Jakarta (ANTARA) - Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to address the serious human rights violations committed by Israel against Palestinians.

Marsudi made the statement at the High-Level Segment of the 55th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (February 26), which also marked the start of Indonesia's membership in the council for the 2024-2026 period.

"The second thing that I conveyed in the Human Rights Council meeting was the importance of intensifying efforts to overcome the humanitarian crisis," she noted in a written statement from her ministry.

According to the minister, the refugee crisis, triggered by war and conflict, requires global collaboration and solidarity to overcome it, including fulfilling obligations in the Refugee Convention.

Marsudi emphasized the need to strengthen the humanitarian mechanism while stressing that it must not be politicized.

"I conveyed that we must not stay silent about the suspension of funding to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), while funds to support war crimes in Gaza continue to flow," she remarked.

Furthermore, she highlighted the need to bolster the human rights ecosystem that is a collective responsibility of all countries.

She noted that in ASEAN, Indonesia is pushing for the strengthening of the human rights ecosystem through the Leaders' Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue, while in Afghanistan, Indonesia is pushing for the fulfillment of women's rights.

"I also emphasized the importance of adequate funding for the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and other important mechanisms, such as the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territory," she stated.

Apart from that, the minister also underscored the importance of support for the Human Rights Council in providing technical assistance and capacity building to member states.

Marsudi stressed that protecting and promoting human rights must be carried out equally, including respecting each country's rights to development to guarantee the welfare of their people and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Collaborations must also be directed to guarantee the rights of vulnerable people, especially women, people with disability, and migrants," she stated.

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Translator: Yashinta Difa, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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