UN Member States Must Ensure People's Fundamental Rights: UNGA President

President of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Maria Fernanda Espinosa on Friday in response to a question on grave human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, said responsibility lied on each member state of the United Nations (UN) to respect and guarantee the fundamental rights and dignity of people

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Jan, 2019 ) :President of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Maria Fernanda Espinosa on Friday in response to a question on grave human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, said responsibility lied on each member state of the United Nations (UN) to respect and guarantee the fundamental rights and dignity of people.

"All UN member states in every corner of the planet should conform to the three pillars of the UN Charter security, development and human rights," the UNGA President said when her attention was drawn to the human rights situation in IOK that were negating the very spirit of UN Resolutions.

Speaking at a joint press stake-out with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi here at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Fernanda said though the resolution pertained to the UN Security Council, however as UNGA President, it was her role to "ensure the implementation of UN's mandate and general recommendations for international peace and security".

Maria Fernanda lauded Pakistan for supporting the Afghanistan peace process and said the country's generosity for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for four decades deserved "great acknowledgement".

The UNGA President, who arrived here today on a five-day visit, said the refugee problem was much connected with the peace process in Afghanistan and stressed that "a prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan would benefit Pakistan and the entire region".

She said Pakistan's role in rehabilitation of Afghan refugees was relevant with the UN's Global Compact of Migration or Refugees that gave a roadmap for fostering cooperation, and burden-sharing among countries of origin, transit and destination, particularly for refugees.

With Ecuador as her country of origin that faced huge number of refugees from Columbia, the UNGA President said she had great realization about the issue of refugees which required immense resources and said Pakistan's generosity in this regard was commendable.

The UNGA President said Pakistan was among the list of 10 countries that were vulnerable to climate change in shape of floods and droughts, and required serious steps ahead.

She lauded Pakistan for its recently launched project of planting one billion trees in the country and said "the step speaks well of the commitment of this government to environmental protection and combating the terrible effects of climate change".

She also appreciated the new government's commitment in terms of providing 10 million new jobs, putting women rights at forefront, implementing Agenda 2020 of the Sustainability Development Goals, multilateralism and revitalization of the UN's goals.

To a question why the UN Security Council Reforms had not been finalized even after 25 years, she said the Inter Governmental Negotiations was a member-driven process, with its pace and content, much dependent on the decision and political will of 193 member states.

She said though the issue was quiet contentious, however as UNGA President she would play her role to ensure open, transparent and inclusive consultations among the member states.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said the talks with UNGA President particularly encompassed the human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir, ceasefire violations at Line of Control by India, UN reform agenda, Afghan refugees, Pakistan's role in UN peacekeeping and climate change.

To a question on the demand of Kashmiris for plebiscite, he said Pakistan wanted the United Nations to play an effective role in implementation of the UNSC Resolutions with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, where 90,000 people had lost their lives.

He termed "Kashmir as a flashpoint that needed immediate international attention" and mentioned an important recommendation of the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) calling for establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the human rights violations in IOK.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi and UNGA President Maria Fernanda Espinosa held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was joined by Pakistan's permanent ambassador to the UN Dr Maleeha Lodhi and senior diplomats.