Ambassador Jorg Lauber outlines Human Rights Council achievements and priorities in New York

The press conference held on April 28, 2025, featured Ambassador Jorg Lauber, the President of the Human Rights Council, who provided an overview of the council's recent activities and priorities. This marked Ambassador Lauber's first visit to New York in his capacity as president, a role he has held for nearly four months.

Ambassador Lauber began by expressing his honor in serving as the first Swiss national to lead the council, highlighting Switzerland's historical involvement in its establishment nearly two decades ago. He noted that the Human Rights Council has been active this year, having conducted a universal periodic review session in January and February, which examined the human rights situations in 14 countries. Additionally, a special session was convened in July to address human rights concerns in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

During the press conference, Ambassador Lauber emphasized his primary goal for 2025: to enhance the council's role and expertise within the global human rights framework. He reiterated the importance of human rights as a foundational element for achieving peace and development, quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the interconnectedness of these issues.

The ambassador reported on the outcomes of the council's 58th regular session, which included the extension of 16 thematic and country-specific mandates, the adoption of Universal Periodic Review reports for 13 states, and the appointment of three members to the expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples. Notably, for the first time since 2011, there was a consensus to renew the mandate for the commission of inquiry on Syria, signaling international solidarity with the Syrian people.

The council also passed resolutions addressing human rights situations in Belarus, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Nicaragua, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, and Ukraine. Furthermore, a significant development was the establishment of an open-ended intergovernmental working group aimed at drafting a legally binding international instrument to protect the rights of older individuals.

Ambassador Lauber concluded by underscoring the council's commitment to addressing urgent human rights challenges and fostering dialogue among member states, civil society, and UN agencies, despite the current geopolitical complexities and financial constraints facing the international community.