Universal Periodical Review preparatory meeting

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, friends, here present in the room and online.

Welcome to this meeting in preparation of the Universal Periodic Review of Montenegro by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

This review comes at a special moment in the history of human rights..

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This declaration sets out universal, indivisible and inalienable rights that recognize the equal dignity and worth of every person.

Let us remember that it was drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world.

It was the first time that the international community agreed on a set of common values. The first time it acknowledged that rights are inherent to every single human being and not granted by the

State.

Ever since, the declaration has been the basis for laws and for institutions that promote, protect and realize rights.

It has inspired movements fighting oppression, discrimination and other violations.

It has improved the lives of many, women, children, young people, it has led to the abolition of the death penalty in many countries, as just some examples.

The declaration remains as relevant today as 75 years ago, as shown by the fact that the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development is grounded in human rights.

At the same time, we cannot deny the great suffering of many people around the world in conflicts today, the regression on hard fought rights, like for women, the climate crisis and rising inequalities, to name a few. Already at UDHR 70, 5 years ago, we saw a backlash against human rights, from authoritarians leaders, populists and others who questioned rights and their universality.

This trend it yet to be halted and this is urgent.

Human Rights 75 is an opportune moment, as the High Commissioner for Human Rights has said, “to rekindle the spirit, impulse and vitality that forged the declaration 75 years ago, and to rejuvenate a worldwide consensus on human rights. A consensus that unifies us in the face of so many challenges”. I am pleased to say that Montenegro expressed its full support for this goal at the Human Rights Council last month.

Values and rights in the universal declaration will guide collective and concrete action to tackle today’s key challenges, even - as the High Commissioner says - where these seem intractable. If the leaders in politics and society would only centre their responses on human rights, solutions will be within sight.

The UPR of Montenegro by the Human Rights Council is an opportunity to collectively find concrete, relevant and realistic responses to the human rights challenges the country faces.

I am encouraged that the President, when addressing the Council last month, expressed the strong commitment of Montenegro to play a proactive and constructive role in the Council to strengthen the respect and preservation of universal human rights everywhere and for all, including in the UPR process.

To make the UPR successful and use it to its full potential, I call on all who will be reviewing Montenegro, to engage in a fair, critical and constructive manner.

Excellencies, I hope that this meeting will support you in working with your Ambassadors in Geneva to be that fair, critical and constructive voice, and advocates for stronger respect for the human rights of all as set out in the universal declaration.

Before I conclude, let me add that the UPR, like all other UN human rights review processes, is an inclusive and participatory processes; human rights processes should be so by default.

I am very pleased that today, we are able to bring together the diplomatic community, representatives of Government, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, civil society, the international community and UN colleagues.

I thank you all for responding to our invitation, and for your interest in making human rights that ‘common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations’ as agreed by world leaders 75 years ago. And in bringing that goal a step closer for Montenegro.

I wish you all a fruitful meeting

Thank you.