In the year of its creation, Argentina was elected to be a member
of it, obtaining 158 votes out of 191, but as a consequence of
the initial draw for renewing its members, it had to leave its
seat after the first year. On that occasion, Argentina decided
not to make a bid for a new mandate in order to guarantee the
principle of regional rotation.
At an early stage, since the report of the High-Level
Panel, which helped the Secretary General in 2004 to advance in
the organization reform, Argentina, together with a small number
of other States, supported the Creation of a Human Rights Council
in order to raise the profile of human rights issues in the UN,
which was reflected in Argentina's active participation in the
negotiations in New York and Geneva, as well as in different events
and consultations on the matter.
Since the restoration of the democratic system in
1983 and in light of its historical-political context of institutional
interruptions and mass and systematic violations of human rights
during state terrorism, Argentina has taken a position of principle
to defend and promote human rights at a domestic level, and has
thus been able to contribute to human rights progressive, conceptual
and real development of international law.
The Argentine Republic has ratified almost all of
the regional and international instruments on human rights in
force. Several of them were granted constitutional rank as from
the reform of the National Constitution in 1994. In this framework,
the country has accepted the supervision of control organs established
by the human rights treaties and, in this regard it has regularly
been submitting the periodical reports required.
Argentina ratified the International Convention
for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Argentina has signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, the Protocol to the American Convention on Human
Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty and the Second Optional Protocol
to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which
seeks the abolition of the Death Penalty. It has also ratified
the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
to receive and examine communications, the Optional Protocol to
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women and the International Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
Argentina has always cooperated with the special
procedures of the Human Rights Council (HRC). In this regard,
on 3 December 2002, the Argentine Government made an open and
permanent invitation to the special thematic mechanisms of the
HRC, stating that the representatives and experts of the universal
human rights system will always be allowed to enter our country
when requested.
Argentina has tried to prevent a protection void
and to this end, in the most recent sessions of the HRC, has supported
the resolutions providing for renewal of special procedure mandates.
It also supports and co-sponsors a large number of resolutions.
The Second Ordinary Session approved the Decision on the "Right
to the Truth" submitted by Argentina.
Argentina considers that the United Nations action
in the field of human rights should always be inclusive and should
generate mechanisms of cooperation and consultation in order to
improve the human rights situation in all countries. Therefore,
it has always tried to play a moderating role with the other delegations
and to maintain fluent relations with the representatives of non-governmental
organizations. We are aware that a cooperative attitude will contribute
to a normal and successful development of the undertakings of
the organization's work to boost the promotion and protection
of human rights.
In this context, Argentina is satisfied to be one
of the first countries to be examined by the universal periodic
review mechanism. Argentina supports this mechanism for it considers
it an important tool to reduce the politicization of the universal
system for the promotion and protection of human rights.
The experience of a recent past with systematic
and general violations of human rights and of a present which
has found the way to give a place to truth, remembrance, justice
and reparation have served to shape Argentine policy on this matter
as a policy of principles within the country and in international
relations. In this framework, for the first time in the history
of democracy in Argentina, the three powers of the state, representing
a mature society and a tireless national human rights movement
- which has been an example for the world - have decided to remove
the obstacles in order to investigate and sanction those responsible
for crimes against humanity, committed during state terrorism.
Finally, in this new stage of consolidation of the
Human Rights Council, we wish to make a determined contribution
in order to continue improving protection standards for all peoples
around the world. In this regard,
Argentina commits itself to:
-Support the special procedures and consolidate
the new procedures and organs accountable to the Council, rationalising
the mechanisms, as long as this does not involve a protection
void.
-Review practices against regulations, such as the
"motion on not taking steps in a certain resolution project".
It must be pointed out that many states resort to it and justify
their action by arbitrarily interpreting Article 67 of the ECOSOC
Rules, which is equivalent to Article 90 (139) of AGNU Rules.
It is necessary for the Council members, in a spirit of dialogue
and cooperation, to be willing to talk about all issues relating
to the promotion and protection of human rights.
-Actively participate in the Working Group in charge
of drafting a Protocol to the International Convention of 1966
on economic, social and cultural rights, based on Argentina's
understanding that all human rights are indivisible and interdependent
and that there is no hierarchy between them.
-Promote dialogue between NGOs and the Human Rights
Council.
-Cooperate in order to reach an efficient and effective
implementation of the universal periodic review mechanism."
(UPR)
