Mr. President,
Cuba has the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Like-Minded Group of countries. The list of 24 co-sponsors will be posted on the Extranet.
The current international crisis, the unjust and undemocratic international order and the irrational and unsustainable patterns of production and consumption perpetuate inequalities within and among countries, hinder efforts to achieve sustainable development and the full promotion and protection of all human rights.
We are concerned about the proliferation of hate speech, racism, religious intolerance, discriminatory policies against migrants and the application of unilateral coercive measures.
We emphasize that unilateral coercive measures have negative and devastating impacts on the realization of human rights, including the right to development.
We further denounce and reject the drawing up and publication of arbitrary and unilateral lists accusing States of allegedly sponsoring terrorism or violating freedom of religion. These lists are contrary to international law and principles of the UN Charter.
Mr. President,
We are strongly of the view that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that the HRC should be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, and constructive international dialogue and cooperation to enhance the promotion and protection of all human rights, including the right to development, in a fair and equal manner.
Now, more than ever before, there is need for the Council to ensure balance in its work by giving due attention to the effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
In accordance with HRC resolution 5/1 and GA resolution 60/251, the methods of the Council should be transparent, fair, impartial, enable genuine dialogue and be results-oriented. The human rights agenda must be pursued with due respect for the principles of UN Charter such as national sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs of States.
In our view, proliferation of country-specific man-dates that do not enjoy the support of the States concerned does not lead to improvement in the human rights situation on the ground. Efforts must be made to build consensus, constructive dialogue and cooperation on vital issues of universal concern within the Council.
I thank you.
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List of countries that supported the above statement is as under:
- Singapore
- Egypt
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- Myanmar
- Eritrea
- Burundi
- Ethiopia
- Russian Federation
- Bolivia
- Pakistan
- Indonesia
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- China
- Laos
- Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Belarus
- Malaysia
- Equatorial Guinea
- Nepal
- Zimbabwe
- Sri Lanka
- Nicaragua
- Cuba