European Union

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

37th session

(26 February to 23 March 2018)

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Item 5

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Statement by H.E. Mrs Deyana Kostadinova

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria

on behalf of the European Union

Geneva, 14 March 2018

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 UNITED NATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
37th session

(26 February to 23 March 2018)

EU Statement

Human Rights bodies and mechanisms

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia* and
Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia
and Herzegovina, and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as
well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia align themselves with this
statement.

The European Union reaffirms its strong support for the leading role, the independence and work
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office, and for the human rights mechanisms.

The EU underlines the need for members of the Human Rights Council to respect the highest
standards of human rights and to fully cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms.

The EU notes with satisfaction that the results of the treaty body capacity-building program are
promising, with an increasing number of submissions or updates to common core documents and
replies to lists of issues submitted, improved constructive dialogues with the treaty bodies, and an
increased interest on the part of a number of States parties in the establishment of a national
mechanism for reporting and follow-up.   We concur with the conclusions and recommendations of

                                                                                                                       
*
 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation
and Association Process.

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the Secretary-General’s Report on the status of the human rights treaty body system concerning the
stark gender imbalance and lack of equitable geographical distribution in the membership.

Despite the commitment to receive special procedures is voluntary, we encourage all countries to
extend a standing invitation to the special procedures, and once this commitment has been made, to
fulfill it.   The EU notes with concern recent reports on the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of
Indigenous peoples being targeted for her work.

The UPR is the only universal mechanism reviewing all States for their human rights record. The
key feature is its universality: it addresses all human rights and applies to all UN Member States.
During its third cycle the mechanism must remain universal, transparent, objective, constructive,
non-selective and non-confrontational – principles which the EU is fully committed to. In addition,
Member States must be encouraged to take practical steps to ensure implementation of accepted
recommendations.

Mr. President,

In this year when we mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders,
the European Union is gravely concerned by the increasing pressure in all regions against human
rights defenders, including violent attacks, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention,
criminalization, malicious prosecutions and punitive registration regimes. In particular, we strongly
condemn all acts of reprisals against individuals or groups who have cooperated, cooperate or wish
to cooperate with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms.

Reprisals against human rights defenders for cooperating with the UN are unacceptable. They must
be able to cooperate with international organisations in the course of their work.

The EU reiterates its strong position on the important role of the civil society organizations, the
human rights defenders and independent human rights institutions as a foundation of the promotion
and protection of human rights in the society and the further development of democracy and rule of
law.
I thank you, Mr. President

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