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Human Rights Council Concludes General Debate on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
11 October 2023
11 October 2023
The Human Rights Council this morning concluded the general debate under agenda item 10 on technical assistance and capacity building.
The Council yesterday heard the presentation of reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Georgia, Cambodia and Yemen and then started the general debate on technical assistance and capacity building, and a summary can be found here.
In the general debate, some speakers said they strongly supported the vital role of technical cooperation and welcomed the many countries that had seen its long-term benefits. Speakers were appreciative of the critical role that technical assistance and capacity building played in the advancement and realisation of human rights on a global scale. These initiatives embodied the principles of cooperation, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, which were essential in addressing the complex human rights challenges faced by States today. Technical assistance could empower States and individuals to build self-reliance and resilience in safeguarding human rights.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was thanked for its active engagement with all stakeholders in carrying out its technical cooperation and capacity building mandate. Some speakers acknowledged the invaluable support received in their own countries toward advancing human rights, and thanked the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for its continuous support. Some speakers said technical assistance had been instrumental in establishing their national mechanisms for implementation and reporting, while others noted that technical assistance had played a vital role in constitutional and legal reforms and facilitated the training and empowerment of law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and civil society organizations.
Some speakers said the Office of the High Commissioner had the responsibility to provide technical assistance and to build and strengthen the human rights capacities of States, in accordance with their priorities and needs. More than ever, this needed to be based on the principles of neutrality, objectivity, constructive dialogue, genuine partnership and close coordination with the States concerned.
Technical assistance should be in line with the needs of States; it was not something which should be imposed. Mandate holders needed to respect their mandates, and all interference in the domestic affairs of States should be avoided. Only respectful dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation could contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Some speakers said it was regretful that some countries continued to misuse the issue of technical assistance and exploited it to address issues which were not related to the Council's mandate. The use of technical assistance as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign States discredited the Council and undermined international efforts to ensure human rights. Unfortunately, the agenda item continued to be used to single out developing countries, one speaker said; this selective and discriminatory practice needed to stop. The sanctity of agenda item 10 should be maintained, and its politicisation needed to be avoided.
A number of speakers were concerned that the human rights situation in Yemen remained dire. Some speakers said they supported the assistance provided by the Office but, in its current form, the mandate was not sufficient to address the severe human rights crisis in Yemen. The Yemeni people had been through almost nine devastating years of conflict, and grave violations of human rights continued. All parties to the conflict needed to work together towards just, inclusive and sustainable peace for the people of Yemen. The Arab Group’s resolution providing technical assistance to Yemen was welcomed. The international community needed to continue to contribute to Yemen to alleviate the situation in the country, given the serious repercussions of the conflict, especially in relation to food shortages, health needs and social services for its population.
Some speakers said they recognised Cambodia's great strides and the Government's strong commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights. They also recognised the progress made in establishing a National Human Rights Institution in accordance with the Paris Principles, in addition to the implementation of various social assistance schemes for impoverished households and vulnerable groups. It was necessary to continue to pay special attention to the requirements of developing countries, especially least developed countries, and to take the necessary steps to facilitate the solidarity, cooperation and technical assistance they required.
A number of speakers also highlighted the stark human rights situation in the occupied territories of Georgia, saying the right to life remained a severe challenge. Concerning developments had also been recorded regarding civic space, and the conviction of peaceful protesters. Georgia needed to ensure a safe environment for human rights defenders and civil society. One speaker underlined that the Russian Federation, which maintained effective political, economic and military control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, was ultimately responsible for human rights violations committed in those territories. The international community needed to use all possible international formats to ensure that the Russian Federation allowed full and unrestricted access of international monitors to the occupied territories of Georgia.
Some speakers said it was important to recognise the continuing need for technical assistance and capacity building, particularly in the face of evolving human rights challenges and emerging threats. The COVID-19 pandemic had underscored the importance of adapting capacity building efforts to address new and complex issues such as the right to health, access to information, and digital rights. The international community needed to challenge States with egregious human rights situations, but also support States that were cooperating with the United Nations and looking for assistance in meeting their human rights obligations. Speakers stressed the need for all parties and donors to continue their support for the United Nations human rights mechanisms, in particular the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to strengthen the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance.
Speaking in the discussion were Maldives, United Kingdom, Morocco, Cuba, Algeria, Gambia, India, Benin, European Union on behalf of a group of countries, Sudan, Pakistan, France on behalf of a group of countries, Mozambique on behalf of a group of countries, Iraq, Bahrain, Netherlands, Libya, Jordan, Kuwait, Colombia, Egypt, Latvia, Thailand, Russian Federation, Burkina Faso, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Estonia, Venezuela, Philippines, Mauritius, Iran, Bulgaria, Sweden, Vanuatu, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Angola and Ethiopia.
Also speaking were Georgia Public Defender’s Office, as well as the following non-governmental organizations: Baha'i International Community, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Franciscans International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights Association, Human Rights Information and Training Centre, CIVICUS - World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation, Human Rights Research League, Maloca Internationale, Union of Northwest Human Rights Organization, International Support For Human Rights, Human Rights House Foundation, Asociacion HazteOir.org, Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue, Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan, International Career Support Association, Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Integrated Youth Empowerment - Common Initiative Group, Prahar, Association Miman, Interfaith International, World Barua Organization, Institute for Human Rights, Elizka Relief Foundation, Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety, and Tripla Difesa Onlus Guardie - Sicurezza Sociale e Ecozoofila.
Speaking in right of reply at the end of the meeting were Russian Federation, Israel, Azerbaijan, State of Palestine and Armenia.
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-fourth regular session can be found here.
The Council will reconvene at 3 p.m. this afternoon to start taking action on draft resolutions and decisions before it closes its fifty-fourth session on Friday, 13 October.
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