STATEMENT MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA H.E. RETNO L. P. MARSUDI AT HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 46TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 22-24 FEBRUARY 2021
Madame President,
Your Excellency Nazhat Shameem Khan…
Thank you and congratulations on your assumption as President of the Human Rights Council.
COVID-19 has significantly affected human rights issues around the
globe.
Arrival of vaccines gives us hope but gaps in global distribution of
vaccines have deprived people’s rights to access of vaccines.
Social safety net measures for the most vulnerable has increased during the pandemic yet global inequalities have escalated, pushing 115 million people into extreme poverty.
I noted also notable progress on the rights and role of women, including through the establishment of the Southeast Asian Network of Women Peace and Negotiators and Mediators last December, and yet violence against vulnerable groups and minorities, particularly women still occur.
Numerous violations of human rights in Palestine still persist and
worsened due to the pandemic.
Madame President, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Facing these situations, we must remain positive and strive to move
forward together.
Allow me to offer three points on the role of our Council in this regard.
First, strengthening the Council’s role in ensuring rights to health for all, including equal access to vaccines.
It is our collective responsibility to promote greater solidarity and political commitment to make sure multilateralism delivers, including by supporting COVAX Facility platform.
Therefore, all relevant Human Rights Council Resolutions and
Presidential Statements must be geared towards realization of this
commitment.
Vaccine multilateralism must triumph over vaccine nationalism.
This is also my strong commitment, as Co-Chair of COVAX AMC
Engagement Group, to further this cause with transparency, certainty, and solidarity.
My second point, devoting greater protection of human rights as COVID- 19 aggravates the already difficult situation in some countries.
Humanitarian situation becomes even more worrisome in countries
undergoing democratic transition, those in conflict areas and under
occupation.
On Palestine, the Council must intensify efforts to fulfill the most
fundamental rights of its people during this pandemic.
We must take real efforts to overcome human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including to reduce violence, reject illegal blockades that restrict freedom of movement of the Palestinians, and reject illegal expansion of Israeli settlements.
Third, ensuring greater synergy with regional mechanism.
Effective coordination and communication between Regional Offices of OHCHR and regional mechanism as well as national governments is vital to address current human rights challenges and identify the way forward.
Constructive engagement should be prioritized.
On Myanmar, we are all concern with the current situation.
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Myanmar people is the top priority.
The international community must support efforts for continuing inclusive democratic transition in Myanmar.
On its part, Indonesia stands ready to contribute.
Madame President,
Finally, it is critical that each and every one of us re-double efforts to
promoting and protecting human rights in this difficult situation.
Moving forward, we must not let politicization of the Council and double standard prevail.
Our efforts of the Council must not contradict principles of the UN
Charter, including respect to territorial integrity.
States’ ability to promote and protect human rights within their territory should be strengthened.
Only then can we thrive in fulfilling the rights of our people and
international human rights.
I thank you very much, Madame President.
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