Introductory Remarks of H.E. Gennady Gatilov

Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation in Geneva

At the side event at the 39^th Session of the Human Rights Council

“Human rights education in practice: an example of fruitful Russia-OHCHR cooperation”

Geneva, 24 September 2018

Madame Deputy High Commissioner,

Excellences,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome and greet you here.

More than ten years ago the Human Rights Masters Program was conceived.

It all started from the visit of the then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour to our country in February two thousand six.

We decided then to develop a framework of bilateral cooperation aimed at promoting respect for human rights: both in our country and beyond.

The cooperation agreement between Russia and the OHCHR was signed in 2007, and human rights education – the Masters Program – was among its main priorities.

When we started it, we definitely expected that it would eventually become a success.

However, the outcome surpassed even our boldest expectations.

The interest among both educational institutions and students was indeed huge, but this was more or less predictable.

What we could not predict, was the demand for graduates.

They were employed by state institutions, the National Human Rights Institutions, international organizations, civil society institutions, corporations and business enterprises.

Two of them, by the way, work here, in the Russian Permanent Mission.

Today the program has expanded to nine universities.

Brand new educational curricula and innovative textbooks have been developed.

The program attracts students both from Russia and abroad.

The network of exchange with a number of reputed world universities has developed and expanded.

I would like to sincerely thank all participants, particularly the OHCHR and the consortium of universities for their efforts that brought this initiative to this stage of success.

On an official note I would like say that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation considers this program to be a useful tool of promotion of human rights through capacity-building, education and training, and will continue to render its support at all stages of its realization.

On a less official note I am pleased to say that this is a merely brilliant project.

Dear Colleagues,

This year we celebrate two important anniversaries.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns seventy in December.

The Vienna Declaration and Program of Action celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in June.

Despite the fact that considerable time has passed, the full implementation of these landmark documents remains a far cry.

It is indeed regrettable, and we need to use all means at our disposal to reach the objectives set there.

The anniversaries provide an excellent opportunity to draw the attention and action from all stakeholders to the promotion and protection of human rights.

We always thought that the UN, in particular its human rights dimension – the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the Secretariat – the OHCHR – are entitled to assume leadership in those efforts.

It was the Russian delegation who tabled a draft resolution on anniversaries in June two thousand sixteen.

This initiative gathered a record number of co-sponsors – more than one hundred thirty.

I would like to commend the Office of the High Commissioner, who has joined this campaign with all energy and enthusiasm.

A wide range of activities have been conducted, and some more are to go.

I am sure that on the tenth of December we will be able to sum up and think of an appropriate follow up to the work done.

It feels indeed great to be part of these efforts.

I would like to finish with a quote from the Vienna Declaration.

“Education on human rights and the dissemination of proper information, both theoretical and practical, play an important role in the promotion and respect of human rights”

We in the Russian Federation fully understand this role, and are ready, willing and able to contribute to the promotion of human rights through educational means.

The Human Rights Master Program is a living and successful proof.

I wish you a very interesting and fruitful discussion.

Thank you.