New York City, February 10, 2021
Presidency of the Human Rights Council is the first for Fiji and the Pacific Island nations, which is a great achievement for the Pacific region.
While acknowledging the work of all members of the Human Rights Council, I reaffirm our commitment to further the existing work and inclusive representative nature of the Council through collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
We recognise the collective responsibility and solidarity among all States. It is crucial to addressing the challenges caused by Covid-19
Collective responsibility
“It is our collective responsibility to draw attention and to respond to the deep inequalities that were laid bare by the pandemic – and to ensure that human rights standards, combined with our shared commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, will guide us as we do all we can to recover from what is, a global health – and a human rights crisis.
We know, as a community of nations, that emergencies and disasters, whether caused by a climate crisis or a health emergency, will exacerbate existing inequalities and deepening poverty.
Transformative role
We emphasise the transformative role of the Human Rights Council in reshaping and harmonising social, national, and global relationships, with a view to building societies which are fairer, resilient, and premised on human dignity and equality.
I reaffirm my commitment to work closely with civil society organisations who support, contribute and enrich the Council’s work and ensure the inclusivity of its dialogues. I reiterate unity and inclusivity as important in advancing the work of the Human Rights Council, with steadfast determination to protect and promote the human rights of all people.
I commend the work of my Elisabeth Tichy Fisslberger for her determination and unwavering leadership during her tenure last year as president under extremely challenging circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I look forward to working with the strong team of the Human Rights Council Bureau to ensure that the Council fulfils its mandate and remains guided by the principles of universality, and constructive international dialogue, in order to enhance the promotion and protection of all human rights, everywhere.
Nazhat Shameem Khan is Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations. She was recently elected to the post of President of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the first for Fiji and a Pacific Island Nation. The above was her first address at the organisational meeting of the Council in the build-up to its 46th regular session, scheduled to be held on February 22 and February 23, 2021.
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