As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 70th anniversary, the European Union is to launch the Good Human Rights Stories initiative on 27 September during the ministerial week of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to the conceptual note of the initiative, the objective is to create "a cross-regional coalition of human rights-minded countries to develop and share a new positive narrative" on human rights. And it is also to speak, for once, about good initiatives in this field, rather than about human rights violations.
"Its central focus will be on good human rights stories and on aspiring to aspire, among its members and others, the implementation of human-rights based policies and open consultative processes in all fields, by identifying, sharing showcasing and promoting positive examples", the conceptual note states.
According to the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Stavros Lambrinidis, "it is about a political initiative, not a new organisation". During a meeting with several journalists, including from EUROPE, Lambrinidis said the initiative was a "supplementary tool in the EU toolbox", in addition to its work to denounce human rights violations and its support for the UN bodies, among others.
For its launch, the initiative is expected to bring together the EU and ten or so countries, notably Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Cape Verde, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Tunisia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway and Georgia. It could later be further developed.
These states do not claim to be blameless on human rights, however. "These countries are not perfect in terms of human rights and do not put themselves forward as such. That is not the message. Everyone, including the EU, faces challenges in this field. The ultimate test is not to reach perfection but to have the institutions and political resolve to face your imperfections", Lambrinidis said.
During the first high level meeting in New York, to be attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, "each country will present a human rights story from its own experience on the ground, for five minutes – and in some cases, with civil society", Lambrinidis said. He added that meetings will be organised every six months, with a different theme each time.
For the EU, the first story focuses on the directive on the right of victims. This directive, which dates back to 2012, sets out the minimum standards on rights, support for and protection of victims of crime. Among the other participants, some stories will focus on the integration of migrants, the fight against racism, the implementation of the international sustainable development goals, security and human rights. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)