Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order to the Human Rights Council: It Is Crucial To Empower Young People to Facilitate their Participation

AFTERNOON 18 September 2023

Council Concludes Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery

The Human Rights Council this afternoon held an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order. The Council also concluded an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences.

Livingstone Sewanyana, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, presenting his sixth and last thematic report on youth participation and engagement in intergovernmental bodies, said the report acknowledged the important role young people could play in intergovernmental forums, based on a review of the United Nations system's efforts to promote youth participation through various programmes and global conferences. It sought to identify opportunities for the inclusion of young people from the Global South, as well as those from marginalised communities.

Youth participation in global governance was hindered by age limitations and ageism, Mr. Sewanyana said. The political marginalisation of young people was also a major obstacle, which resulted in a lack of representation and risked silencing the voices of many young people across the globe. It was crucial that Member States and international organizations actively engaged to empower young people in facilitating their participation and designing targeted policies, strategies and channels. Involving youth in decision-making processes enabled them to demand accountability and concrete actions from their governments to address global issues, and directly impacted young populations. Providing resources, namely financial and technological resources, to support youth-led projects, and amplifying their voice was crucial to achieving these goals.

The Independent Expert spoke of his visit to Georgia, and Georgia spoke as a country concerned.

In the discussion, some speakers said the increased participation of young people would allow them to contribute to making major decisions and their implementation, whilst bringing out a long-term vision that was of great importance for all young people alive today. A fairer, more prosperous world that rested on human rights was within grasp. Enabling youth to actively partake in international decision-making was not only a moral obligation but a strategic imperative to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Empowering youth could help determine solutions to global challenges, such as climate change. A democratic and equitable international order was essential to the protection and promotion of human rights. States should train and mentor young people to effectively engage in international forums and decision-making processes.

Speaking in the discussion were Côte d'Ivoire on behalf of the African Group, Luxembourg, Egypt, Iraq, China, Malawi, Malaysia, Armenia, Russian Federation, Bangladesh, Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, Panama, Tunisia, Algeria, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, India, Bolivia, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Eritrea and Iran.

Also speaking were Southeast Asia Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Caucus (ASC), Inc., United Nations Association of China, Integrated Youth Empowerment - Common Initiative Group (I.Y.E. – C.I.G.), Instituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice delle Salesiane di Don Bosco, Associazione Comunita Papa Giovanni XXIII, iuventum e.V., International Bar Association, Shimin Gaikou Centre (Citizens' Diplomatic Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), India Water Foundation, and International Institution for Peace and Development.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Council concluded its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences.

Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, its causes and consequences, in concluding remarks, said a coordinated approach was crucial in fighting the nexus between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery. States should create safe and legal passages for migrant workers and displaced populations. Mr. Obokata encouraged independent research by academic experts. More proactive awareness raising and training among service providers was also needed to tackle the link between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery. He concluded by stating that the linkages between homelessness and contemporary slavery were undeniable, and this needed to be addressed by States.

In the discussion, speakers said the report illustrated the amount of the work remaining to be done, 67 years after the signature of the Supplementary Convention on the abolition of slavery. It was of concern to many speakers that criminals, including criminal gangs, were actively recruiting homeless persons to integrate them into contemporary forms of slavery. Homeless persons should be given access to the formal economy, including through financial incentives to enterprises, and the creation of labour initiatives in decent circumstances of employment. The international community must do more to advance and ensure the human rights of those vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery. It was important to coordinate efforts in order to combat this phenomenon. Combatting slavery in all forms meant fully ensuring all economic, social and cultural rights, in order to ensure all individuals could emerge from extreme poverty and achieve independence.

Speaking in the discussion were Sovereign Order of Malta, Ecuador, Egypt, Luxembourg, Japan, United States of America, Israel, France, Germany, Iraq, Belgium, China, Malawi, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Cameroon, Australia, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Panama, Tunisia, Algeria, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, Senegal, Mauritius, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and India.

Also speaking were Anti-Slavery International, Edmund Rice International Limited, Humanists International, International Lesbian and Gay Association, Réseau Unité pour le Développement de Mauritanie, Union of Arab Jurists, China Society for Human Rights Studies, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Associazione Comunita Papa Giovanni XXIII, and Integrated Youth Empowerment - Common Initiative Group.

Speaking in exercise of right of reply were India, Azerbaijan, Japan, Indonesia and Tunisia.

The webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Council’s fifty-third regular session can be found here.

The next meeting of the Council will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 19 September, when it is scheduled to hold an interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes.

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Including its Causes and Consequences

The interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, started in the previous meeting, and a summary can be found here.

Discussion

Some speakers said the report illustrated the amount of work remaining to be done, 67 years after the signature in Geneva in September 1956 of the Supplementary Convention on the abolition of slavery. It was of concern to many speakers that criminals, including criminal gangs, were actively recruiting homeless persons to integrate them into contemporary forms of slavery. Homeless persons should be given access to the formal economy, including through financial incentives to enterprises, and the creation of labour initiatives in decent circumstances of employment. Providing greater security and education would help to resolve the threat to homeless persons.

People subject to homelessness were at increasing risk of exploitation, including sexual exploitation. Homelessness was in as of itself a violation of human rights, a speaker said. Children and young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons, as well as women and migrant groups were in particular danger of human rights violations. States should put in place a holistic approach, including personal and particular circumstances in order to combat homelessness. The international community must do more to advance and ensure the human rights of those vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery.

As the report pointed out, discrimination could hinder access to essential services and decent work for persons experiencing homelessness. Access to housing was a fundamental right, and in providing it, there should be a focus on the fight against discrimination on the housing market, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, such as single mothers, minors and young adults. The international community should pay particular attention to children living on the street, who required additional support and care.

All countries should respect universal values such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law, although methods to ensure this in the cultural context could differ. The efforts of the Special Rapporteur to ensure the improvement of the situation were appreciated: the recommendations for civil society and for business at the end of the report were particularly of note. It was important to coordinate efforts in order to combat this phenomenon. The role of civil society could be important in bridging the gaps and supporting governmental initiatives. It was vital to uphold socio-economic development and strengthen international cooperation in all efforts.

It was important to accelerate solutions provided to asylum seekers and refugees, so that they could engage in decent work and stay away from homelessness. It was also important to support social organizations that worked in the field and engaged in advocacy. The negative impact on the future must be negated through social care programmes, decent housing, and social support.

Among questions posed by speakers were: how could the recommendations of the report be implemented in enterprises to ensure that homeless persons had access to safe and secure forms of employment; what were examples of best practices in adopting a holistic approach to reducing cases of homelessness; how could Governments and civil society work together to protect population groups vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery; how to better identify and combat the recruitment mechanisms used by those culpable of enslavement; what were best practices in combatting homelessness and increasing the resistance of homeless persons to contemporary forms of slavery; and in the context of equal opportunities for decent work and collaborating with business and employers, could the Special Rapporteur provide further recommendations on the role of businesses and civil society actors.

Intermediary Remarks

TOMOYA OBOKATA, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, thanked the Governments of Mauritania and Costa Rica for extending invitations to his mandate, and their willingness to engage. He encouraged all Member States to continue their efforts to eradicate homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery. The shortcomings of labour inspections were an ongoing issue. To address these, sufficient resources needed to be dedicated to the Ministry of Labour; a complaints mechanism needed to be developed; and a close relationship needed to be fostered with civil society.

Mr. Obokata encouraged States to collect data on persons experiencing homelessness who were exploited. An example of good practice was seen in the United States where a document was released each year focusing on recent trends, risk factors and assistance factors on homelessness in the country. In many countries, governments already worked closely with civil society to address issues of homelessness, and they were encouraged to provide further support to these organizations, which were often under resourced. Mr. Obokata agreed that access to affordable housing in the short term was crucial, but in the long term, factors such as poverty and discrimination needed to be addressed. It was important to have a broad understanding of homelessness, including about those in temporary care arrangements. Investment in social housing was crucial. Businesses had a huge role to play; Mr. Obokata urged businesses to consider investing in and working with people experiencing homelessness. States needed to work closely with different stakeholders for a multi-sectoral approach.

Discussion

Some speakers said the social and economic conditions of the homeless could be effectively addressed through strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration, promoting engagement through a whole-of-society approach, ensuring adequate resources, and enhancing capacity sharing among stakeholders. Speakers agreed with the Special Rapporteur’s views on the important role of non-governmental organizations and charity organizations in addressing this matter. Displaced persons, refugees and asylum seekers inevitably experienced homelessness until they had access to a durable alternative and an adequate housing solution. The plight of these vulnerable groups was further exacerbated due to the compounding effects of armed conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several speakers agreed that homelessness increased the risk of falling victim to modern forms of slavery, and largely supported the suggested remedies in the report. The issue of homeless children was of particular concern. The issue of upholding and protecting the right to decent housing was an important facet of the issue, particularly at the national level. Poverty placed individuals in a position where they became the preferred victims of traffickers and other slavers. Combatting slavery in all forms meant fully ensuring all economic, social and cultural rights, in order to ensure all individuals could emerge from extreme poverty and achieve independence.

A speaker urged international organizations working in the area of homelessness to each work in their own niche and not duplicate each other’s work. The recommendations in the report showed how important it was for States to pull together to combat the scourge of slavery and homelessness across the entire world. Extreme poverty and inequality were, one speaker said, due to the unjust international order, and the Special Rapporteur should study these issues in depth.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in temporary accommodations were particularly vulnerable, as they could easily be targeted by criminals and others for exploitation, especially sexual and labour exploitation. There was also concern for the labour exploitation taking place in various parts of the world as the lack of legal migration channels forced vulnerable communities to adopt desperate measures. The pushback by several countries of the Global North against asylum seekers had resulted in several incidents of widespread human rights violations. Similarly, the increasing prevalence of xenophobia, racism and racial discrimination had greatly accentuated scapegoating of migrant workers and refugees in many of these countries. Such States should review and revise laws, policies and administrative measures to bring them in full compliance with their international obligations and commitments and take measures to protect the economic, social and cultural rights of these vulnerable groups.

Among questions raised was: how to encourage more non-governmental organizations and the private sector to pursue programmes that could help the homeless to reintegrate into society and prevent them from becoming victims of slavery, trafficking or other crime syndicates; how could countries with immense populations combined with geographical and economic challenges better utilise the financial and digital inclusion strategy stipulated in the Special Rapporteur’s report; how could States best raise public awareness of the risks of modern slavery for those experiencing homelessness; and what more could be done to raise awareness and enhance understanding of the linkages between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery.

Concluding Remarks

TOMOYA OBOKATA, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, in concluding remarks, thanked Member States for sharing their best practices. A coordinated approach was crucial in fighting the nexus between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery. Providing incentives to housing providers could be a good starting point. An example of good practice could be seen in national banks providing bank accounts to homeless people, which happened in certain parts of the world, including Europe. States should create safe and legal passages for migrant workers and displaced populations. Mr. Obokata encouraged independent research by academic experts. More proactive awareness raising and training among service providers was also needed to tackle the link between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery. Sufficient training on this subject needed to be provided to childcare providers and in care settings.

Mr. Obokata thanked Côte d'Ivoire for inviting him on an official visit later in the year, where he looked forward to meeting with Government and civil society officials. Mr. Obokata thanked civil society organizations for raising country-specific issues; he stood ready to assist them. He concluded by stating that the linkages between homelessness and contemporary slavery were undeniable, and this needed to be addressed by States. Data was a good starting point, and it was also vital to listen to those experiencing homelessness.

Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order

Reports

The Council has before it the report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order on youth participation and engagement in intergovernmental bodies: challenges and opportunities (A/HRC/54/28) and an addendum on his visit to Georgia (A/HRC/54/28/Add.1)

Presentation of Reports

LIVINGSTONE SEWANYANA, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, presenting his sixth and last thematic report on youth participation and engagement in intergovernmental bodies, said the report acknowledged the important role young people could play in intergovernmental forums, based on a review of the United Nations system's efforts to promote youth participation through various programmes and global conferences. It sought to identify opportunities for the inclusion of young people from the Global South, as well as those from marginalised communities. Youth engagement at the global level implied the unhindered exercise of the right to public participation in public affairs and was a core aspect of advancing democracy. It offered the opportunity to formulate policies specifically aimed at shaping their future globally.

The concerns and efforts of the United Nations in involving young people in its work, and in addressing national and global challenges that intersected with the needs and concerns of young people, required that the difficulties and challenges faced by young people all over the world be overcome, so that they could participate effectively in influencing the international decision-making process.

Youth participation in global governance was hindered by age limitations and ageism. Political marginalisation of young people was also a major obstacle, which resulted in a lack of representation and risked silencing the voices of many young people across the globe. It was crucial that Member States and international organizations actively engaged to empower young people in facilitating their participation and designing targeted policies, strategies and channels. Involving youth in decision-making processes enabled them to demand accountability and concrete actions from their governments to address global issues, and directly impacted young populations. Providing resources, namely financial and technological resources to support youth-led projects, and amplifying their voice was crucial to achieving these goals.

On his country visit to Georgia, the Independent Expert said the country had made notable progress in maintaining peace within the country despite its recent history of armed conflict. Such progress had been demonstrated through the adoption of different instruments, such as policies and strategies outlining its commitments arising from its international and regional human rights obligations. Despite the challenges encountered in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, the Government of Georgia had formulated sound reconciliation and engagement policies for the two areas, which entered into force in 2010. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur called on the Government to further protect the rights and freedoms of the population living in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali/ South Ossetia region, namely with regard to their living conditions, and to guarantee a democratic space encouraging debates and actions toward the increased involvement of alternative voices in decision-making processes.

Concluding, the Independent Expert said his tenure was marked by considerable global challenges which had endangered the realisation of a democratic and equitable international order. At a time of significant turmoil, marked primarily by a continuously highly volatile international peace and security situation and a post-pandemic recovery and preparation for the next pandemic, this mandate was more relevant than ever. He regretted the geopolitical divide which had characterised the disengagement of some Member States from the mandate since its inception. He was convinced that this mandate could and should make a determinant and lasting contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, should all stakeholders genuinely engage with it.

Statement by Country Concerned

Georgia, speaking as a country concerned, welcomed the Independent Expert and took note of the follow-up report. Georgia attached great importance to close cooperation with Special Procedures. Georgia appreciated that the Expert had visited the occupation line and seen first-hand what was happening there. The Russian Federation was the State exercising control in areas of Georgia and was responsible for the grave humanitarian situation on the ground. Georgia fully agreed with the Special Rapporteur that human rights monitoring on the ground could help prevent human rights atrocities. It must be underlined that the Russian Federation had blocked the access of the European monitoring mechanism, which was the only mechanism on the ground to monitor the 2012 ceasefire agreement.

As of today, close to 300,000 internally displaced persons were registered in Georgia and more than half a million had been expelled from the Russian controlled territories, due to ethnic cleansing carried out by the Russian Federation. Until these refugees could return to their homes, the Government of Georgia had made significant efforts to provide them with suitable living conditions. They were provided with small business grants and with qualifications and training programmes. At least 40 per cent of the beneficiaries of these programmes were women. Despite efforts, the Russian Federation’s actions in the occupied territories continued to affect the lives of people living there, causing mass displacement. There was urgent need for national and international monitoring mechanisms to access both occupied regions of Georgia.

Discussion

In the discussion, some speakers said the increased participation of young people would allow them to contribute to making major decisions and their implementation, whilst bringing out a long-term vision that was of great importance for all young people alive today. A fairer, more prosperous world that rested on human rights was within grasp. Young people had the right to be heard when policies concerning them were drafted, and it was important to strengthen this role, as well as in regional and international affairs.

Young peoples’ participation in international organizations was disparate, and the participation of those from the South was lower than from the North - this disparity needed to be studied to determine the causes. Enabling youth to actively partake in international decision-making was not only a moral obligation but a strategic imperative to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Empowering youth could help determine solutions to global challenges, such as climate change.

A speaker said a democratic and equitable international order was essential to the protection and promotion of human rights. All parties should ensure multilateralism, and develop the international system through resisting unilateral sanctions, and avoiding the instrumentalization of human rights issues, ensuring a harmonious future for all mankind. Youth had the energy to drive social change and human progress, as long as all were united around the common values of all mankind that were democracy, peace, justice and freedom: their common strivings would result in a shared future of mutual respect and learning, with health and education for all.

The recommendations of the report deserved substantive study. States should train and mentor young people to effectively engage in international forums and decision-making processes. It was through the nurturing of these competencies that their contributions would be impactful and influential on the global stage.

United Nations Security Council resolution 2250 identified the important and positive contribution of youth in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Today’s generation of youth was the largest the world had ever known and young people often formed the majority of the population of countries affected by armed conflict.

There was grave concern that State induced hatred and radicalisation of youth could often derail peacebuilding efforts and foment conflicts. Resolution 2250 called upon Member States to comply with their respective obligations to end impunity, and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other egregious crimes perpetrated against civilians, including youth. This was an important indicator of checking the determination of States in preparing their populations, including youth working on genuine peace and reconciliation.

Recent years had, a speaker said, shown the efforts of various States to undermine the fundamental principles of human rights in international law and reshape them to geopolitical interests, which undermined international law and the United Nations Charter: unacceptable practices included the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, a political action which undermined human rights and core freedoms, and undermining the efforts of States to resolve crisis situations. Global experience had shown that the use of unilateral coercive measures for political ends only had negative results, and the Experts should study these trends to a greater extent. There should be, another speaker said, an immediate lifting of all unilateral coercive measures, which were a grave impediment to achieving a just and fair international order.

Among questions posed by speakers were: what best practices existed to encourage a culture of volunteering and interest in human rights organizations which involved youth; how could governments promote youth participation in decision-making and public service delivery through harnessing digital technologies; what were best practices that small island developing States could use to enhance and improve youth participation in international governing bodies; and how could the Council itself ensure greater and better participation within fora, in particular youth from the Global South.

Concluding Remarks

LIVINGSTONE SEWANYANA, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, in concluding remarks, thanked all those who had intervened and the delegation of Georgia. The Independent Expert noted the progress the Georgian Government had made and welcomed its efforts. The Russian Government was welcomed to engage positively with the Georgian Government and adhere to the 2008 cease-fire agreement. Youth participation was a very important topic; youth were key players in the development agenda. Involving them in decision-making processes themselves was a positive approach towards international order. Through the interventions made, good practices could be introduced to promote youth in decision making. This included mentorships, internships and recognising youth at policy and legislative levels. The United Nations should make this one of its agenda items, and take note of best practices across the world for the Sustainable Development Goals summit.

The representation of youth in the Global South required urgent attention. Deliberate and purposeful action should be taken to ensure youth, particularly those in rural areas, had access to the internet and resources, to ensure youth were empowered to be part and parcel of the development agenda. The Russian Federation had called for a study of negative trends. As United Nations Member States, all needed to adhere to the United Nations Charter, which called for multilateralism and was the best means of promoting a democratic order. Imposing sanctions on countries caused significant harm to citizens, including those in Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Zimbabwe. It was important to act in the spirit of multilateralism and deal with the issues those countries were facing. Mr. Sewanyana urged his successor to undertake this study.

Mr. Sewanyana thanked Member States which had engaged with the mandate during the past six years, specifically Cuba which had been the sponsor of the mandate. He reiterated the importance of the mandate, and believed it was most relevant if the world was going to move forward. There were many global issues, including extremism, conflict, poverty and climate change. Member States were invited to consider the importance of engaging with the mandate, to come up with solutions to these challenges. Member States should ensure the implementation of the resolutions they took. Mr. Sewanyana thanked all the countries he had visited and engaged with throughout his mandate.