THE TÁNAISTE WILL today address two UN conferences on the rollback of progress on the rights of women, LGBTI+ rights and condemn Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons.
He is also set to condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the impact of conflict on human rights globally. “Ireland unequivocally condemns Russia’s nuclear threats. Any use of nuclear weapons would result in devastating humanitarian consequences that would have a global impact,” the Minister said.The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
“Ireland is deeply concerned that a number of UN Member States are being prevented from participating in the work of this conference as observers. This is a politically-motivated challenge to multilateralism and it must be resolved immediately. “Some governments chip away at it. Others use a wrecking ball,” he told the opening of the UN Human Rights Council’s main annual session, describing the disregard and disdain seen for human rights around the world as “a wake-up call”.
Despite calls from NGOs, observers said it was unlikely there would be a walkout like the one many diplomats took part in when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s video played in the council last year.“We believe that Russia does not deserve to sit in the room,” Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko told reporters. “We will act accordingly.”