HRC54 - General Debate on Item 10 - Technical assistance and capacity-building - EU Statement
United Nations Human Rights Council
54th session
11 September – 13 October 2023
General Debate on Item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building
EU Statement
President,
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Republic of Moldova*, the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.
The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the multiple and indiscriminate attacks across Israel by Hamas and deeply deplores the loss of lives.
The EU highly appreciates the invaluable work of the OHCHR and its active engagement and dialogue with States, regional organizations and other stakeholders in carrying out its technical cooperation mandate. We request all States to offer their full cooperation and financial backing to the Office, ensuring it has the necessary resources and unrestricted access for UN Human Rights personnel to independently carry out their mandate of assisting, monitoring and reporting on human rights situations on the ground. Simultaneously, the EU wishes to emphasize that while cooperation with OHCHR and other UN Human Rights mechanisms is encouraged, it does not exempt duty-bearers from their obligation adhere to international human rights law.
The EU welcomes the OHCHR’s work under item 10 since it enables actors to work together, through cooperation and dialogue, to help all States implement their human rights obligations and commitments, creating a space where all countries feel free to speak of their own national human rights experiences and request assistance.
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 OHCHR. The EU and its member states will continue to support the Office and we encourage all United Nations Member States to fulfill their financial responsibilities and obligations.
We acknowledge the engagement of Cambodia with the OHCHR, encouraging to continue this crucial cooperation in realizing the human rights of the people of Cambodia in line with international human rights obligations. The EU is deeply concerned about shortcomings in fulfilling political and civil rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia, particularly with regards to the 2023 elections, from which the main opposition party was barred. Restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, intimidation, arbitrary detention, and judicial harassment of human rights defenders and members of the political opposition, remain deeply troubling. We call on the Cambodian authorities to consider implementing the Secretary-General’s recommendations, including those related to gender equality and the fight against discrimination,.
The EU welcomes the OHCHR report on Georgia, particularly on the need of enabling a safe environment for civil society and the media, ensuring the independence, integrity and accountability of the judiciary and intensifying efforts to combat gender-based discrimination and violence, as well as violence against LGTBI persons, in accordance with priorities identified by the EU in June 2022. The EU welcomes the approval of the second national Human Right strategy (2023-2030) by the Georgian Parliament and calls on Georgia to safeguard its implementation, including its Action Plan.
We encourage Georgia to continue working with the OHCHR to uphold human rights. We are seriously concerned about the continuous deterioration and long-lasting human rights violations committed in Georgian regions of both Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and echo the High Commissioner calls for accountability. The EU is also gravely concerned about the restrictions on the freedom of movement, arbitrary detentions, the violations of the rights of internally displaced persons and refugees, as well as raising obstacles to the enjoyment of the rights to education and health in these regions.
On Yemen, the EU is concerned about reports that highlight the numerous and serious human rights violations and abuses in the country, the high levels of violence and killings of migrants and refugees trying to cross into Saudi Arabia. The EU calls for the removal of major administrative and bureaucratic restrictions across the country and calls for an unhindered access of humanitarian supplies and personnel, including female aid workers, without any discrimination to all persons in need, notably in Houthi-controlled territory. The EU continues to support capacity-building of the National Commission of Inquiry but we believe this Council should be mandated to discuss the situation on the ground on the basis of an independent report by the Office.
With regard to the situations in Ukraine, Central African Republic, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Haiti we would like to refer to our statements during the respective interactive dialogues. We also welcome the request of Honduras to count on the technical assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner to address the reform of the penitentiary system with a human rights perspective.
I thank you.
* North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.