UN Human Rights Council 55: Item 4 General Debate
UK Statement for Item 4 General Debate, delivered at HRC55 by the UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO and the UN, Simon Manley.
Thank you, Mr Vice President.
Three months ago, we gathered in this hall to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
And yet today what do we see?
We see a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, Russia, holding a sham election in someone else’s country, Ukraine. And Russia’s forces deporting Ukrainian children and torturing civilian detainees.
Another Permanent Member, China, continues to persecute Uyghurs and Tibetans. Restrict civil society. Arbitrarily detain lawyers, human rights defenders, and journalists like Sophia Huang. The Hong Kong authorities have rushed through new national security legislation that will further erode rights and freedoms and which, as the High Commissioner himself said, is likely incompatible with international law.
In Gaza, we see shocking humanitarian suffering of Palestinian civilians, struggling for basic food and medicine, with 30,000 people killed. We also see the plight of hostages held in Gaza and the anguish of their families.
In Sudan, a wholly unjustified conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions. In the DRC, civilians are fleeing escalating fighting and appalling sexual violence.
And after 13 years of unimaginable suffering in Syria, violence is only increasing.
We must stand up for all human rights, everywhere.
Thank you.