GENERAL REMARKS BY BRAZIL, L.9/Rev.1
Human Rights Council
17th Regular Session
Agenda Item 8
Decisions
L.9/Rev.1
Geneva, 17 June 2011
GENERAL REMARKS BY BRAZIL
Thank you Mr. President,
First and foremost we wish to commend South Africa for its leadership and its openness to hear views and discuss them in a constructive and transparent manner.
This is the spirit behind draft resolution L.9/Rev.1, which Brazil is very pleased to co-sponsor.
It is always worth remembering one of the reasons why we are here today. To live up to the commitment we embraced in 1948 when we declared that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights without distinction.
These are the very humanist principles that should always unite us. And for these principles we should always condemn any act of violence against an individual on whichever grounds, including on the basis of the affective choice of a man or a woman.
We hope that the winds that bring a new season to many parts of the globe inspire us in our willingness to hear each others views and discuss our perspectives.
It is time that we move from perceptions to understanding. The only way we can reach that is through a transparent dialogue.
This is precisely what is proposed in this draft resolution: to create a space for a dialogue conducive to better understanding our perspectives and strengthening our will to make our Universal commitments a reality for all.
I thank you Mr. President.