Introductory remarks, Meeting with NGOs

Human Rights Council 25th Session

Meeting with NGOs

Introductory Remarks by Ms. Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Geneva, 17 March 2014
Palais des Nations, Room XXIII

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome, and thank you for joining me here today. 

I have made it my practice to hold a meeting with NGOs at each March session of the Human Rights Council.  Many of you are able to travel to Geneva only once a year, and so I value this opportunity for a direct exchange with you.

I shall therefore keep my opening remarks very brief, so as to allow  time for questions, comments and recommendations. 

Much has happened since our meeting in  March 2013, and so I should like first to refer you to my annual report to the Human Rights Council.  This outlines our programme of work over the past year, and highlights our efforts in the priority areas of the past year, which include discrimination; violence and impunity; migrants; and poverty, as well as some country situations. 

In 2013, we marked 20 years since the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This anniversary is particularly meaningful for non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, for Vienna was a milestone in recognition of the importance of your work. The past year has also seen another notable development: the reaffirmation of the responsibility of the entire United Nations system to uphold human rights norms and standards, in the form of the Secretary-General's plan of action, “Rights Up Front”. 

We have made progress in human rights in some areas, but on others we continue to meet obstacles and roadblocks.  These challenges must be addressed. I count on our continuing to work together to find sustainable solutions.

Throughout my term, I have emphasised the centrality of civil society in our work, and I advocated for a safe and enabling environment for civil society.

Strengthening civil society actors, including by creating space for their engagement in the promotion and protection of human rights, has been one of the major achievements of OHCHR in the past twenty years. This will continue to remain in focus in the years to come. Indeed, among OHCHR's six thematic strategies for 2014-2017 is "widening democratic space".

As possibly one of the last occasions we meet in this manner, given that I I am approaching the end of my term of office, I would like to extend my deep appreciation for your advice, analysis and daily human rights work.  This is absolutely invaluable to OHCHR as is it important that you challenge and test our assertions.   It is no exaggeration to say that we could not carry out our mandate without you.  Civil society organizations and actors inject the life blood into human rights, both at home, regionally and at the international level. 

Working with you over the past six years has been both challenging and enriching.  I thank you for your collaboration and wish you continuing fortitude in your human rights work.

I will close here, and encourage you once again to bring to my attention issues that you feel warrant closer attention by my Office.  As you can see, I am accompanied here today by most of my senior managers, and I invite them to introduce themselves before they join me in responding to your questions and comments. 

Thank you.