United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk asserted Monday the vitality of international cooperation in advancing human rights at a time of flaring conflicts, environmental harm threatening humanity and Sustainable Development being agenda off-track.
This came at the inaugural session of the 53rd UN session, extending until July 14.
Turk mentioned that the world is at a “crucial juncture” 75 years since the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights and 30 years since the Vienna declaration.
“Human rights are literally the cornerstone of the United Nations,” stressed Turk.
He further explained that the Universal Periodic Review is not a violation of sovereignty but it is a four and a half year process that is intended to culminate in the implementation of recommendations, urging states to step up their implementation efforts.
The high commissioner expressed great concern over mandate holders being subjected to abuse and threats, and vehemently rejected any hate speech or incitement of violence saying that this undermines the council itself.
He spoke of the humanitarian situation in various countries and highlighted the deteriorating situation in occupied Palestinian lands and the excessive use of force on the hands of occupying forces saying that the forcible eviction of Palestinians, demolition of homes, expansion of settlements is a “cry out for human rights-based solutions”.
As for Syria, Turk clarified that the human rights situation remains dire and the country has not cooperated with the UN commission’s office in Beirut since 2011, but stated that he is hopeful the authorities will engage with the General Assembly’s new initiative to address missing people on all sides.
Turk, in his speech, pointed out that the military regime in Myanmar refuses to cooperate with the council’s fact-finding mission and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has not had access to the country since 2019.
The United Nations Human Rights Council was established in 2006 and it holds three session every year to examine safekeeping human rights all over the globe.
Source: Kuwait News Agency