United Nations A/71/113 Distr.: General 24 June 2016 Original: English General Assembly Seventy-first session Item 113 (d) of the preliminary list* Elections to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other elections: election of fourteen members of the Human Rights Council Letter dated 23 June 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly I have the honour to recall that Hungary has presented its candidature for a seat on the Human Rights Council for the period 2017-2019 at the elections to be held during the seventy-first session of the General Assembly. Therefore, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251, the Government of Hungary has the honour to attach herewith the voluntary pledges of Hungary reaffirming its commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights and its active participation in the work of the Human Rights Council (see annex). I would highly appreciate it if the present letter and its annex were circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under item 113 (d) of the preliminary list. (Signed) Katalin Bogyay Ambassador Permanent Representative * A/71/50. 16-13817 (E) *1613817* 160816 A/71/113 Annex to the letter dated 23 June 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly Candidature of Hungary to the Human Rights Council for 2017-2019 Voluntary pledges and commitments pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/251 Global commitment 1. Hungary is deeply committed to the strengthening of the international system of human rights, particularly the work and the functioning of the Human Rights Council. Hungary works continuously to build a culture of respect for the promotion and protection of human rights with a balanced approach to the issues on the agenda of the Council. 2. Hungary promotes a comprehensive approach that provides space for dialogue and cooperation, in order to strengthen the Council's reaction capacity to address violations of human rights and urgent situations without selectivity or double standards. 3. Hungary promotes the universality of human rights and aims at enhancing cross-regional cooperation. 4. Hungary is a dedicated partner and supporter of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and attaches great importance to its independence and effectiveness on the ground. 5. Hungary hosts regional representations and Global Shared Services Centres of a number of United Nations specialized agencies and international humanitarian organizations active in the promotion and protection of human rights, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Labour Organization, the World Food Agency of the United Nations, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. By providing locations and facilities to these organizations Hungary contributes significantly to their cost efficient, thus more effective, functioning. National contribution 6. Hungary has been a committed supporter of the Huma n Rights Council since its establishment and was member of the Council between 2009 -2012. Hungary presents its second candidature to the Council for the period 2017-2019. 7. Hungary is State party to the International Bill of Human Rights and the preponderant majority of international and European regional human rights conventions, as well as to most of the optional and additional protocols thereto. In compliance with its obligations, Hungary fully cooperates with the moni toring bodies of these treaties. 8. Hungary fully cooperates with the Council's special procedures by issuing and honouring a standing invitation to the special procedures, by promptly facilitating 2/4 16-13817 A/71/113 their requests to visit, by timely responding to their urgent appeals and other communications and by acting upon their recommendations. 9. Hungary attaches paramount importance to the universal periodic review, both as reviewed and reviewing State, and strives to ensure that each review is focused on improving the situation of human rights in the country under review. Hungary promotes concrete, measurable and implementable recommendations. 10. Hungary's Constitution, the Fundamental Law, states that human dignity shall be inviolable and that every human being shall have the right to life and human dignity. A range of cardinal acts and other pieces of legislation ensure fundamental rights and freedoms for all, including minorities and persons belonging to vulnerable groups. 11. The Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights is Hungary's independent "A" status national institute for human rights, as required by the Paris Principles. The Office monitors the Government's human rights activities. 12. The Government cultivates close contacts with civil society and engages in active discourse on human rights through the Human Rights Roundtable, which is operated by the interministerial Human Rights Working Group, which also monitors the implementation of the recommendations received by Hungary in the uni versal periodic review process. 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary continues to host the annual Budapest Human Rights Forum, which was launched in 2008. These international human rights conferences offer the opportunity to exchange views on various domains and aspects of human rights, with the participation of national and international human rights experts, representatives of non -governmental and governmental organizations and the academies. Voluntary pledges 14. Following are the voluntary pledges: · Apply and promote a rights-based approach in the implementation of sustainable development goals, as contained in the post 2015 development agenda · With the aim to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, ensure continuation of the annual Budapest Human Rights Forum · Continue to support Hungary-based international civil society organizations that are specialized in the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and fundamental freedoms · Contribute to international initiatives to combat sexual violence in conflicts, particularly against women and girls, and support projects aimed at eliminating all forms of such crimes and elaborate an action plan on eliminating sexual violence against women and girls o n the basis of the Parliamentary decree on combating domestic violence · Promote human rights training of professionals working with vulnerable groups, in particular children and women, in cooperation with specialized associations and civil society organizations 16-13817 3/4 A/71/113 · Introduce further measures to combat discrimination in all its forms for the improvement of gender equality and for the promotion of the advancement of women · Adopt and implement a national action plan on the 2011 United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights · Pursue an active role in the Human Rights Council, particularly promoting minority issues, the rights of indigenous peoples, human rights defenders, freedom of religion or belief, independence of judges and lawyers · Cooperate with the instruments and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, in particular by upholding a standing invitation to the special procedures and working actively on the universal periodic review. 4/4 16-13817