United Nations – The UN will continue to work with the governments of member countries that routinely deny human rights, to address the situation, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has said.
Ban said this on Monday in his remarks to the High-Level Panel Discussion at the Human Rights Council entitled: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Human Rights, which is holding in Geneva.
The UN Chief, in his remarks made available to reporters in New York, told the council that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was a major step forward for ensuring enforcement of human rights in member states.
The Agenda, he added, reminded States that human rights include the right to development, and that society was only as strong as its weakest member.
He said that the integrated, indivisible and universal nature of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, was deeply rooted in the adherence to universal human rights.
“The 2030 Agenda’s promise to leave no one behind means dismantling the structural injustice that holds back women, minorities, indigenous people, and so many millions of others.
“Its commitment to reach those who are farthest behind means we must start by supporting the most vulnerable people: the victims of inequality and injustice.
“Many of these are people trapped in situations of conflict.
“Around the world, States and non-State actors are failing to uphold the principles and laws that safeguard civilians,” he said.
Those farthest behind, he said, included millions of people who were affected by climate change, which is having the greatest impact on the poor and dispossessed.
Ban said that the solutions for these people, embodied in the 2030 Agenda, lie in rights-based approaches.
He said also many of those farthest behind were migrants, refugees, the displaced and stateless people.
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“Building higher walls and creating stricter asylum regimes does nothing to address the reasons for mass movements of people, which are often rooted in festering development and governance challenges.
“The 2030 Agenda commits Member States to welcome the positive contribution of migrants and ensure that migration takes place with full respect for human rights.
“We need a more positive narrative on the role of migrants and refugees,” he said.
He said the Council mechanisms would give victims and human rights defenders a venue, a vehicle and a voice.
“Your reports draw the attention of the world to abuses committed in many countries and situations.
“Your expanding programme is a testament to the growing authority of your work over the past 10 years.
“Long-term peace and security cannot exist without human rights for all.
” Human rights are the very foundation of our common humanity,’’ Ban said. (NAN)