Item 2: Joint Statement on Importance of Multilateral Human Rights Cooperation: General Debate - PR UN, WTO and other organisations Geneva
Item 2: Joint Statement on Importance of Multilateral Human Rights Cooperation: General Debate
Joint statement initiated by The Kingdom of The Netherlands together with Albania, Chile, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan, and delivered by Albania in Geneva.
Thank
you, Mr. President.
On behalf of a core group consisting of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, Albania, Chile, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan, I
have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of a
cross-regional group of more than 75 States, representing all five
regional groups.
In an era of rising global conflicts and crises,
and declining respect for international law and institutions,
defending and strengthening multilateralism is essential. Sovereign
nations can only coexist peacefully, and people can only enjoy human
rights and sustainable development, within an international order
firmly anchored in respect for international law, with the United
Nations and its principles at its center.
Human rights are
essential for lasting peace, international security and sustainable
development. By addressing the root causes of conflict and empowering
individuals, communities and civil society, human rights make our
world safer and ensure that development is inclusive, equitable and
fair.
Despite chronic underfunding, the UN human rights system has
delivered transformative results: supporting local reforms,
strengthening national institutions, amplifying victims’ voices, and
advancing global standards in areas including equality and
non-discrimination, environmental protection, disability inclusion,
children’s rights, and emerging technologies. The Human Rights
Council, the Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review, as
well as the OHCHR and the Treaty Bodies, have been instrumental in
helping States from all regions embed human rights in law, policy, and
development planning, and support victims of violations worldwide.
Yet today, the system faces unprecedented challenges that threaten to
undermine and reverse the progress achieved. Its survival and
effectiveness depend on renewed political will, vision and ambition,
adequate resourcing, and an unwavering commitment from all States to
principled multilateral human rights cooperation.
As Friends of
Human Rights Multilateralism, we:
● renew our commitment to
multilateralism and international cooperation in the field of human
rights, grounded in full respect for the UN Charter and international
human rights law, and the principles of good faith, equity and
non-discrimination, solidarity and universality.
● commit to
the promotion, protection and fulfillment of human rights and human
dignity, the rule of law, justice, transparency and independent
institutions, which are indispensable to global peace, security and
sustainable development.
● reaffirm that all human rights are
universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.
●
commit to safeguard a multilateral system that upholds international
law, human rights and the rule of law.
● commit to engage with
the UN80 reform process with a view to building and maintaining an
international human rights system that is credible, adequately
resourced, and responsive both to States’ needs for technical
assistance and capacity building and to the demands of victims and
affected communities for accountability and justice.
●
prioritize securing adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for
the UN human rights pillar.
● commit to cooperate in good faith
with the OHCHR, the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, as well
as other rights-based mechanisms, and safeguard their
independence.
● strive to create a safe and enabling
environment for civil society and engage robustly to prevent and
address acts of intimidation, reprisals or sanctions against human
rights mechanisms and those cooperating with them.
● support
efforts to enhance the Council, including its relationship with other
UN bodies and organs, with a view to strengthening complementarity,
contributing to prevention, peace, security and sustainable
development, and upholding international law.
These commitments
will strengthen our efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive
societies with accountable institutions at all levels that uphold
human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, to guarantee that no
one is left behind.
We call on all Member States to join us in
making these commitments a reality.
Thank you.