Switzerland continues to advocate strongly in UN Human Rights Council for rights of women and girls and extends efforts to new areas
Bern, 03.07.2015 - The Human Rights Council's three-week June session comes to a close today. Switzerland continued to work on its traditional priorities such as strengthening the rights of women and girls and respect for international law in the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, it expanded its involvement to new areas such as corruption and the rights of migrants. As always, Switzerland followed closely the situation in difficult country contexts and actively helped shape relevant procedures in the Human Rights Council.
Women's rights were the focus of this session, which devoted a full day to discussing domestic violence and women's participation in decision-making. To achieve results a transformative approach is needed that addresses root social causes such as stereotypes and traditional perceptions and that includes men and boys. Switzerland was one of the main architects of the text adopted by the Council on combating child, early and forced marriage.
The growing phenomenon of terrorism was once again discussed during this session in several of the Council's forums. Switzerland reiterated that every possible measure must be taken to prevent violent extremism in all regions of the world and undertook to promote respect for human rights and international humanitarian law in the fight against terrorism.
Switzerland welcomed the holding of a special dialogue on the human rights of migrants – the first of its kind in the Human Rights Council. The recent tragedies in the Mediterranean and in Southeast Asia have highlighted the urgent need for action to improve the protection of migrants' rights. Over the years migration flows have become increasingly complex and the types of vulnerability have multiplied as a result. Switzerland is committed to coordinated action among all stakeholders to make it possible to develop solutions to better protect the human rights of migrants.
Switzerland has been working within the Council in a wider sense on the negotiations surrounding the resolution on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights. It advocated in particular for a stronger focus on the rights of victims of corruption, and on states' responsibility to combat corruption in order to meet their obligations to promote and protect human rights.
The commission investigating the events during the armed conflict in Gaza in summer 2014 has presented its final report. Switzerland is deeply concerned by the findings and has called on all parties to the conflict to ensure credible, transparent and independent investigations into alleged violations of international law. Switzerland is equally deeply concerned by the findings of the commissions of inquiry on Eritrea and Syria. Regarding the alarming human rights situation in South Sudan, it welcomes the Human Rights Council’s decision to mandate the High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out an investigation.
Switzerland will be a candidate in October 2015 for election to a new term as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2016-2018 period.
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