HRC54 - NB8 statement - Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Human Rights Council – 54th session

Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Statement by Latvia on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries

18 September 2023

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf on the Nordic-Baltic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Latvia.

We commend the Working Group’s efforts to prevent and to end the practice of arbitrary detention, and thank the Group for presenting the report on its activities in 2022. We welcome the extension of the mandate of the Working Group for a further period of three years. We support the call of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to end arbitrary detention and to release those who have been arbitrary detained.

The Nordic-Baltic countries note with grave concern the continuous rise in the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, journalists, political opponents or activists for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.  Moreover, we condemn the criminalization of the work of environmental human rights defenders, including women and Indigenous Peoples, in a range of countries. We agree with the Working Group’s recommendations in this regard and call on States to take all necessary measures to protect and empower environmental human rights defenders.

Madam Chair-Rapporteur, in this respect, what further steps should be taken in the implementation of the Human Rights Council resolution 40/11 and upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction?