Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoGeneral Assembly
41st Plenary Meeting of General Assembly 71st Session
While some delegates spotlighted the link between ensuring fundamental freedoms and achieving sustainable development, several others expressed concern that the Human Rights Council was overstepping its mandate, the General Assembly heard today, as it considered that body’s annual report.
Briefing Member States on the Council’s latest report, Choi Kyonglim (Republic of Korea), its President, said it was exploring new opportunities to advance human rights based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In its many debates, the Council had focused on the relationship between climate change and the rights of the child, the contribution of civil society in preventing abuses, women’s equal rights and business and human rights.
Given its many resolutions on a wide range of issues, the Council had demonstrated its ability to overcome political differences, he continued. Despite the tireless efforts of the Council and the wider United Nations, however, human rights abuses were still rampant, humanitarian conditions were worsening and armed conflicts continued to rage. “But we cannot lose our hope and optimism,” he emphasized. “These two words are our guiding lights, with which we illuminate the darkest corners of the world.”
Over the course of 2016, he noted, the Council had established an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and a Special Rapporteur on the right to development. Challenges persisted in regards to the universality of its work and small countries had been encouraged to strengthen national processes to enable more engagement. The active participation of civil society was also central to the work of the Council, he said.
General Assembly President Peter Thomson (Fiji) said the Council had time and again indeed “shone a light” on human rights violations, helping to establish new international norms and provide accountability. It now had a central role in promoting the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that its implementation was pursued in a manner consistent with international human rights standards. With much more work remaining to be done in the decade ahead, the international community must stand firmly in its support of the Council’s work, however difficult that might be, he stressed.
In the ensuing discussion, many delegates expressed concern that the Council may be overstepping its mandate, with several speakers citing the adoption of resolution 32/2, titled “Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity”. The Russian Federation’s representative said the Council had become a tool for airing political grievances and demonizing certain States. He expressed alarm at relentless efforts to bring up matters unrelated to its work, including issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Elaborating on that issue, Botswana’s representative, on behalf of the African Group, expressed deep concern over attempts to focus on certain persons on the basis of their sexual interests and behaviours, while ignoring the existence of other types of intolerance and discrimination. Concerned that the Council was delving into matters that fell within the domestic jurisdiction of States, he said notions of sexual orientation and gender identity should not be linked to existing international human rights instruments.
However, the representative of the United States emphasized that those issues clearly belonged on the Council’s agenda. No one should face violence or discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, he added.
Delegations raised other concerns, with some saying they had been unfairly targeted. Israel’s representative said special items, politicized debates, preposterous reports and unfounded accusations had characterized the attitude of the Council towards her country. “Instead of trampling in the political swamp,” she said, “it is crucial that the Human Rights Council finally focus on promoting human rights.” While Israel had faced many security challenges, it remained committed to upholding human rights.
Raising a similar concern, Iran’s delegate said it was regrettable that certain countries had been persistent in politicizing the issue of human rights. He urged the Council to firmly maintain its fairness and mutual respect for different religions, values and cultures while refraining from imposing a single lifestyle on others. It was more important to focus on issues such as confronting violent extremism and raising awareness towards the imminent threat of terrorism, he said.
Many delegates welcomed the Council’s universal periodic review process for enabling all Member States to engage with one another on equal footing in order to improve human rights in all countries. The representative of Maldives said that as a small island developing State at the forefront of climate consequences, it had long advocated that the climate change issue and its impact on populations be viewed through a human rights lens. Despite its situation, Maldives had maintained a strong presence at the Council. “We are proud to have given a voice to the smallest members of the international community,” she added.
Also speaking today were the representatives of Liechtenstein (also on behalf of Iceland), Australia, Mongolia, Cuba, Kuwait, India, Switzerland, Argentina, Hungary, Costa Rica, Norway, Colombia, Philippines, Georgia, Ukraine, Cameroon and Qatar, as well as an observer for the European Union.
Speaking in exercise of the right of reply were representatives of the Russian Federation, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Georgia and Ukraine.
