Minister Grlić Radman participates in high-level segment of 46th UNHRC session

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Tuesday participated in the high-level segment of the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Tuesday participated in the high-level segment of the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. In accordance with the epidemiological measures, this year’s first UNHRC session is being held entirely virtually. The high-level segment, lasting 22-24 February, will consist of pre-recorded messages by more than 120 high representatives of UN member states.

Keynote addresses were delivered by UNHRC President Nazhat Shameem Khan, UNGA President Volkan Bozkir, UN Secretary General António Guterres, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.

Addressing the event, Grlić Radman reflected on the challenges faced by the multilateral order in terms of global human rights violations, as well as national priorities and activities. The minister highlighted the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies and health systems as well as its disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable social groups. In that regard, he stressed the importance of UNHRC continuing its activities as the central body for human rights protection worldwide. In the context of multilateralism and finding joint responses to the crisis, Grlić Radman underlined the UNGA Resolution on Comprehensive and Coordinated Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which Croatia had coordinated with Afghanistan.

Recalling Croatia’s experience of the Homeland War, the minister reported on continued national activities to find the missing persons, underlining a joint initiative of Croatia, Lichtenstein, Afghanistan and Costa Rica within the UNHRC on the importance of documenting victims in the context of human rights. Among foreign policy priorities, Grlić Radman highlighted the rights of girls and women, combating domestic violence and pushing for the abolition of the death penalty, warning about the dangers of a rise in racism, discrimination and hate speech, notably in cyberspace.

The current UNHRC session was held on 22 and 23 February and chaired by its president, Fiji Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan. It entailed a series of interactive dialogues of thematic and geographical character, including dialogues with UNHRC investigative mechanisms. The Council adopted 14 national reports for the UPR, including Croatia, which presented its report in November last year.

The Council also discussed hotspots such as Syria, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Burundi, Iran, North Korea, Eritrea, Belarus, Myanmar, Venezuela and Yemen.

 

Press releases