HRC52 - Item 5 : Human Rights bodies and mechanisms
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
52nd Session
(27 February to 4 April 2023)
Item 5
Statement by
H.E. Ms Anna JARDFELT
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Sweden
on behalf of the European Union
Geneva, 23 March 2023
- CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY –
UNITED NATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
52nd session
(27 February – 4 April 2023)
EU Statement
Human Rights bodies and mechanisms (Item 5)
Speaking time – 2’30’’
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[*], the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Armenia align themselves with this statement.
Mr President,
At the beginning of our session, the UN Secretary General said that “Human rights are not a luxury that can be left until we find a solution to the world’s other problems. They are the solution to many of the world’s other problems.”
As we commemorate several important anniversaries this year, including those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, we have an opportunity to reaffirm the centrality of Human Rights, which are fundamental in ensuring the success of all the United Nations pillars. The EU for its part remains firmly committed to the multilateral human rights system with the UN and its bodies and mechanisms at its core.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by everyone, of all human rights, as established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights laws and treaties. We strongly support its independence and integrity.
The Human Rights Council must work together with the UN Secretary-General and the High Commissioner in our common endeavor to respect, protect, promote, and fulfil human rights, identify violations and abuses, respond through early preventive actions, and ensure accountability and independent human rights monitoring. We must seek further synergies between the UN pillars and between the different UN bodies, whether they are located in Geneva, in New York, or elsewhere.
Mr President,
The EU is deeply concerned about the lack of adequate, predictable and sustainable funding of the UN’s human rights bodies and mechanisms, including the Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures. We call upon the Secretary General to ensure sufficient funding from the regular budget for the Human Rights pillar At the same time, we call on all UN Member States to fulfil their financial obligations.
Mr President,
The EU is a firm supporter of the Special Procedures and highly values their important work. They play a major role in early-warning, information-sharing, technical assistance and capacity building, independent monitoring, and in issuing recommendations on how to improve universal enjoyment of human rights.
To support an effective, transparent, and independent system of Special Procedures, cooperation of States is crucial. All 27 EU Member States have issued a standing invitation to all Special Procedures. We call upon the remaining UN Member States to do the same and to fully cooperate with the mandate holders.
In the same vein, the EU attaches great value to the UN Treaty Bodies and stands ready to cooperate with them. We also encourage further progress on making the system more efficient.
We acknowledge the role of the National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow up and their meaningful contribution to the implementation of human rights obligations, commitments, and recommendations.
We reiterate our strong support for the Universal Periodic Review, a peer mechanism with the principle of universality and equal treatment of all countries at its core, aimed at effectively improving the human rights situation on the ground. The EU calls for continuing full engagement of all States within the UPR process and related follow-up.
Mr President,
The EU actively supports cooperation between civil society and human rights bodies and mechanisms and calls on all States to prioritize and support the meaningful participation of civil society at the UN.
The EU remains deeply concerned about continued reports of acts of intimidation and reprisals against individuals and members of civil society who cooperate with the UN, including human rights defenders, journalists and media workers, victims of human rights violations and abuses, witnesses, their relatives and lawyers, public officials, opposition parties, and national human rights institutions.
We expect all States to respect and protect the rights of these persons and strongly condemn any form of intimidation, harassment, and reprisal against them. States should do everything in their power to end and prevent such acts, ensure prompt and impartial investigation, effective remedies, and full accountability for these acts.
I thank you.
[*] North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.