EU and OHCHR held third annual Strategic Consultations

The EU and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights held their third annual Strategic Consultations in Brussels.

The Consultations reviewed ongoing strategic cooperation and discussed future priorities. The exchange focused on global trends in human rights, including the ongoing pushback against the universality and indivisibility of human rights.

The EU and the OHCHR concurred on the need for increased engagement on economic, social and cultural rights, and discussed the High Commissioner’s plans to promote a Human Rights Economy with a view to address inequalities, advance good governance and sustainable development. Recognising that human rights defenders and civil societyface growing challenges, they converged on the need to continue working together to protect human rights defenders globally, including in the digital space.

The Consultations also covered geographic human rights developments in a number of countries across all regions. The EU reaffirmed its resolve to end impunity for serious human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, to strengthen accountability, and to ensure compliance with international law.

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As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the EUreaffirmed its unwavering support to multilateralism and to the promotion of the rule-based international order with the UN Human Rights System at its centre.  The EU commendedthe strategic cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, both at central level and with its field offices, and underlined its support for the independence of the Office in promoting and monitoring human rights and mainstreaming human rights throughout the UN system.

The EU and the OHCHR agreed to continue holding the strategic consultations annually, and to follow up with working level exchanges on subjects of mutual interest.

The Strategic Consultations were co-chaired by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.