APN | Istanbul

30 June 2026

APN was invited to speak at the conference "Crossroads of Crisis: Conflict, Climate, and the Environment in the MENA Region", organised by the Arab Reform Initiative and held in Istanbul on 30 June 2026.

APN spoke in the panel discussion "Ecocide: From Environmental Reality to Legal Concept", where its representative, Farah Emad, addressed the critical role of civil society in advancing environmental justice and accountability in contexts of conflict.

Farah emphasized that civil society organisations play a vital role in documenting environmental crimes, particularly through on-the-ground evidence collection, as demonstrated in cases of ecocide in Gaza and Lebanon. She also highlighted the importance of strategic litigation in advancing environmental norms when governments fail to act, seeking justice and reparations for affected communities, and raising awareness of ongoing environmental violations.

In addition, Farah underscored the value of alternative accountability mechanisms, citing the People's Tribunal for Palestine, which APN co-organized, as an example of civil society-led efforts to pursue justice where formal legal avenues fail to hold perpetrators accountable. She concluded by stressing the importance of direct action, including support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as a means of accountability and mobilising international solidarity.