UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

55^th  Session

Item 2 - General debate on the oral update by the High Commissioner

4 March 2024

EU Statement

Mister President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Republic of Moldova[1], the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Regarding the situations in Eritrea, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Sudan, we would like to refer to our statements during the respective interactive dialogues.

We reiterate our resolute condemnation of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. We demand that Russia fully abides by its obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and the fundamental rules and principles of the UN Charter. We demand that Russia ceases its aggression and withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine immediately, completely and unconditionally, and fully respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders. The EU continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the atrocities committed in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s war of aggression, such as indiscriminate and targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, extrajudicial executions, the systematic use of torture, sexual- and gender-based violence, and unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children and other civilians. The EU is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including victims’ rights to justice and reparation, as well as guarantees of non-repetition.

The EU welcomes the oral update by the High Commissioner and the reports on Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Sri Lanka.

On Colombia, the EU highly commends the work of the High Commissioner and his Office in Bogota in monitoring and promoting human rights in the country. The EU firmly supports the Government’s efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace in Colombia and curb violence, notably against social leaders, indigenous and afro-Colombian leaders and communities, former FARC combatants, and human rights and environmental defenders. The EU welcomes recent progress, notably the extension of cease-fires with the ELN and the Estado Mayor Central, the extension of the truce between criminal gangs in Buenaventura and the launch of negotiations with the Segunda Marquetalia. At the same time, however, the EU is concerned about persisting high-levels of violence and crimes, such as kidnappings, extortion, forced recruitment and conflict-related sexual and gender based violence. The EU underlines the importance of continued comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and the need for full state presence in all conflict affected regions of Colombia to address the root causes of the conflict, ensure full enjoyment of human rights in the country, and to end violence.

In Guatemala, the EU stands ready to work together with the new government of President Bernardo Arévalo, and to support inclusive and sustainable development in the country, including through strengthening the rule of law, and promoting social justice and the protection of human rights. The EU remains deeply concerned about the past instrumentalisation of the justice system in Guatemala over many years, in particular the pattern of intimidation and persecution of independent judges, lawyers, prosecutors, journalists, human rights defenders and political actors. As part of its support to democracy, on 2 February 2024 the EU imposed targeted sanctions on five individuals, including the Attorney General, for undermining democracy and the rule of law.

Honduras continues to face many deeply rooted and structural challenges related to human rights. The situation of persons in vulnerable situations, women and girls, LGBTI persons, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and human rights defenders remains a serious concern. In particular, the number of femicides and killings of environmental defenders as well as related rates of impunity are alarming. There is a clear necessity to strengthen the national protection mechanism for human rights and access to justice, and to preserve the space for civil society actors and human rights defenders to operate freely and safely. The EU as a long-standing partner of Honduras and in close coordination with the OHCHR encourages the government to define and implement sustainable policies towards this end and stands ready to support such efforts.

The EU remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka in its process of economic recovery and the necessary reforms for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka. The EU also supports and encourages Sri Lanka to advance the reconciliation process, accountability, and to resolve the pending cases of enforced disappearances, with proper consideration given to the concerns and grievances of victims and their families, civil society and experts. Legislative proposals presented by the Government over the past months, such as the Anti-Terrorism Bill to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and the Online Safety Act passed in January 2024, contain problematic elements and risk narrowing democratic space; they should be further reviewed to meet international human rights standards. We encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to continue its engagement with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.

On Venezuela, the EU supports and commends the work of the High Commissioner and his Office in Caracas, monitoring and promoting human rights in the country. The EU deeply regrets the decision of the Venezuelan authorities to suspend the activities of the Office and to expel its staff. We call on the authorities of Venezuela to allow the prompt reopening of the Office and to allow its staff to return to Caracas. We are worried about the increasing repression in Venezuela, as shown by the arbitrary detention of political and civil society actors since the beginning of the year. The EU will continue to support the work of the UN Fact-Finding Mission and all other relevant international human rights mechanisms, and calls on the authorities to grant them access to the country. The EU reiterates its support for the continuation of the Venezuelan-led dialogue process and encourages all parties to fully implement the Barbados agreements, with a view to ensuring fair and competitive presidential elections this year. In light of these worrying developments, the EU invites the High Commissioner for Human Rights to keep the Council regularly informed on the situation in Venezuela.

The EU welcomes processes leading to dialogue, reconciliation and peace in Ethiopia for which transitional justice is a cornerstone. The EU remains seriously concerned about ongoing conflicts in the country including in the Amhara and Oromia regions as well as reports of ongoing human rights violations and abuses. Regarding transitional justice and accountability, the EU recalls the commitment made by the Government of Ethiopia during the 54^th session of the HRC last October to bring forward a solid policy framework. We stand ready to support the Ethiopian authorities in their efforts to achieve this work, crucial for lasting peace in the country. Independent, transparent and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights law, and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law, committed by all parties, are both urgent and essential. The EU would like to invite the High Commissioner to keep updating the Council on the assistance that his Office is providing, as well as on the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Investigative Team and the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE).

Concerning Egypt, the EU welcomes the country’s engagement in multilateral fora and encourages it to implement the relevant bodies’ recommendations. The EU acknowledges and supports Egypt’s willingness to foster its capacity building in the area of human rights in all State institutions. The EU is looking forward to the effective implementation of the National Dialogue recommendations, and encourages it to proceed with the discussions on pending issues. The EU continues to strongly encourage work on the effective implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy, together with civil society. The EU remains concerned about the extensive use of pre-trial detention, reported cases of new arbitrary arrests, reprisals and restrictions against human rights defenders, including their family members. The EU is also concerned about inmates’ treatment and former detainees’ reintegration to society. The EU reiterates its call to release all imprisoned human rights defenders and journalists and to ensure a safe and enabling space for civil society. The EU recalls the importance of upholding freedom of press and media, freedom of expression, both online and offline, and rights to peaceful assembly and association in Egypt. The EU reiterates its call to shed light on the circumstances of the death of Giulio Regeni and Eric Lang and bring about justice. The EU reiterates its call on Egypt to suspend executions as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty.

On Yemen, the EU is concerned about continued reports of serious human rights violations throughout the country, especially in Houthi controlled areas, regarding the rights to freedom of expression and religion or belief, gender equality and the situation of migrants (particularly at the border with Saudi Arabia). The EU is particularly worried about the situation of women, gradually erased from public life in Houthi-controlled areas through restrictions on mobility, and about the Muhamasheen community, facing discrimination, as well as other minorities, including the Baha’i. The EU emphasises the need for continued independent and impartial human rights monitoring and documentation of serious violations of human rights and for the broadening of the UN mandate in Yemen for that purpose. The EU is worried about the catastrophic humanitarian situation and the deterioration of the operating environment for humanitarian actors, compounded by Houthi attacks disrupting global trade, violating freedom of navigation and threatening maritime security, affecting negatively access to basic needs and fulfilment of the most fundamental rights of the Yemeni people. The EU supports the peace process efforts led by UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and encourages all parties, and in particular the Houthis, to engage constructively with him to achieve a just and inclusive settlement of the conflict.

The EU remains deeply concerned over the continued limitations to the right to freedom of expression, including the shrinking space for civil society in Vietnam. The EU calls on the authorities to ensure space for civil society to participate freely in all aspects of development, to release all those imprisoned for having peacefully expressed their views and to guarantee the right to a fair trial for all. In that context the EU is increasingly concerned about the imprisonment of a number of environmental and climate change activists and their conditions of detention.  We regard these steps as contrary to Vietnam’s stated commitments to include civil society in efforts for environmental protection and green transition. Furthermore, the EU calls on Vietnam to enable the release of prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, on humanitarian grounds, particularly those with severe health conditions. Regarding capital punishment, the EU reiterates its call on Vietnam to suspend executions as a first step, and to establish a moratorium with a view to its abolition. The EU welcomes Vietnam’s ratification of ILO Conventions and urges the country to ratify the remaining Convention No 87 on The Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise.

While welcoming recent improvements of the human rights situation in Bahrain, including on women’s rights, the EU upholds its call on Bahrain to continue along this path and to maintain its wider human rights obligations, especially with regard to human rights defenders.

In Lebanon, almost four years after the blast in the port of Beirut that killed more than 200 and injured 7000 people, a swift, independent, impartial, credible, and transparent investigation into the explosion must be carried out in order to uphold the right of the victims to effective remedy and to adequate, effective and prompt reparation for harm suffered.

The EU underlines its continued support for advancing a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity in line with their commitment to the Alma Ata declaration of 1991. The EU remains fully committed to facilitate efforts to that end through the Brussels normalization process and calls on the Parties to engage in good faith. The EU equally emphasises the importance of ensuring the rights and security of Karabakh Armenians, as well as to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons to Nagorno-Karabakh, in particular their right to live in their homes in dignity, without intimidation or discrimination.  In addition, the cultural heritage and property rights of the local population need to be effectively protected and guaranteed. The full implementation of the ICJ orders is of utmost importance.

Thank you.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.