International solidarity should be at the heart of the post-2015 agenda, says UN expert

NEW YORK / GENEVA (1 November 2013) – The UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Virginia Dandan, called on Member States to place international solidarity at the heart of the Post-2015 development agenda.

“Through international solidarity, peoples and individuals will have the freedom to enjoy the benefits of a harmonious international society in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms will be fully realized,” said the UN expert who presented her first report* to the UN General Assembly this week in New York.

Ms. Dandan also introduced the preliminary text of a draft declaration on the rights of peoples and individuals to international solidarity, which will be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its 26th session in June 2014.

“This draft declaration is a significant step towards recognizing a human right to international solidarity. By doing so, Members States will create a powerful tool in addressing key global challenges to human rights, including global poverty and inequalities,” said the Independent Expert.

The human rights expert also stressed the importance of international cooperation as a key mechanism for realizing the right to international solidarity, but insisted that “the right to international solidarity can only be achieved through the collective action and international agreement of States.”

(*) Read the Independent Expert’s report to the UN General Assembly: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=153

ENDS

Virginia Dandan was appointed Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council. She is independent from any government or organisation. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Solidarity/Pages/IESolidarityIndex.aspx

For further information and media requests, please contact Juan Fernando Núñez (+41 22 928 9458 / jnunez@ohchr.org) or write to iesolidarity@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Cécile Pouilly, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 93 10 / cpouilly@ohchr.org)  

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