mardi 4 mars 2008

HLS, 3 March: Statements

7th Session of the Human Rights Council
High Level Segment
Geneva, 3rd March 2008



Opening of the Session


Mr Doru Romulus Costea, President of the Human Rights Council.
Mr Costea opened the Session announcing the agenda and the challenges of this session. As a matter of fact, the President stressed that, now that the mechanisms are in place, the Human Rights Council (HRC) has to prove its efficiency.
In this perspective, the increase of the budget of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) that will benefit the Council is an important step to face the challenges of the new institution.

Mr Ban-Ki- Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations.
Mr Ban-Ki-Moon said 2008 will be a crucial year for the promotion and protection of Human Rights and the HRC has a very important role to play. On the one hand, the HRC has to meet the expectations of the international community, assuring the recognition and the promotion of Human Rights without selectivity and political considerations. The HRC has also, through the special procedures, to be a credible institution, permitting early detection of violations of Human Rights.
Mr Ban-Ki-Moon ended his speech by highlighting that the power of the HRC belongs from its credibility, not its force.

Ms Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for the Human Rights.
Ms Arbour said the HRC is now ready and the attention of the session has to be focused on the respect of Human rights rather than on its procedures. The Council is operational and has to respond to its vocation.

Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, host country.
During her speech, Ms Calmy-Rey recalled the importance of the protection of the rights of women. She expressed the disappointment of Switzerland concerning the behaviour of Myanmar for the application of the resolution that was voted by the HRC. Moreover, Ms Calmy-Rey expressed her preoccupation for the respect of Human Rights in Sri Lanka and in the Palestinian territories.
Concerning the relationship between the 3rd commission of the General Assembly and the HRC, Ms Calmy-Rey, said that a balance had to be found. The General Assembly has to define the legal framework and the HRC has to be the operational framework, monitoring the application of the human rights treaty bodies.

Mr Francisco Santos Calderon, Vice President Colombia
Considering the situation of Colombia, the speech of Mr Santos Calderon was focused on the terrorism and the action of the Colombian government to face the terrorist attacks of the FARC.
The Colombian Vice President stressed the opportunity represented by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Mr Dimitrij Rupel, MFA Slovenia
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Mr Rupel stressed that Slovenia subscribed the interconnection of Human Rights in this year of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the anniversary of the Vienna Declaration. The UE will work to enlarge and strength the mandate of the rapporteurs in Myanmar, DPRK, Somalia and RDC. An inquiry mission should be sent to Kenya.

Mr Felipe Perez Roque, MFA Cuba
Mr Perez Roque said that the 7th session of the HRC will be a test to see if this institution is really different from the former Commission of Human Rights. In this perspective, the UPR is an important instrument to show the impartiality, non-selectivity and independence of the Council. During his speech, the Cuban Foreign Minister stressed that his country is playing a constructive role for the implementation of the Council.

Afternoon:

H. E. Mr. Jorge Sampaio, (Brazil) United Nations High Representative of Alliance of Civilizations
Mr. Sampaio underlined the need to reject extremism in order to live in a world based on peace. It is the duty of member states of the Alliance of Civilizations to strengthen their commitment to achieve a common goal, and convince those countries not yet members of the Alliance to join it. The Alliance urges to bolstering the mutual respect, in the prospective to build bridges among societies in the respect of Human Rights. As members of the UN, each State must play an important role in the Alliance to allow member states to find their way to challenge all issues of the globalized world. The Alliance counts on State’s commitment to achieve its goals through dialogue. In this overview the HRC has a leadership role, also to prevent polarizations and conflicts. The Alliance and the HRC should consult also at a political level, in order to achieve a common role.

H.E. Mr. Maxime Verhagen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Stressing the importance of respect, as key principle of the main religions of the world, Mr. Verhagen urged the need to the commitment of mutual respect. The promotion of Human Rights has a central position in the Dutch foreign policy. Human Rights are not a creation of the West; no religion or culture can justify their violation. The Dutch Representative expressed his government appreciation to Mrs. Arbour’s work, carried on in its full independence.
According to Mr. Verhagen, human rights must be applied to all people, in all places and at all times. The protection if children, women, homosexuals must be guaranteed. The fight against terrorism cannot justify the use of torture. The right to water must also be included in the list of human rights. The UPR is extremely important for the Netherlands, as a universal tool.

H.E. Mr. Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs of India
India confirmed its support to the HRC, and it is confident concerning the achievement of the expectations of the Council. It is therefore imperative for India to successfully continue its commitment to contribute to this initial success. Mr. Sharma stressed the importance of the UPR, and express India’s commitment to be among those countries to be evaluated.
The HRC must also play a key role in the war on terrorism, which is a direct violation of Human Rights, especially the right to life.

H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Store, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Mr. Gahr Store underlined the independence of the HRC, which holds the office of the protection of Human Rights. The key issues in the Norwegian foreign policy are the abolishment of death penalty (which is against the principle of humanity), and torture. Norway is committed for the promotion of the freedom of speech, and the respect of media, often themselves victims of the war of terrorism as direct witnesses. Norway expressed its support to the OHCHR and to Mrs. Arbour’s work.

H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia
Mr. Jeremic stressed how the promotion of Human Rights is essential to the achievement of human development. Willing to be elected as member of the HRC, Serbia expressed its commitment to bolster the Council’s actions and power. Serbia is proud of its record as a central pillar of human rights protection in Southeast Europe. This does not mean that there are no more challenges, but it indicates Serbia’s conviction to face every obstacle head on to solve problems and to achieve concrete results. Mr. Jeremic went on pointing out his government’s concerns regarding the human rights violation in Kosovo, currently under the UN administration. The unilateral independence declaration of Kosovo represents a terrible precedent.

H.E. Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disarmament Management and Human Rights of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka stressed its full cooperation and engagement at all levels in bringing the work of the 7th Session to a successful conclusion. Sri Lanka is now facing a number of critical challenges. Among those, there is the need to secure and guarantee the rights of all Sri Lankan, threatened by terrorism. The Government of Sri Lanka is therefore standing in its unwavering determination to continue to oppose the use of terrorism as a mean of achieving political gains. While firm in preserving the fundamental freedoms of all, Sri Lanka upholds the respect of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Facing several ethnic issues, the Government has taken action to ensure language rights in accordance with Constitutional obligations. Sri Lanka is open to a constructive engagement with the international human rights mechanism and it open itself up to the UPR process in May.

H.E. Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Japan shared the opinion of the international community of the international community that the Council should be an effective institution. Japan hopes that the UPR will be proved to be an effective tool for the HRC. Japan stressed the importance of full cooperation by every country with the activities of special rapporteurs, including continuous dialogue with the international community. Dialogue plays a key role to resolve issues and promote the respect of human rights. Japan organized a seminar on support for democratization for Japanese NGOs, with the collaboration of the UNDEF. Last September, Japan signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Nakayama also remembered his government involvement for the protection of children victims of sexual exploitation. Japan, in order to continue its contribution, intends to stand as a candidate at the next election for the HRC.

H.E. Mr. Manuel Lobo Antunes, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal
Portugal associated itself with the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia on behalf of the EU. Mr. Antunes underlined how the promotion and protection of human rights are among the core duties of the international community, and he expressed his hope concerning the strengthening of the mechanism of the HRC. All the international community has to work together to reach the common goals. Mr. Antunes pleased the work of Mrs. Arbour in preventing the human rights violations, and pay tribute to all those who stand for the respect of human rights. Portugal urged that the international community should bear the heavy responsibility to make the HRC a new credible tool.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Portugal also said: “ My country attaches crucial importance to the suffering of the victims of human rights violations. We have striven to raise the cases of those who live in fear anywhere in the world, as we did in the past with the East Timorese.”

Pierre-Etienne, Marco and Human Rights -Team

Aucun commentaire: