Geneva, 30 September 2021
Thank you, Madam President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of 67 countries.
Madam President,
We, the States subscribing to this statement and representing different regional and legal traditions, are united by the decision to extend standing invitations to all special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council and to honour them.
A standing invitation to the special procedures is an unambiguous signal of a State’s readiness to fully cooperate with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, thus demonstrating a tangible contribution to the defence and strengthening of the UN system of protection and promotion of human rights of which the special procedures are an integral and important part.
We note with satisfaction an increase in the number of States issuing standing invitations to special procedures and a decrease in the number of States that have never received a visit by a mandate holder. Since the beginning of this initiative 20 years ago, 127 UN Member States and 1 non-Member Observer State have issued standing invitations to the special procedures.
We are pleased to note that, as reported in the latest annual report of the special procedures, presented to the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, special procedures mandate holders, States, UN representatives, civil society and other stakeholders demonstrated resilience, determination and creativity in finding ways to continue engaging and cooperating with each other despite the difficult circumstances. This report also contains improved information on the status of States’ cooperation. At the same time, we regret that some States only cooperate with a select few special procedures, or respond to communications but do not accept visits in spite of having extended standing invitations.
The issuing of a standing invitation should result in genuine and non-selective cooperation with the special procedures. Accepting a visit is only the beginning of a process of cooperation encompassing constructive dialogue before, during and after the visit, whereby States respect the independence, expertise and the working methods of the mandate holders, and take appropriate steps for continued cooperation when addressing their recommendations.
Whilst recognising that the commitment to receive special procedures is voluntary, we continue to encourage all States, especially current members and candidate States of the Human Rights Council, that have not done so, to extend a standing invitation to the Council’s mechanisms, and once this commitment is made, to honour it.
Finally, we invite all States to continue to cooperate with and assist the special procedures mandate holders in the performance of their tasks and to promote an open, constructive and transparent dialogue in the Council.
I thank you!
Countries subscribing to the statement:
Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, State of Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.