Date of release : 14-03-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, addressed, on behalf of the European Union, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 14 March.

In his opening speech, Jean Asselborn congratulated Louise Arbour on her becoming the new Human Rights High Commissioner.

"We consider daily the factors that still separate us from a full application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights throughout the world and in all of our societies", stated the Minister, and added: "The respect of individual freedom will never be completely acquired in any of our countries. (...) The European Union is quite aware of its own imperfections and the risks of xenophobia, racism and intolerance threatening our European societies. In concert with its partners of the Council of Europe, the European Union has created an efficient and exacting judicial framework to guarantee respect for Human Rights."

Referring to the recommendations of the High Level Panel on human Rights, Jean Asselborn expressed the European Union’s support for "better integration of the Human Rights dimension to the United Nations system, in particular in deliberations of the Security Council", saying that "human rights violations constitute a major threat to peace and security."

Touching on several areas of human rights violations, Jean Asselborn emphasised that "in cases of conflict, non-warring people should not be in a situation of no rights in which civil populations who are affected by armed conflict would be without protection."

As far as the fight against terrorism is concerned, he cautioned against the temptation of relativising the rule of law and the Geneva Conventions and "combating evil with evil." He outlined the importance the EU attaches to "the outright prohibition of all forms of torture."

He went on to praise "the worldwide trend towards abolishing the death penalty" and encouraged "all countries to declare a moratorium which would at least be the first step towards its total abolition and, to put an immediate end to the execution of mentally handicapped people or minors at the moment of commiting the acts they have been charged with."

Reaffirming the EU’s support for the action of the International Criminal Court, describing it as an "essential instrument to end impunity and prevent crimes against humanity", Jean Asselborn reiterated the EU’s call for the ratification of the Statute of Rome which provides the basis for the ICC.

For Jean Asselborn, "equal importance should be given to achieving civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights." It is consequently necessary to fight extreme poverty and prevent humanitarian catastrophes which "could have disastrous effects on stability and enjoyment of certain fundamental rights."

Expressing his respect for civil society and the press, "who inform, observe and condemn abuse, sometimes at the risk of their own lives", the Minister asserted that "constraints upon their work are constraints to the respect for human rights."

Alongside his speech before the Human Rights Commission, the minister for Foreign Affairs had a meeting with the Sudanese Justice Minister Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin. Their discussions centred on the situation in Darfour and the follow-up that is to be given to the recommendations of the international enquiry Commission.