Norges innlegg i FNs menneskerettighetsråd

Mr President,

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, 2009 proved to be the deadliest year for civilians since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Insurgents remain responsible for the largest proportion of civilian deaths. Norway calls on all parties to Afghanistan’s conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

National reconciliation is vital to the challenges facing Afghanistan today. Afghan civil society groups, in particular women's groups, have voiced serious concerns about the prospect for human rights if the Government and the Taliban enters into a political agreement. Norway strongly believes that a political process based on reconciliation only is sustainable if it is based on full respect for human rights and can deliver justice. Crucial to transitional justice is the establishment of mechanisms to find the truth regarding abuses, combat impunity and offer victims justice and redress for their suffering.

Norway supports the call for an independent and credible investigation of the allegations of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in connection with the war last year in Sri Lanka. The national Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation is a positive step, and we hope that the Commission will prove to be an effective accountability mechanism.  Finding a political solution acceptable for all communities remains vital and necessary to achieve reconciliation among the people of Sri Lanka. We support the UNSGs initiative on establishing an expert panel to advise him on these issues.

Norway deeply regrets the violence and the loss of life in the recent political protests in Bangkok. We stress the importance of all sides in Thailand working to resolve differences in a way that strengthens democracy and rule of law. We appreciate that the government will ensure that an independent investigation of recent events be conducted and all those found responsible for human rights violations are held to account, as stated by the Ambassador of Thailand earlier today.

As we mark the one year anniversary of the contested electoral process in Iran, Norway remains deeply concerned about the ongoing, systemic and serious violations of human rights, including violent repression of dissent, discrimination against minorities and severe restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly and association as well as freedom of expression and belief. We call on Iran to honour its obligations to allow freedom of speech, association and assembly.

Norway urges Iran to honour its commitment to cooperate with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and to facilitate as a matter of priority the visits requested and agreed upon in principle, including the Working Group on enforced and involuntary disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.

Norway is particularly concerned about the present situation for the freedom of press, speech and association in Sudan, and call upon the government to ensure these fundamental rights to all, including journalists, members of the opposition, humanitarian workers and other members of the civil society. 

Mr President,

We are shocked by the killing of a prominent human rights defender in DR Congo, Mr Floribert Chebeya Bahizire. We call on the Government to ensure a credible, impartial and independent investigation of the killing.

The human rights situation in Somalia continues to be of major concern. The ongoing conflict between the TFG and the insurgent groups has caused tremendous suffering and displacements to the Somali people. We call on all parties to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.