– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
1 November 2019
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
It is my pleasure to welcome the President of the Human Rights Council, His Excellency Coly Seck, to the General Assembly.
I commend Ambassador Seck’s efforts to improve the working methods of the Council in its mandate to encourage the effective coordination and mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system.
The presentation of the report of the Human Rights Council to its parent body, the General Assembly, today paves the way for interactive dialogue when the report will be discussed in the Third Committee.
Seven decades ago Member States agreed to a set of inalienable rights which ensure the dignity of everyone, everywhere. The Human Rights Council works to actualise this shared vision for a better world, as a fundamental element of the human rights system.
Moreover, resolutions relating to the administration of justice, and the integrity of the judicial system have strengthened democracy and the rule of law around the world. Let us not forget: a more just world is a safer world.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a milestone document that sets standards for all peoples and all nations. We can only ensure peace and development if human rights are upheld.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is built upon a foundation of human rights; since its adoption the Council has mandated the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights to convene intersessional dialogues on the SDGs. This is an extremely useful way of drawing the attention of all of us to the interconnections between rights and the Goals.
Excellencies,
I encourage you all to view the Sustainable Development Goals through a human rights lens. Let us consider for example, one of my key priorities for the seventy-fourth session: education. Sustainable Development Goal 4 is linked to articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Despite being anchored in these texts, as we have much to do in order to reach the targets of SDG 4 on quality education and lifelong learning. Education also involves equipping people with the skills to navigate a rapidly developing world and changing world technologically.
As such, I was pleased to see the resolution spearheaded by Republic of Korea and Denmark on ‘New and Emerging Digital Technologies and Human Rights’ which seeks to safeguard the rights of people we serve in the context of new technologies.
In order to achieve all seventeen Goals, we must ensure that all stakeholders are included throughout our work, so that no one will be left behind. To this end, I have made inclusion a priority for the session.
We will not have a UN that excludes.
Women must take their rightful place at the centre of all our work. It is also most encouraging to note the resolution on equal pay, at the instigation of Iceland in this new report. The rights of women, everywhere, must be upheld. This is after all, 2019. We have come a long way.
Moreover, the rights of everyone at risk of being left behind must be safeguarded. This applies to all those who have been systematically excluded, including those who are displaced, people with disabilities and indigenous persons.
On 20th November this year, Excellencies we will commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the rights of the child. The notion that “children are people, too”, serves as a reminder to us all that the rights of children everywhere must be upheld so that children do not just survive, but also to thrive.
I trust that I can count on you to ensure inclusion in every aspect of your work here in the General Assembly.
Seven decades ago Member States agreed to a set of inalienable rights which ensure the dignity of everyone, everywhere. The Human Rights Council works to actualise this shared vision for a better world, as a fundamental element of the human rights system
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
The Human Rights Council has taken great strides to ensure inclusion through the establishment of the Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in its work.
I commend those who have supported the Trust Fund, as well as Member States for their foresight in passing this resolution.
Indeed, the Report of the Human Rights Council aligns not only with the aforementioned priorities of education and inclusion, but to all the priorities I have set for the seventy-fourth session, including: peace and security through conflict prevention; poverty eradication and zero hunger; and climate action.
It has long been understood that most of the violent conflicts we are battling against today had their origins in violations of, or disregard for, human rights.
It is incumbent upon us as Member States and as individuals, to uphold equal dignity and human rights for everyone, everywhere. There is no alternative to protecting the rights of the people we serve.
I am confident that by striving together we will succeed in delivering for all. I thank you.
