Introduction of Draft Resolution Human Rights Treaty Body System
INTRODUCTION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION
HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODY SYSTEM
77th Session of the UN General Assembly
Third Committee Action on 17 November 2022
Delivered by Ambassador Thordur Oskarsson, Chargé d’Affaires a.i.
Permanent Mission of Iceland to the UN
Mr. Chair,
I have the pleasure to introduce a draft resolution on the Human rights treaty body system contained in document A/C.3/77/L.40, under agenda item 68(a), on behalf of Belgium, Slovenia and the five Nordic countries; Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Iceland.
This biannual resolution we have before us today is an important text for the process of strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system. This is the fourth time it is adopted by the Third Committee.
Resolution 68/268, adopted in 2014, was an important step to strengthen the treaty body system, a system facing significant challenges. In addition to addressing critical elements of the reporting process it put in place efficiency measures, as well as providing for a new, dedicated capacity building component to support State party reporting.
Since 2016, this resolution has sought to build on and support the full implementation of resolution 68/268 every two years with the aim to strengthen the human rights treaty body system as a whole.
Mr. Chair.
Our approach has been to maintain a consensual resolution that both supports the implementation of resolution 68/268 and reflects the ongoing efforts being made to strengthen the human rights treaty body system.
The draft before us today has been updated to address the following:
First, it acknowledges that effect the Covid-19 pandemic had on the work of the human rights treaty bodies. Second, it builds on some of the experiences of the past two years and lessons learned during the pandemic, including the considerable potential of digitalization of the work of the treaty bodies and the need for the Treaty Bodies to be better able to engage and interact online. It also encourages the treaty bodies to further their use of digital technologies in their work
Mr. Chair,
We would like to thank all the delegations for their constructive participation and collaboration, both in the informal consultation and through bilateral discussions.
We would also like to thank the seventy Member States which have already co-sponsored the draft resolution and invite others who share our view of the importance of an effective and efficient human rights treaty body system to do so as well.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.