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COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONTINUES HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT
16 March 2004
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16 March 2004
Commission on Human Rights
MIDDAY 16 March 2004
Issues Concerning Violence against Women, National Human Rights Policies
and the Problem of Statelessness Raised by Speakers
The Commission on Human Rights continued with its high-level segment today, hearing from senior Government officials from the Philippines, Albania, Cape Verde, Iraq, South Africa, Luxembourg and Australia as well as the High Commissioner for Refugees.
Speakers focused on issues concerning violence against women and national human rights policies. Ruud Lubbers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, urged the Commission to focus specific attention on the problem of statelessness and disputed citizenship.
Delia Domingo Albert, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said trafficking in women was a global scourge - a transnational criminal activity that directly violated the human rights of women. It was time to consider appointing a Special Rapporteur on trafficking in women and girls to ensure continued monitoring of this issue. Echoing her concern was Fatima Veiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of Cape Verde, who said violence against women affected all citizens of the global village. There was a growing awareness that violence against women was a grave violation of human rights that required a firm, permanent and articulate response.
Continuing on the issue of violence against women, Brigitte Mabandla, Minister of Housing of South Africa, said the scourge of poverty and ignorance increased the risk of violence against women. Therefore, improving the living conditions of people contributed significantly towards reducing the risk of violence against women. Lydie Polfer, the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxemburg, said the fundamental rights of millions of women continued to be ignored, in flagrant contradiction of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination. If the rights of the human person were truly universal and indivisible, they should be defended everywhere with the same level of determination
Referring to national policies on human rights, Kastriot Islami, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania, said that concerning the universal character of human rights values and norms, Albania supported the efforts to raise the awareness of the international community with regard to protection and respect of human rights, which were a clear indicator of stability in a democratic society.
Abdul Basit T. Sa’eed, the Minister of Human Rights of Iraq, said that today, the Iraqi individual had a chance for the first time to express freedom and liberty. But most Iraqis unfortunately were not able to understand this, due to the circumstances under which they were living before. Some misused this concept of freedom, and turned it into disorder and abuse of law and order in the country. Freedom was an important issue of practical democracy, and any misuse of this right would definitely affect democracy.
Christine Gallus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, said Australia considered good governance to be the foundation of a free and secure society. When governance broke down, law and order declined, institutions became dysfunctional, economic activity was impeded and people suffered. Under such circumstances basic human rights were bound to disappear.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said that in this world of sovereign States, there was another group of people with no Government of their own to speak out on their behalf, or to defend their rights: those who were stateless or whose citizenship was disputed. While a number of positive measures had been taken by States to address this problem, these measures were not consistent, and gaps remained which continued to make it difficult to resolve some of these cases. The Commission should therefore focus specific attention on the problem of statelessness and disputed citizenship.
After the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. midday meeting, the Commission immediately resumed its meeting at 3 p.m. to continue with its high-level segment.
Statements
DELIA DOMINGO ALBERT, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said that in the era of globalization, where individualism and selfishness sometimes dominated lives, and where the sense of morality was often compromised by a disturbing attitude of practical relativism, the promotion of human rights became an important means for affirming the value of human dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights continued to be the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. Human rights were basic and fundamental to the existence and continued posterity of humankind. No Government could claim to be democratic unless it fully respected human rights and fundamental freedoms.
All forms of violence against women were condemned, as the enjoyment of basic human rights included a life free from violence. Women were entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development. Trafficking in women was a global scourge- a transnational criminal activity that directly violated the human rights of women.
Human rights goals could only be achieved through concerted and coherent action involving Governments, NGOs, civil society, religious bodies, as well as traditional and informal authorities. International cooperation was also paramount. It was therefore critical to mainstream women’s human rights by integrating gender concerns into the overall agenda of the Commission. Governments were also urged to provide female migrant workers, who were victims of violence and exploitation, with the full range of immediate assistance, and likewise safeguard and establish reintegration and rehabilitation schemes for returning women migrant workers. It was time to consider appointing a Special Rapporteur on trafficking in women and girls to ensure continued monitoring on this issue.
KASTRIOT ISLAMI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania, said that concerning the universal character of human rights values and norms, Albania supported the efforts to raise the awareness of the international community with regard to protection and respect of human rights, which were a clear indicator of stability in a democratic society. It was believed that political stability, economic and social development, consolidation of security and protection and respect of human rights were in the center of the vision of the Western Balkans region. Leaving aside the serious violations of human rights related to inter-ethnic conflicts, which had been encountered often in the region in the past, it was now time that the countries, through strengthening the protection and respect of human rights, human dignity and values, democracy, tolerance and understanding, should cooperate with each other to promote economic, social and cultural progress, in order to achieve the progressive levels of European living standards.
Experience had shown the necessity of further development of the international legal instruments, monitoring mechanisms and other adopted measures in this field, aiming towards the increase of their efficiency for protection and respect of human rights. It was believed that the revitalization of these mechanisms, consolidation of democracy, implementation of international standards for human rights, enhancement of the role of the international community regarding education in human rights culture, as well as the establishment of a constructive dialogue among countries for the broad spectrum of the problems of the agenda of human rights would not only promote improvement of human rights standards internationally, but would also strengthen global peace, democracy and security.
FATIMA VEIGA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of Cape Verde, said violence against women affected all citizens of the global village. There was a growing awareness that the violence against women was a grave violation of human rights, that required a firm, permanent and articulate response. However, silence around this problem, which affected a third of women in the world still existed, and in order to break it and fight it effectively, more remained to be done. Consultation at all levels needed to be privileged, while resources should be mobilized and synergies promoted between the mechanisms whose role was to promote human rights and in particular those of women.
There had been very few studies undertaken in Africa on violence against women, and culture, tradition and religion were often given to justify, reproduce and perenniate behaviour that harmed women, both physically, sexually and psychologically, and this, although there were judicial and constitutional instruments that were both national and supra-national that established non-discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion, ethnicity or any other criteria.
In developing countries, and sometimes even in developed countries, one of the problems often faced with regard to violence against women was the lack of statistical information treated by gender, which made it difficult to measure the real extent of this problem. One of the challenges that would have to be addressed was thus to remedy this situation. It was also necessary to develop institutional concertation processes, which would allow for permanent dialogue between the entities producing the information, and the institutions using them. New answers needed to be found. Further, a more solid support needed to be given to the countries and structures that were working effectively in the field of human rights. Solidarity and international cooperation needed to be demonstrated through concrete acts in favour of this cause, as human rights were at the basis of all democratic society worthy of the name.
ABDUL BASIT T. SA’EED, Minister of Human Rights of Iraq said that in the past there were no human rights in Iraq, and this was because the country had been ruled by one of the most dictating regimes in the world in modern history. It was one of the darkest periods which witnessed oppression, mass extermination and suppression. One of the aims of the past regime was to destroy the entity of man and to deprive him from free thinking and belief to the extent that the individual became a part of that dominating machine ruling over all people and their thoughts. Following the events of 9 April 2003, the Iraqi individual had a chance for the first time to express freedom and liberty, but most Iraqis unfortunately were not able to understand this, due to the circumstances under which they were living at the time. Some misused this concept of freedom, and turned it into disorder and abuse of law and order in the country. Freedom was an important issue of practical democracy, and any misuse of this right would definitely affect democracy.
Iraq had ambitious programmes regarding the implementation of certain projects, and in this regard, it needed the support of the Commission and of all good people who wished progress and prosperity to Iraq. However, there was concern that these ambitions would disappear, due to what Iraq was now facing from lack of security, daily violent activities which shook the country, causing hundreds of victims among civilians. Iraq refused all kinds of violence, but the continuation of these activities did not concern Iraqis alone, but also worried all peace-loving parties, especially the United Nations and its humanitarian organizations, which did not itself escape from these criminal acts. No political achievement could be made without stability and security, and this could only be achieved through efficient and effective institutions. The people of Iraq were determined, more than ever, to achieve their ambitions and hopes in building their new democratic Iraq, free of all sorts of foreign control. The Iraqi people looked forward to regaining their independence, and for the birth of a national government. These aims would accelerate the end of occupation, and consequently the suffering of the Iraqi people.
BRIGITTE MABANDLA, Minister of Housing of South Africa, said the price in the struggle for freedom was always very high, and the vision of both Anna Lindh and Sergio Viera de Mello should inspire the Commission towards an international political system based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The work should be guided by the principles of human dignity, equality and solidarity. The current tensions in the international political and economic systems should strengthen the collective resolve to deal with the challenges of our time in a fair and transparent manner. Together, the Commission should demonstrate political will to embrace diversity as a strength, and not as a threat.
Human rights were important, and key to the development of a free and just society. It was essential to have independent institutions that monitored national progress, towards the implementation of the commitment to human rights. With regard to the issue of violence against women and girls, it was fitting that today, female Ministers of Foreign Affairs had reaffirmed their commitment to women’s human rights by confronting violence, especially when directed at women. There was a need for a multi-pronged strategy to address violence against women. The scourge of poverty and ignorance increased the risk of violence against women. Therefore, improving the living conditions of people contributed significantly towards reducing the risk of violence against women.
Throughout the world, women carried the burden of poverty and under-development remained the victims of conflict and wars, carried the burden of heading households riddled by diseases, and were victims of contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking. The Commission should ensure effective follow-up to the call made, as there was a rare opportunity today to address these issues collectively at all levels.
LYDIE POLFER, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxemburg, said the fundamental rights of millions of women continued to be ignored, in flagrant contradiction of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination. The march towards a true equality of the sexes was confronted by subtle inequalities, rooted in daily life at work as well as at home. Violence against women could be seen at all levels of society, whether it was verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, economic or emotional. If the rights of the human person were truly universal and indivisible, they should be defended everywhere with the same level of determination. These rights transcended cultural differences. Further, domestic violence also touched the most weak, namely children, who were often victims. Throughout the world, abandoned children were victims of armed conflict, sexual abuse and labour exploitation.
For these rights, as well as for human rights in general, it was important that the engagements made at the Commission be followed up by concrete acts. Everybody agreed that the action of the Commission was not always up to the standard of expectations in public opinion. The debate on the promotion of individual freedoms was even more important in the context of a debate on the profound causes of the terrorist phenomenon. Terrorism violated human rights in a barbaric and blind manner. However, freedoms and rights should not become the indirect victims of terrorism, they should instead be reaffirmed with force since they were the original moral capital which allowed the reaction of terrorism to remain credible and efficient in the long term. There should be no giving in to those who wished to put into doubt the intercultural consensus on which was founded international mechanisms of protection of human rights. As universal values, human rights could be the creators of a union, rather than a dividing factor, bringing together all civilizations. No other institution than the Commission could symbolize the community of destiny that was proper to all humanity, and there was hope that its work would be guided by a spirit of humanism.
CHRISTINE GALLUS, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, said as a robust democracy with strong national institutions and a tradition of multicultural harmony, her country would work assiduously to ensure the Commission would live up to the high standards required of it by the peoples of the world. To achieve that, it was paramount that their joined efforts -- the efforts of all members of the Commission -- were translated into practical improvements in human rights. That would be a key measure of the success and relevance of collective efforts of the international community in the Commission, particularly for the many people around the world without basic human rights. Australia remained deeply concerned about that and considered good governance to be the foundation of a free and secure society. When governance broke down, law and order declined, institutions became dysfunctional, economic activity was impeded and people suffered. Under such circumstances basic human rights were bound to disappear.
Australia continued to be a strong advocate of national human rights institutions, which were vitally important to good governance. Effective and independent national human rights institutions had a direct impact on people's lives by translating international commitments into practical outcomes. Australia would commit a further $1.5 million to support human rights in the Asia Pacific Region. That package to the South Asia Governance Fund aimed to improve legal access in Sri Lanka and help establish a human rights commission in Bangladesh. Australia had been a major donor and supporter of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions since 1996 -- encouraging the spread of sound national human rights institutions in the region. Australia's Centre for Democratic Institutions was also working to make a difference.
Australia would work hard to achieve real human rights outcomes. It had a strong focus on strengthening good governance in its region to ensure that human rights could flourish. Now, as Australia took up the Presidency of the Commission, the country was committed to achieving practical outcome in cooperation with all members. Australia would look forward to working with all to ensure that the sixtieth session of the Commission would make a difference to the lives of women, children and men around the world.
RUUD LUBBERS, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said he had a responsibility to speak out on behalf of those who were forced to flee their countries as a result of violence and persecution. His role was to help give these people a voice and to ensure that their rights were respected. The 1951 Refugee Convention was the corner stone of the international refugee protection regime; but while it was strong in articulating the rights of refugees and the obligations of States towards them, it was weaker when it came to apportioning responsibilities among States. Holding one Sate accountable for its actions was a lot easier than trying to hold over 190 States collectively accountable. Thus, the international community had a shared interest in finding durable solutions for refugees. Over the past 50 years, however, experience had shown that international cooperation had not always been as effective as it could have been. The result was too many protracted refugee situations. The search for durable solutions should become more systematic, and should begin at the outset of each new refugee crisis. The security dimension should not be ignored; neither should the broader migration dimension be overlooked.
There was now a greater understanding than before of the important role of transitional justice strategies, both to deal with past violence and human rights abuses, as well as their recurrence. These included prosecuting perpetrators of war crimes and other human rights abuses, revealing the truth about past crimes, providing victims with reparations, vetting individuals, reforming abusive institutions and promoting reconciliation. In this world of sovereign States, there was another group of people with no Government of their own to speak out on their behalf, or to defend their rights: those who were stateless or whose citizenship was disputed. While a number of positive measures had been taken by States to address this problem, these measures were not consistent, and gaps remained which continued to make it difficult to resolve some of these cases. The Commission should therefore focus specific attention on the problem of statelessness and disputed citizenship.
* *** *
Commission on Human Rights
MIDDAY 16 March 2004
Issues Concerning Violence against Women, National Human Rights Policies
and the Problem of Statelessness Raised by Speakers
The Commission on Human Rights continued with its high-level segment today, hearing from senior Government officials from the Philippines, Albania, Cape Verde, Iraq, South Africa, Luxembourg and Australia as well as the High Commissioner for Refugees.
Speakers focused on issues concerning violence against women and national human rights policies. Ruud Lubbers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, urged the Commission to focus specific attention on the problem of statelessness and disputed citizenship.
Delia Domingo Albert, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said trafficking in women was a global scourge - a transnational criminal activity that directly violated the human rights of women. It was time to consider appointing a Special Rapporteur on trafficking in women and girls to ensure continued monitoring of this issue. Echoing her concern was Fatima Veiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of Cape Verde, who said violence against women affected all citizens of the global village. There was a growing awareness that violence against women was a grave violation of human rights that required a firm, permanent and articulate response.
Continuing on the issue of violence against women, Brigitte Mabandla, Minister of Housing of South Africa, said the scourge of poverty and ignorance increased the risk of violence against women. Therefore, improving the living conditions of people contributed significantly towards reducing the risk of violence against women. Lydie Polfer, the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxemburg, said the fundamental rights of millions of women continued to be ignored, in flagrant contradiction of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination. If the rights of the human person were truly universal and indivisible, they should be defended everywhere with the same level of determination
Referring to national policies on human rights, Kastriot Islami, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania, said that concerning the universal character of human rights values and norms, Albania supported the efforts to raise the awareness of the international community with regard to protection and respect of human rights, which were a clear indicator of stability in a democratic society.
Abdul Basit T. Sa’eed, the Minister of Human Rights of Iraq, said that today, the Iraqi individual had a chance for the first time to express freedom and liberty. But most Iraqis unfortunately were not able to understand this, due to the circumstances under which they were living before. Some misused this concept of freedom, and turned it into disorder and abuse of law and order in the country. Freedom was an important issue of practical democracy, and any misuse of this right would definitely affect democracy.
Christine Gallus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, said Australia considered good governance to be the foundation of a free and secure society. When governance broke down, law and order declined, institutions became dysfunctional, economic activity was impeded and people suffered. Under such circumstances basic human rights were bound to disappear.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said that in this world of sovereign States, there was another group of people with no Government of their own to speak out on their behalf, or to defend their rights: those who were stateless or whose citizenship was disputed. While a number of positive measures had been taken by States to address this problem, these measures were not consistent, and gaps remained which continued to make it difficult to resolve some of these cases. The Commission should therefore focus specific attention on the problem of statelessness and disputed citizenship.
After the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. midday meeting, the Commission immediately resumed its meeting at 3 p.m. to continue with its high-level segment.
Statements
DELIA DOMINGO ALBERT, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said that in the era of globalization, where individualism and selfishness sometimes dominated lives, and where the sense of morality was often compromised by a disturbing attitude of practical relativism, the promotion of human rights became an important means for affirming the value of human dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights continued to be the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. Human rights were basic and fundamental to the existence and continued posterity of humankind. No Government could claim to be democratic unless it fully respected human rights and fundamental freedoms.
All forms of violence against women were condemned, as the enjoyment of basic human rights included a life free from violence. Women were entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development. Trafficking in women was a global scourge- a transnational criminal activity that directly violated the human rights of women.
Human rights goals could only be achieved through concerted and coherent action involving Governments, NGOs, civil society, religious bodies, as well as traditional and informal authorities. International cooperation was also paramount. It was therefore critical to mainstream women’s human rights by integrating gender concerns into the overall agenda of the Commission. Governments were also urged to provide female migrant workers, who were victims of violence and exploitation, with the full range of immediate assistance, and likewise safeguard and establish reintegration and rehabilitation schemes for returning women migrant workers. It was time to consider appointing a Special Rapporteur on trafficking in women and girls to ensure continued monitoring on this issue.
KASTRIOT ISLAMI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania, said that concerning the universal character of human rights values and norms, Albania supported the efforts to raise the awareness of the international community with regard to protection and respect of human rights, which were a clear indicator of stability in a democratic society. It was believed that political stability, economic and social development, consolidation of security and protection and respect of human rights were in the center of the vision of the Western Balkans region. Leaving aside the serious violations of human rights related to inter-ethnic conflicts, which had been encountered often in the region in the past, it was now time that the countries, through strengthening the protection and respect of human rights, human dignity and values, democracy, tolerance and understanding, should cooperate with each other to promote economic, social and cultural progress, in order to achieve the progressive levels of European living standards.
Experience had shown the necessity of further development of the international legal instruments, monitoring mechanisms and other adopted measures in this field, aiming towards the increase of their efficiency for protection and respect of human rights. It was believed that the revitalization of these mechanisms, consolidation of democracy, implementation of international standards for human rights, enhancement of the role of the international community regarding education in human rights culture, as well as the establishment of a constructive dialogue among countries for the broad spectrum of the problems of the agenda of human rights would not only promote improvement of human rights standards internationally, but would also strengthen global peace, democracy and security.
FATIMA VEIGA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of Cape Verde, said violence against women affected all citizens of the global village. There was a growing awareness that the violence against women was a grave violation of human rights, that required a firm, permanent and articulate response. However, silence around this problem, which affected a third of women in the world still existed, and in order to break it and fight it effectively, more remained to be done. Consultation at all levels needed to be privileged, while resources should be mobilized and synergies promoted between the mechanisms whose role was to promote human rights and in particular those of women.
There had been very few studies undertaken in Africa on violence against women, and culture, tradition and religion were often given to justify, reproduce and perenniate behaviour that harmed women, both physically, sexually and psychologically, and this, although there were judicial and constitutional instruments that were both national and supra-national that established non-discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion, ethnicity or any other criteria.
In developing countries, and sometimes even in developed countries, one of the problems often faced with regard to violence against women was the lack of statistical information treated by gender, which made it difficult to measure the real extent of this problem. One of the challenges that would have to be addressed was thus to remedy this situation. It was also necessary to develop institutional concertation processes, which would allow for permanent dialogue between the entities producing the information, and the institutions using them. New answers needed to be found. Further, a more solid support needed to be given to the countries and structures that were working effectively in the field of human rights. Solidarity and international cooperation needed to be demonstrated through concrete acts in favour of this cause, as human rights were at the basis of all democratic society worthy of the name.
ABDUL BASIT T. SA’EED, Minister of Human Rights of Iraq said that in the past there were no human rights in Iraq, and this was because the country had been ruled by one of the most dictating regimes in the world in modern history. It was one of the darkest periods which witnessed oppression, mass extermination and suppression. One of the aims of the past regime was to destroy the entity of man and to deprive him from free thinking and belief to the extent that the individual became a part of that dominating machine ruling over all people and their thoughts. Following the events of 9 April 2003, the Iraqi individual had a chance for the first time to express freedom and liberty, but most Iraqis unfortunately were not able to understand this, due to the circumstances under which they were living at the time. Some misused this concept of freedom, and turned it into disorder and abuse of law and order in the country. Freedom was an important issue of practical democracy, and any misuse of this right would definitely affect democracy.
Iraq had ambitious programmes regarding the implementation of certain projects, and in this regard, it needed the support of the Commission and of all good people who wished progress and prosperity to Iraq. However, there was concern that these ambitions would disappear, due to what Iraq was now facing from lack of security, daily violent activities which shook the country, causing hundreds of victims among civilians. Iraq refused all kinds of violence, but the continuation of these activities did not concern Iraqis alone, but also worried all peace-loving parties, especially the United Nations and its humanitarian organizations, which did not itself escape from these criminal acts. No political achievement could be made without stability and security, and this could only be achieved through efficient and effective institutions. The people of Iraq were determined, more than ever, to achieve their ambitions and hopes in building their new democratic Iraq, free of all sorts of foreign control. The Iraqi people looked forward to regaining their independence, and for the birth of a national government. These aims would accelerate the end of occupation, and consequently the suffering of the Iraqi people.
BRIGITTE MABANDLA, Minister of Housing of South Africa, said the price in the struggle for freedom was always very high, and the vision of both Anna Lindh and Sergio Viera de Mello should inspire the Commission towards an international political system based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The work should be guided by the principles of human dignity, equality and solidarity. The current tensions in the international political and economic systems should strengthen the collective resolve to deal with the challenges of our time in a fair and transparent manner. Together, the Commission should demonstrate political will to embrace diversity as a strength, and not as a threat.
Human rights were important, and key to the development of a free and just society. It was essential to have independent institutions that monitored national progress, towards the implementation of the commitment to human rights. With regard to the issue of violence against women and girls, it was fitting that today, female Ministers of Foreign Affairs had reaffirmed their commitment to women’s human rights by confronting violence, especially when directed at women. There was a need for a multi-pronged strategy to address violence against women. The scourge of poverty and ignorance increased the risk of violence against women. Therefore, improving the living conditions of people contributed significantly towards reducing the risk of violence against women.
Throughout the world, women carried the burden of poverty and under-development remained the victims of conflict and wars, carried the burden of heading households riddled by diseases, and were victims of contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking. The Commission should ensure effective follow-up to the call made, as there was a rare opportunity today to address these issues collectively at all levels.
LYDIE POLFER, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxemburg, said the fundamental rights of millions of women continued to be ignored, in flagrant contradiction of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination. The march towards a true equality of the sexes was confronted by subtle inequalities, rooted in daily life at work as well as at home. Violence against women could be seen at all levels of society, whether it was verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, economic or emotional. If the rights of the human person were truly universal and indivisible, they should be defended everywhere with the same level of determination. These rights transcended cultural differences. Further, domestic violence also touched the most weak, namely children, who were often victims. Throughout the world, abandoned children were victims of armed conflict, sexual abuse and labour exploitation.
For these rights, as well as for human rights in general, it was important that the engagements made at the Commission be followed up by concrete acts. Everybody agreed that the action of the Commission was not always up to the standard of expectations in public opinion. The debate on the promotion of individual freedoms was even more important in the context of a debate on the profound causes of the terrorist phenomenon. Terrorism violated human rights in a barbaric and blind manner. However, freedoms and rights should not become the indirect victims of terrorism, they should instead be reaffirmed with force since they were the original moral capital which allowed the reaction of terrorism to remain credible and efficient in the long term. There should be no giving in to those who wished to put into doubt the intercultural consensus on which was founded international mechanisms of protection of human rights. As universal values, human rights could be the creators of a union, rather than a dividing factor, bringing together all civilizations. No other institution than the Commission could symbolize the community of destiny that was proper to all humanity, and there was hope that its work would be guided by a spirit of humanism.
CHRISTINE GALLUS, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, said as a robust democracy with strong national institutions and a tradition of multicultural harmony, her country would work assiduously to ensure the Commission would live up to the high standards required of it by the peoples of the world. To achieve that, it was paramount that their joined efforts -- the efforts of all members of the Commission -- were translated into practical improvements in human rights. That would be a key measure of the success and relevance of collective efforts of the international community in the Commission, particularly for the many people around the world without basic human rights. Australia remained deeply concerned about that and considered good governance to be the foundation of a free and secure society. When governance broke down, law and order declined, institutions became dysfunctional, economic activity was impeded and people suffered. Under such circumstances basic human rights were bound to disappear.
Australia continued to be a strong advocate of national human rights institutions, which were vitally important to good governance. Effective and independent national human rights institutions had a direct impact on people's lives by translating international commitments into practical outcomes. Australia would commit a further $1.5 million to support human rights in the Asia Pacific Region. That package to the South Asia Governance Fund aimed to improve legal access in Sri Lanka and help establish a human rights commission in Bangladesh. Australia had been a major donor and supporter of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions since 1996 -- encouraging the spread of sound national human rights institutions in the region. Australia's Centre for Democratic Institutions was also working to make a difference.
Australia would work hard to achieve real human rights outcomes. It had a strong focus on strengthening good governance in its region to ensure that human rights could flourish. Now, as Australia took up the Presidency of the Commission, the country was committed to achieving practical outcome in cooperation with all members. Australia would look forward to working with all to ensure that the sixtieth session of the Commission would make a difference to the lives of women, children and men around the world.
RUUD LUBBERS, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said he had a responsibility to speak out on behalf of those who were forced to flee their countries as a result of violence and persecution. His role was to help give these people a voice and to ensure that their rights were respected. The 1951 Refugee Convention was the corner stone of the international refugee protection regime; but while it was strong in articulating the rights of refugees and the obligations of States towards them, it was weaker when it came to apportioning responsibilities among States. Holding one Sate accountable for its actions was a lot easier than trying to hold over 190 States collectively accountable. Thus, the international community had a shared interest in finding durable solutions for refugees. Over the past 50 years, however, experience had shown that international cooperation had not always been as effective as it could have been. The result was too many protracted refugee situations. The search for durable solutions should become more systematic, and should begin at the outset of each new refugee crisis. The security dimension should not be ignored; neither should the broader migration dimension be overlooked.
There was now a greater understanding than before of the important role of transitional justice strategies, both to deal with past violence and human rights abuses, as well as their recurrence. These included prosecuting perpetrators of war crimes and other human rights abuses, revealing the truth about past crimes, providing victims with reparations, vetting individuals, reforming abusive institutions and promoting reconciliation. In this world of sovereign States, there was another group of people with no Government of their own to speak out on their behalf, or to defend their rights: those who were stateless or whose citizenship was disputed. While a number of positive measures had been taken by States to address this problem, these measures were not consistent, and gaps remained which continued to make it difficult to resolve some of these cases. The Commission should therefore focus specific attention on the problem of statelessness and disputed citizenship.
* *** *
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