and speeches will comply with “the law and public morality standards.” However, the declaration provides no definition of “public morality” or explanation of the criteria by which it will be applied.
While the declaration lists prohibited conduct, including discrimination, hate speech, harassment and incitement to violence, it does not explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity among the grounds of discrimination.
“It is unclear how statements concerning LGBTI+ rights will be assessed”
Lawyer Özlem Altıparmak, who evaluated the declaration for Spot Press Cooperative, said that she had also received the document ahead of her scheduled speech at COP31.
Recalling that the code of conduct established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Altıparmak drew attention to the differences in the declaration prepared for COP31:
“When listing grounds of discrimination, the declaration does not explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity. Yet the UNFCCC's code of conduct clearly covers both. In addition, the inclusion of an undefined ‘public morality’ requirement creates legitimate uncertainty about how statements concerning gender equality and LGBTI+ rights will be assessed. We cannot say that the text explicitly prohibits such statements, but it does not provide sufficient safeguards against arbitrary interpretation.”
“It could push speakers toward self-censorship”
The declaration prepared for COP31 also requires that speeches must not constitute “propaganda” for or against any political party, individual or viewpoint.
It states that, in the event of a violation, organizers may interrupt the speech, remove the speaker from the session and report the incident to the relevant authorities.
Altıparmak warned that these provisions pose risks to freedom of expression:
“I had never heard of speakers being required to sign such a declaration at previous COP conferences I attended. As a legal professional and civil society representative, I find this practice troubling. Allowing speeches to be interrupted on the basis of vague expressions such as ‘public morality’ and ‘propaganda’ for or against any individual or viewpoint raises serious concerns regarding legal certainty and proportionality. Such provisions could restrict legitimate criticism and push speakers toward self-censorship.”
Tags: human rights, media, lgbti
