Poland in the UN

During the 47th session, the Human Rights Council adopted 25 resolutions, 2 decisions and appointed 7 new Special Rapporteurs. From Poland’s perspective, one of the most important resolutions adopted during the session was the EU-led resolution on the human rights situation in Belarus, which extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in this country for a year. Another important EU initiative was the resolution on the human rights situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia - the first resolution adopted by the Council addressing this conflict. In the resolution, the Council expressed its grave concern at the reports of serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and called for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the Tigray region. At the same time, the Council requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide update on the human rights situation in this region during the next two sessions of the HRC, as well as to inform about the progress of the joint investigation led by the Office of the High Commissioner and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in Tigray. Other resolutions adopted by the Council during this session addressed, inter alia, the human rights situation in Eritrea and Syria, the situation of the Rohingya people and other minorities in Myanmar and a number of horizontal issues: climate change, fighting structural racism, protection of human rights on the Internet and the relationship between human rights and new technologies.

The Polish delegation delivered national statements during interactive dialogues on i.a. the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on state response to the pandemic, women's rights, human rights situation in Belarus, High Commissioner’s  presentation on Ukraine and interim report of the UN Secretary General on the human rights in Crimea.

During an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Belarus, Ms. Anaïs Marin, Poland made a statement on behalf of 46 countries (including all EU Member States) condemning the forced landing of a passenger aircraft in Minsk on May 23, 2021 and called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release Mr. Raman Pratasevich, his partner and all unjustly detained, including political prisoners.

Poland organized two virtual events at the margins of the session. The first one, entitled "Silenced rights, persecuted freedoms in Russia" addressed the restrictions of fundamental freedoms and rights of civil society in Russia. This initiative was a continuation of efforts undertaken during the previous session of the HRC, when Poland made a statement on behalf of 45 countries on the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia in the context of the arrest of Mr. A. Navalny. Another side event, entitled "Preventive Role of Human Rights Education in Fighting Negative Impact of Corruption", was organized at the initiative of Poland and the Community of Democracies, with the support of the members of the core-group of the resolution on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights (Poland is also a member of the core-group).

The next, 48th session of the Human Rights Council will be held on September 13 - October 1, 2021.