United Nations: Third Committee - Dialogue with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Dialogue with Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris.

Thank you Chair, and thank you for the presentation this morning. We welcome the opportunity to engage with the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, and hear updates on the work of the Office of the High Commissioner.

Aotearoa New Zealand calls on all States to promote a safe and enabling environment for civil society, both online and offline, at home and internationally.

Human rights are essential to peace, security and prosperity in all countries, and human rights defenders should be able to operate in a safe and open environment, free from coercion, threats of violence and intimidation.

We acknowledge the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that disproportionately impact human rights defenders who are women, have disabilities, are indigenous, LGBTQI+ or have other marginalised identities. We must work together to protect the most vulnerable.

The Office of the High Commissioner plays an essential role in the UN’s international human rights architecture, including by drawing attention to violations of human rights. It provides much-needed capacity-building and technical assistance to countries seeking to fulfil their international human rights obligations.

We urge all member states to cooperate with the UN and support its work to condemn all acts of intimidation and reprisals.

We wish to acknowledge in this forum the valuable contributions of the previous High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, to promoting and protecting universal human rights. We look forward to working with the incoming High Commissioner, Mr Volker Türk, and encourage him to take forward this important work.

Aotearoa New Zealand will continue to fully support the Office of the High Commissioner’s work programme, including to make progress on the shared goals of the Call to Action on Human Rights and Our Common Agenda.

Thank you.