I hereby declare opened the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council.
President of the General Assembly,
Secretary General of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva,
head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
we are opening this session while our world is facing severe conflicts and
crises of various natures impacting the daily life of populations and countries.
we will find common understandings so that the Council
manages to fulfil its duties in the best manner
and be engaged constructively
to limit the impacts of the different crises we are confronting
and which are affecting numerous victims in all regions of the world
at the beginning of the session
and to fully focus on such situations and their consequences.
to observe a minute of silence on the memory
of all victims of human rights violations worldwide.
to pronounce my opening statement.
General Assembly, Secretary General of the United Nations
Director General United Nations Office at Geneva
the role of the Human Rights Council in the multilateral
human rights and protection.
international peace and security,
distinguished participants
and human rights are indivisible in
and inherent to all people. That is why I
want to reaffirm the importance of an
equal balance between civil and political rights as well as economic,
social and cultural rights.
It is only by preserving this defining principle,
best respond to the challenges that we face
like to highlight today as follows,
health, security and climate crisis
generally, these issues lie at the heart of our concerns.
Both their root causes and ramifications
have an impact on the enjoyment
and sustainability of human rights as well as the equilibria of our world.
Similarly, access to new technologies
progress enabled by artificial intelligence,
are likely to impact the equitable enjoyment of these rights by individuals.
Growing attention must be observed at the level
of the Human Rights Council on these issues
members and all act is concerned, including
related initiatives with the support of member states and the co facilitators
working already with commitment to that end,
being a subsidiary body of the General Assembly,
the Human Rights Council nevertheless remains
responsible for promotion, the protection of human rights
as far as possible discharge this crucial task
bit of difficulties linked to geopolitical tensions which impact these work,
these works and which need to be adjusted to all those challenges. That is why I am
importance, with a view to
maintaining the trust of states of civil society and
accurate assessment of the positive achievements and
particularly when it comes to effectiveness and efficiency of work.
To my mind, it would be judicious
the perspective of member states and council, observe us over the reform process,
be clearly established to best serve the decision to
Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations,
Mr High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mr Is director general of the United Nations Office at Geneva
Mr Hyde of the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs of Switzerland excellencies their participants.
It is important for me to raise the severe impact of the liquidity crisis
that the United Nations is experiencing on the
conduct of the Council's work,
as well as on the work of the mandate
holders and the council's mechanisms in terms of flexibility
the organisation of meetings
and hybrid modalities of participation
which have demonstrated their great usefulness to states and civil society alike.
The 55th Session of the Human Rights Council
is the longest since the council's creation.
It will bring with its numerous challenges and the issues
in a spirit of trust, respect and serenity.
of the council session must be and remain
achieving concrete advances in the field of human rights.
I would like to assure you that the presidency
and the esteemed members of the Bureau are always
ready to listen to your comments and give due consideration
I thank you for your kind attention.
We will now listen to statements as planned for
indicia of our high level segment.
The statements by the President of the 78th
Session of the General Assembly His Excellency,
then the Secretary General of the United Nations.
His Excellency, Mr Antonio Guterres,
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Volcker
and the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.
representing the host country,
I now have the honour to give the floor to
the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly.
Your Excellency, you have the floor.
