Statement by the Delegation of Singapore at the High-Level Panel Discussion on the 10th Anniversary of the Human Right Council: Achievements and Challenges, on Monday 13 June 2016

Mr President,

The Human Rights Council has without doubt contributed to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world in last 10 years. 

It helped highlight situations of gross human rights violations and supported many states in their efforts to realise human rights.

The Universal Periodic Review has also established itself as the prime example of how dialogue and cooperation on human rights can be conducted. 

We therefore support efforts to ensure that the UPR continues to be relevant in helping States protect and promote the human rights of their citizens in accordance to its mandate under UNGA resolution 60/251.

But the Human Rights Council stands at an important juncture today. 

With each passing year, there are more resolutions, more reports; more panel discussions; more side events; more interactive dialogues.

But more of everything is not necessarily better.

If we are honest with ourselves, the HRC risks succumbing to ritualism and formalism, rather than making actual improvements to people’s lives.

How many of the Council’s activities and resolutions make a real, concrete and lasting impact on the ground?

How many outcomes spur change and help partners transition from challenging situations to stability and progress?

Small delegations also find it increasingly difficult to follow, much less contribute, to the Council because of the overwhelming agenda and workload.

If small states, representing the majority of the UN membership, feel marginalised because they cannot follow Council developments due to resource constraints; if they feel their voices are not being heard; if they regard the Council as a platform only for the “big boys” to drive their own narrow agendas, then the Council risks credibility atrophy.

This is why Singapore firmly believes that the Council should focus on implementation going forward. 

For the Council to be effective in implementation, it is important for all delegations to understand that we have to take a practical and not an ideological approach to the realisation of human rights.

This is because human rights exist in specific cultural, social, and historical contexts.

In our view, the Council has untapped potential to be a powerful platform to listen to and learn from best practices in the promotion and protection of human rights.

Singapore is contributing in our own small way in this regard.  For example, Singapore will be hosting a workshop in July for practitioners to share best practices on maintaining religious tolerance as part of the Istanbul Process for HRC resolution 16/18.

Our hope is that the Council can become an arena of cooperation, where states and civil society seek to understand the constraints and challenges of each other, and find ways to collaborate in practical rather than ideological ways to realise human rights and to build fair and resilient societies.

I thank you Mr President.

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