Türk meets with authorities and civil society in Chile

I am concluding today my bilateral meetings in Chile, where I have met with members of the three branches of the State, including President Boric, senior Government officials and the Constitutional Court, as well as civil society organizations and Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples. I thank the authorities for their generous welcome and all my interlocutors for frank and fruitful exchanges.

Chile is an example of resilience, a country which managed to transition peacefully from an atrocious dictatorship to a democracy. I was deeply moved by my visit to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights and the importance of “never forget and never again”. Today, Chile's commitment to human rights is reflected in its active participation in the UN Human Rights Council -including in this week’s Universal Periodic Review - as well as in its engagement on key human rights issues both in the region and globally. 

I was encouraged by the work done by Chile’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture in favour of people deprived of liberty, as well as that of CINTRAS, a Chilean NGO that supports torture survivors of the dictatorship. 

Although much remains to be done in the area of transitional justice, both the judicial authorities and the Government are taking important steps, such as the Plan to Search for Victims of Enforced Disappearances. I have heard from victims how further progress on reparations is crucial for them and the Chilean society as a whole. The launch of a comprehensive public policy to protect and preserve memorial sites would be a positive step in this regard.  

I also welcome the creation of the Presidential Peace and Understanding Commission, with  support from across the Chilean political spectrum, to address, among other issues, the historic grievances of the Mapuche people in Araucania and adjacent regions. 

In my discussions with various interlocutors, I pointed out the need for continued attention to address several of the issues linked to the 2019 social protests. Priority areas are the adoption of a law on freedom of assembly, in line with international human rights standards; the provision of comprehensive reparations; and police reform that strengthens accountability. It is important for the legal framework on the use of force and its application to be fully compliant with international human rights law, including the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. 

I also spoke about the concept of a human rights economy, which, in its essence, addresses inequalities in all forms. It also  requires various political actors and other stakeholders to come together in a common search for equal opportunities for all, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable and marginalized.

It is also important to point out that migrants here, as elsewhere, make important contributions to society. Special attention needs to be given to the protection of asylum-seekers and migrants in vulnerable situations.

Security and human rights need to go hand-in-hand. Human rights are the cornerstone of a democratic society.

The links between the United Nations and Chile go back a long way – and Chile plays an important role in regional and international fora, including in the sphere of human rights. Our Regional Office for South America, based in Santiago de Chile, looks forward to further building on the excellent cooperation we have had with the Government to continue our work in the region. 

The High Commissioner is in Chile to attend the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB), which brings together the heads of the UN system organizations.  CEB Members will reflect on current world affairs as they affect and are related to the UN system. The agenda of the meeting also includes discussions on 'Organized Crime with a Focus on Governance and the Rule of Law' and on the 'Summit of the Future: Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow'. Ahead of this meeting, he was able to hold discussions with Government, civil society and others in Chile over two days, from 29-30 April 2024.