The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, speaks at the Human Rights Council in Geneva
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has defended human rights as an essential pillar of peace, justice and democracy as Spain assumes its membership of the Human Rights Council in its new triennium (2025-2027).
Albares, who was speaking at Spain's first ordinary session as a member of this council, which was created twenty years ago, stated that Spain's objective will be to maintain the credibility and legitimacy of this body as a central piece in the system for the promotion and protection of human rights, at a complex crossroads for all multilateralism.
The minister declared that multilateralism is our best tool and considered that this Human Rights Council should be a loudspeaker for victims, for human rights defenders and for civil society.
Albares made special mention of women, saying that there will be no peace without their full participation in decision-making, and recalled that Spain's foreign policy is feminist. At the same time, he reaffirmed the determination to continue to fight against all discrimination, especially against those who suffer even criminal prosecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Support for the International Criminal Court
During his speech, the minister also wished to verbalise Spain's support for the International Criminal Court as a guarantor of accountability, as well as Spain's support for the mechanisms established by the Human Rights Council aimed at providing recognition, truth, memory, justice and reparation for victims.
Albares anticipated that Spain will continue to defend a foreign policy with its own identity, based on respect for international humanitarian law and human rights, and that it will continue to demand compliance with the same conviction in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria and Sudan.
The minister also hoped that the International Conference on Financing for Development, which Spain will organise this year in Seville, will make a decisive contribution to reducing the 2030 Agenda financing gap.
Non official translation
