Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Petersen

Statement at the United Nation Commission on Human Rights

Geneva, 18 March 2004

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Mr Chairman,

I would like to join the other speakers in congratulating you, Mr Chairman, on your election and to wish you and the bureau every success with this session.  I would also like to congratulate Ms Louise Arbour, the new High Commissioner for Human Rights.  I wish to assure both of you that you have Norway’s co-operation and full support.

Last year we welcomed the late Sergio Vieira de Mello to his first Commission on Human Rights.  His dedication in the service of the United Nations continues to be a source of inspiration for all of us. I would also like to thank Mr Bertrand Ramcharan for the excellent manner in which he has performed his duties as Acting High Commissioner during a particularly difficult time.

Last week the ugly face of terrorism again revealed itself in the appalling terrorist attacks on commuter trains and railway stations during the rush hour in Madrid. They were attacks on peace and humanity. I condemn these terrible acts in the strongest possible terms.

On behalf of the Norwegian Government, I wish to extend my condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families, to the injured, and to the Spanish people. The Norwegian people are mourning with you in this time of grief. This time the terrorists struck in your country. But these were attacks on us all. In the democratic battle against terrorism it is one for all, all for one.

Terrorism demonstrates a total disrespect for human dignity and human rights. Hence, we must continue to fight terrorism with determination and resolve. And we must not allow the gruesome and cowardly acts of terrorists to weaken our commitment to democratic ideals.

Loyalty to these principles is one of the main ingredients in the only recipe for a successful fight against terrorism. The struggle against terrorism must be conducted within the boundaries of international law. We must cherish the values that terrorists attempt to destroy.

Internationally recognised human rights and humanitarian law are instruments that make this fight more effective in the long term. Civil liberties such as the right to due legal process and the prohibition of torture must be upheld.

Mr Chairman,

The primary responsibility for the protection and promotion of human rights lies with the State. International co-operation, however is a necessity. Humanitarian assistance, development co-operation and international trade are policy areas where we must be effective and coherent in order to advance the cause of human rights. Both civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights must be high on our agenda. Fighting poverty is also advancing the cause of human rights. All human rights are interdependent and interrelated.

It has been frequently argued that international promotion and protection of human rights challenges state sovereignty. I do not subscribe to such contentions. As sovereign states we have freely chosen to undertake international commitments. We have accepted that human rights are not only a national issue, but also a legitimate international concern.

Human rights are dangerous only to those governments whose very existence depends on the fear and oppression of their own people. There are still too many areas of the world that lag behind in democratic development and too many leaders who do not have the legitimacy provided by fair and free elections.

This Commission must speak up against human rights violations wherever they take place.  Norway will revert to these questions under item 9 of the Commission’s agenda. 

I admire the special rapporteurs and representatives who help enlighten us regarding such violations. We also value the important work of the NGO community and their active participation at the Commission on Human rights in this regard.

Mr Chairman,

Human rights violations are one of the greatest sources of insecurity in the world today and are often at the very source of armed conflict. Massive and systematic violations of human rights constitute a threat to international peace and security.

We must acknowledge the fundamental link between human rights and security, We must move beyond the traditional state-centred understanding of security and into the realm of human security. State security stems from security of the individual. Respect for human rights is a prerequisite for sustainable security and development.

Thus, all efforts to facilitate peace must address human rights concerns in order to prevent the creation of fertile ground for new abuse and lay the foundations for stability and democratic development. Norway therefore strongly supports the Secretary General’s efforts to place human rights at the heart of all the UN’s activities to promote peace and security.

Mr Chairman,

Human rights are certainly about noble ideals. Yet agreement on ideals is far from enough. Human rights are also clear-cut legal commitments, which must be respected and acted upon on a day-to-day basis. It takes time however to build what the High Commissioner for Human Rights calls national protection systems, a true culture of human rights. At its most profound level human rights work is about changing mentalities, both of the governed and the governing. Therefore, human rights education, the active engagement of civil society and the creation of independent national institutions are important.

We must also include actors other than governments in our efforts to ensure human rights for all. International corporations and organisations influence the human rights situation in many corners of the world, yet their activities are not regulated by human rights instruments.  We must address their responsibility and their accountability, guided by moral and ethical considerations. In Norway we attach a great deal of importance to the concept of “corporate social responsibility” and enjoy constructive and fruitful co-operation with the private sector on these issues.

Mr Chairman,

The system for protecting human rights at the international level has been in place for a long time. It was constructed in response to challenges that were in many ways different from those we face today. This system is under considerable pressure and demands our full commitment. We welcome and support the efforts by the Secretary General to work for change and reform where this is needed.  Norway is following with interest the work of the Secretary General’s Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change. I encourage the Panel to look at ways of increasing the impact of human rights efforts on all aspects of the organisation's work.

In too many cases the international community has turned a blind eye to gross violations of human rights. We must not forget the horrors perpetuated partly as a result of international inaction, and we must intensify our efforts to prevent genocide and large-scale violations. We must have the courage and the will to act decisively when it is called for. The Secretary General's proposal to create a new mandate on genocide merits further consideration. However, lessons learned – not least in Bosnia in the 1990s - clearly indicate that political determination to take action against evil is as least as important as carefully formulated provisions of international law.

Mr Chairman,

Any tolerance for the use of torture, in the fight against terrorism and otherwise, would be a serious setback which would undermine decades of work to instil respect for human rights.

Norway fully subscribes to the universal and absolute abolition of the death penalty. The use of capital punishment against child offenders is totally unacceptable, and we are seriously alarmed by cases where offenders with mental disorders face the death penalty.

One of the cornerstones of democratic societies is the freedom to hold and express opinions. Violations of this right demonstrate the fragility and fear of oppressive regimes. It reflects their failure to see how civil society and a free media can contribute to prosperity and democratic development.

Violence against women takes place in public as well as in private spheres and is a grave human rights violation. Trafficking in human beings represents a blatant violation of human rights and human dignity and must be stopped. These issues must be tackled hands on by the Commission.

We must strengthen the role of women in conflict-prevention, peace negotiations and in post-conflict situations. Their active participation is urgently needed in order to secure lasting peace and viable human rights conditions for society in general and for vulnerable groups such as children, elderly people and minorities in particular.

Today there are still 25 million internally displaced persons in the world. Most of them have been displaced because of conflict and internal strife. We need to offer them stronger protection and assistance. It is also important to involve the displaced populations in political processes that affect them.

We must also make progress in advancing the rights of indigenous peoples and move towards the adoption of a Declaration on these rights. 

The situation of all those individuals and organisations that courageously defend the cause of human rights, often on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, deserves our attention. Hence, Norway will present a resolution on human rights defenders again this year. It is necessary not only to tolerate the activities of human rights defenders, but also to create an environment that will enable their work to thrive. 

Mr Chairman,

As states we must continuously strive to meet our obligations in accordance with the universal standards of human rights. Dialogue and co-operation are needed if we are to succeed. We have a lot to learn from each other’s experiences. The Commission on Human Rights is the international community’s key forum for such exchange. We expect the Commission to deliver concrete and tangible results. I wish you every success for the coming weeks, and hope that your deliberations are  productive and focused on advancing together the important agenda of human rights.

Thank you.