Human Rights Council - Organisational Meeting - EU Statement
United Nations Human Rights Council
Organisational Meeting
EU Statement
9 December 2024
Mister President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
We wish to thank the President, and the members of the outgoing Bureau, for having steered the Council’s work throughout the whole year. We also wish to thank the Secretariat for the excellent support given to the work of the Council.
With the biggest number of session weeks in the history of the Human Rights Council, it has this year once again proven its ability to react meaningfully and decisively to acute human rights crises, while maintaining attention throughout the year to multiple [country] situations and thematic priorities as well as prevention efforts and human rights mainstreaming.
We also appreciate your personal commitment, Mister President, to advance the work of the HRC when it comes to gender equality, eliminating harassment and gender-based violence, the use of digital technologies, and the effective participation by civil society.
Recognising the challenges of the heavy workload within the HRC, we remain committed to continued efforts seeking increased efficiency and effectiveness of the Council. We appreciate the work of the respective co-facilitators and focal points. We welcome the newly adopted PRST on efficiency, including the extension of some of the efficiency measures by a further year as well as further efficiency measures. Given our own efforts to contribute to HRC efficiency again this year, we call on all to pay attention to keep the system functioning, and avoid its overload, through our respective voluntary actions.
During the discussions on the draft, the EU made some concrete suggestions, on including on the need to act with determination against reprisals and intimidation against individuals and organizations engaging with the Council. We will be ready to revert in the context of the discussions on the Council’s efficiency and effectiveness planned for next year.
Looking forward to 2025, we wish to congratulate Ambassador Lauber as well as the newly elected Bureau members who will take on the mantle of our work next year.
2025 yet again will be an important year, marking the 80th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations and the start of work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is paramount that we remind ourselves of the choice of international law, human dignity and human rights over war, violence and repression. The Pact for the Future has recognized the fundamental importance of upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms. In 2025, we must show continued and renewed commitment to upholding the universal, inalienable, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent character of human rights, and to discharging the mandate of the Human Rights Council.
You can count on our co-operation and support in the efforts to further strengthen the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the Council. We stand ready to engage with the incoming Bureau, the UN membership, civil society and HRC mechanisms, in all discussions that aim to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, as well as accountability for human rights violations and abuses whenever and wherever they occur.
Thank you, Mister President!