Ambassador Gberie Chairs UN HRC on Human Rights & 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

 Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday 18 January 2022 -– His Excellency Dr. Lansana Gberie chaired the UN Human Right Council’s fourth intersessional meeting for dialogue and cooperation on human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Prime Minister Mirtha Esther Vásquez Chuquilín of Peru and Nada Al-Nashif, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, addressed the meeting with high-profile experts from Member States, the United Nations and civil society. 

The focus of the fourth inter-sessional meeting, which is informed by the theme of High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2022, is “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

The theme of the meeting is "Investing in sustainable recovery, advancing gender equality and strengthening partnerships – Towards a renewed social contract anchored in human rights", with a focus on SDG 5 ‘'Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’, SDG 17 ‘'Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development’, and the overarching promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind and to reach those furthest behind first. 

Ambassador Gberie said "Our meeting today is the second of the three half-day meetings, which builds on the previous intersessional meetings.”  He remarked it is high time to adopt a forward looking and integrated approach to ensure the promotion of human rights and the implementation of agenda 2030, particularly to adopt policies grounded in human rights and gender equality in the context of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. His Excellency highlighted this is the core of the UN Secretary General’s report “Our Common Agenda” that calls for a “renewed social contract anchored in human rights.”

“With the world reeling from COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing increased inequality and vulnerability reaching crisis proportions around the world which has created a growing threat to our collective future and negatively impacted the enjoyment of all human rights,” said Ambassador Gberie.

His Excellency further remarked inadequate access to social safety nets, especially in the informal sector, has made women further vulnerable, it is imperative that all stakeholders pay urgent and special attention to the plights of women and girls during the pandemic and the associated recovery efforts. In this context, Ambassador Gberie underscored efforts towards a renewed social contract should focus on the many links between States’ human rights obligations and SDGs, with a particular focus on SDGs 5 and 17, and the overarching promise of agenda 2030 to leave no one behind. 

Excellency also called for technical cooperation and capacity -building support for States, particularly developing countries that are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. COVID-19 continues to undermine global recovery and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, he said.

During the session, participants discussed practical experiences, achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and new ideas for implementing the 2030 Agenda in light of COVID-19 by highlighting measures to mainstream gender and address inequalities. 

Ambassador Gberie will work together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare the summary report of this meeting, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its forty-ninth regular session (28 February – 1 April 2022).

 

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