Making the United Nations Relevant to all People– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly
18 December 2018
Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General
Mrs. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders,
Your Excellency Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Relations of Norway,
Mrs. Hina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and member of “The Elders”,
Mrs. Alice Mogwe, Director of Ditshwanelo, Center for Human Rights of Botswana,
Mrs. Florence Simbiri-Jaoko, Envoy of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions,
Excellencies,
First, I would like to thank the delegations of Argentina, Italy and Norway for their valuable work to prepare this high level meeting.
On December 9, 1998, on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the General Assembly adopted a fundamental document to materialize its principles: the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
This was the fruit of the work of the States and civil society who, through many efforts, achieved a powerful yet pragmatic text.
Twenty years later we celebrate its approval, which was a milestone to acknowledge and legitimize the work of human rights defenders around the world.
Excellencies,
Allow me to refer to a couple of topics:
First, the crucial role of human rights defenders, given the undeniably essential role they play in building societies that are more inclusive, fair and free.
Furthermore, civil society is a fundamental pillar of the international human rights system.
Sometimes, these are the persons and organizations that can provide early warnings about serious and systematic human rights violations.
The States have the primary responsibility to create the conditions that are needed so that those who work to defend human rights can enjoy and exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms, including their freedom of association, the right to peaceful meetings, freedom of opinion and speech and the right to access information.
The dialogue and the participation of all actors of society allow strengthening social cohesion and democracies.
Local, national, regional and international civil society support networks are very important. In that sense, I would like to underline the Human Rights Defenders World Summit 2018 in Paris, last October.
Similarly, the recent Thirteenth International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions that was held on Marrakesh has also been important.
Human rights defenders bring the Universal Declaration to life. They are agents of change. Whether they are activist women, indigenous, migrants, workers, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, peasants, children, young people or older persons, their contributions are crucial. They give voice to the voiceless. They empower those excluded. They defy injustice. They redeem victims. They prevent impunity.
Without these men and women who, either individually or collectively, defeat fear and indifference, much of the progress that we enjoy today could not have been possible.
Just a few hours ago, we awarded the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights 2018 which acknowledged not only the prizewinners –Rebeca Gyumi, Joênia Wapichana, Asma Jahangir and Front Line Defenders- but also the work of all human right defenders around the world.
Human rights defenders bring the Universal Declaration to life. They are agents of change. Whether they are activist women, indigenous, migrants, workers, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, peasants, children, young people or older persons, their contributions are crucial. They give voice to the voiceless. They empower those excluded. They defy injustice. They redeem victims. They prevent impunity.
Excellencies,
My second point refers to the risks that human rights defenders face and our responsibility to fight those risks. We must acknowledge that their situation, in many cases, is critical.
Figures show that more than three thousand and five hundred defenders and activists have been killed due to their work since the adoption of the Declaration. According to the report of Front Line Defenders, three hundred defenders were killed in 2017 alone.
Regrettably, for many defending human rights means being exposed to multiple dangers and endangering their life, freedom and security and that of their families.
Women face a double threat: both for their gender and for promoting and defending human rights.
In recent years, the difficult situation of those who act in solidarity with on the move -either migrants or refugees- has deteriorated.
The attacks against environmental defenders have also become worse.
This situation cannot continue.
Threats and intimidation seek to silence human rights defenders. States cannot remain unaffected, we must act. If we do not protect the ones who look after our rights, injustice will also soon knock on our door.
One measure that is within our reach is to strengthen and support the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
Excellencies,
Rosa Luxemburg said: “those who do not move do not notice their chains.” Human rights defenders are our collective consciousness in motion. Their actions are an essential part of the universal struggle to break the chains that prevent full equality, justice and dignity for everyone.
Let this commemoration reinforce the commitment to the Declaration and to those who dedicate their life and efforts to fight for the dignity and wellbeing of human beings. If we accept our responsibility as citizens, each one of us will be a human rights defender and thus will be able to contribute with its actions and decisions to fulfill the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which we must honor. Let us then remember its first article: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” So be it.
Thank you.
