Foreign Minister Tuomioja: The UN Human Rights Council an important step to the right direction

Press release 62/2006
16 March, 2006

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution concerning creation of a new Human Rights Council. "This is a significant step towards strengthening of international human rights," Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja points out. According to Tuomioja, the establishment of the Human Rights Council reflects the UN World Summit's will to create a more permanent and stronger system to replace the existing UN Commission on Human Rights.

The first elections to the Human Rights Council will be held in May. Finland is interested in the possibility of seeking membership in the new council.

For 60 years, the UN Commission for Human Rights has been carrying out important work for, among other things, development of international human rights agreements. The new Human Rights Council, to be established under direct supervision of the UN General Assembly, will be more permanent in nature, and thus it will be better equipped to follow the development of human rights situations throughout the year.

Also, as far as countries seeking membership in the council are concerned, it has now been stated more clearly than before that the members are expected to be committed to full respect of human rights. The EU has announced that its member states will not support as council members countries which are targeted by UN Security Council sanctions due to involvement in human rights abuses. In addition, the term on the Human Rights Council can be suspended if a state is found guilty of extensive human rights violations.

The establishment of the Human Rights Council was adopted by a large majority of votes: 170 for the proposal, and four against, with three abstentions. Even though, in certain respects, the EU would have wished for an even stronger council, the resolution proposed by President of the General Assembly Jan Eliasson is a satisfactory compromise that will provide a basis for strengthening the protection of human rights.

Outlining of the details of the Human Rights Council's work will continue over the next few months. Finland's goal for the forthcoming EU Presidency is to make sure that the council's work will reflect the expectations the UN General Assembly has placed on it. The heads of state decided in September to raise human rights by the side of security and development as the primary tasks of the UN, and the role of the new council should be examined against this light. The human rights are universal, and in their protection the international multilateral system plays a crucial role. Finland is committed to strengthening this role.

Additional information: Director Johanna Suurpää, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 6551, and Press Attaché to Foreign Minister Susanna Parkkonen, tel. +358 9 1605 5012.