STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 52nd Session.
Statement at the presentation of the draft resolution for the renewal of the mandate of the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
Statement delivered by Ms Jannicke Graatrud, Minister, Deputy Permanent Representative Norway.
Check against delivery
3 April 2023
Thank you, President
I am honored to present to the Human Rights Council draft resolution L1 for the renewal of the mandate of the special rapporteur on the situation on human rights defenders for another three years.
This renewal coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
With the consensual adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, UN Member States defined for the first time the right to defend human rights and recognized the right to be protected while doing so.
President
Today, the work of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, are as relevant as ever.
Norway believes that human rights defenders are a resource. They contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights, gender equality, peace and inclusive and sustainable development.
Despite this, many of them continue to be at risk of violence, threats and harassment due to the nature of their work.
They are too often subject to reprisals for working with the UN and other international organisations. This is unacceptable.
The mandate of the special rapporteur is vital for the protection of human rights defenders.
It also serves as a testament to our recognition of the value of their work.
President
This is the sixth time the Human Rights Council will renew this mandate. We commend the consensus that Members of the Council have shown throughout these 15 years.
Our approach has been to keep the mandate unchanged. We believe that the terms of the mandate [as set out in Human Rights Council resolution 16/5 of 24 March 2011] provide the necessary relevance, effectiveness, and competence.
As a result, this draft resolution only contains a small number of technical updates.
We thank all delegations for engaging meaningfully and constructively in the informal negotiations.
We also thank the co-sponsors for their ongoing support.
I am pleased to inform you that we have over sixty [update (currently 65)] co-sponsors, representing all regions.
We invite other delegations to consider co-sponsoring this important resolution.
President,
The constructive spirit of negotiations and broad support has enabled us to unite once again in support for the mandate, and, by extension, all human rights defenders.
I hereby invite the Council to adopt this draft resolution by consensus.
I thank you.