A Monegasque delegation, including Mrs. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Department of External Relations and Cooperation and Ms. Carole Lanteri, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality to the United Nations Office at Geneva, participated, Monday 25 February 2019, at the opening of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council, which is being held at the Palais des Nations until 22 March.
The session opened with a high-level segment, in which Mrs. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the UN General Assembly, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, Ms Michelle Bachelle, High Commissioner for Human Rights and Mr Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation participated.
On this occasion, the major current global challenges that have a direct impact on human rights, such as migration, climate change, and air pollution, which the UN Secretary-General recalled it causes nearly 7 million deaths every year. The latter has also worried about the sharp rise in inequality, which generates instability, discontent and demands.
Finally, certain particularly serious violations of fundamental rights throughout the world, including freedom of expression, but also discrimination and violence against women, have been denounced.
Over the next four weeks, the Human Rights Council will focus on thematic issues such as the death penalty, the right to the environment, the rights of the child and the rights of persons with disabilities. It will also address the human rights situation in a number of countries such as Syria, Myanmar or Venezuela.
Finally, on 15 March, the Council will consider the report on the 3rd Universal Periodic Review of Monaco, which took place on 12 November 2018, with a view to its final adoption.