Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs;
Credit: MAEE
On Tuesday 23 February 2021, Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, participated via video conference in the 46th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
In his intervention during the high-level segment, Minister Jean Asselborn insisted on the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation in order to “realise human rights for all”. With this in mind, he called for more political and financial support for the multilateral system and in particular for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). For its part, Luxembourg continues to increase its voluntary contributions.
Luxembourg's Foreign Minister recalled that as a fervent supporter of human rights, the Grand Duchy has presented its candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the 2022-24 mandate in order to put its multilateral commitment at the service of the protection of the rights of all human beings. Minister Jean Asselborn presented the four priorities that Luxembourg has set for its mandate: support for the rule of law, the civic space and human rights defenders and the fight against impunity; sustainable development and climate action based on human rights; gender equality and the fight against discrimination; and the protection and promotion of children's rights.
Minister Jean Asselborn then reviewed the global human rights situation, referring in particular to Belarus, Russia, Turkey, Hong Kong and Myanmar. He noted: “The spirit of democracy lives off dialogue and debating ideas. When only one voice speaks, it is usually the loudest, that of repression”.
Luxembourg's Foreign MInister also pointed out that "the human rights situation always deteriorates during conflicts". He deplored the human rights violations committed during the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Tigray region in Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, the Sahel and the Middle East.
In his conclusion, Minister Jean Asselborn recalled several horizontal issues of crucial importance related to human rights, such as climate change, the challenge of migration and the rights and empowerment of women and girls. Faced with these major challenges, he underlined the Grand Duchy's desire to act in the multilateral framework: “You can count on Luxembourg's commitment and contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council in order to promote all human rights, in a spirit of solidarity and listening”.
