BELGIAN VICE-PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000532 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL BE SUBJECT: BELGIAN VICE-PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE 10TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ¶1. Summary: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karel De Gucht, spoke at the 10th session of the Human Rights Council. He shared his vision on how to promoten and protect human rights. He expressed his regret over the men, women, and children whose basic rights are being violated. He condemned rape as a political tool and the use of child soldiers and the abuse of political prisoners. De Gucht also acknowledged that racism and discrimination are a problem in every country, including his own. He strongly supports implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He is pleased with the decision of the High Commissioner to open a regional office in Brussels, and recognizes Belgium will gain from its presence. End Summary. ¶2. Begin text of speech. We are here in front of the most important forum on human rights. It was born from a dream of the international community to have an adequate means to reinforce the international regime of human rights. Our main concern must be the men and women whose rights are violated...My thoughts are on the women who cannot mobilize freely, who cannot make their own decisions about their lives, who suffer under the veil of a conservative orthodoxy...I also think of the women who are afraid they will be raped by the violent people and cowards who use the weapon of sexual torture as a political tool. I think of the defenders of human rights who are badgered and persecuted by regimes that are afraid of only one thing: for their population to have the liberty to think. I also think of those political opponents imprisoned for their opinions by dictators who one day was the hope of the population...I also think of those who currently are in secret prisons, without hope. I also think of those of foreign origin in my country who, I regret to acknowledge it, find themselves refused to a job or a place because of the color of their skin, or because of their beliefs...Religion should enrich the human spirit, and not imprison it. Let us finally think of the children...who are being forcibly recruited as a child soldier or forced to prostitute themselves. These men, women and children deserve our respect and our protection. And it is the first responsibility of the State to protect these human beings as well as theirhuman rights and fundamental freedoms. Thi is what the Human Rights Council must be involvd in. The Council must act in order to prevent these violations of human rights. The Council must see to it that our daily life- so banal, yet so valued- is for everyone. The Council must consolidate and ensure the implementation of the existing international law. There is a solid legal base that we must preserve and implement. Belgium is worried by the attempts of those calling into question these standards or denying their universality. In a world where ethnic, economic and religious tensions as well as nationalist tendencies are threatening to resurface, it is all the more important to reaffirm the universality of these norms. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the text that is the most translated text in the world. One day it must be the best implemented agreement in the world. This body of fundamental rights- based on the habeas corpus- is incontestably universal. It cannot be questioned under any circumstance. The Council must also confront new challenges, while respecting the existing legal framework. It must properly use its instruments to treat specific countries and also different themes, like the condemnation of torture, the protection of the defenders of human rights, the respect of human rights in the fight against terrorism, or the fight against racism and discrimination. Belgium is ready to continue its constructive engagement to ensure the success of the Durban meeting. But I am worried by the direction of the process. For Belgium, the agreed-upon consensus of Durban must be preserved. We must view racism and discrimination as a problem which affects all countries. In addition, certain concepts like slandering religions has no place in this process because it calls into question the basis on which the international system of human rights protection is built. Human rights must protect individuals and their liberties, and not religions as such. I call on all states to try and to be as reasonable and as flexible as possible to ensure that this Examining Conference reflects the views of the international community. BRUSSELS 00000532 002 OF 002 The Council must also encourage the exchanges between states. The Council represents the ideal place to talk and exchange good practices on human rights. But the Council must also be able to denounce a situation when it is necessary. I do not share the opinion of those who wish to prevent the Council from expressing its views on specific situations and countries. This represents one of the Council's pillars, complementing other aspects of its mandate... I am therefore very worried by certain tendencies of the Council aimed at denying the existence of massive human rights violations. The last working group session on the universal periodic Examination was for me very alarming in that regard. The history of the United Nations has sufficiently demonstrated that covering up such a problem can lead to catastrophe. It is our collective responsibility to act in a credible and effective way when serious human rights violations are committed. Some would like to use the non-interference in domestic affairs of a State or safeguarding the domestic stability of a State to prevent any action. But sovereignty can justify neither the indifference nor impunity. Sovereignty goes hand in hand with responsibility...the rights of the States should not come above the human rights of the population. We need an active and independent Office of High Commission, not only present in Geneva, but also in countries in need. All countries, and certainly all members of the Council, should collaborate with the Office of High Commission be willing to host one of its offices. In this respect, Belgium is pleased with the decision of the High Commissioner to open a regional office in Brussels, and recognizes that we can only profit from the presence and the expertise of the Office of High Commission. The independent expertise is crucial in our work. The role of the rapporteurs on special topics, both thematic and geographic, is very important. Belgium calls on all States, and especially the members of the Council, to fully cooperate with all the special rapporteurs and to accept their requests to visit. Lastly, the Council cannot go without the advice and especially the criticism of civil society. We must not forget that as representatives of our Governments, it is on their behalf that we act. Belgium hopes for an active participation of civil society in the work of this Council. End text of speech. BAUER .