As prepared for delivery

Mr. Secretary-General,

Distinguished President of the UN Human Rights Council,

Mr. High Commissioner,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a privilege to address this High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council.

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency, Ambassador Václav Bálek on his election as President of the Human Rights Council.

 On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, let me say how deeply saddened we are by the loss of life and suffering following the devastating earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye.

As part of the United Nations family, UNDP will support affected communities in the coming days, weeks, and months as they recover from this tragedy.

As we mark the 75^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year, it is a moment to reflect on the progress that our global community has made.

It has propelled freedom and development.

It has also helped to dismantle structures that perpetuated racial and gender discrimination.

Most recently, the global community has come together and recognised the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Yet, human rights are coming under enormous pressure in this era of ‘polycrisis’.

That includes shrinking civic spaces and  human rights backsliding in many parts of the world.

Human rights defenders including journalists and civil society leaders are also under increasing threat.

Indeed, UNDP’s Human Development Report shows how trust is breaking down, which may then beget more instability.

Some of the worst human rights violations occur during violent conflicts -- now at their highest levels since 1945, from Ukraine to Yemen to Syria and beyond.

That includes also gender-based violence against women and girls.

Indeed, there is  a need for more concerted efforts to tackle intersectional forms of discrimination and violence, including against girls with disabilities.

A new UN inter-agency statement just endorsed, also by UNDP, outlines a clear set of recommendations for the full realisation of their right to live free from violence and discrimination -- from legislation to finance.

In 2023, the right to development remains a defining issue.

As dire as some economic forecasts continue to be, the issue is not that we do not have enough finance .

Global wealth has been estimated today at 463 trillion dollars.

The real issue is where money is spent and by whom, and who benefits or not.

In short, there is a pressing need for financing and debt relief to respond to the development needs of communities now -- without short-changing the future.

We also must address gaps in technical cooperation.

Last year, I referenced the need to ‘export’ the findings of human rights mechanisms more consistently into development practices and policies.

That is now happening – including through supporting countries to fully leverage the Universal Periodic Review process, or UPR.

With the 4^th cycle of the UPR commencing, we will support Member States to turn  conclusions of reviews and recommendations into actions and ultimately future reality.

Albania has already used the process to support women facing discrimination including the Roma community  

Or look to Sierra Leone, which used the UPR process to help abolish the death penalty.

UNDP, in partnership with the UN Human Rights Office is strengthening our practical support to countries.   That includes our partnership with GANHRI to support National Human Rights Institutions a cornerstone of human rights systems across the globe.

This support, enabled by a Tripartite Partnership, will be scaled up in 2023 in all regions with the support of Norway.

To take just one example of this engagement, consider   the Asia-Pacific region, where we support these institutions to protect the rights of the LGBTI community.

We will also assist these vital institutions to put the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment into practice worldwide.

UNDP is also working with partners to ensure that the business sector fulfils its human rights obligations.

With support from Japan, Sweden and the European Union, UNDP is today working with companies in 28 countries across 5 continents with new tools to advance human rights in business.

In the last 12 months alone, some 2,000 companies have participated in Business and Human Rights Academies, from Mexico to Ghana to Indonesia.

Distinguish President of the UN Human Rights Council, High Commissioner,

As part of the UN family, UNDP will continue to answer the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights. That involves using human rights as one of the most powerful ‘problem-solving’ tools for development choices and decisions, and ultimately to advance the global Goals

Indeed, the entire UN family and are partners are torchbearers for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights across the world.

We have a responsibility to rekindle its powerful message and keep its fire burning -- helping to ensure that all people can gain freedom, equality, and dignity.

Thank you for this opportunity to address you today.