#EU4HumanRights – EU at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council
Far too many people are left behind when it comes to the enjoyment of human rights. Human rights belong to everyone, everywhere without distinction of any kind. Respecting, protecting and fulfilling all rights of all people is the lunchpin of a fair, free and sustainable society. This is the common thread in our work at the Human Rights Council.
This Human Rights Council session convenes at a time when the international community is witnessing Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, which is also an attack on fundamental values and principles of international law. “In parallel with its war of aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation has intensified internal repression against, inter alia, civil society actors, human rights defenders, independent media, journalists, political opposition members and other critical voices. The EU strongly condemns the media censorship imposed in Russia, silencing the remaining independent voices, as well as the abuse of the legislation forbidding the so-called “discrediting” of the Russian armed forces and raising of any allegations of crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine,” the EU says in its statement during the General Debate on the oral update by the High Commissioner. The EU also welcomed in its statement the release of the assessment report of human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.“We reiterate our grave concerns over the human rights situation of Uyghurs and persons belonging to other minorities in Xinjiang. According to the report, some of the serious human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity. The EU underscores the need for justice and accountability and urges China to cooperate with the OHCHR on how to implement the report’s recommendations.” The full EU Item 2 statement can be found here. (LINK)
At this 51st session of the HRC, the EU will lead three resolutions regarding specific country situations:
We believe the alarming situation in Afghanistan needs to remain high on the agenda of the HRC. We are particularly worried about the worsening situation of women’s and girl’s rights, including restrictions of freedom of movement as well as exclusion from political, economic, educational and social spaces. We will therefore present a resolution to extend and strengthen the mandate of the Special Rapporteur to ensure accountability for human rights violations.
The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia will present its first report to the Council. The gravity and scale of human rights violations and abuses perpetrated in northern Ethiopia remains appalling. We are gravely concerned about the resumption of hostilities and the loss of life and human suffering caused by the renewed violence. We are also very concerned about the humanitarian situation that continues to deteriorate due to the combined effects of conflict and drought. Against this background, the EU will present resolution to renew the commission’s mandate for a further year.
We will also present a resolution on the situation of human rights in Burundi, aiming at a one year extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi who took up office only a few months ago. Persisting challenges remain in the areas of human rights, good governance, reconciliation and the rule of law. We call upon the Government of Burundi to be true to its commitments and stand ready to support the authorities in their efforts. Further progress would be beneficial for all Burundians.
The EU supports all measures to ensure accountability for human rights and IHL violations in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s war of aggression. Collecting, persevering and analysing the evidence related to international crimes is of key importance. At HRC51 we will actively engage in the discussions about the human rights situation in Ukraine and look forward to the first oral update by the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
We will also strongly support that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka remains on the HRC agenda and that further efforts are pursued to enhance accountability and reconciliation. We will therefore lend our support to renewal of the accountability project established last year. We will also fully engage in interactive dialogues on the human rights situation in Belarus, Myanmar, Venezuela, Cambodia, Syria, Nicaragua, South Sudan and DR Congo.
Stemming from the EU’s founding principle to combat all forms of racism, we will actively and constructively participate in all debates on this issue, presenting also the latest developments within the EU, e.g. in the context of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan. We will further actively intervene in the annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective, as well as all the other debates, including those on climate change, rights of indigenous peoples, the right to safe drinking water and the right to development.
All EU interventions will be shared on our website. Please also follow our social media channels to keep up-to-date about the EU’s actions at HRC51.
