© UNICEF/J. Matas Children in Bayankhongor, Mongolia. A UN Regional Center for Human Rights Training and Research will be opened in Mongolia Human rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk arrived yesterday on a two-day visit to the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. On Sunday, UN chief human rights activist and Foreign Minister Batmunkhiin Battsetseg signed a roadmap to strengthen cooperation between Mongolia and the UN Human Rights Office.
Giving a lecture organized by the National Human Rights Commission at the National Genghis Khan Museum, Türk noted Mongolia’s achievements. human beings,” said Volker Türk.
The High Commissioner also noted Mongolia’s contribution to international peacekeeping efforts.
“When I heard Mongolians call the international community their “third neighbor,” it seemed completely natural to me. Mongolia is open to the world. For decades, you have helped bring stability to war-torn countries by participating in UN peacekeeping operations,” Turk emphasized. afternoon.”
Serious challenges
Mongolia today faces several serious challenges, the High Commissioner says.
“You are on the front line of the climate and environmental crisis, experiencing rapid urbanization and facing economic fallout. wars being waged thousands of kilometers away,” he noted.The first is sustainable and inclusive development: “the success of economic development should not be measured by the amount of money, but by how much policies improve people’s lives.”
The second is the fight against climate change. If the current trajectory continues, Turk said, the planet’s temperature will rise by at least 2.3 degrees Celsius by 2100, which could have catastrophic consequences for entire countries and regions, including Mongolia.
The third direction is responsibility. business. “Business plays an important role in the development of Mongolia. I encourage the corporate sector to build their activities and partnerships on a strong foundation of human rights,” – noted Turk.
Progress in the field of human rights
During his visit, the High Commissioner met with representatives of civil society, and also visited Gandantegchengling Monastery.
Summing up the trip at a press conference in Ulaanbaatar on Monday, Turk noted that the High Commissioner was visiting Mongolia for the first time in almost 26 years of the existence of the UN Human Rights Office, and stressed that during this time the country and the entire region had changed significantly. teaching and research in the field of human rights.
The High Commissioner also warned that democratic space cannot be taken for granted. Turk called for human rights to be taken into account when implementing large infrastructure and economic projects, especially in relation to nomadic communities that may suffer from the consequences of rapid development.
He paid special attention to the issues of climate change, corruption and digital technology. Turk also welcomed the growth of women’s representation in Mongolia’s parliament and noted that the country remains an “open space for LGBTIQ+ people,” calling for continued protection of the rights of this community.
“As a friend of the country, I would like to encourage Mongolia to continue to be a trendsetter – both in the region and beyond – in protecting human rights,” Turk said. The UN Office is ready to support the country on this path.