Human Rights Council
54th Session
11 September to 13 October
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Albanian Delegation at the 54thSession of the Human Rights Council delivered the following statements:
  
Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the report of OHCHR on Afghanistan 
Geneva, 13 September 2023
 
Mr. President,
 
Albania thanks the High Commissioner for the Report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.
 
Two years since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the overall situation on the ground is very bleak: the de facto authorities of the country continue to systematically violate many human rights through such measures as a) implementing a system of total discrimination, exclusion and subjugation of women and girls; b) systematic repression of the human rights defenders and other civil society activists; c) repressing or threatening the media and critics of Taliban rule; d) extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, forced displacement, and denial of fair trial rights.
 
The de facto authorities in Afghanistan have violated the very principles that form the foundation of the international human rights system. Their restrictive policies and practices which aim to target women and girls, denying them their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms are in clear violations of the CPRW and CEDAW. This is not only a violation of our shared commitment to gender equality but a betrayal of the Afghan people who deserve justice, dignity, and respect. We must stand up collectively to uphold the provisions enshrined in both conventions.
Albania strongly condemns the Taliban’s systemic discrimination against women and girls, including bans and restrictions on access to education and employment.Respect for human rights and women’s inclusion at all levels of society is important to addressing the welfare of all Afghans and integral to an economically viable, stable, and secure Afghanistan.
 
Albania stands by all Afghans, who are entitled to the right to a normal life, including the right to freely express their thoughts, and having their voice heard in a representative and inclusive government.
 
We will continue to stand with the Afghan people and their aspirations for equal rights and prosperity.
 
Thank you.
 * * *
 
 
HRC 54 - Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence.
Geneva, 13 September 2023
 
Mr. President
Albania thanks the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantee of non-recurrence, Mr. Fabian Savioli, for the report on his latest visit to Serbia and Kosovo and his assessment in redressing the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed during the armed conflicts of the 1990s.
Albania welcomes the reaffirmation made by Kosovo and Serbia under the EU Facilitation dialogue for the importance of resolving the fate of the Missing Persons, to bring closure to the suffering of their loved ones and to foster lasting reconciliation and peace. Out of the 6.065 cases of persons who have gone missing during January 1998 – December 2000, 1.621 cases still remain unresolved more than 20 years after.
We express our regret that the Special Rapporteur, despite his request, couldn’t visit the police compound in Batajnica, where a mass grave had been foundin the past. He was neither able to consult relevant classified military information, which remain closed in Serbian archives.
We support the recommendation of Special Rapporteur for acceleration of the search and identification of Missing Persons based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria.
We believe transparency, political will and cooperation between relevant national and international authorities are important to overcome the difficulties of the past so that bridges are built for a sincere dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.
Thank you!
  * * *
 
HRC 54 - Item 4: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation
 
Geneva, 21 September 2023
 
Mr. Vice President
Albania thanks the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Ms. Mariana Katzarova, for the report and expresses its full support to his mandate. 
As the Special Rapporteur noted in the report, the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation has steadily decline over the past two decade and has significantly deteriorated since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian authorities have systematically crackdown civil society activists, human rights defenders, independent media and journalists, political oppositions, and critical voices, as well as persons in vulnerable situations throughout the Russian Federation.
We are deeply concerned with recent legislative restrictions, especially the Foreign Agent Law, that has led to mass arbitrary arrests, detention and harassment of human rights defenders, peaceful anti-war activist, minorities, and anyone speaking against the war of the Russian Federation on Ukraine.  
We condemn the persecution of ordinary citizens for their opposition to Russian government, including anti-war statements and supporting Ukraine. We call on Russia to abolish its oppressive legislation and to finish the political misuse of the judiciary.
Albania reiterated the call on Russian authorities to abide by its international obligations, to immediately release all unjustly detained human rights activists and to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for the perpetrators of human rights abuses and violations.
I thank you.
  * * *
 
HRC 54 - Item 4: Interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic  
Geneva, 23 September 2023
 
Mr. Vice President
Albania welcomes the latest report by the Commission of Inquiry and reiterates its full support to the Commission. We thank the members of the Commission for their latest report, which again shows us a gloomy picture of the situation on the ground with serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law continued across the country.
Twelveyears since the outbreak of war in Syria, the parties to the conflict continue to perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity and to violate basic human rights, inflicting unimaginable suffering to Syrians.
The toll of the war in Syria is tragic, with hundreds of thousands killed, millions displaced, more than 100,000 missing or forcibly disappeared, cities and infrastructure destroyed, continuous gender-based violence and discrimination, and 90 per cent of the population living in poverty. Repression and extortion continued, also affecting people who return home. In the north-east of the country, an estimated 62,000 Syrian and foreign men, women and children remained in detention camps and prisons.
We all know, the root-cause of all suffering in Syria is political, and it can be alleviated only through a lasting political solution.
We welcome the adoption of the resolution of 29 June 2023 by the United Nations General Assembly for the establishment of a new mechanism dedicated to clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing people in Syria, and to address a humanitarian imperative.
We remain convinced that respect for human rights, justice and ending impunity for serious crimes, are indispensable for lasting peace in Syria and a Syrian led and UN-facilitated political process is the only way forward.
I thank you.
  * * *
 
 
HRC 54 - Item 4: Interactive dialogue on theinterim oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath
Geneva, 22 September 2023
 
 Mr. President,
Albania thanks Mrs. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the oral update on the situation of human rights in Belarus.
Almost three years since the disputed 2020 presidential election in Belarus,the Lukashenko regime continues its campaign of violence and repression, intentionally directed at those who express opposition to the regime, to the systematic human rights violations, or to the regime’s support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The authorities continued the crackdown on independent civil society organizations, targeting NGOs, media outlets, professional organizations, and ethnic and religious communities.Torture and other ill-treatment remained widespread. Perpetrators continued to enjoy impunity. Individuals convicted under politically motivated charges often faced harsher treatment and worse conditions of detention.
The cruel, politically motivated verdicts against opposition leaders, human rights defenders and journalists are another attempt to intimidate and silence those who stand up in defence of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people in Belarus.
 
We reiterate our call to the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and all others arbitrarily detained and convicted, and to end intimidation and reprisal against individuals for exercising their human rights and freedoms.  
Albania thanks the High Commissioner and his Office for the continuous efforts to document human rights abuses, with a view to assisting future accountability processes, and we reaffirm our strong support for the mandate.
 
I thank you.
  * * *
 
 
Item 4: ID with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression (oral update)
Geneva, 25 September 2023
 
Mr. President,
Albania thanks Mr. Erik Mose, Chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, and other members of the Commission, for the oral update on the situation of human rights in Ukraine. We are particularly concerned with the situation on the ground, where the Commission has gathered evidence of systematic grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law, many amounting to war crimes, committed by the Russian authorities.
Russia has never stopped bombarding urban and residential areas, with missiles and drones flying over and into homes and apartment buildings. Around 50% of Ukraine’s power generation infrastructure has been destroyed and now Russia is attacking ports and grain silos. Large areas of the eastern regions have been turned into mine fields. Over ten thousand Ukrainians have lost their lives; millions have been displaced within and outside the country and thousands of children have been forcefully deported to Russia. All these are undisputed evidence on the ground of clear violations of human rights.
Albania fully supports the mandate of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the work of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the investigations by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court into the situation in Ukraine and the work of the Core Group towards a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
Albaniastands in solidarity with Ukraine and its people in resisting the aggressor and defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
I thank you.
 
  * * *
 
HRC 54 - ITEM 6: UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF MONTENEGRO
Geneva, October 2, 2023
Madame Vice President
Albaniawelcomes the continued engagement of Montenegroin the UPR process. We also welcome the delegation of Montenegro and thanks them for presenting update on the accepted recommendations.
Albania welcomed the adoption of a national plan for the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and the National Gender Equality Strategy 2021–2025, which aimed to reduce stereotypes and prejudices and included activities to achieve a better balance between work and private life.
 We appreciate the continued efforts by Montenegro to promote and protect human rights, including the adoption of the Minority Policy Strategy 2019–2023, allocated funds to institutions that promoted minority rights, efforts to ensure proportional representation of minorities in administrative bodies at the national and local level. We encourage the Montenegrin government to continue these efforts in the future.
We are pleased to acknowledge that Montenegro has accepted 225out of 247recommendations received from its fourth UPR cycle, including the two made by our delegation, on the participations of the national minorities in judicial bodies, as well as in the health structures and promoting women’s empowerment including a larger representation of women in the Parliament.
Finally, we wish the Government of Montenegro every success in their determination and commitment to implement the accepted recommendations and further improve the human rights situation on the ground.
I thank you.
 
* * *
 
HRC 54 - ITEM 6: UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW OF SERBIA
Geneva, October 3, 2023
Mr. President,
Albania thanks the delegation of Serbia for the presentation made today. We acknowledge that Serbia has accepted several recommendations received, including three made by our delegation.
We look with a special attention at the situation of the Ethnic Albanians living in Southern Serbia, so they receive what they’re entitled to, more respect and inclusiveness in the socio-economic life of their country, in accordance with the obligations of Serbia and in accordance with international norms and European law.
We remain concern about the situation on the ground, where over 6000 citizens have been illegally and systemically removed from the Serbian civil registry over the last few years. This has removed the right of Albanians to vote, access healthcare and education, buy and sell property and benefit from state services.
We regret that our recommendation regarding the investigation of the role of suspected senior-level perpetrators of war crimesand on reparations to victims does not enjoy the support of Serbia.
Taking into consideration that a right to reparation to victims of human rights violations is an individual right that exists both in international human rights law and in national law of Serbia, we would appreciate further clarifications from the delegation on their position. Having said that, we would like to recall the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, and reparations, Mr. Salvioli.
I thank you!
  * * *
 
HRC 54 - ITEM 10: Interactive dialogue on an oral update of the High Commissioner regarding the findings of the periodic reports of OHCHR on the situation of human rights in Ukraine
Geneva, 9 October 2023
Mr. President
Albania thanks the Deputy Hight Commissioner for Human Rights, Mme. Nada Al-Nashif, for the oral update today and reiterates its full support to the work of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
The OHCHR continues to document the devastating consequences of the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine, resulted in severe and widespread harm to civilians, including death; life-changing injuries; loss of homes and livelihoods; displacement; infrastructure destruction; deprival of access to basic services; and other trauma. Missile strikes, air strikes and loitering munitions attacks, launched by the Russian Federation, also caused widespread destruction of essential infrastructure, resulting in immeasurable harm for the civilian population, with long-term effects.
According to the latest report of the Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights Situation in Ukraine, between 1 February and 31 July 2023, 1,028 civilians has been killed and 3,593 injured; acts of sexual violence from Russian military continued to be common in Ukraine; arbitrary detention and incommunicado detention of civilians remain a massive phenomenon. OHCHR has documented several cases of children and groups of children from Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Kyiv regions being transferred to other regions in Russian-occupied territory or deported to the Russian Federation or Belarus.
Albaniathank the OHCHR for adapting to the unimaginable situation since Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal attack upon Ukraine, and for continuing to document the atrocities committed against the people of Ukraine.We reiterate our strongest condemnation of all violations of international human rights law committed in the context of the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Such violations require the strongest condemnation of all UN Members, and all their perpetrators must be held accountable.
We reiterate our strong support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
I thank you.