Minister Grabar-Kitarović held speech on human rights at 1st session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, 20 June 2006

In her speech, Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that the establishing of the Human Rights Council offers a special possibility of further implementation of the human rights contained in the General Declaration on Human Rights, pointing out that human rights need to be protected on a national level by all UN members.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović specifically reviewed women’s rights, expressing hope that the Human Rights Council will successfully focus on their realisation, especially the problem of their violation. In that regard, Croatia has initiated the adoption of the Statement n Women’s Political Participation, brought forth at the meeting of women foreign ministers and other high-ranking UN officials and dignitaries, which will contribute to the activities of the Human Rights Council.

Reviewing Croatia’s experiences with special rapporteurs for ex-Yugoslavia, Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that the Council’s new mechanisms are expected to be far more efficient that before when it comes to serious violations of human rights. Croatia has supported the adoption of the International Convention on Enforced Disappearances that should facilitate the finding of the truth about the fate of the missing persons.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović also pointed out that Croatia, as a newly-elected member of the Peace Building Commission, supports the idea of developing and strengthening the role of government institutions in the implementation of high human rights standards, and considers there should be a stronger connection between the Peace Building Commission and the Human Rights Council.