Excellencies,

Distinguished Heads of State and Government,

Secretary-General,

High-Commissioner,

President of the General Assembly,

President of the Human Rights Council,

Distinguished Ministers, Colleagues and Friends,

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted 70 years ago. 25 years ago the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action was approved.

Thus 2018 provides us with a remarkable opportunity for an honest and open reflection on what we have achieved and where we must improve.

Over the past 70 years, we have established an architecture for the promotion and protection of human rights based on the principles of a human being’s inalienable dignity, of justice and equality.

This architecture has brought before-unknown rights and freedoms to millions of people around the globe.

It has enabled them to live a life in dignity and peace. It has provided them with redress for violations and it allows for the prosecution of perpetrators of horrendous human rights violations.

This is something political leaders need to be reminded of. Especially those who today wage campaigns against the universality of human rights.

Leaders, who threaten withdrawal from international or regional treaties and the institutions that uphold them, who interpret human rights treaties in a very restrictive or arbitrary manner, who undermine the authority of courts in charge of interpreting those treaties, be it in Europe or in other regions of the world.

We all need to be reminded that the progress achieved is not irreversible.

Two years ago I announced my intent to run for the office of President of Austria through a video.

In this video I quoted Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I called upon the Austrian people not to take these rights and values, our democracy and the rule of law for granted, but to remain vigilant to ensure their lasting validity.

Human rights need to be fostered and fought for time and again.

The Austrian people, the government and I myself are acutely aware of our special responsibility to fight anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, hate speech and incitement to violence and discrimination.

The protection of human rights remains central to my country’s self-understanding. Austria’s traditional commitment to human rights at the national and international level has been reaffirmed by Austria’s current government.

A society’s humanity can be measured by how it treats its most vulnerable members.

National or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities often belong to the most vulnerable.

Due to Austria’s history and experience, the protection of minorities has been our long-standing priority.

The unequivocal recognition that women’s rights are human rights was one achievement of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights in 1993.

The affirmation of the universality of women’s rights and the framing of gender-based violence as a human rights issue has contributed to reinforcing Austria’s clear commitment to the protection of the human rights of women and children.

In this context, let me say a few words about Syria. The attacks on the civilian population in Syria, and particularly in Eastern-Ghouta, leave us without words.

We continue to hear of entire families being wiped out, of civilians living in a state of panic, and of intentional attacks on essential civilian infrastructure including medical facilities.

But words cannot do justice to describe the horrors and the inconceivably high numbers of civilian casualties caused throughout this civil war, again over the last weeks.

We therefore join the call for an immediate and sustained cessation of hostilities and underline again:

Humanitarian access  and respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, which was developed to save civilians from exactly those types of situations, are a legal requirement and not at the discretion of the parties to conflict.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Human Rights Council is an invaluable ally in monitoring the implementation of human rights obligations. It can play an important role in strengthening the rules-based international system.

However, the texts adopted in this very room have limited impact unless they are matched with national action to ensure their effective implementation.

As States, we need a renewed commitment to align our actions with the recommendations of the Council and its mechanisms. We need to truly take this work out of this august Chamber, and thereby achieve real and tangible changes in the lives of individuals.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Of course, no State has a perfect human rights record and probably no State ever will.

What is essential are credible, well-functioning institutions such as independent judiciaries, a free and pluralistic media, parliaments, and a thriving civil society.

Initiatives for the development and protection of these institutions are essential components of Austria’s human rights policy.

We now wish to intensify our active engagement for the promotion and protection of human rights as a member of the Human Rights Council. Austria has therefore presented its candidature for membership for the period 2019-2021.

We take pride in the fact that the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action were the basis for the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Austria reaffirms its commitment to support an independent, sufficiently funded and efficient Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well as the important work of the Special Procedures and the Human Rights Treaty Body System.

We also strongly believe that the increased involvement of civil society in the work of national and international human rights bodies has greatly enhanced the relevance and effectiveness of these fora.

If elected as a member of the Human Rights Council we will look for ways to build bridges.

We will make every effort to contribute to a “team spirit” of shared ownership and joint responsibility for the advancement of human rights.

I am convinced that my country, if elected to the Human Rights Council for the period 2019-2021, can make a substantial contribution to promoting and protecting human rights for the benefit of everybody.

It is in this spirit that I seek your valuable support.

I thank you.