UNGA 76 – Third Committee

Item 70: Interactive Dialogue with the President of the Human Rights Council

29 October 2021

Delivered by Permanent Representative, HE Ambassador Mitch Fifield

Mr Chair,

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and my own country Australia.

We take this opportunity to reaffirm our strong support for the Human Rights Council and to thank the President of the Human Rights Council for her report to the plenary and her interactive engagement with the Third Committee.

While the Committee must consider the decisions taken by the Council, it is the plenary which must take action on the report, its addendum and its recommendations. It is not for the Committee to reopen the decisions of the Council.

These past two years have shown how indispensable human rights and fundamental freedoms are in addressing the health crisis and its broad range of consequences. We regret that these consequences have included shrinking civic  space and increasing hostility and violence against civil society.

We take this opportunity to call on all States to fully cooperate with the Human Rights Council, including to issue standing invitations to all Special Procedures and to consider their recommendations in good faith.

Madam President,  

The Human Rights Council has shown great flexibility and adaptability in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What challenges and lessons learned do you identify from these past two years for the Council as an institution?