Human Rights Council

– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, at the Opening of the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council

Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Ministers, President of the Human Rights Council, Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. High Commissioner, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen – good morning.

Thank you, sincerely, for inviting me to address the opening of the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council.

It presents us all with an opportunity. It allows us to reflect on the role for the Human Rights Council. And on how this role could evolve, into the future.

So, now, I will try to seize this opportunity. And, in doing so, I will focus on three areas in particular, which relate to the HRC’s role in our world.

First of all, I want to talk about the work of the Human Rights Council in setting, and reinforcing norms.

This December, we will celebrate 70 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This was a landmark achievement. It has allowed most of us, here today, to grow up in a world of universally accepted human rights. And so, it can be easy to forget that this was not always the case.

The process to adopt the Universal Declaration was not an easy one. It took almost three years of negotiations. And, according to some accounts, these negotiations were long, hard, and, at times, rife with tension.

But, agreement was reached. The Universal Declaration was adopted.
It confirmed something crucial: that all human beings – no matter who they are, or where they are – have the same basic rights. And these are rights which can never be taken away.

70 years ago, this was seen as a novelty –  an ideal. But now, it is one of the most established and accepted norms of our international order.

And this norm formed the root of our international human rights system. Many laws, frameworks and institutions have grown from it.  The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action is one example. And this year, in fact, we will celebrate its 25th anniversary. But, importantly, for our discussion today, the Human Rights Council is another.

Since it was created in 2006, this Council has been building up its own reserves of  normative power. Therefore, its role is not only to reinforce and strengthen the core norm, established by the Declaration, on the universality of human rights. But it also works to set and create new ones. This has been seen across the board – from the rights of indigenous people, to the link between businesses and human rights.
When this Council passes a resolution, or a recommendation. When a passionate speech, is delivered from this podium. When delegates, UN officials, and civil society representatives come together to talk, or debate. This is when new norms are born. This is when existing norms are reinforced. And this is when we can work to ensure that neither can be forgotten by those in positions of power.

But, in discussing the role of the Human Rights Council, we cannot only focus on its normative functions. Because the work that takes place, here, in the Palais, can have a direct and tangible impact on the ground. And that is what I want to discuss, as my second point today.

The Universal Periodic Review process. The establishment of Commissions of Enquiry or fact-finding missions. The creation of independent expert, or special rapporteur, posts.

All of these actions start with a decision made in a room like this one. But they have a tangible impact, on the ground.

For example, the establishment of a new national taskforce, set up to coordinate work during a UPR cycle. Or an interview, which allows a victim of human rights violations to tell his or her story to the world. Or a discussion between civil society and governments, which leads to changes in policies or positions.

All of these are examples of human rights in action. They allow the Human Rights Council to keep its finger on the pulse. They show that, when norms or laws are violated, steps will be taken. They feed into other accountability mechanisms, both within and outside the United Nations. And they demonstrate that the decisions made in this building can have an impact outside of it.

But, there is a third way to look at the role of the HRC. And that is how it serves to reinforce other areas of the UN’s work.
Because, the impact of the HRC is not just felt within the UN’s human rights pillar. Rather, it has an effect across the entire UN system.

Let me give some examples:

• Accountability does not stand alone. Instead, it can strengthen the rule of law and build trust in national institutions. And, in doing so, it can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16.
• Rights for persons with disabilities do not stand alone. Instead they can enhance the social and economic fabric of whole communities.
• Access to education does not stand alone. Instead it can lead to a more prosperous, and peaceful society, in the long-term.
• Gender equality does not stand alone. Instead it can accelerate the 2030 Agenda, and grow the entire economic pie.
• Rights of refugees and migrants do not stand alone. Instead they can lead to more effective integration. And they can result in benefits – both for the people who have left their homes, and for their new communities.

But one link I want to focus on, in particular, is the one which exists between human rights and peace. Because this is in urgent need of closer attention.

It is widely accepted that the United Nations must do more to prevent conflict, rather than react to it, once it has broken out. And, human rights will play a major role in this.

Not all human rights violations result in full-scale conflict. But they can still flag early warning signs. They are the flashing red lights – the tremors in the ground. They can show us where our attention and action is needed, before it is too late.

In April, I will be convening a high-level event, in New York, on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace. It is intended to accelerate our efforts in re-crafting our international system, around prevention. And, my team is working to make sure that human rights are mainstreamed throughout

Finally, I cannot talk about the role of the Human Rights Council without looking ahead, to the weeks, months and years ahead.

There are some clear-cut tasks, in the short and medium term. We need to build more links. Not only between the work done at UN Headquarters in New York, and the work of the Council, here, in Geneva. But also between both offices and the UN’s work on ground.

Links between the three pillars of the UN’s work – development, peace and security, and human rights – must also be made stronger.

The 37th Session of the Human Rights Council will tackle some of the most horrific cases of human rights violations from around the world. You will pursue accountability for violations which have already occured. And you will seek to identify ways to prevent similar violations from happening again.

And, here I want to note that there are people, out there, now, who are counting on us to work even harder.

They are sitting in jail cells, not because of who they murdered or what they stole, but because they wrote or spoke about what they believed.

They are in cramped, airless workshops or factories, when they should be in school.

They are living in fear of the secret police, because they have have stood up for the human rights of others.

They are in physical or emotional pain because of which person they love, or which god they worship.

They are calling out, from all over the world. We need to put our ears to the walls of this Palais – of the United Nations building in New York. We need to hear them, and we need to respond to them. And so, I want to thank you all, again, for welcoming me here today. And I want to pay tribute to High Commissioner Zeid.

Next year, you will no longer be delivering statements from this podium. But the passion, commitment, and humanity, with which you have approached your work, will still be felt in this room – and all over the world.

I thank you.