Statement by Ms. Shoko Haruki
First Secretary
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

On agenda item 63: Report of the Human Rights Council
Third Committee
Sixty-ninth Session of the General Assembly
New York
17 November 2014

 

Madame Chair,

 

            I would like to express my gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Baudelaire Ndong Ella, President of the Human Rights Council, for presenting his report today.

 

            My Government is gratified to see the Council responding actively, steadily and steadfastly to numerous human rights violations since its establishment.

 

            The Special Procedures for country-specific mandates and the Commissions of Inquiry (COIs) are both indispensable tools for tackling human rights violations in a robust and timely manner. We appreciate the continuing contributions made by many Special Procedures to improve the human rights situations of countries around the world. Japan has issued a standing invitation to the Special Procedures and will continue to fully cooperate with them.

 

            The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a useful mechanism through which all UN Member States engage in a review of the human rights situations of all countries and thereby receive suggestions for their own improvement through dialogue. It is an indispensable tool, which plays a mutually reinforcing role together with the special procedures. 

 

Madame Chair,

 

            The resolution on civil society space submitted by Japan, Ireland, Chile, Sierra Leone and Tunisia and adopted at the HRC this September recognizes the important role of civil society in addressing issues important to society, including the promotion and protection of human rights. We look forward to deepening the discussion on this topic based on the practical recommendations of the High Commissioner's for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society to be submitted to the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council according to the resolution.

 

            My Government also believes that the international community must work to prevent and protect against reprisals against individuals and organizations cooperating with the United Nations and its representatives and mechanisms. We strongly support the implementation of the Human Rights Council resolution 24/24.

 

            Lastly, we must ensure that the Council has a budget able to address truly necessary mandates, even in the context of its limited resources and budget. We should prioritize the issues of the Council, for instance, establishment of Special Procedures and Working Groups. It is also necessary to enhance its overall effectiveness and efficiency, and to prevent the duplication of mandates.

 

Madame Chair,

 

            As a member of the Human Rights Council, Japan will continue to make efforts toward the realization of human rights for all.

 

I thank you, Madame Chair.