Zëvendësministri për Evropën dhe Punët e Jashtme, z. Agron Tare, mori pjesë në Takimin e Nivelit të Lartë të sesionit të 43-të të Këshillit për të Drejtat e Njeriut (KDNJ), në Gjenevë.
 
Në fjalën e tij në Segmentin e Nivelit të Lartë, zëvendësministri theksoi angazhimin e Shqipërisë  në mbrojtjen dhe promovim e të drejtave të njeriut.
 
Që në hapje të saj, Deklarata Universale e të Drejtave të Njeriut thotë se dinjiteti dhe të drejtat e barabarta e të patjetërsueshme të njeriut përbëjnë themelin e lirisë, drejtësisë dhe paqes në botë. Kuptueshëm, pra, që Shqipëria ka vendosur përparimin e të drejtave dhe lirive themelore të njeriut në zemër të prioriteteve të saj si Kryesuese e Organizatës për Siguri dhe Bashkëpunim në Evropë gjatë vitit 2020. Vizioni i Kryesisë shqiptare të OSBE reflekton besimin e Shqipërisë tek multilateralizmi për përballimin e sfidave të përbashkëta dhe sigurimin e paqes, sigurisë dhe zhvillimit të qëndrushëm. 
 
Zëvendësministri Tare shprehu mbështetjen e plotë të Shqipërisë për “Thirrjen për Veprim” për të drejtat e njeriut që Sekretari i Përgjithshëm i OKB-së prezantoi gjatë takimit, si dhe prioritetet kryesore të Shqipërisë gjatë vitit 2020: barazia gjinore dhe të drejtat e grave, promovimi i tolerancës dhe mosdiskriminimi, si dhe liria e shprehjes dhe e mediave.
 
Në margjinat e Takimit të Nivelit të Lartë të KDNJ 43, z. Tare zhvilloi dhe një sërë takimesh dypalëshe në mbështetje të kandidaturës së Shqipërisë për një vend jo të përhershëm në Këshillin e Sigurimit të OKB-së, si dhe për realizimin e marrëveshjeve dypalëshe konsullore, në lehtësim të lëvizjes së lirë të qytetarëve.
 
 
Fjala e mbajtur nga zëvendësministri Agron Tare:
 
 
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Statement by H.E. Mr Agron TARE
Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
 
at the High-Level Segment of the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council
 
Geneva, 25 February 2020
 
 
 
Madam President,
Madam High Commissioner,
Distinguished colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
I am honored to address the Human Rights Council today, and reaffirm Albania’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Freedom, justice and peace, rest upon the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family. That is what the Universal Declaration of Human Rights tells us. And Albania has placed the advancement of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the core of its priorities as Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe this year.
 
Our vision of implementing our commitments together reflects the centrality of multilateralism, the unique role of the rules-based multilateral order in facing our common challenges and ensuring peace, stability and prosperity. It is a message that bears repeating on this 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
 
We listened to the Secretary General’s Call to Action for human rights yesterday, and we fully endorse it. The rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – those inalienable entitlements of all people, at all times, and in all places – are not e menu to pick and choose from. They are a call on us all to contribute in good faith; a call to resist pushback and decline; a call for strong institutions, at all levels.
 
Last May, Albania underwent its third Universal Periodic Review. I wish to express our support for this important exercise in promoting and strengthening human rights, for the opportunity it offers to engage in meaningful dialogue with civil society actors and human rights defenders, and for being an example of what the often criticized Human Rights Council does right.
 
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to briefly outline three priorities of my country in the work of the Human Rights Council this year.
 
Firstly, 2020 will be a particularly important year for the advancement of gender equality and women’s rights. The 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 20th Anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security” are opportunities for all of us to reflect on the challenges ahead and pave the way for more ambitious reforms in the coming years.
As gender inequality and violence against women persist, Albania will support initiatives aimed at combating violence against women, protecting women rights defenders and civil society activists. Women also continue to be disproportionally affected by conflict. This year, we will pay particular attention to the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, in crisis management, peace processes and post-conflict rehabilitation. We look forward to supporting the work of the Council in empowering women and girls.
 
Our second priority will be to promote tolerance and non-discrimination.
Peaceful and sustainable societies are inclusive societies, societies that leave no one behind. They embrace diversity and promote the participation of all individuals, groups and communities, regardless of their age, disability, origin, religious beliefs, political views or sexual orientation. These are the societies that we pledged to build through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Amidst rising hate speech, xenophobia and intolerance, we must acknowledge our responsibility to integrate human rights approaches in our development policies and programs.
Albania will also continue to nurture the coexistence and religious harmony that we enjoy in the country. We strongly believe that freedom of religion or belief must be protected, everywhere, and exercised based on the principles of equality, non-discrimination and universality.
Throughout 2020, we will pay particular attention to the fight against anti-Semitism as well as strengthening our common policies against all forms of discrimination.
 
Our third priority regards the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media, as fundamental in building democratic and stable societies.
I wish to single out the importance of providing a safe and enabling environment for journalists and media workers, whose sound and independent information is crucial for participatory democracy, transparent and accountable governance, for the promotion, protection and advancement of human rights.
 
Excellencies,
Persisting grave situations of human rights violations continue to demand the Council’s attention and appropriate action. There is something each and every one of us can do to help the Council fulfill its mandate. Albania remains committed to contribute towards strengthening the Human Rights Council. We support the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Treaty Bodies and the Special Procedures. It may not be a perfect system, but it is the one we have built, and we all must take responsibility for its proper functioning.
 
I thank you.