In June, 47 countries represented by the Netherlands pledged in the statement below to take measures to improve the membership of the discredited UN Human Rights Council. Regrettably the now-published candidacies for the October 2017 election of 2018-20 members—including DR Congo, Qatar, and Pakistan—shows that the statement is being ignored. The worst abusers are getting elected, and get a free pass from the Council. In the upcoming September 2017 session, there is no proposed resolution on Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Turkey, Russia, and so on. Reform of the UNHRC is failing.
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On behalf of 47 counties the Netherlands calls for more quality and diversity of #HumanRightsCouncil candidates: https://t.co/749u709aX1 pic.twitter.com/HJOJhleJZC
— Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇳🇱 (@DutchMFA) June 23, 2017
JOINT STATEMENT
By Netherlands on behalf of 47 countries
Human Rights Council 35th Session
Concluding statement
23 June 2017
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of States including Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegowina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea , Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro , Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , United States of America , Serbia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
At the opening of this 35th HRC session the High Commissioner reminded us that Members of this Council, and candidates for future membership, have a particular responsibility to cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms.
We are committed to the success and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council and convinced that the Council has an invaluable role to play in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.
Resolution 60/251, which set up this Council in March 2006, makes clear that Council members shall “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” and “fully cooperate with the Council” (GA 60/251, OP9), and that when electing members, States “shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments” (GA 60/251, OP8).
In furtherance of these requirements, as members, observers and candidate countries, we commit to strengthening the Council through good practice, and pledge to:
- Strive to ensure competitive HRC membership elections, particularly by encouraging more candidates than seats within each regional group
- Engage in voting based on human rights considerations consistent with GA resolution 60/251, including by considering the degree to which candidates are cooperating with the Council and its mechanisms.
- Participate actively in candidate pledging events in New York and Geneva.
- Promote universal participation and diversity in the Human Rights Council by supporting and increasing the capacity of Small States to strengthen engagement with the Council and its mechanisms and, eventually, to become members. We note with concern that, to date, around 90 States have never held a seat on the HRC – including most Small Island Developing States.
- When seeking Council membership, make candidate pledges in accordance with the framework elaborated by the OHCHR, and publish them in good time. (www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/Pledges.pdf);
- Apply objective and human rights-based criteria, such as those elaborated in previous joint statements delivered at this Council (e.g. by Ireland at HRC 32 and by the Maldives at HRC 20), in determining whether and how the Council should respond to a situation of concern, and take leadership and responsibility in initiating action when such criteria are met;
- Recognise that no State has a perfect human rights record, engage in the work of this Council in a spirit of self-reflection with a view to improvement of our own human rights situation, and address human rights concerns on their merits;
- Cooperate fully, substantively and in good faith with the OHCHR, the Council and its mechanisms, including responding in a timely manner to Special Procedures’ communications, urgent appeals and country visit requests;
- Avoid procedural tactics, such as “no action” motions, to block debate and prevent the Council from considering human rights issues on their merits:
- Work in close cooperation and consult with civil society in relation to our candidacies and general engagement with the Council, strive to create a safe and enabling environment for civil society, and engage robustly to prevent and address acts of intimidation and reprisals, speaking up to address such incidents when they occur;
- Plan to make progress in the promotion, protection and realisation of human rights at the national level, including through implementation of recommendations and resolutions of the Council and its mechanisms.
We are convinced that these commitments when properly respected and applied by all members, observers or candidates will help strengthen the Council’s effectiveness and credibility.
Thank you.
