Intervento Nazionale pronunciato dall’Ambasciatore Maurizio Massari, Rappresentante Permanente dell’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite, in Assemblea Generale al Dibattito Generale della Terza Commissione. —
Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union.
Mr. Chair, let me congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your appointment, and express Italy’s best wishes and full support for a fruitful running of this Third Committee session.
As our three-year mandate as members of the Human Rights Council comes to an end, Italy will keep human rights as a firm priority, sparing no effort to support and contribute to the advancement of the human rights agenda at the UN.
In a global context characterized by widespread violations and abuses of human rights, exacerbated by the pandemic, it is our duty to multiply efforts to make our societies more equal, inclusive, greener and fairer, leaving no one behind. Only when human rights are fully guaranteed to all, can societies be truly peaceful, resilient and sustainable. The rapid development of digital technologies can offer great opportunities, while, at the same time, pose new challenges: we need to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights both online and offline, and within the private sector.
The promotion of gender equality and the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices such Female Genital Mutilation and Child Early and Forced Marriage, are high on our agenda. The latest developments in Afghanistan are already jeopardizing hard-won gains in the field of women’s rights. Afghan women and girls deserve to live in safety, security and dignity, as all Afghans, and to fully enjoy their rights to education, work, freedom of movement and expression. The international community must spare no effort in that regard.
We attach the utmost importance to the protection of children, and we look forward to this year’s adoption of the milestone resolution on the Rights of the Child. We are engaged in fighting against multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. In line with the commitments undertaken with the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, our action to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTI persons aims at removing all barriers preventing them from fully enjoying their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. We stand ready to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, older persons, persons belonging to minorities, and all those in vulnerable situations.
Crime prevention and criminal justice are a key priority. As in previous years, Italy will present its draft resolution on this subject, building on the acts, resolutions and declarations adopted in New York and in Vienna, with the aim of seeking a consensual adoption.
We deeply value the role of civil society, and we encourage its full and meaningful participation and that of human rights defenders within the UN system and beyond, free from reprisals and from any restrictions on freedom of expression. Freedom of the press and the safety of journalists are high on our agenda, consistently with our membership of the Media Freedom Coalition.
Before leaving the floor to our Youth Delegates, let me stress that Italy is staunchly engaged in ensuring the full and meaningful participation of youth in the global decision-making process. As partner for COP26, Italy hosts in Milan an event called “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition”, to offer young people from around the world the opportunity to draw up concrete proposals for the pre-COP and the COP26.
Mr. Chair, a lot still needs to be done: Italy will continue to engage for human rights, in cooperation with the UN system, fully supporting the work and the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, and that of the Special Procedure mandate-holders.
I thank you, and I leave the floor to Stefania and Marco.
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Testo del video messaggio pre-registrato dei Giovani Delegati Italiani trasmesso successivamente all’Intervento Nazionale.
The global pandemic has changed several paradigms. It has highlighted the crucial role of digital skills but also exacerbated the digital divide.
Indeed, 92% of the world population having access to a mobile broadband network, but still 54% of the population will need strong reskilling by 2022.
This means that from now on, we need to take in mind two keywords: inclusion and responsibility.
We need to work in order to ensure all human rights that exist offline must be protected online.
We need to reduce the digital divide between countries, between urban and rural areas, between young and older people as well as the gender digital divide.
Primarily, we must promote initiatives to engage and include global youth for equal participation, empowering their role in the decision-making process.
In the meantime, we must stress the ethical use of technologies and think of ways to train today’s generation to be responsible learners of the digital age.
But what is the other side of the coin?
The school system must be adapted to the complexity of the new world. Therefore, Educational methods need to take into consideration the challenging and evolving skills needed in our decades.
We have spoken about digital skills, but we should also focus on other soft skills.
Indeed, promoting teamwork activities raises the acceptance of other’s ideas, supporting and enabling the creation of a democratic environment.
In addition, the capability to manage emotions and work under pressure is vital to developing healthy relationships with others.
To reach this goal, we need to promote innovative educational methods.
Peer education, for example, is a new way to train members of a group and increase their expertise.
We need to take care of everyone that is living digital ages.
We need to prevent that anyone is left behind because it is the only way to move on.
