The chief of Polish diplomacy underlined that Poland started its membership of the Human Rights Council for the third time. The admission of our country to the membership of this key international human rights body is both recognition for Poland as a country committed to promoting international law and human rights, as well as a challenge for Polish diplomacy. The protection of freedom of religion and belief is Poland’s key priority at the Human Rights Council. In this context, the minister announced that Warsaw will host a ministerial on freedom of religion to be organised jointly with the United States in July this year. Poland will also support the groups most vulnerable to human rights abuse, in particular children and people with disabilities.

Speaking about Poland’s activities marking World Down Syndrome Day and World Autism Awareness Day, Minister Czaputowicz announced that a draft declaration on this matter will be presented at the Council. He also stressed the special importance that Poland, an active participant in the work on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, attaches to the protection of children’s rights. “It is beyond any doubt that, irrespective of their nationality, ethnic origin or religion, all children are equal before the law, and that their well-being should always be taken into account,” he stressed. ‎

In his address, Poland’s top diplomat underlined the support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and expressed deep concern over the human rights situation in Crimea, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and Myanmar. 

In the margins of the Council’s session, Poland, jointly with the UK, organised a high-level meeting on freedom of religion or belief. “We all agree that freedom of religion or belief is one of the most endangered human rights today,” said Minister Czaputowicz.

Also on the sidelines of the Human Right Council session, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz met with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki. They discussed the state of play of bilateral cooperation, the current prospects for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the opportunities for the international community, taking into account the UN’s role, to engage in stabilising the situation in the region.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Fot. Sebastian Indra / MFA