Statement by Indonesia Delegation High-Level Panel Discussion on the 50th Anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights 31st Session of the Human Rights Council
Mr. President,
We welcome and also thank all panelists for their remarks and valuable insights.
68 years ago, when international community adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, it is based on the acknowledgement that human rights cover all spheres of human life.
18 years later, in 1966, international community affirmed this universality of human rights through adopting simultaneously the Covenant on Economy, Social and Cultural Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Indonesia reaffirms our strong belief that human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that they must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis.
We have therefore, ratified both Covenants at the same time in 2005, through Law No. 11/2005 on ratification of ICESCR and Law No. 12/2005 on ratification of ICCPR.
We also continue to implement them equally through our national development plan.
Mr. President,
This 50-year anniversary provides an important impetus for us to reinvigorate the spirit of universality, indivisility, and interrelatedness of human rights. Not one right is more important than the others.
We also strengthen our call and efforts for universal ratification of both Covenants
More importantly, this anniversary should remind and encourage all parties to treat and implement all rights with the same emphasis, attention and support.
Finally, we would welcome the views of the panelists on the following two questions: first, what efforts can be done to promote universal ratification of both Covenants; and, second, how to ensure the UN system gives the same and equal treatment and emphasis on both covenants when executing their mandates.
I thank you.
Geneva, 1 March 2016
