Dear Mr. High Commissioner,

Distinguished Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very warm welcome again. This time it is my pleasure to greet you on my home turf, the Czernin Palace, the seat of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yesterday, I spoke about Czechia’s commitment and contribution to multilateralism. Let me recall the names of two men who had a lasting impact on what Czechia is today, what it stands for, and what foreign policy it promotes. The late president Václav Havel and one of my predecessors, former foreign minister and also a former chairman of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights Karel Schwarzenberg who passed away early this month.

The fact that support for democracy, human rights, and civil society has been one of the main features of Czech foreign policy since 1990s, is also legacy of these two men.

In the current security context, pursuing a human rights-based foreign policy contributes to international security. Protecting human rights may limit the emergence of security threats such as terrorism or illegal migration. It fundamentally adds to the growth of prosperity.

On the contrary, states that systematically violate the human rights of their citizens will not adhere to rules in international relations. In the end, they pose a threat to other states and the international community as a whole.

Our historical experience leads us to actively participate in multilateral forums, to share the responsibility and to contribute to resolving issues our world faces. We want to do it in a spirit of collaboration, as a reliable partner.

In line with that engagement, we have presented our candidacy to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 period and to the UN Security Council for the 2032 – 2033 period. We hope for your kind support.

For today, Prague has replaced Geneva as the UN human rights hub and with such an occasion comes great responsibility. The retreat is the culmination of our Presidency in the Council. Throughout the year, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Council continues promoting human rights and delivers results. I would like to thank those of you who provided us with guidance on this journey.

We all understand the difficult current state of the world. The international system based on International law and the UN Chapter is under unprecedented pressure. One of the Permanent Members of the Security Council has bluntly torn up the same Charter it is supposed to protect.  One more reason the world needs an effective and well-functioning Human Rights Council.

This has been an exhausting year. In fact, it was the richest year in terms of the Council’s meeting time. I have no doubt that you know very well the current sources of difficulties in the Council.

You might represent various countries, regions, political groups, cultures, and historical experiences. Yet, we only have one Human Rights Council. You have continued to deliver results leading to better protection and promotion of human rights all over the world. That deserves recognition.

Today, you have important debates ahead of you - on the future of the Council, on the holistic approach to all three UN pillars, and on the engagement of all stakeholders, in particular Civil Society, in the Council.

It is in your hands to make the best use of your time here for discussions that go beyond your daily agenda in Geneva and in Room XX (Twenty).

In line with our commitment to lead the Council to more efficiency, more participation and better prevention, we strive to do our best to create an inspiring environment that will guide you during your discussions.

I wish to highlight two core elements needed for a successful outcome: support and trust. If this retreat contributes to stronger ties in the Council and a better common understanding, then we will have achieved our goal.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish you a successful retreat that will be useful for your critical work in Geneva.

Let me now pass the floor to Mr. High Commissioner to deliver his remarks on the current state of play in the human rights field.