Thank you Mr Facilitator,
We also thank you for the constructive manner in which you have facilitated the work of the Working Group, including the useful preliminary conclusions. These should constitute the basis for further work in the Working Group.
Let me at the outset express support to the point made by the delegation of the Russian Federation that the institutions and mechanisms we are building in this phase of the Human Rights Council should be agreed upon by consensus. These are institutions and mechanisms for decades to come and they concern all members of the UN, not only the present membership of the Human Rights Council.
Norway has participated in the work of the Working Group and expressed our views on the six elements. We will not repeat our positions on all elements, just highlight a few general points that are important to us.
GA res 60/251 set out several guiding principles for the establishment of a Universal Periodic Review mechanism. The elements in OP 5 e of the resolution have been mentioned by many. We would also underline PP12 of the resolution, stating that the establishment of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms is a fulfilment of the commitment to strengthen the UN Human Rights machinery.
In order to ensure an effective mechanism which adds value to the UN Human Rights machinery, Norway supports a light version aiming first and foremost at strengthening states cooperation and engagement with all parts of the UN Human Rights system. Presently, an effective mechanism addressing lack of engagement and cooperation in a constructive manner does not exist. This is a gap in the UN Human Rights system we believe the UPR mechanism should fill.
Thank you.