Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, for the 2020 Human Rights Treaty Body Review Inaugration Event
2020/6/2
I would like to begin by thanking the ambassadors of Switzerland and Morocco for convening this meeting as well as the PGA and the High Commissioner for Human Rights for being with us today.
Japan, as a state party to 8 out of 9 human rights treaties, finds strong interest in strengthening the human rights treaty body system and wishes to contribute to the process launched today.
In June 2019, Japan, together with Costa Rica and 42 other Member States, co-authored a non-paper which outlines 20 points as “potential elements for consideration” in the 2020 review process. While all the points are important, we must admit it is extremely challenging under the current constraints due to COVID-19 to cover all of them in depth and agree on meaningful recommendations by the end of the 74th session.
I would therefore propose, following the guidance in the co-facilitators’ letter on this meeting to “focus our statements on the process”, that the review concentrates its consideration on 4 crucial points:
1) Enhancing predictability and efficiency of the review of the States,
2) Avoiding duplication of questionnaires to enable treaty bodies to focus on respective core mandates,
3) Promoting achievable and focused recommendations based on facts and deeper understanding of States’ challenges, and
4) Improving the dialogue between the treaty bodies and the States.
Japan hopes that through this process, we will agree on a series of strong, clear, concrete and effective recommendations, such as on adopting a coordinated and fixed calendar, expanding the simplified reporting procedures and harmonizing the working methods.
COVID-19 pandemic is threatening not only human lives and livelihood but also human dignity. In the post-COVID era, the human rights treaty body system needs to be more effective than ever in ensuring the human rights. The responsibility lies in our hands.
Thank you.
Japan, as a state party to 8 out of 9 human rights treaties, finds strong interest in strengthening the human rights treaty body system and wishes to contribute to the process launched today.
In June 2019, Japan, together with Costa Rica and 42 other Member States, co-authored a non-paper which outlines 20 points as “potential elements for consideration” in the 2020 review process. While all the points are important, we must admit it is extremely challenging under the current constraints due to COVID-19 to cover all of them in depth and agree on meaningful recommendations by the end of the 74th session.
I would therefore propose, following the guidance in the co-facilitators’ letter on this meeting to “focus our statements on the process”, that the review concentrates its consideration on 4 crucial points:
1) Enhancing predictability and efficiency of the review of the States,
2) Avoiding duplication of questionnaires to enable treaty bodies to focus on respective core mandates,
3) Promoting achievable and focused recommendations based on facts and deeper understanding of States’ challenges, and
4) Improving the dialogue between the treaty bodies and the States.
Japan hopes that through this process, we will agree on a series of strong, clear, concrete and effective recommendations, such as on adopting a coordinated and fixed calendar, expanding the simplified reporting procedures and harmonizing the working methods.
COVID-19 pandemic is threatening not only human lives and livelihood but also human dignity. In the post-COVID era, the human rights treaty body system needs to be more effective than ever in ensuring the human rights. The responsibility lies in our hands.
Thank you.