HRC62 - EU General Comment - Twentieth anniversary of the Human Rights Council

UN Human Rights Council 

62nd Session – Item 3

L.19 – General Comment

Twentieth anniversary of the Human Rights Council

EU General Comment

Thank you, Mr President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU Member States that are Members of the Human Rights Council. This General Comment has been agreed by the EU as a whole. 

The European Union warmly welcomes the adoption of this timely and forward-looking resolution, commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Human Rights Council.

This resolution rightly reaffirms the Council's role as the primary intergovernmental body within the United Nations human rights architecture and recalls the principles that have guided its work over the past two decades: universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity, constructive dialogue and cooperation. 

It also recognizes the Council's important contribution to the development of international human rights standards, prevention, accountability, technical assistance and capacity-building, as well as the indispensable work of its mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review and the Special Procedures and investigative mechanisms.

The European Union particularly welcomes the resolution's recognition of the valuable contributions made by national human rights institutions, civil society, human rights defenders (delete: victims and survivors), and other stakeholders to the Council's work. We also want to emphasize that HRC has provided an important platform for victims and survivors to have their voices heard.

The work of all these stakeholders has also encouraged the Council and UN Member States to move forward in developing international human rights standards as well as to address human rights situations of concern and to ensure that the voices of those affected by human rights violations are heard.

Their engagement thus remains essential to the credibility, effectiveness and impact of this institution.

As we look ahead, the Council must continue to evolve to respond to new and emerging human rights challenges, while remaining firmly anchored in its mandate. Its effectiveness depends on the full cooperation of States with the Council and its mechanisms, the protection of those who engage with the United Nations human rights system from intimidation and reprisals, and adequate, predictable and sustainable resources for the Council and its mechanisms.

We also look forward to the high-level panel convened at the Council's sixty-fourth session to reflect on how to build on the Council's achievements and further strengthen its effectiveness and its impact across the United Nations system.

The European Union remains firmly committed to supporting a strong, effective and adequately resourced Human Rights Council in the service of human rights for all.

Therefore the EU supports the adoption of this resolution by consensus and calls on all states to do the same.

Thank you.