الملاحظات الافتتاحية التي أدلى بها بكر والي ندياي، مدير شعبة مجلس حقوق الإنسان والإجراءات الخاصة في المفوضية السامية لحقوق الإنسان

Second session or the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace

Geneva, 30 June 2014

Chairperson-designate,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with pleasure that I declare open the second session of the open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace. I welcome the opportunity to address you today at the start of this session on this important matter.

Every single day, situations of armed conflict and violence continue to having an impact on the lives of millions of people throughout the world. Since the first session of this Intergovernmental Working Group innocent civilians continued to suffer gravely from the consequences of war. Millions have been forced to move from their homes, and face insecurity, sexual and gender based violence, discrimination, starvation and death. It is therefore of paramount relevance to continue our work to establish peace in our world, and in our time. In the face of current serious situations in all continents of the world, it is more necessary than ever to insist on guaranteeing the enjoyment of peace for every individual. The realization of peace itself lies at the very heart of the principles and purposes of the United Nations, which in Article 1 of its Charter proclaims permanent and widespread peace as its ultimate goal.

International disputes should be settled by peaceful means, through dialogue and international cooperation, as is stated in Article 2 of the same Charter.

To affirm its commitment to these principles, in 1981, the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 36/67 established the International Day of Peace, which is observed annually around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. This year we will mark the 30th anniversary of the General Assembly Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace, which offers a unique opportunity to reaffirm the United Nations’ commitment to the promotion of peace as a prerequisite for the full enjoyment of all human rights.

Many international and regional human rights instruments have recognized in different ways the prominent role of peace in the fulfilment of the fundamental rights of every person and the impact of respect of human rights for the creation of a peaceful society, such as the Preambles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or the African Charter, in its Article 23(1), to name just a few.

Respect for human rights is often more critical in times of conflict and in the absence of peace. Many of the worst human rights violations, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, occur in situations of armed conflict and other forms of violent situations. In 2005, the General Assembly in its Outcome Document recognized that peace and human rights are complementary and mutually reinforcing.

The open-ended intergovernmental working group on the Draft United Nations Declaration on the Right to Peace was established by the Human Rights Council pursuant to its resolution 20/15, adopted in July 2012.  It is given the mandate of “Progressively negotiating a draft declaration on the right to peace, on the basis of the draft submitted by the Advisory Committee and without prejudging relevant past, present and future views and proposals.

I am aware that there were and still are divergent views in this room about and around the right to peace. As a result of your deliberations during the first session of this Working Group, the Human Rights Council last June, in its resolution 23/16, requested the Chairpersons-Rapporteur, H.E. Christian Guillermet Fernandez, to prepare a new text on the basis of previous discussions and inter-sessional informal consultations. Many efforts have been made in the past few months by the Chairperson-Rapporteur to actively engage with states, civil society and academia, while trying to find a way to reconcile the strong opinions and different views that exist with regard to the right to peace.

For this, I wish to express my gratitude to the Chairperson-Rapporteur, as well as to all actors and stakeholders who constructively took part in these consultations.

In his letter to the Working Group, the Chairperson-Rapporteur identified a number of points of concurrence, which I trust will guide you during your deliberations and will help bridge the divergence of views on this important issue.
Our Office, as before, continues to stand ready to provide help and assistance in your endeavours.

With this, I wish you a fruitful, and peaceful session and thank you for your participation, for your commitment and for your active engagement in the process.