Colombia held its first session as a member of the UN Human Rights Council

For the first time, Colombia held a session as a member of the General Assembly of the United Nations Human Rights Council . Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the 58th session.

In her speech, the minister spoke about migration. “ The Council has the responsibility to protect migrants, women, indigenous people, black populations, those living in poverty, and the most vulnerable, ” she said. She also assured that no migrant is illegal: “In all corners of the world, the treatment of migrants must be governed by international human rights standards. Being a migrant is not being a criminal .”

Being a migrant is not being a criminal

Sarabia was accompanied by the ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Gustavo Gallón, and the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir, who explained Colombia's points on the agenda. "We are a country that distances itself from denialist discourses, that is willing to cooperate with the United Nations system. Human rights are not one-dimensional, they must be seen from a comprehensive perspective."

On October 9, 2024, Colombia became a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the first time. It was elected as a member by the organization's General Assembly with 175 votes in favor.

Thus, from January 1, 2025 and for 3 years, Colombia will be part of the most important deliberations and debates worldwide on human rights.

Colombia must actively participate in the regular sessions of the HRC and in the special sessions that are convened. In 2025, this will entail the study of approximately 238 reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , the Special Procedures and other HRC bodies, and participating in informal consultations, unilateral approaches and voting on approximately 90 HRC resolutions, including country situations, among which the human rights situations in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti, Palestine, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Republic of the Congo, Belarus, Haiti, Myanmar, Syria and Cambodia stand out.

Foreign Minister Sarabia said that Colombia will seek to have the Council recognize that the protection of human rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations is linked to effective mitigation and adaptation measures, which must guarantee both climate justice and human dignity.

Juan Pablo Penagos Ramirez