UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : HRC - Press Conference: HRC 55 President briefing

The president

Ambassador sn

will deliver his opening remarks in English.

Sorry,

Ambassador sn

will deliver his opening remarks in French.

He will then take your questions in English or in French.

The two working languages of the U press corps here in Geneva

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Nico Minors,

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Um

thank you for the briefing. Following up my colleague's question on polarisation

at a time when

the world is is kind of preoccupied with conflicts that seem to

trash all the principles of of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Are

are you not concerned that the authority and relevance of this council is being

eroded and diminishing? Thank you.

Whether the authority and relevance of this council is being eroded by

essentially the systematic policies being pursued in these conflicts. Thank you.

but for

you know, sir, I don't think so. Because

it is well known that the council is the unique fora

at

hand for the global community, for the United Nations to act when it comes

to the protection, the promotion and the guarantee of human rights worldwide.

So we have to preserve

this important

institution

and

whatever is the situation I do consider

and allow me to say that very frankly that

the council has an impact and that the council

takes decisions whenever even on this situation on this grave situation,

some important decisions have been taken,

be it on

the Ukraine situation, be it on the Middle East, and also

not to neglect other major crises currently going on in our world.

Unfortunately, particularly in in

Sudan, in Yemen and elsewhere.

And just to have a look for our agenda.

For the next session, we will hear from various commissions of inquiry.

If I'm not wrong six or seven, by the way, some of them will come before you

in press conferences

to, I mean

put lights

on their work. And since also I am in in

office, I had a lot of

exchanges appointments with the mandate holder

They are, of course,

concerned about these situations.

But at the same time, they are firmly engaged in trying

to voice on behalf of the international community

as they mandate. They are mandated on behalf of the Council on these issues.

And, of course, when it comes to the Council, I am the president.

But the council is driven by the government,

and my duties is to try to find bridges between the memberships

to be oriented at the best when it comes to these very difficult matters.

But the council

and I

thank you for this question. The council with credibility

is also very important in my view.

And we have to build

and to preserve

and to strengthen the credibility of the council

during these difficult times.

Jamie

Kitten,

Associated Press

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mercy. The gentleman on the far right. If you could please introduce yourself

Robyn Millard from

on avoiding polarisation in the

discussions that you've had with member states,

can you shed some light on the topics where

you think that that might potentially be an issue?

Thank you

the aspects or if you

wish, so

the

elements we have to take care in our discussions.

And as I said,

we have to

have an approach which takes into consideration into consideration

the concerns from all sides

because

some are considering.

And it is not a secret that

the use of the council is excessive from one side

towards

the other side.

And they request that the approach be more

consulted

for any decision to be taken

in advance

with a deep dialogue

and to try to, let's say, consume all the possibilities

of exchanges all the possibilities of dialogue

before going to action before taking the initiative

and also, myself, my own. And

this is now my own concern to see if this action will have an impact on the ground

because just to take a decision

and then be confronted by what some of you have described clearly this morning.

I mean, facing hurdles facing lack of Cooper operation,

we have to consider that I am not saying that I am

in

any way

alarming on any initiative to be taken by the membership.

It is full right to take any initiative

to propose any decision.

But

we have to be,

in a way,

at least

aware of the impact of the decisions of the Council

and

to

privilege again

dialogue. And the president is, let's say, the focal point on these issues.

As I said to all membership Please help me.

Even I myself will try to identify these issues.

I will

promote dialogues on.

But

I said to the membership, please help me. Also,

if you have any queries if you have any concerns if you have

And by the way,

many of them are answering

positively to these open doors I am offering

me

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We have time for one last question, sir.

Thank you

you mentioned that some countries are very concerned about

sovereignty and the council should not interfere in domestic matters.

But how can the council express itself

on any country without being seen to interfere

on domestic matters? How do you get around that problem?

Well, you know, I mean, uh, the

the we have obligations, international obligations, all the membership

through the various treaties concerning human rights issues.

And I said, uh, we have procedures

and we have principles.

Once we respect all these principles the ones inscribed

embodied in the charter of the United Nations.

And once we respect the procedures as they are tailored

within, let's say the system of the council,

then

probably the possibility of having the best

action the best adapted action to any situation

could be easier

for all of us

to govern these issues as a council.

I am aware of the fact, of course, that there are some resistance,

that there are some misunderstanding, not resistance

on these issues which are very again difficult.

But

I will not hear challenge in any way the

principles inscribed in the Charter of the United Nations.

As president of the Council, I am

obliged by these principles also.

But

this doesn't mean that

the level of Co-operation

should not be as

enthusiastic as possible by all membership.

That the level of engagement towards human rights

because it is our common interest

to,

I

mean,

uphold this fundamental pillar of our system of the United Nations. I thank you

confirms

the press.

HRC - Press Conference: HRC 55 President briefing - 21 February 2024