Poland in the UN

The Human Rights Council session began with the High Level Segment attended by over 130 heads of state or government and foreign ministers. Poland was represented by the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Duda, who spoke, inter alia, about the consequences of the pandemic for the human rights situation in the world, the wave of repression by the Belarusian regime in the aftermath of the presidential elections in August 2020, the imprisonment of Mr. Alexei Navalny by the Russian authorities and the accompanying mass protests, as well as very difficult situation of human rights in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

During the session, the Council adopted 30 resolutions, including resolutions on the human rights situation in North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Nicaragua and South Sudan.

One of the most important resolutions adopted is the resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus in the run-up and in the aftermath of the presidential elections in August 2020. The resolution establishes a special mechanism for monitoring the human rights situation in Belarus and for investigating and ensuring accountability for human rights violations that have occurred in Belarus since May 1, 2020. The new mechanism will operate under the auspices of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus, adopted by the Human Rights Council, may prove to be an important instrument in activities aimed at monitoring and ensuring accountability for human rights violations and repressions against members of the Polish national minority in Belarus.

On the initiative of Poland, a joint statement on the human rights situation in Russia was presented.  The statement called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. A. Navalny and other arbitrarily detained persons. The joint statement was endorsed by 45 countries, including all EU member states and, inter alia, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and Switzerland.

During the 46th session, Poland and Qatar initiated also a joint statement on the World Autism Awareness Day, which gained the suport of 151 UN member states.

On the margins of the session, Poland held two virtual side-events. On March 15, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN and the Human Rights House Foundation, Poland organized an event Atrocities behind bars, which discussed the role of monitoring missions in the fight against torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and other violations of human rights. On March 19, took place an event entitled Threats of Extremism or "Threats" of "Extremism" Ensuring Respect for Freedom of Religion or Belief in the OSCE Region and Beyond, which focused on the relationship between security and freedom of religion or belief. Among the panelists were Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief as well as the representatives of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE) and the Jehovah's Witnesses religious association.

The UN Human Rights Council was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly resolution 60/251 of March 15, 2006, and replaced the UN Human Rights Commission. It has 47 member states. Poland was a member of the Council in 2006-2007 and 2011-2013. The Human Rights Council is the most important forum for intergovernmental cooperation in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Its tasks include assisting states in fulfilling their obligations in the area of human rights protection through dialogue, building institutional structures and technical assistance.