By UN Rep Stacey Kimmig (AIWC Cologne)
After arriving in Madrid for the second week of COP25, I sat this morning at the Women and Gender Constituency daily planning meeting, moderated by my FAWCO UNFCCC partner, Ayuska Motha, when I hear a rumor, in hushed tones, that civil society groups will come together that afternoon, to protest the lack of ambition shown by the parties (countries), and the urgent need to act now against climate change. I am ready to support in any way I can; I am always ready for a good protest.
Ayuska and I head to the area at the planned time, and I am surprised at the number of people milling about. Normally, an action or protest is done by about 20 people at most, but there are hundreds of people gathering in the space. This has a completely different feel to all of the other protests we have supported. This is civil society banding together to become an unstoppable force, and we are in the middle of this incredible energy.
Someone starts a chant about climate justice, and everyone uses the wooden utensils we have been given in our welcome bag to bang on the glass water bottle we have also been given. The drumming and clanging are impossible to ignore.
The entire hall is filled with civil society participants: women, youth, indigeneous people, all protesting the lack of ambition by the countries to increase their pledges to combat climate change. Hundreds of people are chanting, peacefully, in a powerful show of the people's voice. Security arrives, then more security. They form a human chain behind the protesters and slowly force them out of a large door to the outside. The door is shut behind them. Ayuska and I manage to remain indoors, but in a show of solidarity, we head outside to search for and support our colleagues who have been shut out.
After leaving the building, we are informed that no observers will be allowed back into the climate conference today.
We are proud to be part of a civil society movement which does not back down from intimidation. We stand together with our partners and sisters, and we support the message that women, youth and indigeneous people have a right to be part of the climate solution, and a right to demand more from our leaders making climate policy. We will be heard!