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Mr Chairman
When he opened this session of the General Assembly last month, the Secretary-General reminded us of the imperative of the rule of law. He warned that it was at risk. The examples he cited were all breaches of basic human rights and humanitarian law breaches which have recently occurred or breaches which are still going on.
It was a timely reminder. No one is above the law and no one should be denied its protection. and, that is so pertinent to the work of this Committee. The political risks for governments who continue to ignore or violate human rights have become more visible and less easy to ignore in today’s world. The rule of law does indeed start at home. But, as the Secretary-General said, in too many places and in too many countries represented in this Committee, it remains elusive.
Mr Chairman, New Zealand remains deeply disturbed by the widespread abuse of human rights in a number of countries.
In the Sudan the Government has elected to use a widespread and systematic campaign of murder, torture, rape, looting and the burning of homes and crops aimed at the terrorisation and forcible displacement of civilians in the western province of Darfur. The Government of Sudan must disarm the janjaweed and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. New Zealand calls upon Sudan to comply urgently with the demands of the international community as set out in Security Council resolutions. We are also concerned about the situation in northern Uganda.
New Zealand recognises that elsewhere in Africa a number of countries are emerging painfully from years of civil strife during which human rights were constantly abused. We wish Angola and Mozambique every success in their recovery from the ravages of war. We look for recovery, too, in the circumstances of countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia and Somalia. New Zealand welcomes the recent successful elections in Algeria.
But in a number of other instances, Mr Chairman, denial of human rights appears to be a matter of state policy. New Zealand remains dismayed by the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, by the further restrictions on freedoms of speech and assembly, and by the continued erosion of the rule of law and of the independence of the judiciary and the media. Zimbabwe is not alone in its failure to respect basic human rights. We mention, too, in this regard the Central African Republic, Chad, the Cote d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea as countries where people in positions of power grossly abuse the human rights of their citizens.
New Zealand is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Iraq, which poses a severe threat to the holding of free and fair elections, an essential step in the transition to fully representative government where there can be respect for the rule of law and for human rights. Recent presidential elections were a milestone in Afghanistan's progress towards peace and democracy, but much remains to be done in the lead-up to parliamentary elections in 2005. Mr Chairman, innocent civilians are often the victims of the ongoing violence in Israel and the occupied territories. New Zealand urges both sides to refrain from violence and to observe fully international human rights and humanitarian laws.
There are a number of other countries in the Middle East where respect for human rights, including the rights of women, of religious and ethnic minorities, and the rights of political expression and choice, is of concern. New Zealand urges Iran to have a constructive dialogue internationally on substantive human rights issues and to address those requiring further attention, including the status of all religious and ethnic minorities.
New Zealand remains deeply disturbed by the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Human rights violations, including unlawful execution, torture, and forced labour are a feature of life in North Korea. Fundamental freedoms of belief, expression, peaceful assembly, and association are denied or restricted. Mr Chairman, there continue to be disturbing reports of systemic and pervasive human rights violations against women, ethnic and religious minorities, as well as of forced labour and poor prison conditions in Myanmar. The continued detention of political prisoners and curbs on freedom of speech, assembly and participation by the opposition parties - particularly as the National Convention has proceeded – all fall far below the standards required. New Zealand calls on the Myanmar Government to raise the level of its cooperation with international organisations and to meet international human rights norms.
New Zealand remains concerned at the continuing restrictions on freedom of expression and religion, the use and scope of the death penalty, and reports of arbitrary arrest and detention in China. At the same time we commend the commitment of the Chinese Government to strengthen the rule of law. New Zealand also urges the Indonesian Government to hold the perpetrators of human rights abuses in Timor Leste properly to account for their actions.
Mr Chairman, we continue to be disturbed by reports of human rights abuses and lack of respect for basic human rights and democratic processes in a number of countries in Central Asia. Incidents of pressure on religious bodies and discrimination against national minorities and individuals in Turkmenistan are unacceptable. In the Caucasus, New Zealand is appalled at the loss of life through terrorism and civil conflict in Chechnya and Ingushetia. It is vital, in the fight against terrorism, to respect human rights and uphold the values of civilised society, which terrorists are seeking to destroy.
Mr Chairman, the energies of the international community are too often engaged in a backward-looking process of questioning and defending agreed international norms. and, we spend too much time in this Committee dissipating our effort on unproductive deliberations and attempts to relitigate those understandings. The intention behind this activity is clear it is all about avoidance.
There are also huge gaps, highlighted in the reports of the country and thematic Special Rapporteurs, between the endorsed standards and the practice of many states.
Mr Chairman, the international community needs to return to the basics on human rights. Universal ratification of the core human rights treaties would be a good start. Ratification must be followed up by implementing and reporting on these fundamental principles. The basics include acceptance by states of the universality, indivisibility, inter-relatedness and inter-dependence of human rights. The basics also include acceptance that the principle of non-discrimination really does extend to all human beings. Refusal to accept this opens the door to the violation of human rights.
Finally Mr Chairman, the basics require greater acknowledgement that human rights abuses are a significant source, as well as an outcome, of international, regional and civil conflict. So very often it is the absence of human rights that lies at the heart of today’s conflicts and instability. We must confront breaches of the rule of law squarely. We must determine concrete measures, which will enhance human rights especially for those who are at present denied them.
Whether it is universally popular or not, the protection of the human condition, must be one of the fundamental contemporary challenges we face internationally.
Mr Chairman, I thank you.
