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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONCLUDES GENERAL DEBATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
States News Service
June 23, 2014 Monday
SITUATIONS REQUIRING ITS ATTENTION HEARS ADDRESS BY SECRETARY OF
STATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND COOPERATION OF PORTUGAL
GENEVA, Switzerland
The following information was released by the United Nations Office
at Geneva (UNOG):
The Human Rights Council this morning concluded its general debate
on human rights situations that require the attention of the Council,
and heard an address by Luis Campos Ferreira, Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal.
Mr. Campos Ferreira said that achieving universal respect of all human
rights was Portugal's first priority and that this was a common and
shared goal in the attainment of which all States, civil society and
the multilateral human rights system had a key role to play. Portugal
attached the utmost importance to a strong, independent and effective
human rights system. Portugal had been since the beginning a strong
supporter of the Human Rights Council, actively participating in its
work and hoped to become a member of the Council as of January 2015.
If elected to the Council membership, Portugal would continue
to encourage the ratification of human rights treaties and their
optional protocols and to promote the creation of national human
rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles.
In the general debate, speakers raised allegations of human rights
violations in countries and regions around the world and reiterated
the Council's responsibility to address all situations of concern.
The following delegations took the floor in the general debate:
Myanmar, Malaysia, Ukraine, Armenia, Switzerland, Israel and Iran.
The following non-governmental organizations took the floor: Baha'i
International Community, International Commission of Jurists, Asian
Legal Resources Centre, COC Nederland, World Barua Organization,
International Buddhist Relief Organisation, International Movements
Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, Reporters Without
Borders International, United Nations Watch, Action international
pour la paix et le developpement dans la region des Grands Lacs,
CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Centre for Human
Rights and Peace Advocacy, International Educational Development,
British Humanist Association, Centre for Inquiry, General Arab Women
Federation, International Humanist and Ethical Union, United Towns
Agency for North-South Cooperation, Human Rights Law Centre, Alsalam
Foundation, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, Freedom
House, World Muslim Congress, Organization for Defending Victims
of Violence, Amnesty International, Agence Internationale pour le
Developpement, International Muslim Women's Union, Indian Council
of South America, Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik, Liberation,
Al-khoei Foundation, Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de
l'homme, B'nai B'rith, Organisation pour la Communication en Afrique,
Al Hakim Foundation, Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network,
Espace Afrique International, Human Rights House Foundation, Human
Rights Watch, Press Emblem Campaign, Union of Arab Jurists, and
International Association of Democratic Lawyers.
South Sudan, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Japan, Azerbaijan, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
and Armenia spoke in right of reply.
The first part of the general debate on human rights situations that
require the Council's attention was held on Friday, 20 June, and a
summary can be seen here.
The Human Rights Council during its noon meeting will hear the
presentations of the reports of the Advisory Committee, the Social
Forum, the Forum on Human Rights and Business and the Working Group on
the Rights of Peasants, followed by a general debate on human rights
bodies and mechanisms.
General Debate on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council's
Attention
Myanmar said in Rakai state steps had been taken to improve the
situation and the police had been providing security cover for the
travel of aid workers. It was important for aid agencies to gain
the trust of the population by providing independent and impartial
assistance. As a new democracy, Myanmar needed space and time to
strengthen the protection of human rights and it could not accept
pressure applied under the pretext of human rights.
Malaysia remained deeply concerned about the new developments in Syria
and said that recent bombing and indiscriminate attacks were alarming.
All parties should stop the violence and resume peace negotiations.
More needed to be done to ensure unhindered, safe and speedy
delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in need. Moderation
and compromise must be upheld in the peace negotiations.
Ukraine said that the human rights situation in the country
remained alarming because of the illegal annexation of the Crimea
and the continuing terrorist activities in eastern Ukraine. The main
objective of the President's peace plan was to stabilize the areas
and improve the human rights situation through immediate suspension
of the counterterrorist operation, disarmament of illegally armed
groups, release of all hostages and amnesty for those who did not
commit serious crimes.
Armenia called the attention of the Human Rights Council to
Azerbaijan's continuing policy of aggression and hostility against
Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh. Since April 2014, Azerbaijani forces
had violated the ceasefire on the Line of Contact over 3,000 times.
Azerbaijan continued to reject the proposals of the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs to withdraw snipers from the line of contact and to elaborate
an investigating mechanism for the ceasefire violations.
Switzerland condemned intimidation, harassment and arrest of
individuals participating in demonstrations, criticising their
governments, or defending human rights. Switzerland expressed concern
about people being arrested in Uzbekistan on fabricated charges; it
called on the Bangladeshi authorities to free people arrested during
the last elections; and encouraged China to reform the administrative
detention system.
Israel recalled that in June 2013 three Jewish youths left their house
and never returned, soon after the formation of a unity Palestinian
Government with Hamas. Israel held President Abbas accountable for
the safety of the kidnapped teens. Israel had warned the international
community about the danger of the Fatah-Hamas alliance, and continued
to strive for peace on the basis of the two State solution so that
both peoples could live side by side with security.
Iran said that human rights violations continued to be rampant in the
United States and in the United Kingdom, which required more action
from the Council. In Canada, the situation of indigenous peoples and
other human rights violations also remained of concern, there were
very negative reports on the implementation of the rights of migrants,
racial discrimination, and targeting of Muslim communities. In the
Czech Republic the Roma suffered from segregation and discrimination.
Baha'i International Community recalled that in the previous
session Iran had claimed that the rights of the Baha'i community were
respected. Days later, bulldozers had destroyed the Baha'i cemetery in
Shiraz. The international community should call on Iran to avoid the
desecration of the cemetery and to respect the rights of the Baha'i.
International Commission of Jurists said that judges and prosecutors
in Venezuela lacked security of tenure which seriously eroded the
independence of the judicial system. The absence of independent
and impartial judicial institutions left victims defenceless, while
perpetrators of gross human rights violations enjoyed impunity.
Asian Legal Resources Centre said in a joint statement that the human
rights situation had deteriorated since the coup d'etat in Thailand,
as evidenced by the curtailing of freedom of expression and opinion,
the use of draconian l se majeste laws and others. The Human Rights
Council should declare the coup illegal and insist that Thailand
respect its human rights obligations.
COC Nederland brought the attention of the Human Rights Council
to human rights violations against persons on the basis of their
sexual orientation and gender identity, including in Venezuela,
Chile, Namibia and Australia. The Human Rights Council must adopt a
resolution against discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender persons everywhere and on all grounds.
World Barua Organization said that many violations of human rights
in India were being committed by the authorities, including against
women, marginalized communities, human rights defenders objecting
against development projects and others.
International Buddhist Relief Organization said that coal mining in
the Meghalaya State in India was dangerous and led to environmental
degradation. Several accidents and deaths had taken place there due
to the insecure working conditions. They called on the Council to
address this situation before the damage to people and the environment
became irremediable.
International Movements against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism
condemned the violence in South Western Sri Lanka which caused the
death of three persons and the serious injury of around 80 people. It
was outrageous that the Government had ignored previous appeals and
allowed the Bodu Bala Sena to continue committing hate crimes against
Muslims and Christians.
Reporters without Borders International addressed the situation
of imprisoned journalists in Eritrea. In Ethiopia bloggers had been
arrested last April and were still held without charges. In Kazakhstan,
journalists had been arrested and online sites criticising the signing
of the Eurasia Treaty had been blocked. When these issues were brought
to the Council they were dismissed as politicised attempts to discredit
the concerned countries.
United Nations Watch said that if the human rights situation was so
horrific in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, why was it
that so many Iranians along with many others lined up to emigrate to
those countries? The reality today was that Iranian defence lawyers
were imprisoned and beaten for defending Iranian citizens. When would
there be human rights in Iran?
Action international pour la paix et le developpement dans la region
des Grands Lacs said that in Algeria there were continuing restrictions
of freedoms and serious violations of human rights which tried to
crush the emancipation movement of Saharawis. There was a need for
an impartial and independent inquiry into these serious violations.
CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation was shocked by the
lethargy of the international community when innocent civilians in
Syria were living through unspeakable horror and the Security Council
had failed to reach consensus to help stop the bloodshed or provide
minimum life-saving assistance. The Council was strongly urged to
consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry for Eritrea.
Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy said that the Sikhs
respected women as daughters, mothers and sisters and also respected
women and men equally, as they were equal partners in their lives,
society and to make the world a better place to live. All societies
should respect women and make the world a perfect place to live.
International Educational Development was concerned about the Sikh
population in Punjab because of the coming to power of a political
party which was not likely to respect ethnic and religious minorities.
The international community should closely follow the human rights
situation in Punjab to prevent human rights violations that might
occur in the future.
British Humanist Association said that religious intolerance and
violence affected three quarters of the world population. In the
Central African Republic, the violence continued to escalate with
one million persons displaced. In Myanmar, the relentless Buddhist
persecution against Muslims continued in Rakhine state and amounted
to crimes against humanity.
Centre for Inquiry recalled that last month Raif Badawi, founder of a
Saudi website dedicated to fostering debate on religion and politics
had been charged with "insulting Islam" and sentenced to 10 years in
prison and 1,000 lashes. The Centre called on Saudi Arabia to release
Mr. Badawi and to reform its laws to protect freedom of religion and
belief and cease the use of corporal punishment.
General Arab Women Federation said that the situation in Syria was
getting worse as armed groups denied people their right to subsistence,
such as with the destruction of water sources in Aleppo.
Citizens in Aleppo were also deprived of health care because of attacks
and shelling targeting clinics and health centres. The use of water
as a tool of genocide should be considered a crime against humanity.
International Humanist and Ethical Union said that the Tunisian
people had hoped that the 14 January revolution would bring them
justice and human rights but the Government had failed to fulfil
promises. It was a great shame that there were real failings with
regards to investigations into crimes against citizens, who were
deprived of their rights and became victims of violence. The Union
hoped to see immediate action.
United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation said that the
systematic "dirty war' by Pakistan against the Baloch continued
unabated and with increasing ferocity. The autopsies of the bodies
found in the mass graves at Tutak showed that the victims were buried
alive. Moreover, the commission formed to investigate this had not
even started working.
Human Rights Law Centre said Australian law now required all new
maritime arrivals to be transferred to Nauru or Manus in Papua
New Guinea, where they were subjected to mandatory and indefinite
detention in conditions that the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees had repeatedly assessed as falling short of international
human rights standards.
Alsalam Foundation called attention to the human rights situation
in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, specifically highlighting the cases of
arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killing of human rights
defenders, journalists, and peaceful protesters in those countries.
Both countries were called upon to honour their commitments to prevent
arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killing, among others.
International Federation for Human Rights Leagues said that hundreds
of citizens were still held in prison in Bahrain for exercising their
right to freedom of expression and of association. In Saudi Arabia,
a blogger had been condemned to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes
for promoting freedom of speech. In Iran, plain-clothed agents and
guards attacked prisoners and subjected them to inhumane treatment.
Freedom House said that the crisis in Ukraine demanded the United
Nations to monitor and report on the human rights situation, provide
assistance to the Government and facilitate the protection of human
rights throughout the country. It was imperative that the Human Rights
Council focus on the human rights implications of the ongoing crisis.
World Muslim Congress said that the pathetic state of human rights in
Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir did not show any prospect of improving,
mainly because of the continued impunity and the draconian laws in
force. It was important to set up a commission to investigate human
rights abuses and release political prisoners.
Organization for Defending Victims of Violence indicated that Shi'a
minorities all over the world had been subjected to repressive and
inhumane atrocities. Just in the last few days, even more Shi'a
minority men were sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia and more faced
dire situations in Pakistan, Bahrain and Malaysia. Shi'a minorities
in these countries were neither protected nor allowed to exercise
their religious rights.
Amnesty International said that in South Sudan thousands had died
and millions had been displaced in the past months. The Council had
fallen short in its contribution to preventing violations and abuses
and to addressing the situation, missing opportunities to establish
regular public reporting. The inauguration of a new President in
Egypt did not wipe clean the country's human rights record, by all
accounts torture and ill-treatment were once again rife.
Agence international pour le Developpement updated the Council
regarding a recent visit to Tindouf camp in Algeria. While many
challenges remained, they had noted positive achievements made.
Nevertheless, they asked how other organizations had been able to
freely circulate in the region and access the camp, while its members
had found it so difficult to obtain Algerian visas.
International Muslim Women's Union said the people of Indian occupied
Kashmir had been robbed of all rights by the enactment of draconian
laws. Torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances,
arbitrary detention, and rape, among others, constituted daily life
routine. The Council had a moral obligation to take note of this
human rights situation.
Indian Council of South America called on all States not to use
terrorism laws to suppress human rights. The Government of Chile
should not only give political assurances but should stop the use
of terrorism laws against the Mapuche. Bolivia was called upon to
continue to address the Tipnis situation and not to ignore it.
Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik was deeply concerned about the
situation in Syria and the expansion of chaos to other parts of the
region. There was also concern that comments given by high-ranking
Iranian politicians, including Iran's President, would instigate the
Shi'a-Sunni divide and create further tensions in the region.
Liberation said that the Indian Government was moving to clamp down
on freedom of press and association and Green Peace and Amnesty
International had already become victims. There were also fears
that the newly elected Government was going to violate the rights of
minorities, including Christians and Dalits.
Al-Khoei Foundation said that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) was the most brutal and violent terrorist organization in the
Middle East, and it had taken over Iraq's third largest city Mosul.
The situation was of concern not only for the citizens of Mosul, but
for Iraq and the Governments in the Middle East and the world. This
murderous terrorist group must be stopped and this could be done by
stopping its funding and stifling its propaganda.
Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droigts de l'homme said that
sub-saharan Africa was becoming an incubator of terrorist groups which
had no respect for human dignity. The Council should hold a special
session on the situation in South Sudan, and an urgent international
conference should be held on the situation in Iraq. The authorities
in Niger should promote dialogue to avoid a new crisis in the country.
B'nai B'rith noted that in April Fatah and Hamas had signed a
cooperation agreement leading to the formation of a new Government. It
was vital that the Council responded to the ritual condemnation
against Israel, and took a position against Palestinian terrorism.
Organisation pour la Communication en Afrique, in a joint statement,
drew attention to the situation in Tindouf camps in Algeria, including
the lawlessness and its impact on women and children, who were largely
dependent on humanitarian aid. The leaders of the Polisario Front
misled international public opinion, hiding the lack of freedom and
democracy in the camps, and the organization appealed in the Council
to save those in the camps.
Al-Hakim Foundation said that tens of thousands of Iraqis had given
their lives defending freedom and democracy, recalling the occupation
of Mosul by Islamist fighters of the "Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
(ISIS)" and the threat they posed to the region and the world. They
called on the Council to address this challenge to world peace and
also called on the international community to support Iraq's protracted
war against terrorism.
Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network said it had to be realised
that an important aspect was whether there was an open access to
United Nations mechanisms to monitor, especially in chronic human
right situations inflicted on Chinese, Mongolians, Tibetans and
Uyghurs for more than six decades now, by the Chinese authorities.
Espace Afrique International said the recent disappearances of two men
from Pakistani occupied Kashmir had once again raised questions over
enforced disappearances and serious human rights violations going
unchecked in the occupied region. It was also noted that Pakistan
was one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists.
Human Rights House Foundation said the authorities of Azerbaijan had
to release Anar Mammadli and Bashir Suleymanli. Prosecution against
those expressing their opinions had drastically increased. Azerbaijan
was called upon to stop harassing, threatening and punishing human
rights defenders, including Leyla Yunis, journalists and bloggers.
Human Rights Watch was gravelly concerned about Uzbekistan's
appalling human rights record, where authorities targeted civil
society activists, political opposition figures and independent
journalists, and said that the Council should create a dedicated
monitoring mechanism on the country. The situation in Venezuela was
the worst seen in the country in years.
Press Emblem Campaign drew attention to the dire situation of
journalists in armed confrontations or conflict situations. In
Ukraine, hundreds of incidents against journalists had been recorded
since last November and all parties involved in the conflict were
responsible for acts of violence against media workers. In Israel,
Palestinian journalists continued to be subjected to harassment and
acts of violence by Israeli security forces.
Union of Arab Jurists said that referring Syria to the International
Criminal Court did not make any sense as it would only allow terrorist
organizations to exist in Iraq and Syria. The Council should support
Syria and its President who worked for peace and security in Syria
and the region and should also establish a dedicated mechanism
against terrorism.
International Association of Democratic Lawyers, in a joint statement,
said that the ongoing epidemic of cholera in Haiti which had killed
over 8,500 persons, had been caused by the United Nations reckless
disposal of untreated human waste and called on the Council to urge
the United Nations to compensate the victims and ensure accountability.
Right of Reply
South Sudan, speaking in a right of reply in response to a joint
statement delivered by Belgium during the general debate concerning the
alleged deterioration of the human rights situation in the country,
said while recognising the negative effects of the ongoing conflict,
progress had been made towards peace and reconciliation with the
help of the African Union, and consultations were taking place with
the support of civil society. Remaining violations did not entail a
deterioration of the situation and the African Union was providing
support for the verification of violations. Concerning accountability,
the delegation stressed that those who had committed abuses would be
held accountable. Raising this question in the Council entailed the
politicisation of the issue and doubting the African Union's ability
to address the situation and ensure accountability.
Burundi, speaking in a right of reply in response to the statement
delivered by Belgium, reassured the Council that Burundi would ensure
the promotion and protection of the human rights of its people,
including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,
among others, which were guaranteed by the constitution. Moreover,
these rights were exercised on a daily basis and even by those
criticising the Government, as all witnesses in Burundi could attest.
The delegation reiterated the transparency enjoyed by its judicial
system and joined the voices which continued to express concern about
the politicisation of the Council.
Sri Lanka, speaking in a right of reply in response to a statement by
Canada claiming ongoing use of rape and sexual violence by Sri Lankan
security forces, said Sri Lanka strongly rejected this claim, which
was not substantiated by verifiable data or evidence. Sri Lanka had
an established zero tolerance policy on gender based violence against
women and took strong action on reported cases. The Sri Lankan military
continued to provide large scale human rights training to its troops
with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Venezuela, speaking in a right of reply in response to statements
by Spain and Switzerland referring to terrorist violence suffered
as of February 2014 by a small radical sector of the coup-oriented
opposition in the country, said the competent State institutions
with the support of the overwhelming majority of the people had
been able to defeat the attempted coup d'etat. Under the fa ade of
alleged peaceful demonstrations, the criminals had created serious
offenses against the people and public property. The international
media campaign twisted the truth to try to portray the Government as
one that violated human rights.
Japan, speaking in a right of reply, said that its position on
the past events remained unchanged and reminded all that Japan had
already expressed deep remorse for the events of World War Two. The
Democratic People's Republic of Korea would not be able to cover
up its own human rights record by pointing fingers at others. On a
bilateral level, Japan reminded that the issue of property would
be addressed in the normalization talks. The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea should address all outstanding issues of concern,
including the abduction issue.
Azerbaijan, speaking in a right of reply, said it was aware of
the actions of Armenia and why it made absurd accusations against
Azerbaijan and the Special Procedures. As the Special Rapporteur
on violence against women had stated, the root cause of internally
displaced persons in Azerbaijan was the occupation of Nagorny Karabakh;
the Republic of Nagorny Karabakh was Azerbaijan's constitutive part,
which Armenia occupied and continued to use for illegal activities
such as drug trade.
Egypt, speaking in a right of reply in response to the statement
delivered by Switzerland, recalled that Egypt took very seriously
its responsibility towards human rights because they concerned the
Egyptian people, not because of external pressures. It was unfortunate
that Switzerland had raised this issue under item 4. The Egyptian
Constitution guaranteed the protection of the rights of freedom
of expression and peaceful assembly, including public meetings,
processions and demonstrations, in accordance with its international
obligations.
Ethiopia, speaking in a right of reply, refuted the statements made by
Switzerland and non-governmental organization (NGOs) speakers, noting
that bloggers, journalists and citizens fully enjoyed their human
rights, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful
assembly. The rights of people in detention, such as the right to
due process, were also respected and therefore the allegations made
by Switzerland and NGOs about Eritrea were unfounded.
Uzbekistan, speaking in a right of reply in response to biased
interventions with regards to the human right situation in the country,
said these were accusatory in nature and not based on facts.
Uzbekistan had created the necessary institutional and legislative
basis to ensure the rights of its civilians. People were not persecuted
on any political basis. Uzbekistan had taken major steps to ensure the
rights of civil society. It worked closely with the Special Procedures
of the Human Rights Council and had adopted a national plan of action
on the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review.
China, speaking in a right of reply in response to accusations made
by the European Union, United States, Germany, Czech Republic and
Switzerland, said they were groundless and politically motivated. The
facts had shown that the path China had taken had served the
fundamental interests of a large sector of its population. China was
a country governed by the rule of law. Anyone that violated Chinese
laws would be dealt with by the judiciary. The Government attached
importance to guaranteeing all the rights of ethnic minorities.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea , speaking in a right of reply,
said that Japan continued to justify past crimes and the human
suffering by the war it waged against other countries. The result
of the investigation by the Special Investigation Committee would
clearly prove the position of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea on the issue of abductions. Japan should apologise to victims
and bring to justice those responsible.
Armenia, speaking in a right of reply, strongly rejected the
allegations by Azerbaijan and reminded that it was the actions of
Azerbaijan that had unleashed the full blown conflict in Nagorny
Karabakh in 1994. The war propaganda against Armenia was being voiced
by the highest Azerbaijani authorities in preparation for a new war
in Nagorny Karabakh and Armenia called on Azerbaijan to cease its
bellicose behaviour.
Japan, speaking in a second right of reply in response to the statement
by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said Japan had already
stated its position concerning events in the past and would not
repeat them.
Azerbaijan, speaking in a second right of reply, noted that while the
Armenian delegation had claimed to respond to its previous statement,
it had actually failed to respond to the question posed by Azerbaijan.
What could Armenia answer about a General Assembly resolution that
recognised that Nagorno-Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan and demanded
the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories, as
well as other forms of international condemnation of the illegitimate
use of force against Azerbaijan? Armenia lacked the credibility to
give lessons to other delegations.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, speaking in a second right
of reply, said that as already known Japan, during its 40 years of
occupation, had committed crimes against humanity, including forced
sexual slavery. However, it had continued to deny its responsibility
for past wrongdoing. It was once again urged to show its determination
not to repeat such crimes against humanity.
Armenia, speaking in a second right of reply, said that Armenia was
not obliged to respond to questions by Azerbaijan. However, regarding
the General Assembly resolution mentioned, it was adopted by 37 Member
States. Azerbaijan tried to distort and keep the situation on the
border full of constant tension, and continued to blame Armenia for
its own internal failure.
Statement by the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
of Portugal
LUIS CAMPOS FERREIRA, Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation of Portugal, said that achieving universal respect of all
human rights was Portugal's first priority and that this was a common
and shared goal in the attainment of which all States, civil society
and the multilateral human rights system had a key role to play.
Portugal attached the utmost importance to a strong, independent and
effective human rights system. Portugal had been since the beginning a
strong supporter of the Human Rights Council, actively participating
in its work, and it hoped to become a Member of the Council as of
January 2015. Once a member of the Council, Portugal would promote
all realization of human rights and would continue to stand for the
abolition of the death penalty. It would continue to advocate for
the elimination of all forms of discrimination and would continue
to pursue its commitment to the rights of the child and the rights
of women, migrants, persons with disabilities, persons belonging
to minorities, and refugees. If elected to the Council membership,
Portugal would continue to encourage the ratification of human rights
treaties and their optional protocols and to promote the creation
of national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris
Principles. In closing, Mr. Campos Ferreira said that Portugal would
significantly contribute to the work of the Human Rights Council and
expressed hope that the present session would decisively contribute
to the realization of human rights worldwide.
States News Service
June 23, 2014 Monday
SITUATIONS REQUIRING ITS ATTENTION HEARS ADDRESS BY SECRETARY OF
STATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND COOPERATION OF PORTUGAL
GENEVA, Switzerland
The following information was released by the United Nations Office
at Geneva (UNOG):
The Human Rights Council this morning concluded its general debate
on human rights situations that require the attention of the Council,
and heard an address by Luis Campos Ferreira, Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal.
Mr. Campos Ferreira said that achieving universal respect of all human
rights was Portugal's first priority and that this was a common and
shared goal in the attainment of which all States, civil society and
the multilateral human rights system had a key role to play. Portugal
attached the utmost importance to a strong, independent and effective
human rights system. Portugal had been since the beginning a strong
supporter of the Human Rights Council, actively participating in its
work and hoped to become a member of the Council as of January 2015.
If elected to the Council membership, Portugal would continue
to encourage the ratification of human rights treaties and their
optional protocols and to promote the creation of national human
rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles.
In the general debate, speakers raised allegations of human rights
violations in countries and regions around the world and reiterated
the Council's responsibility to address all situations of concern.
The following delegations took the floor in the general debate:
Myanmar, Malaysia, Ukraine, Armenia, Switzerland, Israel and Iran.
The following non-governmental organizations took the floor: Baha'i
International Community, International Commission of Jurists, Asian
Legal Resources Centre, COC Nederland, World Barua Organization,
International Buddhist Relief Organisation, International Movements
Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, Reporters Without
Borders International, United Nations Watch, Action international
pour la paix et le developpement dans la region des Grands Lacs,
CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Centre for Human
Rights and Peace Advocacy, International Educational Development,
British Humanist Association, Centre for Inquiry, General Arab Women
Federation, International Humanist and Ethical Union, United Towns
Agency for North-South Cooperation, Human Rights Law Centre, Alsalam
Foundation, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, Freedom
House, World Muslim Congress, Organization for Defending Victims
of Violence, Amnesty International, Agence Internationale pour le
Developpement, International Muslim Women's Union, Indian Council
of South America, Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik, Liberation,
Al-khoei Foundation, Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de
l'homme, B'nai B'rith, Organisation pour la Communication en Afrique,
Al Hakim Foundation, Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network,
Espace Afrique International, Human Rights House Foundation, Human
Rights Watch, Press Emblem Campaign, Union of Arab Jurists, and
International Association of Democratic Lawyers.
South Sudan, Burundi, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Japan, Azerbaijan, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
and Armenia spoke in right of reply.
The first part of the general debate on human rights situations that
require the Council's attention was held on Friday, 20 June, and a
summary can be seen here.
The Human Rights Council during its noon meeting will hear the
presentations of the reports of the Advisory Committee, the Social
Forum, the Forum on Human Rights and Business and the Working Group on
the Rights of Peasants, followed by a general debate on human rights
bodies and mechanisms.
General Debate on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council's
Attention
Myanmar said in Rakai state steps had been taken to improve the
situation and the police had been providing security cover for the
travel of aid workers. It was important for aid agencies to gain
the trust of the population by providing independent and impartial
assistance. As a new democracy, Myanmar needed space and time to
strengthen the protection of human rights and it could not accept
pressure applied under the pretext of human rights.
Malaysia remained deeply concerned about the new developments in Syria
and said that recent bombing and indiscriminate attacks were alarming.
All parties should stop the violence and resume peace negotiations.
More needed to be done to ensure unhindered, safe and speedy
delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in need. Moderation
and compromise must be upheld in the peace negotiations.
Ukraine said that the human rights situation in the country
remained alarming because of the illegal annexation of the Crimea
and the continuing terrorist activities in eastern Ukraine. The main
objective of the President's peace plan was to stabilize the areas
and improve the human rights situation through immediate suspension
of the counterterrorist operation, disarmament of illegally armed
groups, release of all hostages and amnesty for those who did not
commit serious crimes.
Armenia called the attention of the Human Rights Council to
Azerbaijan's continuing policy of aggression and hostility against
Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh. Since April 2014, Azerbaijani forces
had violated the ceasefire on the Line of Contact over 3,000 times.
Azerbaijan continued to reject the proposals of the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs to withdraw snipers from the line of contact and to elaborate
an investigating mechanism for the ceasefire violations.
Switzerland condemned intimidation, harassment and arrest of
individuals participating in demonstrations, criticising their
governments, or defending human rights. Switzerland expressed concern
about people being arrested in Uzbekistan on fabricated charges; it
called on the Bangladeshi authorities to free people arrested during
the last elections; and encouraged China to reform the administrative
detention system.
Israel recalled that in June 2013 three Jewish youths left their house
and never returned, soon after the formation of a unity Palestinian
Government with Hamas. Israel held President Abbas accountable for
the safety of the kidnapped teens. Israel had warned the international
community about the danger of the Fatah-Hamas alliance, and continued
to strive for peace on the basis of the two State solution so that
both peoples could live side by side with security.
Iran said that human rights violations continued to be rampant in the
United States and in the United Kingdom, which required more action
from the Council. In Canada, the situation of indigenous peoples and
other human rights violations also remained of concern, there were
very negative reports on the implementation of the rights of migrants,
racial discrimination, and targeting of Muslim communities. In the
Czech Republic the Roma suffered from segregation and discrimination.
Baha'i International Community recalled that in the previous
session Iran had claimed that the rights of the Baha'i community were
respected. Days later, bulldozers had destroyed the Baha'i cemetery in
Shiraz. The international community should call on Iran to avoid the
desecration of the cemetery and to respect the rights of the Baha'i.
International Commission of Jurists said that judges and prosecutors
in Venezuela lacked security of tenure which seriously eroded the
independence of the judicial system. The absence of independent
and impartial judicial institutions left victims defenceless, while
perpetrators of gross human rights violations enjoyed impunity.
Asian Legal Resources Centre said in a joint statement that the human
rights situation had deteriorated since the coup d'etat in Thailand,
as evidenced by the curtailing of freedom of expression and opinion,
the use of draconian l se majeste laws and others. The Human Rights
Council should declare the coup illegal and insist that Thailand
respect its human rights obligations.
COC Nederland brought the attention of the Human Rights Council
to human rights violations against persons on the basis of their
sexual orientation and gender identity, including in Venezuela,
Chile, Namibia and Australia. The Human Rights Council must adopt a
resolution against discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender persons everywhere and on all grounds.
World Barua Organization said that many violations of human rights
in India were being committed by the authorities, including against
women, marginalized communities, human rights defenders objecting
against development projects and others.
International Buddhist Relief Organization said that coal mining in
the Meghalaya State in India was dangerous and led to environmental
degradation. Several accidents and deaths had taken place there due
to the insecure working conditions. They called on the Council to
address this situation before the damage to people and the environment
became irremediable.
International Movements against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism
condemned the violence in South Western Sri Lanka which caused the
death of three persons and the serious injury of around 80 people. It
was outrageous that the Government had ignored previous appeals and
allowed the Bodu Bala Sena to continue committing hate crimes against
Muslims and Christians.
Reporters without Borders International addressed the situation
of imprisoned journalists in Eritrea. In Ethiopia bloggers had been
arrested last April and were still held without charges. In Kazakhstan,
journalists had been arrested and online sites criticising the signing
of the Eurasia Treaty had been blocked. When these issues were brought
to the Council they were dismissed as politicised attempts to discredit
the concerned countries.
United Nations Watch said that if the human rights situation was so
horrific in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, why was it
that so many Iranians along with many others lined up to emigrate to
those countries? The reality today was that Iranian defence lawyers
were imprisoned and beaten for defending Iranian citizens. When would
there be human rights in Iran?
Action international pour la paix et le developpement dans la region
des Grands Lacs said that in Algeria there were continuing restrictions
of freedoms and serious violations of human rights which tried to
crush the emancipation movement of Saharawis. There was a need for
an impartial and independent inquiry into these serious violations.
CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation was shocked by the
lethargy of the international community when innocent civilians in
Syria were living through unspeakable horror and the Security Council
had failed to reach consensus to help stop the bloodshed or provide
minimum life-saving assistance. The Council was strongly urged to
consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry for Eritrea.
Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy said that the Sikhs
respected women as daughters, mothers and sisters and also respected
women and men equally, as they were equal partners in their lives,
society and to make the world a better place to live. All societies
should respect women and make the world a perfect place to live.
International Educational Development was concerned about the Sikh
population in Punjab because of the coming to power of a political
party which was not likely to respect ethnic and religious minorities.
The international community should closely follow the human rights
situation in Punjab to prevent human rights violations that might
occur in the future.
British Humanist Association said that religious intolerance and
violence affected three quarters of the world population. In the
Central African Republic, the violence continued to escalate with
one million persons displaced. In Myanmar, the relentless Buddhist
persecution against Muslims continued in Rakhine state and amounted
to crimes against humanity.
Centre for Inquiry recalled that last month Raif Badawi, founder of a
Saudi website dedicated to fostering debate on religion and politics
had been charged with "insulting Islam" and sentenced to 10 years in
prison and 1,000 lashes. The Centre called on Saudi Arabia to release
Mr. Badawi and to reform its laws to protect freedom of religion and
belief and cease the use of corporal punishment.
General Arab Women Federation said that the situation in Syria was
getting worse as armed groups denied people their right to subsistence,
such as with the destruction of water sources in Aleppo.
Citizens in Aleppo were also deprived of health care because of attacks
and shelling targeting clinics and health centres. The use of water
as a tool of genocide should be considered a crime against humanity.
International Humanist and Ethical Union said that the Tunisian
people had hoped that the 14 January revolution would bring them
justice and human rights but the Government had failed to fulfil
promises. It was a great shame that there were real failings with
regards to investigations into crimes against citizens, who were
deprived of their rights and became victims of violence. The Union
hoped to see immediate action.
United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation said that the
systematic "dirty war' by Pakistan against the Baloch continued
unabated and with increasing ferocity. The autopsies of the bodies
found in the mass graves at Tutak showed that the victims were buried
alive. Moreover, the commission formed to investigate this had not
even started working.
Human Rights Law Centre said Australian law now required all new
maritime arrivals to be transferred to Nauru or Manus in Papua
New Guinea, where they were subjected to mandatory and indefinite
detention in conditions that the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees had repeatedly assessed as falling short of international
human rights standards.
Alsalam Foundation called attention to the human rights situation
in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, specifically highlighting the cases of
arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killing of human rights
defenders, journalists, and peaceful protesters in those countries.
Both countries were called upon to honour their commitments to prevent
arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killing, among others.
International Federation for Human Rights Leagues said that hundreds
of citizens were still held in prison in Bahrain for exercising their
right to freedom of expression and of association. In Saudi Arabia,
a blogger had been condemned to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes
for promoting freedom of speech. In Iran, plain-clothed agents and
guards attacked prisoners and subjected them to inhumane treatment.
Freedom House said that the crisis in Ukraine demanded the United
Nations to monitor and report on the human rights situation, provide
assistance to the Government and facilitate the protection of human
rights throughout the country. It was imperative that the Human Rights
Council focus on the human rights implications of the ongoing crisis.
World Muslim Congress said that the pathetic state of human rights in
Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir did not show any prospect of improving,
mainly because of the continued impunity and the draconian laws in
force. It was important to set up a commission to investigate human
rights abuses and release political prisoners.
Organization for Defending Victims of Violence indicated that Shi'a
minorities all over the world had been subjected to repressive and
inhumane atrocities. Just in the last few days, even more Shi'a
minority men were sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia and more faced
dire situations in Pakistan, Bahrain and Malaysia. Shi'a minorities
in these countries were neither protected nor allowed to exercise
their religious rights.
Amnesty International said that in South Sudan thousands had died
and millions had been displaced in the past months. The Council had
fallen short in its contribution to preventing violations and abuses
and to addressing the situation, missing opportunities to establish
regular public reporting. The inauguration of a new President in
Egypt did not wipe clean the country's human rights record, by all
accounts torture and ill-treatment were once again rife.
Agence international pour le Developpement updated the Council
regarding a recent visit to Tindouf camp in Algeria. While many
challenges remained, they had noted positive achievements made.
Nevertheless, they asked how other organizations had been able to
freely circulate in the region and access the camp, while its members
had found it so difficult to obtain Algerian visas.
International Muslim Women's Union said the people of Indian occupied
Kashmir had been robbed of all rights by the enactment of draconian
laws. Torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances,
arbitrary detention, and rape, among others, constituted daily life
routine. The Council had a moral obligation to take note of this
human rights situation.
Indian Council of South America called on all States not to use
terrorism laws to suppress human rights. The Government of Chile
should not only give political assurances but should stop the use
of terrorism laws against the Mapuche. Bolivia was called upon to
continue to address the Tipnis situation and not to ignore it.
Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik was deeply concerned about the
situation in Syria and the expansion of chaos to other parts of the
region. There was also concern that comments given by high-ranking
Iranian politicians, including Iran's President, would instigate the
Shi'a-Sunni divide and create further tensions in the region.
Liberation said that the Indian Government was moving to clamp down
on freedom of press and association and Green Peace and Amnesty
International had already become victims. There were also fears
that the newly elected Government was going to violate the rights of
minorities, including Christians and Dalits.
Al-Khoei Foundation said that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) was the most brutal and violent terrorist organization in the
Middle East, and it had taken over Iraq's third largest city Mosul.
The situation was of concern not only for the citizens of Mosul, but
for Iraq and the Governments in the Middle East and the world. This
murderous terrorist group must be stopped and this could be done by
stopping its funding and stifling its propaganda.
Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droigts de l'homme said that
sub-saharan Africa was becoming an incubator of terrorist groups which
had no respect for human dignity. The Council should hold a special
session on the situation in South Sudan, and an urgent international
conference should be held on the situation in Iraq. The authorities
in Niger should promote dialogue to avoid a new crisis in the country.
B'nai B'rith noted that in April Fatah and Hamas had signed a
cooperation agreement leading to the formation of a new Government. It
was vital that the Council responded to the ritual condemnation
against Israel, and took a position against Palestinian terrorism.
Organisation pour la Communication en Afrique, in a joint statement,
drew attention to the situation in Tindouf camps in Algeria, including
the lawlessness and its impact on women and children, who were largely
dependent on humanitarian aid. The leaders of the Polisario Front
misled international public opinion, hiding the lack of freedom and
democracy in the camps, and the organization appealed in the Council
to save those in the camps.
Al-Hakim Foundation said that tens of thousands of Iraqis had given
their lives defending freedom and democracy, recalling the occupation
of Mosul by Islamist fighters of the "Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
(ISIS)" and the threat they posed to the region and the world. They
called on the Council to address this challenge to world peace and
also called on the international community to support Iraq's protracted
war against terrorism.
Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network said it had to be realised
that an important aspect was whether there was an open access to
United Nations mechanisms to monitor, especially in chronic human
right situations inflicted on Chinese, Mongolians, Tibetans and
Uyghurs for more than six decades now, by the Chinese authorities.
Espace Afrique International said the recent disappearances of two men
from Pakistani occupied Kashmir had once again raised questions over
enforced disappearances and serious human rights violations going
unchecked in the occupied region. It was also noted that Pakistan
was one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists.
Human Rights House Foundation said the authorities of Azerbaijan had
to release Anar Mammadli and Bashir Suleymanli. Prosecution against
those expressing their opinions had drastically increased. Azerbaijan
was called upon to stop harassing, threatening and punishing human
rights defenders, including Leyla Yunis, journalists and bloggers.
Human Rights Watch was gravelly concerned about Uzbekistan's
appalling human rights record, where authorities targeted civil
society activists, political opposition figures and independent
journalists, and said that the Council should create a dedicated
monitoring mechanism on the country. The situation in Venezuela was
the worst seen in the country in years.
Press Emblem Campaign drew attention to the dire situation of
journalists in armed confrontations or conflict situations. In
Ukraine, hundreds of incidents against journalists had been recorded
since last November and all parties involved in the conflict were
responsible for acts of violence against media workers. In Israel,
Palestinian journalists continued to be subjected to harassment and
acts of violence by Israeli security forces.
Union of Arab Jurists said that referring Syria to the International
Criminal Court did not make any sense as it would only allow terrorist
organizations to exist in Iraq and Syria. The Council should support
Syria and its President who worked for peace and security in Syria
and the region and should also establish a dedicated mechanism
against terrorism.
International Association of Democratic Lawyers, in a joint statement,
said that the ongoing epidemic of cholera in Haiti which had killed
over 8,500 persons, had been caused by the United Nations reckless
disposal of untreated human waste and called on the Council to urge
the United Nations to compensate the victims and ensure accountability.
Right of Reply
South Sudan, speaking in a right of reply in response to a joint
statement delivered by Belgium during the general debate concerning the
alleged deterioration of the human rights situation in the country,
said while recognising the negative effects of the ongoing conflict,
progress had been made towards peace and reconciliation with the
help of the African Union, and consultations were taking place with
the support of civil society. Remaining violations did not entail a
deterioration of the situation and the African Union was providing
support for the verification of violations. Concerning accountability,
the delegation stressed that those who had committed abuses would be
held accountable. Raising this question in the Council entailed the
politicisation of the issue and doubting the African Union's ability
to address the situation and ensure accountability.
Burundi, speaking in a right of reply in response to the statement
delivered by Belgium, reassured the Council that Burundi would ensure
the promotion and protection of the human rights of its people,
including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,
among others, which were guaranteed by the constitution. Moreover,
these rights were exercised on a daily basis and even by those
criticising the Government, as all witnesses in Burundi could attest.
The delegation reiterated the transparency enjoyed by its judicial
system and joined the voices which continued to express concern about
the politicisation of the Council.
Sri Lanka, speaking in a right of reply in response to a statement by
Canada claiming ongoing use of rape and sexual violence by Sri Lankan
security forces, said Sri Lanka strongly rejected this claim, which
was not substantiated by verifiable data or evidence. Sri Lanka had
an established zero tolerance policy on gender based violence against
women and took strong action on reported cases. The Sri Lankan military
continued to provide large scale human rights training to its troops
with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Venezuela, speaking in a right of reply in response to statements
by Spain and Switzerland referring to terrorist violence suffered
as of February 2014 by a small radical sector of the coup-oriented
opposition in the country, said the competent State institutions
with the support of the overwhelming majority of the people had
been able to defeat the attempted coup d'etat. Under the fa ade of
alleged peaceful demonstrations, the criminals had created serious
offenses against the people and public property. The international
media campaign twisted the truth to try to portray the Government as
one that violated human rights.
Japan, speaking in a right of reply, said that its position on
the past events remained unchanged and reminded all that Japan had
already expressed deep remorse for the events of World War Two. The
Democratic People's Republic of Korea would not be able to cover
up its own human rights record by pointing fingers at others. On a
bilateral level, Japan reminded that the issue of property would
be addressed in the normalization talks. The Democratic People's
Republic of Korea should address all outstanding issues of concern,
including the abduction issue.
Azerbaijan, speaking in a right of reply, said it was aware of
the actions of Armenia and why it made absurd accusations against
Azerbaijan and the Special Procedures. As the Special Rapporteur
on violence against women had stated, the root cause of internally
displaced persons in Azerbaijan was the occupation of Nagorny Karabakh;
the Republic of Nagorny Karabakh was Azerbaijan's constitutive part,
which Armenia occupied and continued to use for illegal activities
such as drug trade.
Egypt, speaking in a right of reply in response to the statement
delivered by Switzerland, recalled that Egypt took very seriously
its responsibility towards human rights because they concerned the
Egyptian people, not because of external pressures. It was unfortunate
that Switzerland had raised this issue under item 4. The Egyptian
Constitution guaranteed the protection of the rights of freedom
of expression and peaceful assembly, including public meetings,
processions and demonstrations, in accordance with its international
obligations.
Ethiopia, speaking in a right of reply, refuted the statements made by
Switzerland and non-governmental organization (NGOs) speakers, noting
that bloggers, journalists and citizens fully enjoyed their human
rights, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful
assembly. The rights of people in detention, such as the right to
due process, were also respected and therefore the allegations made
by Switzerland and NGOs about Eritrea were unfounded.
Uzbekistan, speaking in a right of reply in response to biased
interventions with regards to the human right situation in the country,
said these were accusatory in nature and not based on facts.
Uzbekistan had created the necessary institutional and legislative
basis to ensure the rights of its civilians. People were not persecuted
on any political basis. Uzbekistan had taken major steps to ensure the
rights of civil society. It worked closely with the Special Procedures
of the Human Rights Council and had adopted a national plan of action
on the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review.
China, speaking in a right of reply in response to accusations made
by the European Union, United States, Germany, Czech Republic and
Switzerland, said they were groundless and politically motivated. The
facts had shown that the path China had taken had served the
fundamental interests of a large sector of its population. China was
a country governed by the rule of law. Anyone that violated Chinese
laws would be dealt with by the judiciary. The Government attached
importance to guaranteeing all the rights of ethnic minorities.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea , speaking in a right of reply,
said that Japan continued to justify past crimes and the human
suffering by the war it waged against other countries. The result
of the investigation by the Special Investigation Committee would
clearly prove the position of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea on the issue of abductions. Japan should apologise to victims
and bring to justice those responsible.
Armenia, speaking in a right of reply, strongly rejected the
allegations by Azerbaijan and reminded that it was the actions of
Azerbaijan that had unleashed the full blown conflict in Nagorny
Karabakh in 1994. The war propaganda against Armenia was being voiced
by the highest Azerbaijani authorities in preparation for a new war
in Nagorny Karabakh and Armenia called on Azerbaijan to cease its
bellicose behaviour.
Japan, speaking in a second right of reply in response to the statement
by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said Japan had already
stated its position concerning events in the past and would not
repeat them.
Azerbaijan, speaking in a second right of reply, noted that while the
Armenian delegation had claimed to respond to its previous statement,
it had actually failed to respond to the question posed by Azerbaijan.
What could Armenia answer about a General Assembly resolution that
recognised that Nagorno-Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan and demanded
the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the occupied territories, as
well as other forms of international condemnation of the illegitimate
use of force against Azerbaijan? Armenia lacked the credibility to
give lessons to other delegations.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, speaking in a second right
of reply, said that as already known Japan, during its 40 years of
occupation, had committed crimes against humanity, including forced
sexual slavery. However, it had continued to deny its responsibility
for past wrongdoing. It was once again urged to show its determination
not to repeat such crimes against humanity.
Armenia, speaking in a second right of reply, said that Armenia was
not obliged to respond to questions by Azerbaijan. However, regarding
the General Assembly resolution mentioned, it was adopted by 37 Member
States. Azerbaijan tried to distort and keep the situation on the
border full of constant tension, and continued to blame Armenia for
its own internal failure.
Statement by the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
of Portugal
LUIS CAMPOS FERREIRA, Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation of Portugal, said that achieving universal respect of all
human rights was Portugal's first priority and that this was a common
and shared goal in the attainment of which all States, civil society
and the multilateral human rights system had a key role to play.
Portugal attached the utmost importance to a strong, independent and
effective human rights system. Portugal had been since the beginning a
strong supporter of the Human Rights Council, actively participating
in its work, and it hoped to become a Member of the Council as of
January 2015. Once a member of the Council, Portugal would promote
all realization of human rights and would continue to stand for the
abolition of the death penalty. It would continue to advocate for
the elimination of all forms of discrimination and would continue
to pursue its commitment to the rights of the child and the rights
of women, migrants, persons with disabilities, persons belonging
to minorities, and refugees. If elected to the Council membership,
Portugal would continue to encourage the ratification of human rights
treaties and their optional protocols and to promote the creation
of national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris
Principles. In closing, Mr. Campos Ferreira said that Portugal would
significantly contribute to the work of the Human Rights Council and
expressed hope that the present session would decisively contribute
to the realization of human rights worldwide.