The Human Rights Council this morning adopted three resolutions on human rights in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, human rights in the context of HIV and AIDS, and on violence against women and girls: preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities.

Regarding the human rights situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, Council expressed serious concern at reports of serious human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian and international law. refugees allegedly committed by all parties in the Tigray region since the conflict began on November 4, 2020; and called for the swift and verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the Tigray region. He stressed the need to hold accountable all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses. The Council requested the High Commissioner to provide an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its forty-eighth session during an enhanced interactive dialogue. The resolution was adopted by 20 votes in favor, 14 against and 13 abstentions.

On human rights in the context of HIV and AIDS, the Council urged states to break cycles of HIV transmission by ensuring that all people receive a HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and support throughout their life cycle. It requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report outlining the measures taken and recommending measures to be scaled up or taken to achieve the innovative goals on societal enablers, and to present the report to the Human Rights Council at its fiftieth session. . The resolution was adopted with 42 votes in favor, none against and five abstentions.

On accelerating efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls: preventing and combating all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities, Council called on States to take immediate and effective action to respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, and support and protect all victims and survivors, including by ensuring that sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are fully achieved, including for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Webcast of Human Rights Council meetings can be viewed here. All meeting summaries can be found here. Documents and reports relating to the forty-seventh ordinary session of the Human Rights Council are available for consultation here.

The Council will then meet at 2.15 pm this afternoon to continue taking action on the draft resolutions.

Decision on the resolution under the agenda item on the annual report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

Action on the resolution on the human rights situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia

In a resolution (A/CRH/47/L.20/Rev.1) on the human rights situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, adopted by 20 votes in favor, 14 against and 13 abstentions, the Council expresses its grave concern at reports of serious human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law allegedly committed by all parties in the Tigray region since the start of the conflict on November 4, 2020; and calls for the swift and verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the Tigray region. Council underlines the need to hold accountable all those responsible for human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed in the context of the Tigray conflict, and recognizes in this regard the importance of preserving and analyzing evidence to advance accountability. The Council calls on all parties to comply with the obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect all civilians, including humanitarian personnel and civilian objects, and all medical and humanitarian personnel exclusively assigned to tasks. medical facilities, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, and to take all necessary measures to allow and facilitate full, safe, immediate and unhindered access by humanitarian actors for the delivery of aid humanitarian aid to all people in need, in accordance with humanitarian principles and applicable international law. The Council also requests the High Commissioner to provide an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its forty-eighth session in an enhanced interactive dialogue, and at its forty-ninth session in an interactive dialogue. , on the human rights situation in the Tigray region and on the progress made within the framework of the joint investigation.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favor (20): Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, United Kingdom Uni and Uruguay.

Against (14): Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, India, Namibia, Philippines, Russian Federation, Somalia, Togo and Venezuela.

Abstentions (13): Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

Before adopting the resolution, the Council voted and rejected 16 amendments, namely L.30, L.31, L.32, L. 66, L. 68, L.69, L.70, L.71, L. 72, L.73, L.74, L.75, L.76, L.77, L.78 and L.79.

Action on resolutions under the agenda item on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Action on the human rights resolution in the context of HIV and AIDS

In a resolution (A/CRH/47/L.15) on human rights in the context of HIV and AIDS, adopted by 42 votes in favor, 0 against and 5 abstentions, the Council urges States to break the cycles of HIV transmission by ensuring that all people receive a HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and support throughout their life cycle, including specialist care for HIV and other chronic conditions associated with aging, response to drug-resistant strains of HIV, and antiretroviral resistance as well as antimicrobial resistance and, in this context, establish effective systems for surveillance, prevention and response to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of HIV and antimicrobial resistance. Council further requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare, in consultation with Governments, civil society, community organizations and other stakeholders, a report outlining the action taken and recommending measures to be scaled up or undertaken to meet targets on societal enablers, as recognized in the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS adopted by the General Assembly in 2021, address remaining gaps and present the report to the Human Rights Council at its fiftieth session. The Council also requests the High Commissioner to invite Member States and all other stakeholders, including relevant United Nations organs, agencies, funds and programs, special procedures, in particular the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, treaty bodies, regional human rights and health organizations and bodies, national human rights institutions and civil society, including individuals living with, suspected of living with, at risk for or affected by HIV.

The results of the vote were as follows:

For (42): Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela .

Against (0):

Abstentions (5): China, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya and Russian Federation

Before adopting the resolution, the Council voted and rejected 10 amendments, namely L.33, L.34, L.35, L.36, L.37, L.38, L.39, L.40, L. 41, and L.42.

Action on the resolution on accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls

In a resolution (A/CRH/47/L.18/Rev.1) on accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: preventing and combating all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities, adopted without a vote as revised orally, the Council calls on States to take immediate and effective measures to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, in particular by encouraging respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, by promoting empowering portrayals of women and girls with disabilities and by conducting awareness campaigns on their capabilities and contributions, and refraining from supporting or funding campaigns that perpetuate stigma or stereotypes of women and girls with disabilities. The Council also calls on States to take immediate and effective measures to respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, and to support and protect all victims and survivors, including by ensuring that the health sexual and reproductive and reproductive rights are fully realized, including for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, by addressing social and other determinants of health, removing barriers, developing and applying policies, good practices and legal frameworks; and strengthening health systems that ensure comprehensive and quality sexual and reproductive health – universally accessible, available and inclusive care, information and education services.

Before adopting the resolution, the Council voted and rejected 2 amendments, namely L.57 and L65.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

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