Massari to UNGA 3rd Committee: “Human rights stays as Italy’s firm priority”

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 30 – Addressing today the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Italian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Maurizio Massari said that Italy will keep human rights as a “firm priority”, sparing no effort to support and contribute to their advancement at the UN. 

Massari spoke as Italy’s three-year mandate as member of the Human Rights Council comes to an end. “In a global context characterized by widespread violations and abuses exacerbated by the pandemic, it is our duty to multiply efforts to make our societies more equal, inclusive, greener and fairer, leaving no one behind. Only when human rights are fully guaranteed to all, can societies be truly peaceful, resilient and sustainable”.

The Third Committee is one of six main committees at the General Assembly. It deals with human rights, humanitarian affairs and social matters. The Committee meets every year in early Fall and aims to finish its work by the end of November. All 193 member states of the UN can attend.

Massari focused on the rapid development of digital technologies that “can offer great opportunities, while, at the same time, pose new challenges”, an issue on which Stefania Bait and Marco Demo, the new Italian Youth Delegates, focused on their first (video-recorded) address to the Committee.

He also addressed the promotion of gender equality and the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices such Female Genital Mutilation and Child Early and Forced Marriage, which are traditionally high on Italy’s agenda. “The latest developments in Afghanistan are already jeopardizing hard-won gains in the field of women’s rights. Afghan women and girls deserve to live in safety, security and dignity, as all Afghans, and to fully enjoy their rights to education, work, freedom of movement and expression. The international community must spare no effort in that regard”.

Italy is also looking forward to this year’s adoption of the milestone resolution on the Rights of the Child, is engaged in fighting against multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and, in line with the commitments undertaken with the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, its action to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTI persons aims at removing all barriers preventing them from fully enjoying their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. “We stand ready to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, older persons, persons belonging to minorities, and all those in vulnerable situations”, he said.

As in previous years, Italy will present its draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice, building on the acts, resolutions and declarations adopted in New York and in Vienna, with the aim of seeking a consensual adoption. The rights of human rights defenders, freedom of the press and the safety of journalists are high on Italy’s agenda, as well as a “full and meaningful participation of youth in the global decision-making process”. As partner for COP26, Italy has just hosted in Milan an event called “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition”, to offer young people from around the world the opportunity to draw up concrete proposals for the pre-COP and the COP26. (@OnuItalia)