STATEMENT BY MALAYSIA
Agenda Item 2:
General Debate on Update by the High Commissioner
27th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council
8 September 2014
Thank you Mr. President,
My delegation congratulates Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on his appointment as the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. I wish to assure the High Commissioner of my delegation’s commitment to work constructively with him in our common efforts to further promote and protect human rights.
Malaysia also wishes to associate itself with the statements made by Viet Nam, Pakistan and Iran, on behalf of ASEAN, the OIC and the NAM, respectively.
The High Commissioner’s inaugural address to this Council takes place at a time when conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and even Europe are escalating dramatically.
The Palestinian people continue to suffer under the illegal and immoral occupation of Israel. The disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks on Gaza recently have caused deaths, injuries and wonton destruction. Israel remains stubbornly deaf to both the appeals and condemnations of the international community. It is indeed incomprehensible that Israel remains dismissive to the crucial role it has in contributing towards peace and stability in the region. Even more incomprehensible is the meekness of the reaction of many countries to these excesses, especially when they are the ones very vocal to the excesses of others in the region.
We are also concerned with the situation in Syria that has resulted in deaths, injuries and displacement. Worse still, the conflict in Syria has now spread into neighbouring Iraq, inflicting the same kind of carnage. We all jointly condemned the atrocities of the so-called ISIL extremist group. However, we must not forget that this group was originally nurtured by outside powers to bring down the Syrian government. Naturally, violence only begets violence, and the international community needs to think seriously and sincerely on how to end this vicious cycle in order to bring permanent peace to the Middle East. Malaysia honestly does not believe that any amount of bombings and greater violence will be able to end it as long as there remains a deep-seated general discontent among the people.
We commend the High Commissioner in bringing the issue of economic and social rights including the right to development and the challenge of preparing for the Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed, we do believe that economic and social rights, that is the right to better and develop oneself economically and socially, should be at the forefront of the human rights struggle. It is only when these rights are denied that the need for civil and political rights comes to the fore.
We also view the High Commissioner’s determination to further strengthen constructive engagement with Member States on human rights issues positively. However, my delegation also wishes to strongly urge that that we remain within the accepted package and do not willy-nilly try to expand whatever mandate without prior and comprehensive consultations.
I thank you, Mr. President.
GENEVA
8 September 2014
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