– As delivered –
Remarks by H.E. Ms. Tegan Brink, Chef de Cabinet on behalf of the President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
9 April 2021
High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
I am delivering this statement on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Volkan Bozkir, who cannot be here himself as he is on official travel at this time.
It is my real pleasure to speak to you regarding the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent.
At the outset, can I thank ?Ambassador Baroud, Permanent Representative of Chad and Ambassador Carazo, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica, for their leadership as co-facilitators of this process. I trust that all Member States will support them, and their teams, to ensure a successful outcome.
Can I also thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and her Office, for their efforts, which are crucial and in line with the role foreseen in General Assembly Resolution 69/16.
Dear Colleagues,
You will have heard the President of the General Assembly at recent commemorative events on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and on the Transatlantic slave trade express his concern that for too long people of African descent have been subjugated and silenced. 75 years ago the nations of the world came together to secure the dignity and worth of every person, to promote the fundamental human rights of every individual. They did this, without qualification. If human rights are not universally upheld, we cannot truly refer to them as universal. ??
In 2014, Member States recognised the need to establish a forum for people of African descent.
I urge all Member States to prioritise this process, and engage constructively, and with purpose, in order to determine the modalities, format, and substantive and procedural aspects of the Permanent Forum to realise the vision underpinning this important mandate. These decisions will contribute to the upcoming Mid-Term Review of the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Can I also avail of this opportunity, like High Commissioner Bachelet just did, to commend civil society representatives for their tireless commitment to advancing the rights of people of African descent. The diverse regional participation of civil society organizations is indicative of the global importance of this issue. Civil society participation will be integral to the success of the Permanent Forum, and our ability to create tangible change on the ground.
Dear colleagues
In conclusion, I look forward to hearing from Member States and civil society representatives here today. The Office of the President of the General Assembly stands ready to support you throughout this process.
I thank you.