( C h e c k g a i n sd e l i v e r y ) a t STATEMENT BY AMBASSADORRONALDO MOTA SARDENBERG PERMANENTREPRESENTATIVE BRAZIL TO THE UNITED NATIONS.ON OF BEHALF OF COLOMBIA, GUATEMALA, PANAMA. PARAGUAY. URUGUAY AND BRAZIL ?2"dPLENARY MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBL}' HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (New York. 15 MARCH 2006) Mr. President. On behalfof Colombia,Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguayand Brazil, I whishto congratulate you, Mr. President, and also Ambassador RicardoArias, and Ambassador DumisaniKumalo,CoChairs, for your tenaciouswork throughoutthe last five months. The intenseand transparent consultations MemberStates with carriedout by you allowedus to reacha balanced draft resolution thatcreates setsthe mandate and ofthe HumanRishtsCouncil. Sincethe adoption vote ofthe Universal by Declaration HumanRights,morethansixty years on ago, Stateshave incorporated their legal systems, to mechanisms that guarantee protectionand the fulfillment of HumanRights.This hasbeena majorachievement hasconsolidated and standards for contemporary society.Progress far attained beena result of strenuous so has efforts.Nevertheless, our determination improvestandards living and put a stopto violationsof HumanRightshas to of overcome everysortof difficulties. establishment the Human Rights Council, in replacement the Commission Human of of on Rights,represents watershed the protection a in and promotionof HumanRights,but it cannotbe considered end in itself The new Councilis part ofa process an which hasbegunwith the Universal Declaration Human Rights. Although reshaping Human Rights machinery essenlial, of the is one mustnot losesightof the fact that, at the endof the day,the members the old andoftencriticized of Commission HumanRightswill be the very same of members the new Council.Notwithstanding, of the approach ofall States HumanRightshasto bereshaped. to It was a complexand sometimes tortuousnegotiating process that led to the final draft resolution presented the President the General by of Assembly 23 February. on The effortsandthe resolveof the wholemembership prevailedover obstacles allowedfor the fulfillment of the determination and mandated our Heads StateandGovemments the 2005World Summit. by of at
Colombia, Guatemala,Panama, Paraguay,Uruguay and Brazil firmly support the President'stext. We reaflirm that the new Council, while preservingthe positive elementsof the presentCommission, constitutes a step forward toward the strengthening and improvement of the Human Rights machinery.

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(Check against delivery) The Council, as outlined, is definitely an important achievement.But there are imperfections,which rve hope *'ill be corrected through the day-to-day practice of the new body. The views of the delegationsof Colombia, Guatemala,Panama,Paraguay,Uruguay and Brazil have been extensively expressed during the negotiating process.I would highlight three outstandingissues.

Firstly,the text could haveincluded,in a morecomprehensive fashion, concepts dialogue the of and cooperation instruments the treatment violationsof humanrights.Experience as for of that,as shows a rule, politicizing Human Rights tends to be counterproductive not accompanied positive if by inoentives, suchascooperation capacity and building. Secondly, Colombia,Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, UruguayandBrazil regretthat the proposal ofa global reporthasnot beeninserted the final draft. Monitoringthe situationof HumanRightsin a in global perspective would be an essential practice allowing for the mitigationof political selectivity and double standards, u,hich has been the object of well-foundedcriticism of the work of the Commission Human on Rights. Finally, we deeplyregretthat the representation GRULAC in the Council as compared the of to Commission was decreased 27%. We understand regions by that with increased numberof countries shouldexpand their presence. therewasno decrease the numberof countries our region.So But in in we fail to seewhy its representation beenreduced drastically. has so The adoptionof this resolutiontoday is long overdue.The Commissionhas startedits work in Geneva Monday.As our delegations last stated several on occasions, main concern our wasto avoid a "protectiongap" createdby a waning Commission while a new structureis stitl lacking.The persistence this situationcould temporarily of undermine UN system the protection human the for of rights. Mr. President, In closing,I would like to concurwith you, asstated your letterdated9 March,thattherearemany in otherimportant matters the reformagenda will requireour full attention thepresent on that in session of the General Assembly. The creationof the HumanRightsCouncilwill now free the agenda and allow delegations consider to otherfundamental issues the Organization for suchasthe reformof the SecurityCouncil,the revitalization the General of Assembly, management reform,development anci ECOSOC reform. Thankvou. Mr. President.

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