Amid Rising Conflicts Worldwide, Efforts Must Focus on Victims, Most Vulnerable, Deputy Secretary-General Says during Tenth Anniversary of Human Rights Council

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks on the tenth anniversary of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva today:

Et pour ceux qui jeûnent aujourd'hui “Ramadan Kareem likul alasdiqa’a almuslimeen” [Ramadan Kareem to all Muslim friends].

Je suis très heureux de vous joindre pour célébrer le 10e anniversaire du Conseil des droits de l’homme, d’autant que les 193 États Membres de l’ONU sont réunis pour l’occasion.

This impressive gathering amplifies an overriding message:  the enduring universality of human rights — human rights in all places, for all people, at all times.

I vividly recall the inaugural session of this Council 10 years ago, almost to the day.  I came to Geneva as President of the General Assembly to attend the opening session of the Human Rights Council.

We all knew that we were entering uncharted waters after a long, intense and arduous negotiation period.  Here I want to recognize the role played by Peter Maurer, then very skilfully representing Switzerland at the United Nations.  Hopes and expectations were high, but so were uncertainties and reservations.  After all, the Council was created after a controversial, but resounding, vote in the General Assembly.

But, there was a clear understanding that we had before us a great potential to vitalize the Organization’s main human rights body as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly.  It was our chance to address the shortcomings that had undermined its work and its standing over several years.

Today’s discussion is an important opportunity to take stock of progress, but also to identify areas for improvement and further work.  My starting point is that very much has been achieved over the past decade.  Much of which, you can be proud.

The first months of the Council were not easy.  The Lebanon war, sadly, became a divisive issue.  Yet, over time, the Council defied the critics.  It seriously took on the imposing challenges it was expected to address.  Let me, very briefly, point to six ways in which it has done so.

First, the Council’s Universal Periodic Review.  This process has been shining a light on all corners of the world.  It has presented, for the first time, a picture of the global state of human rights.  Second, the Council’s Special Procedures mandate holders have played a pivotal role in highlighting specific human rights issues around the globe.  These independent experts have helped shape the Council’s agenda to cover an impressive breadth of themes.  When the Council was created there were 35 Special Procedures; today there are 55.  The Special Procedures have fostered critical national discourse on human rights.  And they have acted as early warning and action mechanisms.

This leads me to a third crucial point:  the role of the Human Rights Council in sounding alarm bells ahead of impending or worsening crises.  Your special sessions are just one example of how you can draw global attention to deteriorating situations and seek urgent responses.  Such action also serves as a reminder to States to fulfil their human rights obligations by placing victims in the centre.

Fourth, the Council has been a force for responding to protracted crises.  The commissions of inquiries and fact-finding missions have gathered testimonies of individual tragedies.  They have underscored the need for accountability.  And they have stressed the importance of combating impunity and ensuring justice.

Fifth, the Council has amplified the vital voice of civil society — the grass-roots activists who complement your work and trigger much needed attention and action.  Sixth, your discussions here in Geneva have stimulated debates in the Security Council and the General Assembly in New York.  This, in turn, has strengthened the links between peace and security, development and human rights — the three pillars of the United Nations agenda.  It has also strengthened the links between Geneva and New York.

With all this solid work under way and behind us, can we lean back and say that our work is done?  The answer is no, most certainly not.  We live in troubled times.  Tensions and deadly conflicts are on the rise, often exposing blatant disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law.  The number of refugees and displaced persons is at an all-time high — over 60 million people.  They are desperately seeking safety and a better life.  Yet, if they are fortunate enough to survive their treacherous journeys, they often face closed borders, walls and hostility.

Terrorism and violent extremism are serious threats to international peace and security.  Yesterday, we received the news from Florida about a horrific act of terror, a massacre, killing a great number of innocent young men and women.  Terrorists and violent extremist groups aim to undermine the values we together stand for:  democracy and inclusion, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law.  They want to create fear which in turn can lead to polarization and division in our societies.  They want to divide societies into “us and them” and by that undermine the fundamental truth of all human beings equal worth.

At the same time, we must be aware that there are situations where abuses are committed under the banner of fighting terrorist groups.  This only compounds our problems by giving fuel for their propaganda and siren songs.  Also, there is reason to be concerned that the space for civil society and media is shrinking in many parts of the world, and that human rights defenders often face threats, intimidation and violence.  At the same time, perpetrators of human rights violations, more often than not, go free and we see victims struggle for decades for accountability.

Another disturbing reality is the continued discrimination and violence against women and girls.  This occurs in all parts of the world, in all social strata, in peace time as well as during conflict.  Also, we see unprecedented levels of inequalities within and between nations — all of which remind us of the need to place advancement of economic and social rights on a par with civil and political rights.  Human rights are indivisible.

Deep social and economic crises and injustices, as well as the devastating effects of climate change, have contributed to leaving the human rights promise of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights unfulfilled for far too many people around the world.  We must reverse these negative trends and use every tool at our disposal.  In particular, let us make good on our intentions to prevent, rather than simply react, to human rights violations.  

Our 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is such an important tool.  The new Sustainable Development Goals form an integral whole, based on sustainability, inclusivity and universality.  The goals mutually reinforce each other. One of the goals aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies […] provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.  The 2030 Agenda commits us to leave no one behind and start with those furthest behind — a basic message of justice and solidarity.

Another tool is the Secretary-General’s ground-breaking Human Rights up Front initiative.  It is designed to bring the United Nations system together across the three pillars of peace and security, development, and human rights.  It is based on promoting early warning, on principled and coordinated United Nations action, and on closer engagement with Member States in a spirit of dialogue, transparency and cooperation. 

A final point and a tool for the future is a commitment to adopt human-rights-based approaches to development.  It builds on free, active and meaningful participation.  It builds on accountability, non-discrimination in all areas, including sexual orientation.  It builds on equality and the empowerment of all.  It has an explicit basis in human rights norms, including the right to development.  Nations and economies thrive when they empower all people and protect the full potential of every individual.

The Human Rights Council has given new life to all of our efforts to advance human rights across the United Nations system.  It has provided a vital arena to discuss issues which other United Nations bodies initially would not address — such as all forms of discrimination.  It has demonstrated many innovative ways to highlight issues, also between sessions.  And in a wider and deeper sense, it has reminded us that we have to live up to our mission to serve “We the Peoples” — the first three words of the United Nations Charter.  For this, the Council deserves thanks and appreciation.

But, we all know that we have much unfinished work and many new challenges ahead of us.  As we look forward to the next 10 years and beyond for the Council, let us continue to place the victims and the vulnerable at the heart of our efforts.  Let us place in the centre of our policies, resources and actions, the freedom, security and dignity for all men, women and children who want to see and who deserve a better future.  Thank you for this invitation and for your attention on this very special day.