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I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
At the 2005 UN Summit, world leaders resolved to improve the effectiveness of the United Nations human rights treaty body system. Many members of the newly-established Human Rights Council have pledged to engage actively with this system. Mr Chair, momentum exists for reform to occur and the opportunity to translate this into action should not be missed.
Australia , Canada and New Zealand reaffirm our commitment to the renewal and reform of the United Nations human rights treaty body system.
Ensuring the treaty body system improves human rights protection at the national level requires concerted and coordinated action - by all member States, working with the committees and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, among other key stakeholders. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in an annual dialogue between the Chairs of the committees and State Parties. We also recognise the benefit of continuing interaction between committees so the system works as a coherent whole, including through the mechanism of the annual Inter-Committee Meeting.
Since we last made our statement in the General Assembly, there has been some pleasing progress. We welcome the publication of harmonised guidelines on reporting, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents. These guidelines will make the system easier to navigate as we all make the best use of the limited resources that we have. In particular, these guidelines will help States to streamline the way we report.
Australia , Canada and New Zealand also commend the committees for testing new approaches to their work. We welcome, for example, initiatives to expedite the timely consideration of State reports, including through the use of dual chambers. We also support practices like the sharing of information between the reporting State and the committees prior to consideration of their reports, with a view to enhancing the dialogue. Recognising the important role of civil society, w e encourage further work to develop harmonised working methods for the exchange of information between the committees, on the one hand, and non-governmental organisations and national human rights institutions on the other.
Mr Chair, whilst progress has been made, more remains to be done to strengthen the treaty body system. While we recognize the effective contribution that treaty bodies make, within their mandates, to the promotion and protection of human rights, w e are concerned about the degree of overlap in the work of the committees. Renewed attention is required to address the backlog of State reports. We support the overriding principle of reducing duplication where possible across all areas of UN human rights activity. The Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review provides an opportunity to improve the implementation of human rights obligations, standards and commitments by all States. Universal Periodic Review should complement, but not duplicate, the existing treaty body system.
We welcome the High Commissioner’s work with States and civil society to streamline this system and her innovative approach to exploring reform options, including her efforts to explore the possibility of a unified standing treaty body proposal. In particular, we applaud the High Commissioner’s interest in maximising potential for committees to focus on what should be the priority - the most serious and pressing human rights problems on the ground.
We also appreciate the High Commissioner’s continuing initiatives to strengthen the field presence of her organisation. Increased country engagement will greatly enhance the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ capacity to support stakeholders in participating in the reporting process, and in providing accurate and relevant information to committees. National, regional and international human rights protections will be stronger and more enduring as a result.
Australia , Canada and New Zealand are strong supporters of the reform process. We recognise that the achievements of the current system can - and should - be built on, as we collectively address these challenges. Our three countries remain active in exploring reform options and in supporting efficiencies, in cooperation with other States, the committees, the Office of the High Commissioner and civil society.
Thank you, Mr Chair.
