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Thank you, Mr President. It is a pleasure this morning to welcome both Special Rapporteurs to the Human Rights Council; Mr Scheinin who is here for the last time in his mandate on counter-terrorism, and Mr Mendez, who is here for the first time since taking over the mandate on torture. The Council’s Special Procedures are our eyes and ears in the field and we welcome this opportunity to engage with you both this morning.
Mr Scheinin, New Zealand appreciates your thorough and well reasoned report on good practices in promoting and protecting human rights while countering terrorism. New Zealand supports your work and the objectives that underlie your role, and we are honoured that you have referenced several areas of our own legislation in your study. As you note, “best practice” refers not only to what is required by international law, including human rights law, but also includes principles beyond these legally binding obligations.
Within the ten practices identified in your compilation, we agree with the emphasis on upholding the rule of law while protecting national security. As you have stated, there is an absence of a universally agreed upon, comprehensive and concise definition of terrorism. We note that a successful conclusion to the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism – including agreement on a universal definition for terrorism – would help to strengthen the international community’s commitment and efforts in combating terrorism. We thank you for your proposed definition and would be grateful for your views on the best means to progress this definition. Finally, we commend you for you considerable contribution during the six years you have held this important mandate, and wish you well for the future.
Mr Mendez, we thank you for your first report to the Council which provides a solid beginning of your term. New Zealand agrees with you on the vital importance of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and we support your recommendation that States ratify the Protocol and promptly designate or establish a truly independent and effective National Preventive Mechanism. We welcome your commitment to collaboration and would be interested in particular in how you intend to cooperate with the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture in the fulfilment of your mandate.
I thank you.
