ITEM 4 – General Debate: Human Rights Situations that require the Council’s attention

United Nations Human Rights Council 52nd session: Statement by Finland, 22 March 2023.

Mr. President,

Finland aligns with the EU statement.

The mandate of the Human Rights Council includes addressing human rights situations that require its attention. This part of the mandate is equally important as others.  Also, human rights violations and abuses need to be discussed wherever they occur. The work of the Council is important to ensure accountability.

Finland has condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine from the beginning. There is mounting evidence of war crimes as well as other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Ukrainian civilians are victims of indiscriminate attacks and summary executions take place.  Children have been deported and forcibly transferred. Finland strongly supports the mandate renewal of the Commission of Inquiry.

We also remain deeply concerned about the repeated human rights violations and abuses as well as cycle of violence and loss of human life, including of children and women, in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel. Violence is not an answer to the situation. All parties must respect international law.

A flourishing society is inclusive and non-discriminatory. It embraces different views and backgrounds. We follow with deep concern the oppressive restrictions on civic space in many States.

There is no longer free speech and media freedom in Russia. Human rights defenders, political opponents, journalists, academics, students and others expressing critical views are harassed, arbitrarily detained or convicted with long sentences. We remain gravely concerned about disrespect for rights of persons belonging to minorities and reports of persecution of LGBTI persons, including in Chechnya.

Evidence-based reports on human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, are concerning. Universal human rights need to be guaranteed for all -   including persons belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, human rights defenders, intellectuals and lawyers.

Afghans are facing a human rights crisis. Girls and women in Afghanistan are rightfully calling for an end to institutionalized, large scale and systematic discrimination tantamount to gender persecution enforced by the Taleban. They need the unequivocal, sustained and full support of the international community.

So do the women and girls in Iran.  Peaceful protesting is a human right. The brutal and disproportionate use of force against protesters as well as the arbitrary detentions and harsh convictions must end. 

Grave human rights violations, including persecution of civil society, journalists and human rights defenders and of ethnic and religious minorities, continue in Myanmar. Those responsible for the coup, as well as the perpetrators of violence and gross human rights violations, should be held accountable.

We are increasingly concerned about the situation in Cambodia, especially freedom of media and respect for civil and political rights.

We refer also to our national and/or Nordic and Baltic statements in the interactive dialogues under item 4.

Thank you.