UN Human Rights Council President on Keeping Dialogue Alive Amidst Global Challenges

The Achievement of Sustaining Dialogue

• 🌍 In a divided world, the Human Rights Council's ability to maintain dialogue on human rights is considered an achievement in itself.
• 🤝 The Council serves as a crucial platform for member states, civil society, and other actors with diverse views to convene, discuss, and act.

Key Actions and Mandates from the 60th Session

• 📜 The Council adopted 35 resolutions, including establishing a new investigative mechanism for Afghanistan and merging mandates on slavery and human trafficking.
• 🔄 Mandates were renewed for countries like Sudan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the Russian Federation, while others, such as those for Somalia and the DRC, were concluded.
• 🗓️ The adoption of Nicaragua's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) outcome was postponed, with continued engagement invited.
• 🌐 The Council continued its work on diverse thematic issues, including health, water, sanitation, climate change, and the rights of indigenous peoples.

Challenges and Threats to Human Rights Work

• ⚠️ The single biggest threat to human rights is the disengagement of states from the Council's work and a disregard for the importance of human rights in relation to peace, security, and development.
• 💰 This disengagement is reflected in budgetary constraints, leading to decisions taken by the Council not being implemented due to a lack of funding.
• 🗣️ Examples include reduced speaking time for delegations and the inability to fund a commission of inquiry for the human rights situation in eastern Congo.

Politicization and the State of International Law

• ⚖️ The Human Rights Council is inherently a political body where sensitive issues are debated, leading to differing political arguments and alliances.
• ❓ While objectivity is subjective, the Council's ability to make decisions by consensus and have a positive impact on human rights remains a source of optimism.
• 📉 There is a concerning trend of international law and human rights law being increasingly violated and disrespected, with states playing more of a power game.
• 💪 Despite these challenges, a significant number of countries still recognize the power of law and the need for international rules to limit power.
• 💖 The ultimate responsibility lies with the people, and fundamental documents like the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represent promises made to the people.