HRC 48 – EU Statement – General Debate Item 8 Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action

Thank you, Madam President,

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

The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro 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 Armenia , Georgia,  the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.

With the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action in 1993, all States reaffirmed that human rights derive from the dignity and worth inherent in the human person, and that the human person is the central subject of human rights and fundamental freedoms. States also reaffirmed that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

These fundamental principles of the international human rights system – which all States have committed to – are still of utmost relevance today. The EU is concerned that they are increasingly misunderstood, questioned or reinterpreted.

Madam President,

We underscore that we cannot pick and choose between human rights. It would be a mistake to diminish economic, social and cultural rights, and equally misguided to think that sustainable development is possible without the enjoyment of civil and political rights. We remain committed to a human rights-based approach to development.

The VDPA is very clear in this regard: “Democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.” And: “The international community should support the strengthening and promoting of democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire world.” Societies with strong rule of law and respect for human rights are more likely to be inclusive, peaceful and resilient; and more likely to be stable and prosperous

Madame President,

The European Union is committed to upholding the universality of human rights and rejects any attempts to use cultural relativism, security or status of development as a pretext to divert from the standards the international community has set itself in the VDPA, the UDHR, the Human Rights Covenants and other human rights treaties.

I thank you.

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