“Upholding Human Rights: Past Legacy and Future Action” - A regional conversation

As 2022 draws to a close, it is an important time to take a pause.

To look back at our world over the past few years.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, which continue to affect many people around the world.

Exposing deep vulnerabilities in economies and societies, drawing attention to gaping inequalities.

The impact of climate change, pollution, and the loss of forests and biodiversity has been felt in every corner.

A war in Europe exacerbating a cost-of-living crisis across all regions, including in the Asia-Pacific, that has left many not knowing how they will survive from one day to the next.

Hate speech, flourishing particularly unchecked online, is cultivating a pushback on human rights, including gender equality.

At the same time, there are growing restrictions on the space for civil society both on and offline.

The one lesson we can draw from these multiple challenges is that global problems need global solutions.

We need each other.

We have known this for a while, but it merits recalling and revitalising, so we are equipped to meet the enormity of the challenges we face.

And multilateralism is our way to get there. 

The task we have before us now is to ensure that all the parts of the multilateral system are fit for purpose. And this includes the human rights ecosystem.

Our tools and approaches to human rights must adapt if they are to have real impact on the lives of people on the ground - today and tomorrow.

I urge all UN Member States, individually, regionally and globally, to find ways to strengthen the international human rights system, as an expression of the universality of human rights which apply to everyone, everywhere.

Regional mechanisms – a key piece of the multilateral architecture – also need bolstering.

In that regard, I hope that Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN for 2023 will include efforts to strengthen the regional human rights architecture.

My Office stands ready to support you in this endeavour. I see already many areas for potential cooperation and look forward to regular high-level strategic dialogues with all regional institutions.

Indonesia’s chairmanship coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which paved the way for the establishment of my Office.

This anniversary year provides an opportunity to reaffirm the visionary principles of the Universal Declaration in light of new and emerging challenges.

What better time to galvanise a diversity of voices – especially those of young people – through broad-based consultations and participation.

To identify ways, together with civil society actors and human rights defenders, to strengthen and update existing regional frameworks and mechanisms.

Business actors, too, have a role in promoting and ensuring respect for human rights. The engagement of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights with the business sector will be critical in galvanizing this constituency.

UDHR 75 provides an unparalleled opportunity to take stock of how far we’ve come in terms of human rights, locally, regionally and internationally.

To carve out a constructive way forward, to protect the dignity and equality of all.

I look forward to working together, in the context of UDHR 75 and beyond.