HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL BEGINS GENERAL DEBATE ON THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

The Human Rights Council in its midday meeting concluded its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, before hearing the presentation of thematic reports by the Secretary General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights and beginning its general debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.

Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented reports by the Secretary General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the impact of arms transfers on the enjoyment of human rights; conscientious objection to military service; the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls; the realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl; ways to bridge the gender digital divide from a human rights perspective; the relationship between climate change and the rights of the child; the operations of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic Review; the operations of the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review; the inter-sessional Seminar on the Protection of the Family and Disability; the activities of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women; and the report on the engagement of Parliamentarians with the human rights system.

In the general debate, delegations raised a number of issues, including conscientious objection to military service, which some asserted was one of the key elements of freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Others claimed it was unfair to those who did serve in the military. Some delegations spoke about issues such as the reduction of poverty, which paved the way to the better promotion of human rights. They said poverty reduction should be addressed in a holistic manner and a multi-pronged way, based on national contexts. Speakers also lamented discrimination against persons with autism, who were often victims of stigmatization and discrimination and could be subject to unfair limitations in access to public healthcare, education and labour opportunities.

Speaking in the general debate were Venezuela on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Brazil on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Right to Health, Croatia on behalf of a group of countries, China on behalf of a group of countries, Paraguay on behalf of a group of countries, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Malta on behalf of the European Union, Ireland on behalf of a group of countries, Sweden on behalf of a group of countries, Brazil on behalf of a group of countries, Belgium, Latvia, Iraq, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Holy See, Greece, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Montenegro, Maldives, Estonia, Jordan, Singapore, Iran, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Cooperation Council of the Gulf and Armenia.

The following non-governmental organizations also took the floor: Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, African Regional Agricultural Credit Association, The Palestinian Return Centre Ltd, International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, British Humanist Association, World Evangelical Alliance, International Commission of Jurists, in a joint statement, Presse Embleme Campagne and VIVAT International.

During the interactive dialogue with David Kaye, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, delegations examined areas of State and private sector involvement, querying the Special Rapporteur on how companies could engage in dialogue in a relevant way, as well as asking for examples of good practices when it came to balancing the thin line between security and freedom. Several delegations drew attention to the situation of freedom of opinion and expression in specific countries or territories, where they said that that right was under pressure or being violated. Noting that the Special Rapporteur had said the public’s commitment to freedom of expression was diminishing, he was also asked how it could be shored up.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Kaye said Governments should search for ways other than criminalization to deal with expression which they saw as blasphemy since those were often views and expressions of minorities. There was also a critical need to deal with terrorist content and recruitment online. The Special Rapporteur noted that often counter-terrorism laws were vague in this regard and were also often used to suppress the opposition and dissent.

Mr. Kaye presented his reports on Monday, 12 June and a summary of his remarks, as well as the first part of the interactive dialogue, can be found here.

Speaking in the interactive dialogue were Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Bolivia, Nigeria, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Botswana, Paraguay, Ukraine, Côte d’Ivoire, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Armenia, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Brazil, Slovakia, Mexico, Azerbaijan and United Kingdom.

The following non-governmental organizations also took the floor: International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, Iraqi Development Organization, Franciscans International, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues in a joint statement, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Jssor Youth Organization, International Human Rights Association of American Minorities and Human Rights Now.

Speaking in exercise of the right of reply to statements made during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression were Turkey, Russian Federation, Japan, India, Republic of Korea and Pakistan.

At 3 p.m., the Council will hold a panel discussion on women’s rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: health and gender equality. The general debate will resume at a future date.


Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression

Republic of Korea expressed concern about the upsurge of hateful expression in Japan directed at minorities, especially ethnic Koreans residing in Japan, and urged Japan to continue with its efforts to address this matter. With regard to schoolbooks in Japan, the education of children on correct history, including on the so-called “comfort women”, was paramount to enable all to learn lessons from history. Myanmar said that it had enacted the media protection law, which guaranteed the freedom of journalists and the media, adding that its citizens had the right to express their views and opinions freely online and offline. Myanmar stressed the difficulties in striking a balance in ensuring freedom of expression while respecting the rule of law. Bolivia said that the fundamental right to freely express and disseminate thoughts and opinions through any media without prior censorship was guaranteed by the Constitution. The human rights obligations of digital access providers must be discussed.

Nigeria said it had always endeavoured to ensure and guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression and had enacted the law on the protection of whistle-blowers. The exercise of this right must not negate the rights of others nor the obligation of States to provide peace and security, public order and good governance. Ireland shared the concern regarding the increasing trend by States to restrict digital access in order to control, monitor and limit freedom of expression online and supress expression by human rights defenders and journalists. What were the best practices for strengthening cross-sector collaboration, including with civil society, to ensure freedom of expression online and offline? Lithuania was concerned about ongoing information wars and State-led misinformation campaigns that were very dangerous for democracy. Efforts to eradicate gender discrimination and increase gender equality in freedom of expression must be increased. Lithuania asked how to ensure that regional organizations were on the same page with the Council with regard to the freedom of expression and the safety of journalists?

Netherlands said a free, open and secure internet could only be reached through the cooperation of all stakeholders, asking the Special Rapporteur how companies could engage in dialogue in a relevant way. The Netherlands shared the Special Rapporteur’s concerns about the situation in Turkey. Botswana said the Special Rapporteur had illustrated the importance of a fair justice system, and concurred with the importance of creating an enabling environment. The Special Rapporteur was asked if he had come across good practices to balance the thin line between security and freedom. Paraguay said today’s technical advances were a tool for human development, but they could make rights vulnerable, noting that the constitution in Paraguay protected on-line media. Paraguay promoted net neutrality and transparency was a vital characteristic.

Ukraine drew the attention of the Special Rapporteur to the situation in territories occupied by the Russian Federation. In Crimea, there was physical violence and damage to equipment and closure of media outlets; none of those crimes had been investigated. Côte d’Ivoire welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s commitment to defending freedom of expression, noting violations of freedom of expression in the digital sphere. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the Special Rapporteur’s report highlighted examples of States interfering with digital access, and asked the Special Rapporteur how important the cooperation of States was for the effective functioning of his mandate, and how the public’s commitment to freedom of expression, which he had said was diminishing, could be shored up.

Armenia shared the concerns about arbitrary and unlawful restrictions of freedom of expression, which were often aimed at silencing journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders. Armenia urged the Special Rapporteur to continue to pay close attention to those acts of intimidation and reprisals. Organization of Islamic Cooperation asked Mr. Kaye to reflect on how to marry private commercial interests with their human rights obligations and on the accountability mechanisms that checked violations and compensated the victims. What measures could States and media implement to curb the expression and promotion of views leading to hatred, discrimination and violence? Brazil welcomed the efforts to identify ways in which freedom of expression could be better protected and promoted in the digital space with the participation of all stakeholders, but continued to be concerned about the potential of digital technologies to violate human rights. What would the activities of the mandate focus on in the next three years?

Slovakia said that the massive expansion of digital media in the modern world shaped the political discussion and debate and attempts to shut down service providers might amount to a breach of human rights. Was there a way to confront the spread of terrorist ideas and fake news in the digital space while ensuring freedom of expression? Mexico had reformed its Constitution and legislation to harmonize the national legal framework with international treaties and ensure that freedom of opinion and expression was not restricted by any means. Access to information and communication technology was a constitutional right in Mexico and no law or authority could censor or restrict it except under very specific circumstances established by the law. Azerbaijan stressed the importance of putting in place a mechanism to protect journalists and said that the need to protect freedom of expression must be considered in the broader context of the wide-ranging obligations of States, including to combat terrorism, discrimination and hatred. United Kingdom said the Special Rapporteur had rightly focused on digital access. State interference with internet privacy had to follow the rule of law; the private sector should not become complicit in human rights abuses. The Special Rapporteur was asked for best practices ensuring internet access.

International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism expressed concern about the Government of Japan’s response to the Special Rapporteur’s report on his country visit to Japan, calling on the Government to adopt measures to implement the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation on public demonstrations in Okinawa. Iraqi Development Organization drew attention to the suppression of online media, noting that in Bahrain, human rights defenders faced up to 18 years in prison for criticizing the Government’s use of torture. The Special Rapporteur was asked what methods of protection existed for targeted groups.

Franciscans International urged the Japanese Government to respect and guarantee the right to freedom of expression and opinion of the Rukyu indigenous people of Okinawa, and to further take concrete measures to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur.

International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, in a joint statement with, Reporters Sans Frontiers International - Reporters Without Borders International, and World Organisation Against Torture, said Nabeel Rajab was a leading human rights defender in the Arab world, asking the Human Rights Council to act regarding the situation for freedom of expression in Bahrain. East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project expressed concern at the situation in Tanzania, where Government acts regulated on-line media, as well as concern at the situation in Uganda, where a Government act had been used to prosecute activists who used social media.

Jssor Youth Organization said that there were gaps in the report by Mr. Kaye which id not address the issue of the limitations and restrictions on Palestinian journalists and lawyers imposed by Israel. International Human Rights Association of American Minorities said that Jammu and Kashmir under the control of India was suffering and media access was blocked. In Yemen, the freedom of expression had collapsed, a number of media outlets had been closed down, and 148 journalists had been detained, kidnapped or arrested. Human Rights Now was concerned about Japan’s suggestion to use the Broadcast Act to revoke broadcast licenses based on the content of reporting, and the serious threats and intimidation against a journalist covering the issue of “comfort women”. Japan should listen to the voice of the Special Rapporteur and take concrete steps to implement his recommendations.

Concluding Remarks

DAVID KAYE, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in his concluding remarks urged the Governments of Turkey, Tajikistan and Bahrain to release individuals detained for expressing their opinion, including a novelist, a linguist, a leading economist, and a judge who had served on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Governments should search for ways other than criminalization to deal with expression which they saw as blasphemy since those were often views and expressions of minorities. There was a critical need to deal with terrorist content and recruitment online. The Special Rapporteur noted that often counter-terrorism laws were vague in this regard and were also often used to suppress the opposition and dissent.

The Special Rapporteur expressed his interest to visit Cuba and assess the extent of digital access in the island. Encryption was absolutely important and a critical tool to provide the privacy necessary for the exercise of freedom of expression and the Special Rapporteur encouraged all States not only to protect encryption but to promote it. Surveillance was used increasingly to strike against freedom of expression and States should refrain from such use. Finally, Mr. Kaye urged all stakeholders to follow those issues and adhere closely to the right to freedom of expression as laid down in both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Documentation

The Council has before it the Report of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on the activities of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women - Note by the Secretary-General (A/HRC/35/3).

The Council has before it the Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on conscientious objection to military service (A/HRC/35/4).

The Council has before it the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the expert workshop on the impact of existing strategies and initiatives to address child, early and forced marriage (A/HRC/35/5).

The Council has before it the Summary report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the panel discussion on the theme "The implementation of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training: good practices and challenges" (A/HRC/35/6).

The Council has before it the Summary report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the panel discussion on youth and human rights (A/HRC/35/7).

The Council has before it the Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the impact of arms transfers on the enjoyment of human rights (A/HRC/35/8).

The Council has before it the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on ways to bridge the gender digital divide from a human rights perspective (A/HRC/35/9).

The Council has before it the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls (A/HRC/35/10).

The Council has before it the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl (A/HRC/35/11).

The Council has before it the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the inter-sessional Seminar on the Protection of the Family and Disability (A/HRC/35/12).

The Council has before it the Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - Analytical study on the relationship between climate change and the full enjoyment of the rights of the child (A/HRC/35/13).

The Council has before it the Summary report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the panel discussion on the adverse impact of climate change on States’ efforts to realize the rights of the child and related policies, lessons learned and good practices (A/HRC/35/14).

Presentation of Reports by the Secretary General and by the High Commissioner for Human Rights

KATE GILMORE, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, presented 12 reports that had been submitted to the Council. The report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the impact of arms transfers on the enjoyment of human rights (A/HRC/35/8) outlined that the proliferation of arms continued to threaten human rights worldwide. Regulating arms trade and transfers through the application of the principles enshrined in international conventions on arms was key to end abuse and control arm proliferation. Ms Gilmore outlined that there was an urgent need to systematically collect data on arms trade in order to adopt adequate public policies.

The report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on conscientious objection to military service (A/HRC/35/4) underscored that legal improvements had been made in several countries, strengthening the protection of the right to conscientious objection to military service. Some States had even adopted regulations allowing the release of individuals that had been detained under charges of treason. Unfortunately, some States still did not recognize the conscientious objection to military service. Ms. Gilmore recalled that the right to refuse to kill must be recognized completely.

Turning to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls (A/HRC/35/10), Ms. Gilmore highlighted that it provided recommendations addressing the matter of the lack of adequate school materials promoting gender equality and preventing any form of discrimination in the domain of education. The report recommended practical measures in matters of gender equality, and violence against women. The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl (A/HRC/35/11) promoted gender autonomy in several domains, making it a key aspect of the prevention of child marriage. Successful initiatives involving men and boys were highlighted in the report. The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on ways to bridge the gender digital divide from a human rights perspective (A/HRC/35/9) reminded that there were still considerable gaps and barriers in equal access to the internet. Gender equality should be included in every policy decision regulating internet access. It was of utmost importance to enable an empowering ICT environment which could remedy the current unequal situation in the digital space and provide technologies to stop further widening inequalities.

Ms. Gilmore said the report on the relationship between climate change and the rights of the child (A/HRC/35/13) addressed the many threats that climate change posed to the enjoyment of the rights of the child. It stressed that the human rights commitments contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and those from the Paris Climate Agreements were clear on the obligations of States to protect the rights of the child and address climate change while taking into account the principle of the best interest of the child, as expressed by children themselves. The States also must guarantee access to remedies for children affected by climate change.

Turning to the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the operations of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/35/17), the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the Voluntary Fund had supported exclusively the representatives from developing countries, and in particular small island developing States and least developed countries. In 2016, 26 Member States out of 35 eligible ones had received support. The Fund was examining other options to best support Member States not only in the participation in the Universal Periodic Review but also in the implementation of recommendations they received in this process.

The report on the operations of the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance in the implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/35/18) outlined, among other, the support provided to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Afghanistan, Samoa, Tajikistan, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iraq, Mauritania, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Ms. Gilmore presented three other reports, the report on the inter-sessional Seminar on the Protection of the Family and Disability (A/HRC/35/12); the report of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on the activities of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women; and the report on the engagement of Parliamentarians with the human rights system.

General Debate on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development

Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said that multiple and complex challenges faced by the world today called for global solutions, including the setting up of different and inclusive mechanisms. The implementation of the right to development must be accelerated to make it a reality for everyone, and in this regard, it was essential to complete the elaboration of a legal instrument on the right to development. Cultural diversity must be respected, said the Non-Aligned Movement, also condemning unilateral coercive measures.

Brazil, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Right to Health, reiterated that the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health was a human right. As agreed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Group of Friends was firmly committed to a world of universal rights and human dignity, with equitable and universal access to healthcare and social protection, where physical, mental and social wellbeing were assured. The Group of Friends invited all States to join it in its endeavours.

Croatia, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, welcomed the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the conscientious objection to military service, which was one of the key elements of the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The group of countries commended the attention given to the best practices as they served as a guidance to all countries at the international, regional and national levels. Despite significant progress, challenges still remained, which justified keeping the issue of the Council’s agenda.

China, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, noted that the reduction of poverty would pave the way to the better promotion and protection of human rights. Poverty reduction should be addressed in a holistic manner and a multi-pronged way, based on national contexts. Jobs should be created for the poor and States should ensure social equity and justice, access to education, effective protection for vulnerable groups, and strengthening international cooperation and solidarity, including the promotion of South-South and North-South cooperation.

Paraguay, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, reminded that autism affected one in every 106 children worldwide, impairing their individual development and their participation in society. Persons with autism were often victims of stigmatization and discrimination and could be subjected to unfair limitations in access to public healthcare, education and labour opportunities. The group of countries called upon States to work together towards developing public initiatives to empower persons with autism.

Malta, speaking on behalf of the European Union, reiterated the European Union’s strong commitment to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, without any discrimination. There must be a paradigm shift in mental health away from the medical approach and towards a human rights-based approach. The European Union remained committed to promoting gender equality and eliminating violence against women and girls and was pleased to note that the issue remained firmly anchored on the agenda of the Council.

Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said that the realization of the right to development was crucial and indispensable for the enjoyment of all other human rights and stressed the need for a common effort to address poverty, unemployment and public budget deficits. It was essential to have a two-way dialogue, taking into account the needs and positions of States, with due respect for national laws. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation was firmly committed to the implementation of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and stressed their indivisible nature.

Ireland, speaking on behalf of a core group on civil society space, condemned reprisals and intimidation of civil society and urged greater participation of civil society voices in the Council, where substantive participation of civil society – including in the Universal Periodic Review – made the debates and work richer and more meaningful. More needed to be done to recognize civil society as having an equal stake in discussions in other multilateral fora too. Future resolutions would address issues such as civil society and the private sector, civil society’s role in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, civil society and children, and the funding to civil society.

Sweden, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, highlighted that the internet could be harnessed as a powerful enabler of human rights, but only for those who had access to it. Nearly 60 per cent of the world’s population had no access to the internet, including the majority of women and girls.

Brazil, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, stressed that the Agenda 2030 had reached a momentum for the provision of equal access to education and training. The Sustainable Development Goals constituted an opportunity to set education for all as a key priority to prevent discrimination against vulnerable groups at school and promote life-long learning.

Belgium stressed that the full realization of women’s human rights was still far from a reality. On the contrary, they were currently witnessing a backlash. Urgent and sustained action was needed to promote women’s rights.

Latvia voiced strong commitment to full gender equality and empowerment of women, and welcomed numerous reports on those issues. It highlighted the need to increase literacy and school attendance by women. The High Commissioner’s report on child, early and forced marriages presented a good analysis on how boys and men could be powerful agents of change to eradicate those harmful practices. Bridging the gender digital divide was important in increasing women’s participation in social, political and cultural life.

Iraq attached high importance to foster the promotion of fundamental economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, by enacting a number of laws in line with international human rights standards. It underlined the importance of the principle of universality, impartiality and non-selectivity in the promotion of human rights. Iraq had adopted legislation awarding pensions to the most vulnerable groups.

Netherlands welcomed the report of the Expert Workshop on the impact of existing strategies and initiatives to address child, early and forced marriage. It was of the view that good practices in cultural and family life required a guarantee of women’s rights to equality in autonomy and self-determination. It voiced concern over the shrinking space for civil society. Maintaining a healthy and participatory democracy could only be realized when free assembly and freedom of speech were guaranteed.

Republic of Korea noted that Universal Periodic Review process was an essential step in realizing human rights protection and promotion, which began by listening to the rights bearers. In that respect, it welcomed the panel discussion on youth and human rights. Along with good governance, young people were positive agents of change. The Republic of Korea also welcomed the report on the right to education by every girl, noting that it was committed to redoubling efforts to raise awareness about gender equality in school curricula.

Indonesia said it was committed to uphold the principles of the Council. Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, were indivisible and interdependent, with the right to development being at the heart of Indonesia’s human rights policies. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals principle of “leaving no one behind”, Indonesia had launched the “developing Indonesia from the periphery” agenda, focused on advancing the rights of those who lived in remote areas.

Holy See stressed that mental health problems had long been ignored or shrouded in fear, stigma, discrimination and outright rejection. It was important to avoid imposing new forms of isolation by fostering over dependency on huge doses of psychotropic medications and depriving patients of informed consent.

Greece reiterated its commitment to the importance and indivisibility of both economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights. This was even more crucial in times of financial crisis where economic and social rights were seriously challenged ad cultural rights were marginalized.

Pakistan raised the issue of the situation of citizens in Indian-occupied Kashmir who could not enjoy their right to self-determination. The question went beyond a conflict matter between Pakistan and India but had grave humanitarian consequences. Kashmiri citizens were used as human shields and their human dignity was threatened daily.

Russian Federation regretted that the thematic imbalance of the presented reports did not contribute to increase the credibility and authority of the Council in fostering cooperation among States. The majority of Council resolutions focused on political and civil rights, neglecting economic, social and cultural rights. Social protection should enjoy proper attention. The Russian Federation, therefore, called for equal attention to be given to all categories of human rights.

Montenegro shared views on the importance of a balanced participation of women and men in the implementation and use of information and communication technologies. Additional efforts were needed to raise women’s awareness of the importance of digital skills. Montenegro also welcomed the report on the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl, noting that it still had to work towards ensuring that Roma and Egyptian girls in the country did not leave school early.

Maldives asked that the strong shelter the weak and the privileged to mind the disenfranchised. It aimed to improve the human condition for every individual because history had taught Maldives that everyone was connected. It was the Council’s collective aim to create an atmosphere that facilitated growth, including both economic and social progress. The Council’s mandate could only be realized through unity and greater attempts towards consensus.

Estonia noted that of the 7.5 billion people in the world, men made up about 18 per cent and women 16 per cent of all the persons online. In keeping with the 2030 Agenda that meant that in this sense, 200 million women had been left behind. The gender digital divide had negative social and economic consequences, and was a consequence and cause of violations of women’s human rights. The internet had to be open, global, accessible and human rights-based.

Jordan said its commitment to keep to all parts of an action plan showed Jordan’s determination, and given that Jordan had committed to implementing a gradual plan, national priorities had been set which were in keeping with all sectors of society. The plan encouraged all stakeholders to act to implement the plan in an innovative fashion.

Singapore spoke about conscientious objection to military service, saying national defence was based on citizen armed forces in the country, and the system was only viable under the system of universality. Singapore respected the constitutional respect to the freedom of religion but allowing some not to serve was unfair to those who did serve.

Iran said the High Commissioner for Human Rights had cited that the brutality of Da’esh knew no bounds, and only days later, Tehran had been attacked. Terrorism and violent extremism constituted the most serious threat, and while all human rights were mutually reinforcing, human rights were not treated in a fair and equal manner. Most Council resolutions were implemented in favour of civil and political rights. Economic, social and cultural rights should be given their due.

Belarus stressed that the issue of family constituted a priority. Families were responsible for ensuring the protection of children and their wellbeing. Substantial financial support must be included in family State policies in order to allow them to access quality childcare. Belarus highlighted the untouchable nature of the family and called on the Council to promote its values.

Azerbaijan said that the right to development addressed the hindrances that impeded poor populations from benefiting from the resources of the State. It was important to invest more in development efforts. Unfortunately, some States were not willing to participate to these global efforts and preferred to focus on territorial enhancement.

Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf stated that helping families to face challenges of childcare was key. The right to education was an important base to ensure the full enjoyment of other human rights. A number of obstacles still undermined the fulfilment of this key right and it was crucial to reinforce cooperation between States in order to achieve its completion.

Armenia voiced concern over the increased number of attacks on schools, noting that children should enjoy free access to education. It also voiced concern over the ongoing crackdown on the media, namely attacks and reprisals against journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in the Caucasus region.

Khiam Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture drew attention to the suppressive attitude of the Government of Bahrain towards human rights. There should be preparatory steps taken, including the lifting of the travel ban for opposition leaders. The recommendations of Bahrain’s Universal Periodic Review remained a dead letter. Bahrain had to implement those recommendations and stop procrastinating.

African Regional Agricultural Credit Association spoke of Pakistan’s human rights violations in Balochistan, including the violation of the right to development. The China-Pakistan project threatened to turn the Baloch people into a minority in their own land, due to the influx of hundreds of thousands of workers, mainly from Punjab and China.

Palestinian Return Centre Ltd condemned the detention of thousands of Palestinian children by the Israeli authorities. They were deprived of the right to have access to lawyers and contact with the outside world. The occupation authorities dealt with detained children as with adults and they presented them to military tribunals. The Centre called on Israel to release all children and to stop terrorising them.

International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism noted with concern that there had been too little time to contribute to the High Commissioner’s report. A number of States had made comments related to different groups of women, but there was no specific comment on Dalit women. A study should be carried out to help the Council mitigate discrimination faced by those groups.

British Humanist Association, in a joint statement, said there were ongoing abuses against people on the basis of their sexual identity, including in Chechnya, and the Trump Administration had rescinded access to transgender persons to bathrooms. It was concerning that a nation was taking backward steps, and Member States which had discriminatory policies should avoid retrograde steps.

World Evangelical Alliance expressed gratitude for a mapping report on the Central African Republic. In the context of the crisis there that had started in 2012, the recent acts of violence were a major setback, and it was regrettable that Muslims had been identified as the main targets. The struggle was not a religious conflict.

International Commission of Jurists, on behalf of severals NGOs¹, said the number of seats for non-governmental organizations had shrunk from 24 to two in four years in the meeting room of the Human Rights Council. All delegations were called on to reflect on what that meant in the context of the “shrinking of civil society space” lamented by many speakers.

Presse Embleme Campagne stressed that many individuals still faced major hindrances to access the internet be it because of shutdowns or State-led surveillance practices. These practices were particularly visible during elections periods and protests. Presse Embleme Campagne called on States to fulfil their obligations to protect digital privacy and ensure the full integrity of digital infrastructure.

VIVAT International voiced concerns about information coming out of Bosnia and Herzegovina showing an increasing disrespect to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Reports of State employees not having been paid for their work had been released. The disregard for human rights should not go further without any reaction from the Council.


Right of Reply

Turkey, speaking in a right of reply in response to statements made during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said it was Turkey’s right and responsibility to take necessary measures to protect its democracy, and principles of necessity and proportionality had been observed. Turkey rejected allegations regarding so-called restrictions on freedom of expression as this right was safeguarded by the constitution. There were ongoing prosecutions against persons exploiting the profession of journalism.

Russian Federation, speaking in a right of reply in response to a statement by Ukraine made during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said that Ukraine should focus on internal issues, including the recommendations of international monitoring mechanisms, and when the situation in Ukraine had been sorted out, then there could be criticism of third parties. All Russia’s commitments under international instruments applied to all Russian territory.

Japan, speaking in a right of reply in response to statements made by the Republic of Korea and some non-governmental organizations during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said textbook authorization did not allow intervention by the Government, and some text books included descriptions of the “comfort women” issue. In response to statements made by Franciscans International, freedom of expression was the political basis of democratic States, and could not be restricted. Based on the specific conditions of a protest, appropriate and minimum measures were taken. In response to Human Rights Now, the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy had based his information on fragmentary information, and Japan was ready to communicate with the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy.

India, speaking in a right of reply, said India was firmly opposed to the allegations of Pakistan that India had repeatedly violated the basic human rights of its own citizens, including in Kashmir. The instability in Kashmir was the result of regular protests and terrorist activities that benefitted from the support of Pakistan. The internal judicial framework of India provided for a strict independence of the judiciary system, free press and generalized access to rights, whereas Pakistan had witnessed a major fall in most of its socio-economic indicators. Pakistan had become a base for terrorist activities and national security forces had even been using artillery on Pakistani people. India called on Pakistan to engage in a serious introspection that would to contribute to peace worldwide.

Republic of Korea, speaking in a right of reply, stressed the necessity to engage in a joint effort to strengthen the progress that had already been made in the domain of access to quality education. Recent recommendations emitted by United Nations bodies and mechanisms were key to achieve basic human rights goals. The Republic of Korea stressed that education of correct history was of paramount importance to allow societies to learn lessons from the past.

Pakistan, speaking in a right of reply in response to India, outlined that India had repeatedly applied methods of naming and shaming against rivals in every international forum. Therefore, Pakistan had been the target of harsh defamation and had unacceptably been accused of terrorism. Accusations of threats against India at the border with Kashmir were not accurate considering that this border was one of the most strongly fenced frontiers in the world. Indian armed forces on the contrary had used barbaric methods against the people of Kashmir and refused to observe their right to self-determination. Finally, Pakistan said that it benefitted from a vibrant middle class. Many of its socio-economic indicators were better than India’s.

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¹Joint statement: International Commission of Jurists, Baha'i International Community, CIVICUS - World Alliance for Citizen Participation, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Franciscans International, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, International Lesbian and Gay Association, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), International Service for Human Rights, and Peace Brigades International Switzerland.



For use of the information media; not an official record

HRC17/088E