Human Rights Council 39: Interactive Dialogue with Assistant Secretary General Gilmour on the Secretary General’s Report on Reprisals
This UK statement was delivered at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council during the interactive dialogue with Assistant Secretary General Gilmour on the Secretary General's report on reprisals.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The United Kingdom welcomes the Secretary General’s report, and thanks both the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General Gilmour for their efforts to reverse the negative trend of reprisals against individuals co-operating with the UN. All States need to protect the rights of individuals, be they human rights defenders, or other members of civil society, to co-operate with the UN.
We were disappointed to read in the report about continued instances of reprisals, including travel bans and detentions. This should be of grave concern to all members of the Council.
The brave human rights defenders who fight for rights on behalf of others, risking their liberty and sometimes their lives, deserve our protection. We must do all we can to allow them to work and live in safety and without fear of intimidation, harassment or physical and mental harm. It is on this very premise that the UK has based its support for human rights defenders, whenever we can and wherever they are in the world. Our Guidelines on Working with Human Rights Defenders are used by our diplomatic network to provide practical support to those who need it.
Mr President,
We would like to ask Assistant Secretary-General Gilmour, in this 20th anniversary year of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, what he sees as the biggest risk to human rights defenders and civil society, and what action can be taken to reassure those people that the UN is doing all it can to mitigate the risks they face, particularly when interacting and working alongside the UN.
Thank you Mr. President.