Mr. President,
Albania expresses gratitude to Ambassador Omar Zniber for presenting the Council’s annual report to the UN General Assembly. We appreciate his dedication and leadership in guiding the Council’s work during a time of escalating human rights crises worldwide.
We are faced with sustained push back and resistance against the entire human rights agenda. Under these circumstances, it is our responsibility to work together to strengthen the Human Rights Council’s ability to address both traditional and emerging threats while aiming the effective enjoyment of human rights.
Mr. President,
Albania remains a strong supporter of the Human Rights Council and its work to promote and protect human rights. We strongly believe that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, interrelated, and inherent to every person, regardless of nationality, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, language, or any other status. Respecting Human Rights and the fundamental freedoms of all individuals and groups is essential for ensuring lasting peace, security, and sustainable development.
Through its mechanisms such as Special Procedures, Investigative Mechanisms, and the Universal Periodic Review, the Council plays a crucial role in promoting and defending human rights on a global scale.
We must advocate for greater use of human rights information in our common efforts to develop effective early warning mechanisms and early response capabilities. Human Rights are and should be used as a valuable set of tools for conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace.
Albania, alongside with countries worldwide, supported the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for human rights in Russia. Albania backed the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on the human rights situation in Ukraine, due to the ongoing Russian aggression.
Mr. President,
Albania remains deeply concerned about the restrictions on civil society globally and stresses the importance of civil society in democratic systems.
We call on all nations to protect civil society and denounces any threats or reprisals against those cooperating with UN human rights mechanisms. The ability for individuals and groups to engage with the Council without fear of reprisals is crucial for the effectiveness of these mechanisms.
As a member of the Human Rights Council, Albania has prioritized and will continue to prioritize the following areas:
- Strengthening of accountability – We will work to strengthen the role of Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, and the Universal Periodic Review, which together form the basic pillars of the UN system to ensure accountabilities for all violations of human rights.
- Promotion of Women’s Rights and Gender Equality – We strongly believe that putting women and girls at the centre of peace and security is a good investment in longer-lasting and more sustainable peace.
- Promotion of Civic Space and protection of human rights defenders – The active and meaningful participation in the work of the Human Rights Council should be preserved and promoted. To this end, combating all forms of intimidation and reprisals against civil society actors, especially those who engage with the United Nations, must be a priority.
- Protection and Promotion of Children’s Rights – Albania will spearhead concrete and decisive action to improve the situation of children worldwide driven by a human rights-based approach that puts the child at the centre and filters analysis through the lens of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
To conclude, we need to reflect on ways how to improve the Human Rights System and make it stronger. While we can discuss on the best ways to achieve this, one thing is certain: We need to work together to address the challenges Human Rights, and the Human Rights System is facing.
Albania stands ready to actively engage for a strengthened and effective human rights system.
Thank you!
