STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO FIRST SESSION OF THE COUNCIL

Following is the statement by Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba of Mexico, the President of the first session of the Human Rights Council, to the first meeting of the Council which opened today at the Palais des Nations in Geneva:“Almost 60 years ago, with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we started a long path towards the construction of a system to promote and protect these rights. What we have achieved so far is not minor. We find the best proof of this in the importance acquired by human rights and in response to the numerous victims of violations throughout the years. The international community knew how to develop a broad system of protection under frequently adverse conditions. Now, by creating this Council, it has the opportunity to enhance that system and, even more so, to bestow upon it a truly universal, fair and balanced character. Nowadays, Member States accept that human rights are paired with the other two main objectives of our Organization: to preserve international peace and security and to attain development. From now on, human rights are not just going to be a priority in the work of the United Nations: they will also constitute one of its three fundamental pillars, as proposed by the Secretary-General last year.It is time to show with facts how solid these commitments are and to demonstrate our unwavering resolve to incorporate all actors of our societies in this effort. As of today, we start building a new institution able to respond to the expectations of our peoples. It is a complex task that will certainly require gradual measures, inherent to any transition, but also, and foremost, it provides us with the opportunity to overcome the deficiencies that contributed to discredit the institutions that preceded this Council. We should make the achievements of the Commission our own. The seven fundamental treaties, the special mechanisms and procedures and, in general, the legal framework and all instances that monitor their compliance, are invaluable resources to ensure the universality and indivisibility of human rights and their effective respect. But we should also develop new instruments and working methods. It is essential to conceive mechanisms for both the prevention and sanction of human rights violations, working with a mid- and long-term vision, on the one hand, and responding to emergency situations in a timely fashion, on the other. It is of great importance to agree on a balanced agenda that reflects our will to address all rights in all countries, to identify gaps and to avoid unnecessary duplications to strengthen the existing mechanisms. It is also necessary to improve coordination with bodies and agencies within and outside the United Nations System, and at the same time, to foster the incorporation of a human rights perspective in all their activities. Let’s embark on the task of generating, in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, a mechanism of universal and periodic evaluation to know the improvements and more pressing duties every State has in human rights issues. If we can achieve this, we will avoid the excessive politization and the use of double standards of which the former Commission was accused. In this task, it is also crucial that both the Council and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights strengthen international cooperation in developing national capacities. Let’s open our doors to a full participation of key actors, such as civil society organizations and national human rights institutions. Their presence in the field is useful to all of us and we should capitalize on that. Let’s take advantage of all the technological advances to publicize our work to make it transparent. We represent peoples who are better informed every day and who wish to participate in the decision-making processes. Let’s invite the entire civil society to participate in this transforming process. We are before a crossroads of a historic nature. We can and should contribute to improve the respect of human rights all around the world, and at the same time, we can and should contribute to the reform and strengthening of the multilateral system. I therefore call upon all those who will participate in this process to bear in mind that a strong Council can only emerge from the legitimacy it will gain in effectively addressing the demands of men and women who wish a full respect of their rightsLet us give preference to dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over sterile critics, and openness over closeness.Before concluding, allow me to thank you on behalf of the Mexican Government for the opportunity to contribute to the cause of human rights from the chairmanship of this Council. Also, let me thank the Latin American and Caribbean Group for the steadfast and committed support they gave me to hold this position and to all of you for the trust placed in me to guide this important process. I wish to express my appreciation for the patient and determined work of President Jan Eliasson and of his two co-facilitators, Ambassadors Arias of Panama and Kumalo of South Africa, who made the adoption of Resolution 60/251 possible, but especially, my appreciation for their intelligence and their unwavering commitment for the best results of multilateralism. I also wish to express my appreciation for the efforts carried out by the Secretary-General of our Organization, Mr. Kofi Annan, to adapt it to the challenges we face; and the personal commitment of the High Commissioner, Louise Arbour, and her Office for the establishment of this Council.To conclude, I want to reiterate my personal commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, with the victims of human rights violations and with all of you. I am convinced of the strength of common resolve when embarking on lofty tasks and that neither a single person, nor a single State can, on their own, make a difference. By creating the Human Rights Council, we have a second chance, let's not waste it.

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE AS FIRST SESSION CONVENES IN GENEVA

The first meeting of the newly established Human Rights Council opens in Geneva on Monday, 19 June, marking a new beginning for United Nations efforts to promote and protect fundamental freedoms worldwide.This inaugural session, set to last until 30 June, will bring together high-level representatives from over 100 countries and see delegates begin concrete work to allow the Council to build on the recognized strengths of its predecessor -- the Commission on Human Rights -- and flesh out the features that make it a stronger and more effective human rights body. The meeting will take place just over a month following the open and competitive election of the Council’s 47 members by the UN General Assembly in New York.General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, who oversaw the intense negotiations that resulted in the creation of the new Council last March, said: “The establishment of the Human Rights Council shows that Member States can overcome differences and deliver outcomes relevant to the people of the world. I expect the members of the Council to address the challenges before them with the same constructive spirit and commitment. We must show the world that the Council means a fresh start in the United Nations’ work for human rights.”UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who proposed the establishment of a new Human Rights Council in his report leading up to the World Summit, said: “I am confident that the Council will open a new chapter in the history of the UN’s work to promote and protect human rights, and I urge everyone to join in the effort to make that happen.”At this session and over the coming year, the Council will tackle a heavy workload, including establishing the format of the universal periodic review, the groundbreaking mechanism that will allow it to scrutinize the human rights records of all countries. The Council will also set in motion the process of reviewing all mandates and responsibilities of the previous Commission on Human Rights and defining other aspects of the Council's work, such as the system of special procedures, encompassing over 40 independent experts and groups who investigate issues relating to civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights or monitor the situation in specific countries.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said: “The Council is a momentous achievement, but the hard work is just beginning. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but it also holds many opportunities. As they take up the solemn responsibility of reshaping the international human rights framework, I urge all Members to put aside narrow considerations and act in the interest of all the people whose rights they hold in trust.”
An Improved FrameworkThe resolution establishing the Human Rights Council provides the framework for a significant improvement in the work of promoting and protecting human rights worldwide: · A “universal periodic review” will ensure that all 191 Member States of the United Nations, starting with the members of the Council itself, will have their records examined in order to improve human rights conditions worldwide. All states must be held accountable for their shortcomings.· The Council will hold more meetings throughout the year and for longer total duration than the Commission. It will also have a simplified and more efficient mechanism to convene special sessions to respond promptly to human rights crises. · As the Council is elected directly by the General Assembly, the new body reflects the high level of importance given to human rights as something belonging to all people and, alongside development and security, one of the three pillars of the United Nations. · Any Council member who commits gross and systematic violations of human rights can have their rights of membership suspended by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. · The first election of members to the Council on 9 May was the first indication that the new Council was not “business as usual”. Countries competed for seats in an open and fair election and, for the first time ever, candidates put forward voluntary pledges and comments to promote and uphold human rights to which they will be held accountable. The Human Rights Council session will be webcast live from 19-22 June at www.un.org/webcastFor further information on the Human Rights Council session, including agenda, list of Council Members and other background materials, please visit: www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/ For media enquiries, please contact:Renata Sivacolundhu, Information Officer, UN Department of Public Information, tel. +41 22 917 1905 Rolando Gomez, Information Officer, UN Information Service at Geneva, tel. +41 22 917 2326 mobile: +41 79 477 0880For use of the information media; not an official recordHRC06001E