Amid a growing number of humanitarian crises worldwide, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) highlighted dangers faced by human rights defenders and the need for sufficient staff and funding in coping with victims, as it continued its discussion on the promotion of human rights today. Amid a growing number of humanitarian crises worldwide, in his keynote address, General Assembly President Dennis Francis highlighted deteriorating respect for human rights in many parts of the world. He emphasized the dangers faced by human rights defenders and said that discrimination based on sex has doubled globally. Switching to humanitarian action, he said 2023 has been marked by a “stream of humanitarian crises”, the latest being the recent earthquake in Afghanistan and the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.
Also addressing the Committee, Laura Maria Crăciunean-Tatu, Chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, highlighted a backlog of 32 State party reports pending review, partially due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. The backlog is of great concern, she said, as the Committee is unable to fulfil the mandate entrusted to it by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Moreover, the Committee faces a situation of non- and late-reporting, as numerous States are more than 10 years overdue with the submission of their reports, some more than 25 years.
Alice Cruz, Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and their family members, said people suffering with the disease in low- and middle-income countries, where it is prevalent, “have been actively invisibilized by colonialism, authoritarian medical practices, violating State´s policies and stigmatization”. Further, she said harmful stereotypes about the disease threaten fundamental rights and freedoms. Regrettably, the response from Member States has been feeble.
A further briefer, Human Rights Committee President Tania María Abdo Rocholl, presenting her report (document A/78/40), stressed that the treaty body system provides an “objective assessment and not a political assessment of human rights issues”. She cautioned that the Committee has received the highest number of individual complaints under the treaty body system. Without additional staff or sufficient funding, catching up on a growing backlog is impossible. She asked States parties to support the human rights treaty bodies which they have ratified, and expressed hope that they will show the greatest possible commitment to it.
In the ensuing interactive dialogue, delegates asked how States might support the Human Rights Committee in addressing its backlog and called on the body to respect the limits of its mandate.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that his country is actively collaborating with treaty bodies and the Human Rights Committee. He said treaty bodies should not be politicized, nor should human rights be used as a pretext for interference in sovereign States. Recognizing that the treaty bodies need more funding, he noted that simple solutions did not exist and suggested that treaty bodies are distracted by issues outside their mandate.
The representative of the United States voiced support for the Human Rights Committee’s commitment to treaty body reform. Reiterating concern that the Committee issues over-expansive interpretations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in its recommendations, he underscored the importance of respecting what States agreed to upon signing treaties, stressing that treaty bodies are not the appropriate forum for revising State obligations.
Statement by the President of the General Assembly
DENNIS FRANCIS (Trinidad and Tobago), President of the General Assembly, said respect for human rights has deteriorated in many parts of the world. Highlighting the work ahead, he said the current session will mark the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Then, On 15 December, he will present the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Prize. To human rights defenders around the world, the Prize underlines the message that, even in the face of danger, their work matters, and that they should be allowed to carry out their activities without fear, reprisals or intimidation. To achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he emphasized the need to leverage human rights. From a gender perspective, he stressed that none of the indicators for SDG 5, on gender equality, are even close to being met. Violence against women and girls continues to be widespread. Harmful practices and discrimination based on sex have doubled, and 54 per cent of countries still lack laws in all key areas of gender equality. The gap in power and leadership is visible at all levels, including in the General Assembly. In recognition of the challenges, he convened the second annual meeting of the Platform of Women Leaders during high-level week to “emphasize and dramatize” the role of women’s leadership in achieving the SDGs.
He said 2023 has been marked by a stream of humanitarian crises – with a record 350 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, or one out of every 23 individuals globally. He cited the recent earthquake in Afghanistan and the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, which have underscored the scale and complexity of challenges that the global humanitarian system faces. Humanitarian workers are under threat, he said, and the UN has yet to receive 70 per cent of funds sought under the Global Humanitarian Appeal to meet urgent needs.. He implored Member States to uphold humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law in all conflicts, and honour their obligations to safeguard humanitarian spaces. Member States must also draw upon the valuable advice and experiences of civil society, human rights defenders, and youth. Separately, he urged delegates to use the Committee as a forum for open and respectful dialogue, adding that all participants are obliged to preserve the decorum and good order of the Assembly and its Committees. “While many issues may divide us, we shall find unity in our common humanity to advocate for a better future for all, and place human rights at the very heart of our work at the UN.,” he said.
Interactive Dialogue — Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
In the morning, the Committee elaborated on the theme “Promotion and protection of human rights”, with interactive dialogues featuring presentations by: Tania María Abdo Rocholl, Chair of the Human Rights Committee; Laura Maria Crăciunean-Tatu, Chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and Alice Cruz, Special Rapporteur on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and their Family Members.
TANIA MARÍA ABDO ROCHOLL, Chair of the Human Rights Committee, presented her report (A/78/40). She said her Committee has continued to cooperate with States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including UN entities, national human rights institutions, and non-governmental organizations. During the reporting period, the Committee held constructive dialogues with 18 States Parties, in addition to seven States Parties from the 138th session in July 2023. The total of 25 reports exceeds the 15 submitted last year, she noted. To date the Human Rights Committee has received 33 reports from State Parties. She underscored that the treaty body system provides an “objective assessment and not a political assessment of human rights issues along with guidelines and technical support to states for implementing human rights reforms”. The Committee has been persistent in its commitment to multilingualism, and its report is now available in all official languages.
She said the Human Rights Committee has adopted 181 decisions or expert opinions. The Committee sought to review the greatest number of cases possible during its meetings. In 2019, 134 expert opinions were concluded, 155 in 2020, 132 in 2021 and 175 in 2022, and the pace of cases submitted to the Committee continues to rise. The number of pending cases before the Committee was 1,178 at the end of 2019 and 1,200 at the end of 2022. The Committee has received the highest number of individual complaints in the system created under the treaty body system. For its part, the Human Rights Committee, with the assistance of its petitions section, has attempted to adjust and improve its working methods. When it comes to reviewing individual communications, the Committee continues to lack human resources or staff in the petition sections to keep up with the pace. Without additional staff, it will not be able to do its work and catch up on the backlog. The situation undermines the credibility of the Committee as a body which can provide timely recourse to victims of serious human rights violations, who depend on its work and place their hope and trust in the Committee, she said. To strengthen the UN treaty bodies system, she said the Human Rights Committee is aware of the fact that the financial situation remains difficult. She asked States Parties to support the human rights treaty bodies which they have ratified, and expressed hope that they will show the greatest possible commitment to the treaty. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Committee is financed sufficiently under the UN regular budget so that it can carry out its mandate.
In the ensuing interactive dialogue, delegates expressed support for multilingualism in the UN system, asking how States might support the Human Rights Committee in addressing its backlog and calling on the body to respect the limits of its mandate.
The representative of the United States voiced support for the Human Rights Committee’s commitment to treaty body reform. Reiterating concern that the Committee issues over-expansive interpretations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in its recommendations, he underscored that it is important to respect what States agreed to upon signature of treaties, stressing that treaty bodies are not the appropriate forum for revising State obligations. He asked whether the Committee has discussed additional measures to address its backlog.
The representative of Cameroon recalled that her country’s previous report submission process was greatly delayed because of the COVID‑19 pandemic, noting that the country has its own mechanism to ensure compliance with the Covenant and periodically submits reports. She highlighted that the Human Rights Committee has focal points in other treaty bodies, asking how they informed its work, especially with respect to the Convention on the Rights of the Child andInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
https://press.un.org/en/2023/gashc4381.doc.htm
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий