An archive photo
MINSK, 4 March (BelTA) – For many decades the UN human rights system has been using double standards and wasting resources on false concepts and biased country mechanisms, the Belarusian delegation said addressing the 58th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council on 3 March, BelTA learned from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.
“Today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has presented his annual report on the human rights situation in the world to the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Wars, crises, conflicts, widespread restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, many remarks about election campaigns – that's what defines the human rights situation in the world today. It is sad. But even more sad is the High Commissioner's recipe for rectifying the situation - coercing states and punishing officials,” the Belarusian diplomats remarked.
Belarus reminded the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that the current situation did not arise out of nowhere. “This is largely due to the fact that for many decades the UN human rights system has been using double standards and wasting resources on false concepts and biased country mechanisms, ignoring the real needs of developing countries and turning a blind eye to the problems in 'mature democracies',” the Belarusian delegation emphasized.
The diplomats went on saying: “A stable and responsible (primarily to its population) state can ensure peace, security, and an enabling environment for its people. Citizens, in turn, are obliged to comply with the law that is the same for all. This creates a balance that is needed for harmonious development of society.”
They emphasized that the gross interference by external players who pursue their own interests undermines progressive development and leads to the situation described by the high commissioner.
“In Belarus, the state works for people and fulfills its part of the social contract,” the Belarusian delegation noted. “Despite illegal sanctions and attempts to put external pressure, Belarus is determined to defend its sovereignty and development path in order to ensure the best conditions and opportunities for the implementation of human rights.”
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