The President of the Human Rights Council, Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli presented the annual report of the Council to the 72th session of the UN General Assembly and Third Committee on 2 November 2017. At the interactive Dialogue with the President in the Third Committee, Zoltán Varga, Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN, reiterated Hungary’s strong support to the work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.
Mr. Varga recalled that Hungary has been an active supporter of the Council since its establishment in 2006, including by taking a leading role in introducing the resolutions on the independence of judges and lawyers and on the question of reprisals. He emphasized that consensus-building on issues such as minority rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, the fight against all kinds of discrimination, the protection of persons and groups in vulnerable situations are very important to Hungary.
Mr. Varga reiterated the importance of de-politicizing the work of the Council, stepping up efforts to build confidence among members and seeking for a consensual track, even on divisive issues.
The Deputy Permanent Representative furthermore recalled the adoption the adoption of the resolution on „Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights” on the 36th session of the Human Rights Council which he considered as one of the most significant achievements of the session.
You can read the full statement here.
