Belgium defends human legal rights not only within the UN Human being Rights Council, but also with bilateral level, at EUROPEAN level and in other international forums. “My entire dedication is based on defending the natural rights of everyone, regardless of competition, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, language or religion. And Belgium, by sitting within the Human Rights Council, will make its voice heard, led by the text and the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After almost 75 years of existence, it has lost none of its power or relevance, quite the particular contrary. Human dignity, freedom and justice are basic principles of my foreign policy, because I am certain of their universality and because these people represent the best possible guarantee regarding peace”, concludes Minister Hadja Lahbib. Women’s rights have become a target in several places. “The promotion plus protection of women’s rights are a priority for Belgium, they are present, across the table, in all my actions. In certain countries, too often, gender elegance is deeply embedded within legislation, policy choices and social structures. Changing these types of practices requires long-term function, the starting point of which is usually an open, constructive dialogue with no taboos. I like to start by saying that if Belgium can present a perfectly gender-balanced federal government today, it took almost 200 years. And that it took so many years to possess a first female foreign ressortchef (umgangssprachlich). In international circles, I actually very often intervene on behalf of Belgium, to support women in their guard equal rights and to highly condemn the violence that they are subjected in certain nations – without forgetting the particular violence suffered by males who stand by them, inch said Minister Lahbib. A recent example of Belgian support will be the contribution of 350, 500 euros to the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund to support women human rights defenders in Afghanistan. In Ukraine, we gave a factor of half a million pounds to the same UN account, in order to support the fight against conflict-related sexual violence and the implementation of the important Females, Peace and Security agenda. Human being rights and democracy are more than ever under pressure around the world. The particular international community is facing complex challenges such as the environment crisis, increasing conflicts and wars, a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability and disinformation. Included in the 74th anniversary of the General Declaration of Human Legal rights, Minister Lahbib associates herself with the words of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk: “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – which was drew up by representatives from all over the world – embodies a common vocabulary of our shared humanity, a unifying force at the heart which lies human dignity as well as the duty of care we all owe each other as individual beings”. Human dignity and equal rights for all those are the foundation of independence, justice and peace on earth. On January 1, 2023, Belgium will become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, for which it was elected in October by the UN Common Assembly by a large majority of votes. Minister Hadja Lahbib: “More than ever, human rights must be a fundamental value and never a favor granted simply by States. These rights dedicate society in all its parts. Belgium’s accession to the United Nations Human Rights Council is an opportunity for our country to become more involved in the promotion and protection of human rights as essential conditions intended for peace, security and advancement “. Belgium placed a solid emphasis on the positive interaction among these three pillars throughout its recent term at the United Nations Security Council in 2019-2020. Four thematic priorities will guideline our action during our term on the Human Legal rights Council: the principle of accountability for the most severe crimes; strengthening civil modern society and protecting human rights defenders; equality and the combat discrimination, with particular focus on women and girls; and the promotion of all human rights, specifically civil and political legal rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights, in their indivisibility and interdependence. Within the occasion of International Human Rights Day, Foreign Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Hadja Lahbib reiterates Belgium’s commitment to the protection and promotion of all human rights for all, without distinction.
