Forum Secretariat and UNHCR launch publication on Human Rights Treaties
Press Statement (50/09)
Launch of a Joint Publication on the Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties
August 5, 2009, Cairns Australia:
The Forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade, and Mr. Richard Towle, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Regional Representative to Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, today launched a joint publication titled “Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties: Added Value for the Pacific Region”, on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Cairns.
The joint Forum Secretariat/UN publication identifies some of the key challenges in the Pacific to ratification of international human rights treaties and demonstrates useful ways to address them. It also underscores the importance of ratifying these treaties as well as the benefits ratification would bring to the nations of the region.
Secretary General Slade encouraged Forum members to ratify the core human rights treaties, noting that Initiative 12.5 of the Pacific Plan specifically promotes their ratification. He stated “ratification ensures that a common set of norms and standards are adhered to across the region. It is also a clear demonstration by Governments of their willingness to improve the lives of their populations.”
The Secretary General also thanked the United Nations for its long standing support of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s human rights mandate under the Pacific Plan.
Mr. Towle in encouragement also encouraged countries to ratify the core human rights treaties adding that “peace and security; development; and respect for human rights, are interdependent and indivisible”. The Refugee Convention is also an important treaty which protects the rights of some of the most vulnerable groups of people. In recognition of the importance of human rights, UN system wide reforms include integrating human rights approaches and rights based approaches into the work of the UN. The UN system would be also be on hand to assist States in their implementation of human rights treaties.
Strong partnerships are needed if respect for human rights is to be fully realised including in the Pacific region. The joint publication of a paper promoting the ratification of the core human rights treaties is demonstration of such a partnership between PIFS and the UN, and both organisations look forward to continued cooperation.
Ends.
For more information please contact Angela Thomas (Angelat@forumsec.org.fj) or Peter Kenilorea (Peter.Kenilorea@undp.org).
Launch of a Joint Publication on the Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties
August 5, 2009, Cairns Australia:
The Forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade, and Mr. Richard Towle, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Regional Representative to Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, today launched a joint publication titled “Ratification of International Human Rights Treaties: Added Value for the Pacific Region”, on the margins of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Cairns.
The joint Forum Secretariat/UN publication identifies some of the key challenges in the Pacific to ratification of international human rights treaties and demonstrates useful ways to address them. It also underscores the importance of ratifying these treaties as well as the benefits ratification would bring to the nations of the region.
Secretary General Slade encouraged Forum members to ratify the core human rights treaties, noting that Initiative 12.5 of the Pacific Plan specifically promotes their ratification. He stated “ratification ensures that a common set of norms and standards are adhered to across the region. It is also a clear demonstration by Governments of their willingness to improve the lives of their populations.”
The Secretary General also thanked the United Nations for its long standing support of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s human rights mandate under the Pacific Plan.
Mr. Towle in encouragement also encouraged countries to ratify the core human rights treaties adding that “peace and security; development; and respect for human rights, are interdependent and indivisible”. The Refugee Convention is also an important treaty which protects the rights of some of the most vulnerable groups of people. In recognition of the importance of human rights, UN system wide reforms include integrating human rights approaches and rights based approaches into the work of the UN. The UN system would be also be on hand to assist States in their implementation of human rights treaties.
Strong partnerships are needed if respect for human rights is to be fully realised including in the Pacific region. The joint publication of a paper promoting the ratification of the core human rights treaties is demonstration of such a partnership between PIFS and the UN, and both organisations look forward to continued cooperation.
Ends.
For more information please contact Angela Thomas (Angelat@forumsec.org.fj) or Peter Kenilorea (Peter.Kenilorea@undp.org).
