Belgium seeks another term on UN Human Rights Council

Belgium will once again seek candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council between 2031 and 2033, the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday.

Belgium has been a member since 2023 and will remain so until 2026. Foreign minister Maxime Prévot of Les Engagés is in Geneva for the opening of the council’s 58th session.

During the session, Prévot will outline Belgium’s human rights priorities, including a strong push for the universal abolition of the death penalty. In September, Belgium and seven other countries will submit a new resolution on the issue.

Belgium’s current mandate also focuses on the rule of law, children's rights, gender equality and the protection of human rights defenders.

"Defending human rights is much more than a priority, it is a moral responsibility," said Prévot. "Today, in the four corners of the world, these rights are increasingly being trampled on: the rights of women, of the LGBTQIA+ community, all forms of racism. (…) We will continue to fight for a world in which justice and compassion prevail over violence."

​^{© PHOTO BIANCA OTERO / ZUMA PRESS WIRE}

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