Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Statement by His Excellency Mr. Zsolt Németh, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Hungary at the 19th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

March 1, 2012 4:15 PM

Geneva, 1 March 2012

Madam President, Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Hungary aligns itself with the statement of the European Union, delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Please allow me to first address two broad issues that are of particular relevance to Hungary: the functioning of the Human Rights Council and the challenges we all face in upholding human rights during the economic crisis. Then, I would like to focus on three critical human rights situations that deserve special attention of the international community.

Madam President, regarding the functioning of the Human Rights Council, there are four aspects I would like to touch upon: the issue of accountability, the importance of the Universal Periodic Review, the valuable work of the Forum on Minority issues and the significance of early warning and the responsibility to protect.

First, as regards accountability, Hungary’s Foreign Minister had the honor to participate, together with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, in last October’s Panel on reprisals for cooperating with the UN in the field of human rights. That panel discussion highlighted once again that the fight against reprisals is an absolute prerequisite for the effective functioning of the Council, and in fact, the UN system as a whole.

It is a tremendous achievement of our age of information technology that nowadays human rights violators have a concrete face. They find it more and more difficult to hide behind the curtain of non-cooperation, or outright lies. The victims’ plight can increasingly be heard loud and clear, it is up to us now to come forward with the adequate response. The importance of internet freedom and the role of social media in advancing freedom of expression have been clearly demonstrated during recent and ongoing social revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa. Therefore, my Government highly appreciated the panel discussion on the freedom of expression on the internet, which took place yesterday and is proud to host the next cyberspace conference in Budapest this coming October. I am also pleased to announce that internet freedom will also be one of the topical issues addressed by the Fifth Budapest Human Rights Forum this fall.

Secondly, Hungary strongly supports the UPR mechanism because it is a unique instrument to review the human rights record of Member States. It allows for a frank, open and inclusive dialogue aiming at strengthening the cooperation among and also within states, international bodies and the civil society.

For the Hungarian Government the UPR process does not end, however, with the submission of our responses. Rather, we consider it as the beginning of a long-term engagement, including the mid-term review, in order to strengthen our human rights record. In this context allow me to highlight that a Human Rights Working Group of the Government of Hungary has been established by a decree of 22 February this year. The newly established inter-ministerial body will monitor the protection of human rights in light of our international obligations, including commitments stemming from the UPR, and it will evaluate as well as coordinate Hungarian human rights policy and its implementation. The Working Group will organise a Civil Roundtable, which will become the platform for discussions with civil society.

I would also like to mention the valuable work of the UN Forum on Minority Issues, established in 2007. The Forum has played a key role in the implementation of the Minorities Declaration, of which we celebrate the 20th anniversary on 13th March. It provides a unique platform for dialogue and exchange of views between all stakeholders, including the representatives of minority communities. Hungary is looking forward to cooperating closely with the newly appointed Independent Expert on Minorities, Ms. Rita Izsák in the fulfillment of her very important mandate.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that Hungary fully supports the importance of early warning and the Responsibility to Protect, including through the UN Joint Office on the Prevention of Genocide and the Promotion of the Responsibility to Protect and the Office of the High Commissioner. This commitment was reflected in my Government’s decision to support the creation of the Center for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities in Budapest.

Madam President,

We all know that the negative impact of the global financial crisis and of the ensuing economic recession is testing existing human rights achievements and the commitment of states and of the international community. However, economic reform can only be effective in the long run if the most important elements of prosperity – freedom and governance based on the consent of the governed within the rule of law – are fully respected. Democratic nations have to pass this test and international institutions have to be guided by it.

The recent adoption of a new constitution by the Hungarian Parliament marks the very end of the transitional period from dictatorship to democracy and provides solid foundations for a modern society based upon the rule of law. To address the various economic, social and political problems, inherited from previous governments, the Hungarian Government also embarked on a comprehensive legislative review to achieve a number of specific goals such as creating a smaller parliament and making it more efficient, establishing parliamentary representation for minorities, trying to end fiscal abuses of certain stakeholders, including churches, enhancing the efficiency of media regulations and modernizing the judiciary to allow a swifter response to contemporary needs. It is clear that this process is not without challenges, or contradictions, not in the least due to the fast pace, at which some of the new provisions have been enacted. This has exposed Hungary to some criticism from the international community. We have listened carefully to these critical reflections and are committed to address any legitimate legal concerns. We are ready to engage in a constructive dialogue with our international partners with the aim of finding solutions in line with our obligations and commitments in the field of human rights. In this respect, Hungary has requested the opinion of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters, in order to ensure that Hungary engages itself with values embedded in the European constitutional heritage.

I would also like to use this opportunity to reaffirm that the protection and promotion of human rights play a pivotal role in our foreign policy as well. It was the main reason behind our 2008 decision to launch the Budapest Human Rights Forum, an annual series of international conferences. I am proud that the Forum has gained international recognition and that several high level officials of the Office of the High Commissioner, as well as Geneva based UN ambassadors and human rights experts have addressed our conference in the last four years.

Madam President,

The story of the Universal Declaration is still unfolding before our eyes today. There are millions, who continue to be denied the full realization of their human rights, and to them, we have a moral obligation to show that the Declaration is not merely a dream, but a reality they can achieve as well.

In this regard, we would like to express our particular concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in three countries that have been the subject of increased scrutiny by this Council. First, regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hungary would like to underscore the importance of the extension of the mandate of the special rapporteur and hopes that the resolution to this effect will enjoy wide support among the members of this Council. We seriously regret that the Iranian Government has not fulfilled the usual requirements for a visit by the High Commissioner so far and we strongly urge the government to take all necessary steps to this end.

The gross and systematic violations of basic human rights by the Syrian authorities as reported by the Commission of Inquiry remain a source of grave concern for my government. The failure of the government of Syria to meet its responsibility to protect its own population and address its humanitarian needs is unacceptable.

And lastly, with regard to Belarus, the Lukashenka government should immediately stop human rights violations and start cooperating with the international human rights mechanisms, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or it will have to face further international isolation. In addition, all political prisoners must be immediately and unconditionally released, including Ales Beliatski, the founder and head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”.

Let me conclude by commending the work of the Office of the High Commissioner under the able guidance of Ms. Navi Pillay and express appreciation for the enhanced dialogue between the High Commissioner and Member States. We strongly support its financial, administrative and political independence as a sine qua non for thorough, balanced, unbiased and efficient work.

Hungary has highly appreciated the experience gained during its membership of the Human Rights Council, which expires this year, and it is our sincere hope that we have made a meaningful contribution to the work of the Council. We are therefore looking forward to the opportunity, hopefully in the not too distant future, to become part of this important body again.

(kormany.hu)