Lithuania became a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the first time
According to her, 178 UN members were in favor of Lithuania’s membership.
Until 1 January 2022, Lithuania became a full member for the first time in a three-year period.
According to the Ministry, Lithuania undertakes to actively protect human rights universally and to ensure effective cooperation with states and civil society in the world.
“Membership in the UN Human Rights Council opens new opportunities for Lithuania to participate in high-level discussions on human rights and seek the attention of the international community to a representative experimental nation, communities and their members,” said Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
I am pleased with this membership and confirm Lithuania’s readiness to make a significant contribution and be a vote for those who need it now, “he added.
As the President of the Republic Gitanas Nausėda points out in the Presidential announcements distributed later on Thursday, this will be a great opportunity for Lithuanians to demonstrate their leadership in the field of human rights.
“The UN Human Rights Council inspires us to defend human rights, identify the most sensitive areas and seek solutions. Lithuania is ready to use its international assistance in the field of human rights and join the community of the UN Human Rights Council as a full member, “said G. Nausėda.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania’s priority membership period is an exclusive focus on the protection of the rights of children and the disabled, the safety of human rights defenders, human rights in conflict zones and timely response to human rights violations.
Among other things, Lithuania will continue to be active in defending the rights of women and girls, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and association, security of journalists, and freedom of religion and belief.
The decision of the Government of Lithuania on Lithuania’s candidacy to the Human Rights Council for the period of 2022–2024 was adopted in 2015.
The UN Human Rights Council, established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the UN body for the protection of human rights, comprising 47 member states.
The Human Rights Council contributes to the strengthening of human rights throughout the world, monitors the progress of states on fundamental human freedoms and responds to these violations and makes recommendations.
During the elections to the UN Human Rights Council on 14 October, the following members of the Council were elected together with Lithuania for the period 2022–2024: Argentina, Benin, Eritrea, Gambia, Honduras, India, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Montenegro, Cameroon, Qatar , Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Paraguay, Somalia and Finland.
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