[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
His Excellency Federico Villegas,<\/p>\n
President of the Human Rights Council,<\/p>\n
His Excellency Ignazio Cassis<\/p>\n
Head of the Swiss Confederation<\/p>\n
His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,<\/p>\n
Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ High-Commissioner for Human Rights,<\/p>\n
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It is an honor to join you today for the opening of the 49th<\/sup> session of the Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n My sincere congratulations to President Villega on being elected to preside over the 16th<\/sup> cycle of the Council.<\/p>\n I have no doubt that President Villegas\u2019 extensive experience and able leadership will guide the work of the HRC in an exemplary manner.<\/p>\n I would also like to recognize the tremendous efforts of Ms. Michelle Bachelet, her Office, and the whole Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system in the promotion and protection of all human rights for all.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n When I assumed office as President of the General Assembly, I promised a Presidency of Hope<\/em> focused on solutions and concrete actions, with Five Rays of Hope<\/em> to direct the work of the 76th<\/sup> session.<\/p>\n These include recovering from COVID-19, rebuilding sustainably, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of all, and revitalizing the United Nations.<\/p>\n Upholding our human rights and dignity are at the core of all my priorities and initiatives, including promoting a gender perspective and ensuring youth participation.<\/p>\n I hope we continue to see progress on all these fronts during the remainder of this session.<\/p>\n On recovering from the pandemic, last Friday I convened a High-Level Thematic Debate on vaccine equity, in New York, which stressed the importance of including a human rights perspective when recovering from the pandemic.<\/p>\n I echo here the sentiments expressed during that meeting. With stronger political will, and with swift and decisive action we can remove barriers to vaccine access and ensure that its benefits reach everyone.<\/p>\n We must act with this same urgency and compassion in our socio-economic recovery from the pandemic, with Agenda 2030 as our roadmap to recovery.<\/p>\n Beyond COVID-19, my Presidency of Hope is prioritizing the needs of the planet and I welcome recent progress at this Council on these issues, including two resolutions, on human rights and climate change, and on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.<\/p>\n As President of the General Assembly, I was pleased, in October, to host a High-Level Meeting on Delivering Climate Action, as well as to attend COP26, in Glasgow.<\/p>\n Looking ahead, I will continue prioritizing this issue and will host a high-level event in July to highlight the synergies across the various meetings taking place during my Presidency, on climate change, biodiversity, desertification, energy, food systems, and the ocean.<\/p>\n This will be an important moment, a \u201cMoment for Nature\u201d, to take stock of progress, and to highlight what our collective priorities should be to protect our planet.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n I remain honored to be an International Gender Champion. As President of the General Assembly, and as a lifelong supporter of gender equality, I feel an obligation to do all that I can to empower women and girls.<\/p>\n Since taking office, I have committed to ensuring that all my priorities and major initiatives are approached with a gender lens.<\/p>\n I have ensured that my cabinet is gender balanced, with more women than men; I have promised to participate only in panels that are gender balanced; and I endeavor to meet with women and girls during my travels to listen and learn from their lived experiences.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n In addition to my commitment to women and girls, is an understanding that we must empower young people.<\/p>\n I have made it a point to include their voices at meetings and events at the General Assembly during this session.<\/p>\n The effort that I am most proud of, however, is the Fellowship for HOPE, which I launched in January. Under this Fellowship, eight young diplomats from underrepresented countries have joined my team to gain valuable insight into the work of the United Nations. I hope that they will take these insights and lessons back to their home communities and support their nations in the field of multilateralism.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n We cannot speak of human rights without addressing the ever constant need to tackle racism and other forms of discrimination.\u00a0<\/p>\n I am pleased that one of the very first high-level events that I had the honor of presiding over was the commemorative meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, in September 2021.<\/p>\n At this event, Heads of State and Government re-affirmed their determination to mobilize political will and to accelerate momentum to make the fight against racism and the protection of its victims a high national priority.<\/p>\n Many important meetings related to human rights will be held during the remainder of the session, mainly on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech, and the launch the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Linked to the promotion and protection of human rights, is the need to empower civil society and grassroots organizations who are uniquely situated to grasp challenges and occurrences at the community level.<\/p>\n Bringing the voices of civil society back into the halls of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has remained a priority for me since taking Office. I am pleased, therefore, that last November I convened, at the General Assembly, the first in-person Town Hall Meeting with Civil Society since the outbreak of COVID-19. I am also pleased that this has since paved the way for their return to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ building and for further engagement in other high-level events.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Let us recall that all human rights are universal, indivisible, and mutually reinforcing. All human rights must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, in line with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.<\/p>\n As President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly, trust that you have my complete support in the work of the Human Rights Council. Likewise, you can rest assured that the principle of human rights will continue to run throughout the remaining of the 76th<\/sup> session of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n I wish the Council every success in its deliberations and encourage all Members to engage in the spirit of cooperation to protect and promote human rights for all people, everywhere.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 49th session of the Human Rights Council <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":353,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,671,502,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-258512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-hrc","tag-human-rights","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n