The world is undeniably facing rising challenges to multilateralism, however, work can be done with Member States to strengthen the agreement of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN’s top rights official told the committee charged with tackling social, humanitarian and cultural issues.
Continuing its debate on the promotion of human rights, the Third Committee of the General Assembly heard from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachet, about the growing problem of inequality across a multitude of sectors.
“We are witnessing an increase in xenophobia, hate speech, push backs on women’s equality and the rights of minorities,” the rights chief said, presenting her Office’s activity report.
“Nonetheless, I am convinced that we can work with Member States to strengthen the consensus of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, she encouraged, adding that regardless of economic system, government or culture, all countries are obliged to respect economic, social, civil and political rights.
In 2019 so far, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has assisted in the implementation of more than 1,500 activities across all regions, with help from States, national rights institutions, civil society and the business sector.
The Office’s recent efforts to promote economic, social, and cultural rights (ESCR) “are essential building blocks” in staying on track on the road to achieving 2030 Sustainable Development targets, she told delegates.
Such undertakings have included lawyers’ rights protection in Madagascar, promotion of rights indicators to ensure States uphold ECSR standards across Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, and building the capacity of domestic courts to make decisions on rights issues.
“Gender equality is at the core of our work”, she continued, detailing the Office’s leadership in addressing gender stereotypes and bias in judicial systems in Argentina, Panama, Tanzania and Uruguay; and efforts in line with advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 – the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies.
Shifting to the threat of the climate emergency, Ms. Bachelet said she is determined to assist countries in mitigating the effects of global warming by helping them implement climate change adaptation strategies, with human rights-based policies.
In 2020, the human rights treaty body review will take place, a benchmark of a six-year reform agenda to strengthen and enhance the human rights treaty body system, Ms. Bachelet said, calling the international human rights treaties “the legal backbone” of human rights protection.
Original source: UN News
Published on 15 October 2019