A/HRC/33/26
24.
A number of additional participants requested the floor during the panel discussion
but could not deliver their statements owing to a lack of time.
(a)
Representatives of States: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Australia,
Bahamas, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile,
Colombia, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, the Czech Republic, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Maldives, Monaco,
Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of
Korea, the Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain,
Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia,
Turkey, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of
America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zambia;
(b)
Representatives of intergovernmental organizations: the Council of Europe,
the International Development Law Organization and the World Trade Organization;
(c)
Representatives of non-governmental organizations: American Association of
Jurists, China NGO Network for International Exchanges, Indian Council of South
America, Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, Organisation internationale
pour les pays les moins avancés, Organization for Defending Victims of Violence, United
Nations Watch and Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik.
25.
Many speakers highlighted the achievements of the Council, such as: the
enhancement of the international human rights system, including through special
procedures and the universal periodic review; raising global awareness of human rights and
mainstreaming human rights within the United Nations system; drawing attention to
emerging human rights situations; developing cooperation with national human rights
institutions; and providing a space for civil society and human rights defenders to be heard.
26.
Speakers welcomed the role of the Council in advancing human rights and
fundamental freedoms through constructive dialogue. Many speakers stressed the need to
respect the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectiveness,
transparency, constructive dialogue and cooperation within the work of the Council. They
also called for the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in an equal and
balanced manner, including the right to development. In that regard, speakers commended
the universal periodic review, which benefited from the participation of all Member States
and the implementation of its recommendations on the ground. Speakers also welcomed the
efforts of the Council to offer technical cooperation and capacity-building for human rights,
particularly to developing countries, with the support of the Office of the High
Commissioner. They also called on the Council to promote a range of other issues, such as
human rights education and training, the rule of law and multilingualism.
27.
Various speakers addressed issues relating to institution-building, including the
review of the subsidiary relationship of the Council with the General Assembly in 2021;
preserving the mandate of the Council in accordance with General Assembly resolution
60/251; promoting the commitment of States members of the Council to uphold the highest
standards of human rights, cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms, and refrain from
abusing procedural devices; focusing more attention on the implementation of
recommendations and decisions of the Council and its mechanisms; developing the
interaction of the Council with the treaty bodies; and taking steps to ensure that the volume
of work did not undermine the substantive impact of the Council.
28.
Several speakers addressed issues related to the work of the Council with civil
society, including: expanding the participation of national human rights institutions;
enhancing the participation of civil society and implementing a comprehensive policy on
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