Human Rights Council holds general debate on all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including right to development

MIDDAY
 
Hears Presentations of Thematic Reports by the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General and by the Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations
 
GENEVA (11 March 2013) - The Human Rights Council today heard presentations of the report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on transnational corporations and a number of thematic reports by the United Nations Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office, and then held a general debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
 
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights, presented the report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on its activities, noting that globalization could not ignore the need to protect the rights of the most vulnerable.  Globalization had to respond to a framework that ensured respect for human rights.  The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights were important for the work of the Working Group.  The binding instrument and the Guiding Principles were mutually reinforcing and should not be seen as contradictory.    
 
Peggy Hicks, Director of the Research and Right to Development Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, introduced thematic reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office.  They included the study on the situation of migrants in transit, including unaccompanied children and adolescents, as well as women and girls; the report on arbitrary deprivation of nationality; the report on the protection of the family; the report on economic, social and cultural rights; the report on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; the report focusing on good practices on how to invest adequately in the rights of children; the report on the right to work; the report on how to enhance international cooperation in the United Nations human rights machinery; the report on conclusions and recommendations of Special Procedures; the report on reforming the treaty body system; the report on the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; and the High Commissioner’s oral update on the International Decade for People of African Descent.
 
In the ensuing general debate, speakers underlined the importance of the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press, as well as the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers or form.  Some speakers drew attention to mental health as an integral and central element of the full realization of the right to health.  Others underscored the need to strengthen national health systems, particularly those in developing and the least developed countries, in the face of the continued impact of infectious diseases and an increasing number of epidemics and health emergencies.  The need to ensure the rights of migrants and their access to adequate health services, especially of migrant children, was also evoked.  Speakers reminded that there was a whole legacy of human rights violations committed by transnational corporations with impunity.  They meddled into internal affairs of States and fomented political turmoil.  There was a need to ensure their accountability and payment to victims.  The argument that States had the foremost responsibility to protect human rights should not hide the fact that corporations also held such a responsibility. The United Nations Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights did not get at the heart of human rights in business, which was why a binding instrument was needed. 
 
Speaking in the general debate were: Netherlands on behalf of the European Union, Portugal on behalf a group of countries, Mexico on behalf a group of countries, Egypt on behalf a group of countries, Russian Federation on behalf a group of countries, Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, China on behalf a group of countries, Denmark on behalf of the Convention against Torture Initiative, United States on behalf of a group of countries, Norway in a joint statement with Turkey, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ghana, Switzerland, Republic of Korea, Ecuador, South Africa, Qatar, Bolivia, Paraguay, El Salvador, Maldives, Venezuela, Russian Federation, Georgia, Cuba, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Côte d’Ivoire,  United States, Tunisia, Egypt, Ireland, Iraq, Greece, Costa Rica, Sudan, Spain, Council of Europe, Pakistan, Mozambique, Chile, Tajikistan, and the State of Palestine.
 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also spoke.  
 
The Council will resume its general debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, at 4 p.m. to hear statements by a series of non-governmental organizations.   
 
Documentation
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights on its first session (A/HRC/31/50).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (A/HRC/31/22).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Secretary-General on the operations of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (A/HRC/31/23).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Secretary-General on conclusions and recommendations of special procedures (A/HRC/31/24).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Secretary-General on measures taken to implement resolution 9/8 and obstacles to its implementation, including recommendations for further improving the effectiveness of, harmonizing and reforming the treaty body system (A/HRC/31/25).
 
The Council has before it the Annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (A/HRC/31/27).
 
The Council has before it the Outcome of the panel discussion on a human rights-based approach to good governance in the public service. Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/31/28).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Secretary-General on the impact of the arbitrary deprivation of nationality on the enjoyment of the rights of children concerned, as well as on the existing laws and practices on accessibility for children to acquire nationality, inter alia, of the country in which they are born, if they otherwise would be stateless (A/HRC/31/29).
 
The Council has before it the Study of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the rights of persons with disabilities on article 11 of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities on situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies (A/HRC/31/30).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the Secretary-General on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights (A/HRC/31/31).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the realization of the right to work (A/HRC/31/32).
 
The Council has before it the Follow-up report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on investment in the rights of the child (A/HRC/31/33).
 
The Council has before it the Study of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of migrants in transit, including unaccompanied children and adolescents, as well as women and girls (A/HRC/31/35).
 
The Council has before it the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: Protection of the family: contribution of the family to the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living for its members, particularly through its role in poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development (A/HRC/31/37).  
 
Presentation of Reports
 
MARIA FERNANDA ESPINOSA, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights, presented the report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on its activities in 2015.  The Group had held a great number of consultations with different stakeholders, including civil society representatives, representatives of the academia, national human rights institutions and private companies.  The Group had started to draft a legally-binding instrument that would further strengthen the international human rights system.  Globalization could not ignore the need to protect the rights of the most vulnerable, and it had to respond to a framework that ensured respect for human rights.  Ms. Espinosa recognized the usefulness of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for the work of the Working Group.  The binding instrument and the Guiding Principles were mutually reinforcing and should not be seen as contradictory.  The process of the binding instrument did not seek to undermine the value of the Guiding Principle, or to limit their effect and implementation.  The Group had also considered the universality of human rights, in order to ensure that the whole spectrum of rights was considered in the binding instrument.   Also, the future binding instrument would have to focus on the rights of victims, with effective access to justice and reparation.  The extraterritorial obligations of States and transnational corporations were pin-pointed as an issue requesting further debate.   The adoption of the binding instrument still faced challenges, but would reflect the international community’s aspirations and ensure that victims had the justice and reparation that they deserved.  
 
PEGGY HICKS, Director of the Research and Right to Development Division of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, introduced thematic reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office.   The study on the situation of migrants in transit, including unaccompanied children and adolescents, as well as women and girls, identified a clear protection gap for migrants in crisis and recommended a range of concrete and effective measures to address it.   The report on arbitrary deprivation of nationality explored laws and practices relating to children’s access to nationality, showed that statelessness was contrary to the principle of the best interest of the child, and called on States to address the effects that migration might have on access to nationality.  The report on the protection of the family was the first report devoted specifically to that topic in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and called for human rights-based approaches that supported families. 
 
The report on economic, social and cultural rights focused on how to measure and monitor progress in the realization of human rights at the national level, including through specific indicators and benchmarks for individuals and communities residing in States.  The report on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities underlined the need to redouble efforts to prevent violations of minority rights.  The report focusing on good practices on how to invest adequately in the rights of children called on States to approach revenue generation, budget preparation and public spending with a child rights focus, and to ensure accountability of States in that area.  The first report on the right to work emphasized that States had an obligation to put in place comprehensive policies and to take necessary measures to ensure the full realization of this right. 
 
Ms. Hicks stated that another report dealt with how to enhance international cooperation in the United Nations human rights machinery and noted that the 2030 Agenda would bring new opportunities to integrate all human rights into global and national policies in both developed and developing countries.   Presenting the report on conclusions and recommendations of special procedures, Ms. Hicks urged all Member States to respect and preserve the  authority and legitimacy of mandate holders and to give due consideration to their recommendations.  The report on reforming the treaty body system presented the 2016 priorities of the High Commissioner in that area, namely the presentation by the Secretary-General of a report on the treaty body system to the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, and delivering capacity-building to States.  The report on the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment showed that the Special Fund had, to date, awarded 28 projects in the field of torture prevention.  The final report, which focused on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, showed that, with nine million USD raised in 2015, the Fund was expected to reach out to some 47,000 victims of torture in 81 countries.   Lastly, Ms. Hicks introduced the High Commissioner’s oral update on the International Decade for People of African Descent.
 
General Debate on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development
 
Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union, voiced concern over the violations described in the High Commissioner’s report regarding rights of the child.  It noted that freedom of religion or belief protected a right that every individual had and could exercise in community with others.  The European Union was against the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and called for the introduction of a worldwide moratorium as a first step towards abolition.  It welcomed the confirmation by States of their obligation to adopt human rights-based approach in their support to families.
 
Portugal, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, noted that the recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family was the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.  Mental health was an integral and central element for the full realization of the right to health.  Persons with mental disorders all over the world continued to be victims of discrimination, stigma, prejudice, violence, social exclusion, which led to systematic violation of their human rights.
 
Mexico, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, reaffirmed everyone’s right to freedom of expression, and underlined that freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers or form, were components of the freedom of expression.  That freedom was essential for the enjoyment of other human rights and freedoms, as well as for citizens’ full and active participation in public affairs.  States should enact transparent and clear laws and policies that guaranteed that right. 
 
Egypt, speaking on behalf of a group of countries sponsors of resolution 28/15 on the right to work, welcomed the valuable efforts of the High Commissioner and his Office in preparing and presenting report A/HRC/31/32 on the realization of the right to work.  Work was a human right, but 200 million persons around the world were unemployed, and 33 million people had lost their jobs since the international economic and financial crisis had erupted in 2008.
 
Russian Federation, speaking on behalf of a group of countries sponsors of resolution 29/22 on the protection of the family, thanked the High Commissioner for producing report A/HRC/31/37 and reaffirmed that the family was the natural and fundamental unit of the society.  States were under explicit international legal obligation to provide effective protection and support for the family unit.  Russian Federation noted that the report had tackled issues that fell outside the scope of resolution 29/22.
 
Iran, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, recalled the duty of States to genuinely cooperate with each other on the basis of constructive dialogue, tolerance and respect for cultural diversity.  It called on developed States to depart from their perception that the fundamental right to development should be based on the so-called “charitable giving” concept.  Iran was deeply disturbed by the continued negative impacts of the unilateral coercive measures on human rights.
 
China, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, said that the world had been experiencing a continued impact of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, tuberculosis, malaria and an increasing number of epidemics and health emergencies.  The overall mortality, including infant mortality, and disease rates were high and needed to be reduced.  The scale and magnitude of those health conditions placed major demands on health resources of many countries, in particular developing countries and the least developed countries. 
 
Denmark, speaking on behalf of the Convention against Torture Initiative, stated that it aimed to highlight inspirational progress on the ratification of the Convention against Torture.  It commended South Sudan, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, San Marino, Myanmar, Oman, Grenada, Marshall Islands, and Sao Tome and Principe for their efforts in that area.  It strongly encouraged States that had not yet taken steps towards ratification of the Convention to join the group’s efforts and consider ratification.
 
United States, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, noted that the key feature of democracy was a peaceful transition from one elected government to another elected government.  Freedom of expression and freedom of the press guaranteed popular participation in public life.  Freedom of expression was essential in supporting peaceful transition of political power.  Journalists and media workers used that freedom to help citizens make educated political choices and hold those elected accountable.   
 
Norway, in a joint statement with Turkey, said that all had to work together to avoid that the Council become a victim of its own success.  New initiatives and a corresponding widening of the Council’s work were often necessary to face the current human rights challenges.  That, however, was not always matched by adequate resources, follow-up and impact of decisions.  A more complete calendar of thematic resolutions, better spacing of appointments of Special Procedures mandates, and a more accessible webpage could improve transparency.
 
Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, was committed to the freedom of opinion and expression.  That critically important matter, however, required a more careful and deeper consideration.  The very conditions of free speech were undermined in the guise of freedom of expression.  In Europe, for example, fascism had emerged from the womb of free societies.  A serious discussion was needed instead of simple minded effusions on the virtues of free speech, which had been heard so far.
 
Ghana said that the Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights was a process that should culminate in a legal instrument that the greatest possible number of States felt comfortable with. Ghana believed that the aim should be a legal regime that defined foreign enterprises to include private multinational enterprises, as well as State enterprises with transnational operations. 
 
Switzerland expressed serious concern over precarious human rights situations and violations of thousands of migrants, including migrant children.  Migrants had been exposed to numerous risks, such as abuse, exploitation, violence and even death.  It was important to place migrants and their rights at the centre of discussions and national and international policies.  It underlined the call to guarantee the rights of all migrant children and to develop alternatives to detention of migrant children. 
 
Republic of Korea stressed the growing link between peace and human rights, and noted an increased focus on prevention and early warning.  It was important to strengthen the protection of vulnerable groups, in particular those in conflict context or humanitarian emergencies.  Timely measures to protect persons with disabilities should be taken in case of disasters.  Children in conflicts needed to be protected against the risk of recruitment by armed groups.
 
Ecuador welcomed the growing support for the theme of transnational corporations and human rights.  In order to further continue with that process, it was necessary to maintain the agreements foreseen in the Council’s resolution 26/9, and to constructively involve all the stakeholders to protect human rights and provide redress to victims of abuses by the corporate sector.  An international effort was needed to fill that vacuum in the international normative framework of human rights.
 
South Africa said that it had been calling for an international treaty on transnational enterprises since the inception of the issue in the international human rights system.  As the African region was rated among the most severely affected areas by human rights violations of the corporate sector, the country supported measures intended to address those governance gaps, regulate in a uniform matter, and ensure the accountability of operational activities, transnational corporations and other business enterprises.
 
Qatar commended the work of the Working Group and said it was deeply concerned for the protection and promotion of human rights.  Qatar would form the first regional forum for Asia dealing with enterprises and human rights.  That forum would sensitise the international community on the principles and remedies on that topic.  It would also discuss challenges facing Asia in that respect.  Qatar would spare no effort to promote the guidelines and human rights within enterprises.
 
Bolivia believed it was important that the Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights did not get in the way of the full protection of human rights. That was why a binding instrument was needed to monitor human rights in business on the international level.  Impunity committed by transnational corporations could not be tolerated.  There were no international mechanisms that provided justice for victims of corporate use. The use of obsolete technology undermined the rights of indigenous peoples. 
 
Paraguay stated that members of the international community had to fully understand the effects of their actions on the environment.  Anniversaries of international declarations and organisations, such as the tenth anniversary of the Council, were noted.  The Council was urged to continue working with the Office of the High Commissioner to achieve better coordination among policies and activities.
 
El Salvador addressed the situation of migrants in transit, noting that some concerns were shared by most States, including the lack of protection for migrants in transit.  If there was no data, policies based on human rights could not be designed.  El Salvador informed that it would be working on a resolution on unaccompanied minors.
 
Maldives expressed concern about the global environmental developments, including climate change, which threatened the safety of peoples living in island States.  Its national focus was on long-term adaptation strategies.   The Sustainable Development Agenda would provide an effective way to strengthen policies and programmes.  Like many developing countries, Maldives faced a dilemma in balancing environmental protection with economic advancement and other development goals.
 
Venezuela said that there was a whole legacy of human rights violations committed by transnational corporations with impunity.  They meddled into internal affairs of States and fomented political turmoil.  There was a need to ensure their accountability and payment to victims.  The argument that States had the foremost responsibility to protect human rights should not hide the fact that corporations also held such a responsibility. 
 
Russian Federation noted that HIV/AIDS was a major challenge to the international community.  In the Russian Federation, HIV/AIDS presented a big problem, with a ten per cent rise in the number of infections.  The situation was particularly problematic in the context of the illegal narcotics trade.  The epidemic was a threat to numerous groups and thus immediate measures should be taken to prevent its spread.     
 
Georgia underlined the central challenge of gender inequality and protection of women’s rights.  In the coming months, Georgia would ratify the Istanbul Convention.  It commended the Office of the High Commissioner for its activities towards the abolition of the death penalty, as well as the work of the Special Rapporteur on torture and ill-treatment.  Georgia acknowledged the importance of adequate protection of the rights of the child. 
 
Cuba stressed that a binding instrument on businesses and human rights was needed. Transnational corporations and other businesses had to abide by international principles, universal participation, accountability and transparency and indivisibility.  The debate held in July 2015 had represented the first step to achieving that goal.  It had allowed for an in-depth discussion on very topical issues and the active participation from civil society organisations.  Cuba supported its recommendations and conclusions and appealed to all stakeholders to get involved.
 
India was concerned at the growing politicization of the Human Rights Council, which could seriously undermine its credibility and relevance.  It noted with regret that the delegate from the Organization of Islamic Conference had used the Human Rights Council to comment upon India’s internal affairs, namely on Jammu and Kashmir, which was an integral part of India.
 
China said that the 2030 Development Agenda showed an important international consensus on the world’s development strategy for the next thirteen years.  China would lift 70 million people out of poverty in the next five years and would double its Grosse Domestic Product and per capita income. China believed in rights for the people and by the people, and would assist other countries, especially developing countries, in their efforts towards development. 
 
Kyrgyzstan expressed gratitude for the report on the protection of the family, which was the primary means of transmitting values.  Kyrgyzstan had adopted a national strategy on reproductive issues as relating to the family among other initiatives and the Government paid particular attention to the elderly.  Family, fatherhood, motherhood and children were the concern of the whole society.
 
Namibia said that there was a legal lacuna entirely in favour of transnational corporations and other business enterprises, and it was puzzling that that was not acknowledged by some Governments.  In the process toward a universally accepted treaty, all business enterprises should be regulated, while the focus should be on transnational corporations.  Uniform international human rights standards for all businesses, across and within all States, would be in the interest of all.
 
Côte d’Ivoire stated that the abuses affecting migrants were of concern, while the situation of unaccompanied migrant children was particularly worrisome.  Turning to the issue of statelessness, the right of all children to achieve a nationality was underlined. Côte d’Ivoire thanked the High Commissioner for highlighting the issue of the consolidation of the family unit.
 
United States said that all States at all stages of democratization were using periodic and genuine elections as a peaceful means of expressing the will of the people.  It remained concerned about non-peaceful transitions of power as well as countries where the basis of government authority was not rooted in the free expression of the will of the people.  All States had to uphold the right to choose representatives freely through periodic and genuine elections.
 
Tunisia warned that risks incurred by migrants had led to death.  It was worrying that in 2015 more than 5,000 men, women and children had lost their lives at migration routes in different parts of the world.  It agreed with the observations of the High Commissioner that the contemporary phenomenon of irregular migration was linked to the increase in obstacles to legal migration.  All States had to implement a transparent, participatory and accountable system for measuring the realization of human rights. 
 
Egypt welcomed the fact that employment and decent work had finally found their adequate place in the Human Rights Council’s discussions.  Tens of millions of people remained unemployed globally, and many of them had lost their jobs after the global financial and economic crises.  The situation was more serious for women, young people and migrants.  It reiterated its commitment to maintaining a human rights-based discussion on employment and job creation at the heart of the Council’s work.
 
Ireland welcomed the good practices contained in the report of the High‑Level Panel Discussion on a human rights based approach to good governance in the public service.  It also welcomed the report on the Follow-Up to Investment in the Rights of the Child.  The good practices outlined in the report in relation to the investment in children would serve as valuable inspiration to States wishing to improve the protection of the rights of the child.
 
Iraq applauded the efforts made by the High Commissioner in preparing the report on the Follow-Up to Investment in the Rights of the Child as well as the report on the topic of the realisation on the right to work. Iraq prioritised budget lines for the rights of the child.  The Labour Code adopted in 2015 guaranteed that workers could have a salary that allowed them to fulfil their needs.
 
Greece was participating in a series of cross-regional initiatives in the Human Rights Council on pressing social issues such as the realization of the right to work, sport and human rights, the world drug problem, youth issues and issues.  Greece took this opportunity to refer to the rights of persons in vulnerable situations such as children, women, migrants and refugees especially in the light of the current migrant refugee crisis, persons with disabilities and homeless people.
 
Costa Rica expressed concern at persistent human rights violations worldwide and new challenges of the globalized world.  The current development model was not in harmony with nature.  Turning to international challenges, the rise of violent extremism was condemned, while extremist violence was seen as an affront to the rule of law.  The international community had to combat all forms of terrorism in the framework of international law.
 
Sudan said that the world faced challenges that required joint work.  The family remained the main nucleus of society, and Sudan’s definition of a family fell within its value system. The Constitution of Sudan ensures freedom of expression, assembly, and belief, among numerous other rights which were also enumerated.
 
Spain welcomed the report on the family and its inclusion of the need to protect all family members, noting that the report also said there was a need to recognise the ever-changing forms of the family.  Spain condemned discrimination against women, children, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
 
Council of Europe reminded that in March 2016, the Committee of Ministers had adopted a recommendation to Member States on business and human rights.  While that instrument would not be binding, it intended to facilitate the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles within 47 Member States, to close the existing gaps with regard to access to remedy, and to mark a further step in the recognition that transnational enterprises had a responsibility to respect human rights. 
 
Pakistan stated that the right to self-determination was a fundamental right.  However, there had been a tragic failure to deliver peoples from occupation, most notably in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.  Those peoples had been awaiting tangible actions to enable their right to self-determination, and their right had to be addressed urgently.  India had been committing serious human rights in Jammu and Kashmir as documented by the United Nations human rights mechanisms.
 
Mozambique voiced its commitment to the mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations, and said that it had launched an initiative involving civil society and the Government on business and human rights.  It supported the view that a binding instrument would complement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
 
Chile, referring to the report on the family, said that the concept of a family could vary, and should not be exclusively reduced to marriage or a single form.  The principle of equality and non-discrimination had to be respected, along with the principle of the best interest of the child.  Chile said that it was a vital to have an open view of the application of human rights when it came to the family, so as not to discriminate against vulnerable populations. 
 
Tajikistan said that it had taken measures to ensure equal right to education, and stressed that education played a leading role in preserving linguistic and cultural identities as well as the country’s diversity.  Many education establishments in Uzbekistan taught in several languages, including in Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen and English. 
 
State of Palestine expressed its support to the mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group, and said that the adoption of an international legally-binding instrument could fill gaps on that issue and ensure better protection to the victims.  Due consideration had to be given to the impact of activities by businesses in the context of conflict and occupation, particularly with regard to access to resources and the right to self-determination. 
 
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed the Secretary-General’s report highlighting the causes and effects of arbitrary deprivation of nationality on children, as well as the opportunity to highlight the problem that affected millions of children globally.  A stateless person was someone “who was not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law.”  The effects of statelessness on any individual’s life were appalling and long-lasting, and its eradication was crucial.

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