FOREIGN MINISTER OF MEXICO ENCOURAGES HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO REACH AGREEMENT THAT IS SATISFACTORY TO ALL

Human Rights Council
MORNING

18 June 2007

Patricia Espinosa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, today encouraged the Human Rights Council to crown the year’s intense work by reaching an agreement that would give satisfaction to all.

Speaking on the last day of the first year of the Council, Ms. Espinosa said she was conscious of the complexity of the negotiation processes that had taken place in the Council until today. Being aware of this, she encouraged the Council to crown this year of intense work with an agreement would give satisfaction to all.

The Council is expected to conclude today its year-long discussion on institution building in the Council, including on the issues of the Universal Periodic Review and on the review of mandates, which includes segments on the Complaints Procedure, the Expert Advice Body and the Special Procedures. It should also take action on pending resolutions and decisions.

Ms. Espinosa said the Mexican Government was convinced that collective dialogue was the best way to find answers to the challenges of the international community in the field of human rights. Mexico remained open to scrutiny of the universal and regional human rights mandates and mechanisms. Domestic laws were being proposed to Congress leading to the fulfillment of international obligations. Government action was centred, inter alia, on trafficking of persons, freedom of opinion and expression, gender violence, the prevention and punishment of child pornography, and cooperation with the inter-American system of human rights. Instruments on the prevention of torture and abolition of the death penalty were at an advanced stage, and the Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance were also in the process of ratification.

The Foreign Minister of Mexico said the Council had proved the collective commitment of the international community to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and cooperation with the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Challenges remained, and the Council would have to work with all stakeholders in meeting them. With institution building processes accomplished, the Council would enjoy a fortified capacity of prevention and response. Mexico was confident in the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Universal Periodic Review system. To create was to risk: critique did not always recognize the dedication of those participating in a venture. But today all the governments involved should be satisfied with their efforts. Consensus prevailing, the Council would benefit from the tools it was being equipped with.

Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba of Mexico, the President of the Council, said that today was the last day of the session, and it would bring to fruition all the efforts of the Council after the last year. All should step up their efforts to succeed in the negotiations. Consultations would continue over the coming hours, including on the President’s text, so that the positions and concerns of the various States were reflected, and agreement was reached. The Council therefore would adjourn for further consultations.

The Council will resume today when it has reached agreement on its institution-building process and is in a position to take action on the draft resolutions and decisions before it.