Major changes in Argentina's foreign policy were displayed at the 55th UN Human Rights Council Session that concluded today in Geneva.
Argentina was once again among the groups that proposed resolutions on the human rights situation in Nicaragua and Venezuela, due to the continued and widespread deterioration of the circumstances in those countries.
For the first time in the history of this Council, Argentina co-sponsored draft resolutions on the human rights situation in Iran and Ukraine, following the Russian invasion, as well as draft resolutions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Myanmar.
Argentina voted in favour of the draft resolutions on the human rights situation in Belarus, the Syrian Arab Republic and South Sudan, renewing the international investigation mechanisms, and favoured the consensus to adopt draft proposals on Haiti and Mali.
With respect to the draft resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the obligation to ensure accountability, our country expressed deep concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation and called for an immediate ceasefire that will enable the provision of humanitarian aid to those affected. Argentina once again condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas last 7 October against Israel, including the taking of hostages, while recognizing Israel’s right to self-defence. Argentina called for the unconditional release of the hostages taken by Hamas and stressed the need for prioritizing their dignity, safety and medical needs, including the need to ensure access to them by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Argentina explained that it voted against the draft resolution because the text was unbalanced, as it did not mention Hamas as the perpetrator of the terrorist attacks of last October, among other issues.
With respect to the rest of the draft resolutions on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, Argentina abstained from voting because they were included in item 7 on the Council’s agenda, which is the only one selecting a specific country for analysis—Israel— and this amounts to discrimination.
Argentina reiterated that the only true solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict will be achieved with the definitive establishment of an independent, democratic, viable and territorially contiguous Palestine State, which guarantees Israel’s right to live in peaceful conditions within safe and internationally recognized borders.
The Argentine Government thus implements a genuine and consistent State policy for the protection of Human Rights across the world, based on unconditional respect for freedom, representative democracy and the rule of law, without any ideological bias.
