Minister of Foreign Affairs Thorbjørn Jagland

Statement to the 57 ^th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights

New York, 29 March 2001

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to be here at the Commission on Human Rights, which I also had the pleasure to address last year.

Since then we have witnessed at best only marginal improvements in the global human rights situation. Not because we do not agree on the need to respect human rights – civil and political rights as well as social, economic and cultural rights. But because we do not live up to our commitments. Because we do not practice what we preach.

The establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was a milestone in the sense that it helped us all focus even more closely on human rights and fundamental freedoms. This has been due not least to the tireless efforts of the High Commissioner, Ms. Mary Robinson. I deeply appreciate her commitment to human rights, and her willingness to take on new and difficult tasks. While I regret that she has decided not to seek another term, I wish her every success in her future endeavours.

Mr. Chairman,

Norway gives the highest priority to the promotion and protection of human rights.

We fully realize that the work in this field begins at home. We are therefore intensifying our efforts to keep our own house in order. As a result of a long period of human rights standard-setting within the UN and regional bodies, international protection has reached a level of sophistication that poses a challenge to any state. No government can plausibly claim that all international norms are being fully and effectively implemented down to the last detail.

The struggle for human rights is every government’s struggle. Human rights efforts involve dialogue and cooperation, and equal portions of criticism and self-criticism.

During the last decade, Norway has been engaged in bilateral dialogues on human rights issues with other countries. These dialogues are based on mutual respect. We certainly do not avoid frank exchanges of views and criticism. But we focus on results – not on condemnation.

Human rights are universal rights. They are essential for peace, economic growth and political stability. In the struggle for human rights, all governments should let down their guard and accept that problems and shortcomings are focused on by other governments.

Mr. Chairman,

We fully agree with the High Commissioner and other speakers that the fight against racism, xenophobia and intolerance should be at the top of our agenda. We all have a duty to combat racism in all its manifestations. The World Conference against Racism in South Africa later this year will present an excellent opportunity for us to do so.

No country can claim to be free of discrimination or racism. In Norway we have witnessed a number of unpleasant incidents during the last few years.

Obviously, much can be achieved through legislation. We are preparing new statutes in these areas. Experience has shown, however, that intolerance and racism cannot be eradicated through legislation alone. We must change attitudes, while at the same time combating ignorance and fear. In this effort, governments will have to take the lead.

Mr. Chairman,

The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights. The death penalty is incompatible with the very concept of human dignity.

Capital punishment is unacceptable and belongs to the past. Often the death sentence is a result of a legal process that does not meet the basic criteria for a fair trail. We also witness again and again how executions are carried out in inhumane and degrading ways.

I call on the Commission to take a firm stand against capital punishment, and urge all states that have not yet done so to abolish this terrible practice.

Torture constitutes a gross violation of basic human rights and human dignity. It is not possible to envisage any circumstance where torture would be permissible. Still we know that the use of torture and ill treatment is widespread. This is totally unacceptable. I welcome the announcement made last week by Ms. Anna Lindh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, that the European Union is working on guidelines against torture.

Last year we succeeded in adopting a resolution on Human Rights Defenders. We did this out of a conviction that Human Rights Defenders are indispensable. We need to protect those who speak up on behalf of those who have no voice – and often no face. The appointment of a Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders was an important step, and we are looking forward to her first report.

Mr. Chairman,

Discrimination based on gender is as unacceptable as discrimination based on race. Too many women in too many countries are being patronized and discriminated against in terms of access to education, working conditions, income and participation in decision-making. Equality before the law is a must. The next step is to rectify gender inequality by actively promoting women’s needs and their full participation in society. Here again, governments must take the lead.

We should give special attention to the protection of young women and girls. They have proved to be a most vulnerable group. Trafficking in young women for sexual and other purposes is widespread. Every effort should be made to stop this trade.

Another abhorrent practice is female genital mutilation, which is often based on ignorance and misinterpreted religious traditions. My government has introduced a plan of action to help eradicate this practice in Norway. We believe this fight should also be a priority for the international community.

Norway gives high priority to the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. We welcome the decision to establish a Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples within the UN. It is our hope that this forum will be an important tool for strengthening the voice of indigenous peoples in the world organization and believe it should be established as soon as possible.

Furthermore, it is essential that we are able to adopt a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before the end of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People. I urge government representatives and representatives of indigenous groups and organizations to make every effort to bring the negotiations on this draft declaration to a successful conclusion.

Mr. Chairman,

In closing, I wish to assure you of the Norwegian Government’s genuine, active and broad commitment to human rights – both at home and abroad. Millions of people all over the world do not enjoy rights that are rightfully theirs. They are impatient for change. And so are we.

Thank you.