Deputy Secretary-General's Opening Statement at the National Human Rights Institutions Seminar "NHRIs and Conflict"

First of all, I want to welcome representatives of national human rights institutions (NHRIs), governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academia and independent experts. I would like to thank you warmly for everything you do – standing up for human rights, human dignity and common humanity.

This meeting is particularly timely.  I have just returned from Geneva where the 10th anniversary of the Human Rights Council was marked.  During the opening day of the Council on Monday this week, a seminar was devoted to the achievements of the last 10 years and the challenges for the future.

We are also deep into our efforts to make the first year of the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda a tangible step to turn the new goals into realities. This agenda recognizes that sustainable development and sustainable peace are interlinked, and that neither development nor peace can be achieved without respect of human rights, the rule of law and the building of strong and accountable institutions.   

This formula is clearly connected to your theme today -- “NHRIs  in conflict and fragile situations – and the contribution they can make to building peaceful, just and inclusive societies”. 

As central actors at the national level, NHRIs have a critical role by concretely and on the ground addressing human rights violations and preventing them in the first place, if and when possible.

We know that human rights violations -- including violations of economic, social and cultural rights -- are indicators of instability and looming dangers. Violations of the rights to education, land and employment have often marginalized entire communities, leading to unequal development and social and political crises.

Pre-existing human rights concerns related to structural inequalities, social exclusion, lacking rule of law and multiple forms of discrimination, often cause crises and lead to conflicts.

Today violent conflicts and massive humanitarian crises around the globe have resulted in the largest displacement of people in recent history.

Conflicts have grown in intensity and scale. They have become more deadly and more complex.  Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and human rights are being openly neglected and flouted. 

We all have a responsibility to react to these developments.  Parties to armed conflict must be reminded of their obligations to uphold international law, not least protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and civilian facilities like hospitals and schools.

Governments must do more to protect people displaced by conflict, particularly the vulnerable and primarily women and children. Policies and legal frameworks to protect migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons must be strengthened and strictly implemented.

NHRIs can help make sure that governments live up to their obligations under international law and that migrants and refugees fully enjoy their human rights.

I would point to three specific ways to do so. 

First, by building not only stronger national protection but also prevention systems. It is imperative that we do far better at prevention, taking action early rather than waiting for disaster to occur.

Prevention is the fundamental premise of the Human Rights up Front initiative which was launched in 2013.  This initiative is designed to help the UN system, including the Security Council, to take early and effective action to prevent or respond to serious violations of international human rights or international humanitarian law.

Second, we must strengthen UN engagement with Member States. NHRIs are key actors and partners in this process, given their mandate under the Paris Principles to promote and protect human rights.  We should work closely with Member States on the basis of transparency, dialogue and cooperation.

Third, by adopting Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development, Member States recognized that effective and accountable institutions, the rule of law and access to justice are essential tools through which development and human rights are realised and protected.  Well functioning institutions provide a foundation for peaceful and inclusive societies, as well as for economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development. The interdependence of the three UN pillars is also a central element and message of the recent high-level reviews on peace operations, the peace-building architecture and Security Council Resolution 1325.

We must now ensure that we truly embrace this dynamic interconnectedness inside and between nations, as well as within the UN system.

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

NHRIs are critical to help advance all these efforts.  NHRIs are key actors in national protection systems and should be drivers for positive change, not least in the area of prevention. You can help strengthen and rebuild national institutions on the basis of the rule of law and full respect of human rights.

This is also valid for emergency situations and protracted crises: NHRIs are often first responders and should be supported to fulfil their protection role.

Also, NHRIs are in a unique position to provide the United Nations with evidence-based information on human rights situations. They play an important role in follow-up to recommendations emanating from United Nations human rights mechanisms. And they are well placed to feed this information into national development planning.

In his Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, the Secretary-General acknowledged the importance of involving NHRIs and other actors for a wide and comprehensive approach to violent extremism.

I encourage you to advocate for such inclusive and holistic approaches in the face of promulgation of division, intolerance and hatred by extremist groups.

We can all help make societies more stable, more resilient, more respectful of differences, and more accountable. We can do this by actively working together in addressing the violations that affect the most marginalised; by ensuring that the voices of all are heard; and by working to ensure respect for the rights of all in the spirit of the UN Charter.

I wish you fruitful discussions and I look forward to the results of this meeting.

Thank you.