Bangkok--Mar 10--MFA
Mr. President,
Madam High Commissioner,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express, on behalf of the Thai Government, our appreciation to you, Mr. President, for the commitment you have shown in guiding the work of the Council with such determination and resolve. My appreciation also goes to the High Commissioner and her Office, without whose support, cooperation and courage of conviction, the Council would not be so effective in discharging its responsibilities.
Mr. President,
One month ago, a new government took office in Thailand through national elections, thus fulfilling the democratic aspirations of the Thai people. In its policy statement to Parliament, the Government made it very clear that one of the core objectives of Thailand’s foreign policy was the promotion of democratic values, human rights and the humanitarian cause. In that spirit, Thailand is determined to redouble our efforts to contribute actively and constructively to the work of the Council to the fullest extent.
As noted by the previous speakers, we have reached an important landmark this year as we mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have certainly come a long way in terms of developing human rights instruments, setting norms and standards, and establishing the Human Rights Council itself.
Indeed, high hopes and expectations have been placed upon the Human Rights Council. There are also many challenges confronting us, with some skeptics already passing judgment on the fate and future of the Council. However, my delegation is confident that we will be able to defy such critics if we are prepared to work together in a spirit of constructive dialogue and consultation, as embraced by all of us as the guiding principle of our approach.
Being a member-driven organization, the success or failure of the Council depends on the political will and resolve of all the member states to act together, without impartiality, and to apply the same standard, for all and to all.
For this reason, we welcome the establishment of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism as a major step in ensuring the universality of human rights as well as the universality of accountability. The success of the UPR will ultimately depend on the willingness of all states to engage actively, earnestly and positively in this process.
There are many important issues that the Council will have to consider. The long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people must be addressed on our agenda, and rightly so. But if the Council is to live up to the high expectations placed upon us, the suffering of peoples elsewhere must also be addressed equally by the Council.
Mr. President,
Human rights is all about human dignity. It is therefore incumbent upon us to address all dimensions of human rights, be they civil, political, economic, social or cultural, as well as the right to development. For the achievement of human rights to be truly meaningful, it must lead to empowerment of the people to take charge of their own lives, free from fear and free from want.
In Thailand, this has also been the policy of the Government to empower the people, to enlarge freedom, and to expand the opportunities for a better future. Such empowerment involves not just the safeguarding of human rights but also the achievement of human security. It must entail not simply political rights and freedom of expression but also ensuring that all have access to education, employment and health -- all of which are important for the attainment and enjoyment of human rights.
At the regional level, Thailand has also worked within ASEAN to place human rights at the forefront of our agenda. For this reason, we have worked hard to establish an ASEAN Human Rights Body for the very first time in the region. While trying to mainstream human rights into our integration process, we realize that we must also move at a pace that takes into account the different levels of economic and political development of various countries. This applies not only to the Southeast Asian region but also beyond. To be effective, human rights must be progressively implemented, taking into consideration the different circumstances of each country. However, this must not be taken as a pretext to evade our human rights responsibilities. For all countries, whether developed or developing alike, must always strive their utmost to a higher standard of promotion and protection of human rights.
Mr. President,
The Human Rights Council is bound to face many enormous challenges ahead. Certainly, there will be many contentious issues which we will have to deal with. But, after all is said and done, what is most important is the ability to treat one another with mutual respect; the ability to listen to one another and to try to understand the other party’s concerns; and the ability to go the extra mile in terms of building bridges to forge consensus and bridge the gap, whether real or perceived. If we manage to achieve all this, then we can be confident of having a Council that is effective and credible, and which will truly promote and protect the human rights of all our peoples as declared in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
I thank you, Mr. President.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
Mr. President,
Madam High Commissioner,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express, on behalf of the Thai Government, our appreciation to you, Mr. President, for the commitment you have shown in guiding the work of the Council with such determination and resolve. My appreciation also goes to the High Commissioner and her Office, without whose support, cooperation and courage of conviction, the Council would not be so effective in discharging its responsibilities.
Mr. President,
One month ago, a new government took office in Thailand through national elections, thus fulfilling the democratic aspirations of the Thai people. In its policy statement to Parliament, the Government made it very clear that one of the core objectives of Thailand’s foreign policy was the promotion of democratic values, human rights and the humanitarian cause. In that spirit, Thailand is determined to redouble our efforts to contribute actively and constructively to the work of the Council to the fullest extent.
As noted by the previous speakers, we have reached an important landmark this year as we mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have certainly come a long way in terms of developing human rights instruments, setting norms and standards, and establishing the Human Rights Council itself.
Indeed, high hopes and expectations have been placed upon the Human Rights Council. There are also many challenges confronting us, with some skeptics already passing judgment on the fate and future of the Council. However, my delegation is confident that we will be able to defy such critics if we are prepared to work together in a spirit of constructive dialogue and consultation, as embraced by all of us as the guiding principle of our approach.
Being a member-driven organization, the success or failure of the Council depends on the political will and resolve of all the member states to act together, without impartiality, and to apply the same standard, for all and to all.
For this reason, we welcome the establishment of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism as a major step in ensuring the universality of human rights as well as the universality of accountability. The success of the UPR will ultimately depend on the willingness of all states to engage actively, earnestly and positively in this process.
There are many important issues that the Council will have to consider. The long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people must be addressed on our agenda, and rightly so. But if the Council is to live up to the high expectations placed upon us, the suffering of peoples elsewhere must also be addressed equally by the Council.
Mr. President,
Human rights is all about human dignity. It is therefore incumbent upon us to address all dimensions of human rights, be they civil, political, economic, social or cultural, as well as the right to development. For the achievement of human rights to be truly meaningful, it must lead to empowerment of the people to take charge of their own lives, free from fear and free from want.
In Thailand, this has also been the policy of the Government to empower the people, to enlarge freedom, and to expand the opportunities for a better future. Such empowerment involves not just the safeguarding of human rights but also the achievement of human security. It must entail not simply political rights and freedom of expression but also ensuring that all have access to education, employment and health -- all of which are important for the attainment and enjoyment of human rights.
At the regional level, Thailand has also worked within ASEAN to place human rights at the forefront of our agenda. For this reason, we have worked hard to establish an ASEAN Human Rights Body for the very first time in the region. While trying to mainstream human rights into our integration process, we realize that we must also move at a pace that takes into account the different levels of economic and political development of various countries. This applies not only to the Southeast Asian region but also beyond. To be effective, human rights must be progressively implemented, taking into consideration the different circumstances of each country. However, this must not be taken as a pretext to evade our human rights responsibilities. For all countries, whether developed or developing alike, must always strive their utmost to a higher standard of promotion and protection of human rights.
Mr. President,
The Human Rights Council is bound to face many enormous challenges ahead. Certainly, there will be many contentious issues which we will have to deal with. But, after all is said and done, what is most important is the ability to treat one another with mutual respect; the ability to listen to one another and to try to understand the other party’s concerns; and the ability to go the extra mile in terms of building bridges to forge consensus and bridge the gap, whether real or perceived. If we manage to achieve all this, then we can be confident of having a Council that is effective and credible, and which will truly promote and protect the human rights of all our peoples as declared in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
I thank you, Mr. President.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-