Summary: EU Presidency General Statement before action - National Institutions for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (18 November 2005: New York)
EU Presidency General Statement before action on NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, by the UK Mission to the UN on behalf of the European Union, UN General Assembly, Third Committee, New York
Mr. Chairperson,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following states align themselves with this statement: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Liechtenstein, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
Mr. Chairperson,
The European Union attaches the highest importance to national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. They form an essential part of the global effort to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. In partnership with states, non-governmental organisations and other civil society actors, national human rights institutions have a key role to play in working to improve human rights protection and promotion at the national level.
The European Union warmly welcomes the emphasis placed by the Secretary-General, in his report "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change", on the need to build strong human rights institutions at the country level to ensure sustained protection and advancement of human rights. The EU commends the efforts being made through the Secretary-General's Action II programme to encourage UN entities, funds and agencies to work in close cooperation with national human rights
institutions. And strongly supports broader participation by national institutions in the work of the United Nations in this field. The advances made at the Commission on Human Rights this year, enhancing the participation of national institutions in that body's work, are a very welcome step.
Mr. Chairperson,
Though not all Member States have national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, the EU fully recognises the importance of such institutions and encourages and supports their establishment. In those Member States where they do not yet exist, efforts are already underway to establish them. The fact that all Member States of the European Union have co-sponsored this text for the first time is a clear signal of the EU's commitment to supporting the work done by national
human rights institutions and of our recognition of the essential role that they play. It is also a testament to the main sponsors, who were willing to listen to the EU's concerns and to take them on board as a move towards the braodest possible consensus. We thank them sincerely.
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page