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STATEMENT BY

MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD KARIM

DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

 

AT THE GENERAL DEBATE ON

THE REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

 

Mr. President,

 

Malaysia wishes to express its appreciation to Ambassador Omar Zniber, President of the Human Rights Council for presenting the report of the Council as contained in document A/79/53. We also wish to commend the work of the Council’s 2024 Bureau under his leadership.

 

Mr. President,

 

2. The Human Rights Council holds significant importance for Malaysia as it serves as a platform for promoting and protecting human rights both domestically and globally. Through our participation in the HRC, Malaysia has been able to engage in constructive dialogue, share best practices, and learn from the experiences of other member states. This collaboration is vital for advancing our human rights agenda and fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity within our society. As Malaysia’s three-year-term as member of the Council comes to a close, we reflect on our commitment to constructive cooperation and mutual respect in the collective pursuit to promote and protect human rights. 

 

3. Malaysia is pleased to note that consensus was achieved within the Human Rights Council on some issues this year, amongst others, on the issue of education as a tool to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, marking the 30^th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. We are also honoured that the Council resolution on “Safety of the Child in the Digital Environment” which was sponsored by a core group comprising Malaysia, Egypt, Gambia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, and Yemen at the 56^th Session of the Council, was also adopted by consensus. We hope that this will serve as a catalyst for building further consensus within the Council. 

 

4. Despite the Council’s commendable efforts and achievements for the past year, we are increasingly concerned by the growing polarisation and divisions within the Council, which limit our collective ability to effectively address urgent human rights issues. Let us be reminded that the creation of the Human Rights Council was intended to address rampant politicisation and polarisation of its predecessor and to restore the credibility of the body in the promotion and protection of human rights. We must not repeat the pitfalls of the former Human Rights Commission, which stemmed from a loss of confidence and commitment from States regarding the importance of its institutional role.

 

Mr. President,

 

5. In line with the universality of human rights, it is imperative that all human rights violations are addressed with the same degree of urgency and vigour, irrespective of where they occur.  We should not turn a blind eye against longstanding human rights violations.  In this regard Malaysia regrets that longstanding human rights violations, particularly the systemic oppression of the Palestinians and the Rohingyas, have been allowed to persist.  It is extremely crucial for the Human Rights Council to take decisive action to promptly put an end to such atrocities, in accordance with its mandate.

 

6. We also regret that key concepts within the human rights framework such as the right to development, the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance as outlined in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as the negative impacts of unilateral coercive measures on human rights continue to encounter resistance within the Human Rights Council. Conversely, there is persistent attempts to reinterpret principles of international law and existing agreed terminologies based on political convenience which clearly disregard national and regional contexts. These actions threaten the universality, indivisibility, interdependence, and interrelatedness of human rights and undermine the effective functioning of the Council. 

 

Mr. President,

 

7. With the ever-growing workload as evident in the last three sessions of the Human Rights Council, Malaysia believes it is imperative to urgently address the Council's working methods to safeguard its efficiency and effectiveness. Failure to do so may jeopardise the Council’s ability to fulfil its critical mandate.  An approach that could be considered is to avoid overlapping initiatives that could lead to inefficiencies, while straining the Council's limited resources. 

 

8. Malaysia is also concerned about the postponement of certain Human Rights Council-mandated activities scheduled for implementation in 2024 due to the UN’s liquidity crisis. These delays have impacted numerous technical assistance and capacity-building activities mandated by various HRC resolutions, which are particularly crucial for developing countries.  While we appreciate efforts to navigate the challenges posed by the liquidity crisis, we regret that the postponed activities are related to economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development, and technical cooperation for the establishment and maintenance of an online repository for the implementation of UPR recommendations, while many country-specific issues have remained unaffected. In this regard, a strategic approach based on inclusive consultation with Member States must be implemented in addressing the UN liquidity crisis and its broader impact on human rights initiatives.

 

9. Additionally, there is a pressing need to strengthen the synergies between the Human Rights Council and processes in New York. There appears to be a disconnect between the outcomes achieved within the Council and their incorporation into broader New York processes. In order to achieve more effective and comprehensive results, a holistic approach that harmonises the UN's three pillars must be adopted.

 

Mr. President,

 

10. Malaysia’s engagement with the Council will continue to reflect our belief in the importance of inclusivity, mutual respect, and transparency as we strive to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals. As we move forward, Malaysia calls on all States to actively contribute to strengthening the Council’s effectiveness so that its mandate is upheld decisively, remains relevant, and is responsive to the current needs and challenges.

 

I thank you.