Slovak priorities for the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly During the 70 th Session of the UN General Assembly Slovakia will promote strengthening of the UN system to effectively respond to global challenges and threats respecting democratic values, international law and effective multilateralism. During the 70 th UNGA plenary and main committees Slovakia will prioritize maintenance of peace and security, fostering sustainable development, countering climate change, protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law agendas and work towards a more effective, efficient and strengthened UN system. Slovakia will attach particular focus to the following issues: Security Sector Reform (SSR) Slovakia works with the UN in developing effective and adequate capacities in Security Sector Reform (SSR), stressing the importance of national and local ownership of SSR. The transformation of security and justice institutions to be more accountable and more effective is a critical element for post-conflict peacebuilding and development, contributing to both short-term stabilization and long-term stability. Beyond post-conflict situations, it is an essential component of complex transformation processes in societies, building or enhancing democratic state institutions, as well as conflict prevention. Slovakia will advocate for a broader use of this concept in regions trying to cope with the aftermath of conflicts or to prevent deterioration to other crises. Slovakia will promote SSR as a link between peacekeeping and peacebuilding and hence as an important element of sustainable development for countries coming out of conflict. Current inter-governmental agreement on the post-2015 agenda presents a delicate political compromise that allows for the integration of issues of governance, justice and public safety into the development agenda. Implementation of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy Slovakia remains resolved in continuing the fight against terrorism and will work towards the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its review, as we will continue to implement the UN sanctions regime. Slovakia will continue to cooperate with the UN and contribute to the efforts of the international community to respond timely and adequately to the growing threats of terrorism, violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters. Earlier this year, Slovakia has updated its National Action Plan on Combating Terrorism (for 2015-2018), and also its Strategy on Countering Extremism (for 2015-2019). Amendment to the Penal Code implementing UNSC Resolution 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters has been agreed by the government and is to be discussed at the September session of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, with a view to its adoption later this year. Migration Slovakia will pay utmost attention to the issue of migration. The suffering of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers calls for concerted efforts, multidimensional approach and long term strategies, including the elimination of root causes of illegal migration. Slovakia stands ready to work with partners to prevent irregular migration, including the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking, in particular by combating criminal networks. Slovakia will spare no effort in looking for most effective ways to ease the suffering of migrants and ensure universal principles of international humanitarian law, human rights and refugee law. 1
The Universalization and Full Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty Slovakia has been an advocate of a comprehensive, universal and legally binding Arms Trade Treaty, which we believe lays ground for the highest possible international standard for international transfers of conventional arms. We perceive effective arms control to be one of the fundamental instruments for conflict prevention and a key to a secure and stable environment conducive to peaceful development of nations. The ATT will hence serve as a practical tool towards this goal. In this context, Slovakia will promote the universalization and full implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty and support the implementation of the outcome of the First Conference of State Parties. Non-proliferation / Disarmament Slovakia remains committed to upholding and preserving the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a unique and irreplaceable framework for maintaining international peace, security, and stability. We have been disappointed that the 2015 NPT Review Conference did not find a consensus on a final document, which would have reaffirmed our forward-looking course in non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. We will focus our efforts on strengthening credibility and effectiveness of the global non-proliferation regime with a view of creating and maintaining a world free of nuclear weapons. Slovakia will work towards the strengthening of the existing system of international norms and institutions aiming at creating a stable and transparent environment and increasing confidence in international relations. At the same time, we will support efforts to develop multilateral norms and agreements in order to bolster and improve disarmament landscape. We will continue to pursue commencement of negotiations on a treaty banning production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. Human Rights Slovakia will continue to support all efforts to mainstream human rights across the United Nations' agendas, including in development, peace and security. Slovakia will be committed to the promotion of gender equality, empowering of women and girls and will strive for eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls including gender-based violence, rape and sexual violence during conflicts. We reaffirm our strong opposition against all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and our support to combating torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Slovakia will further promote the realization of the rights of the most vulnerable groups, particularly rights of the child and the rights of persons with disabilities. Slovakia will continue to advocate for Freedom of Religion or Belief and protection of the rights of persons belonging to religious minorities. Gender Equality Slovakia will work to ensure that women`s rights, gender equality and empowerment of women are mainstreamed in all UN activities. We strongly support the normative role of UN Women and will promote its key role in leading, guiding and coordinating the UN system in its work on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Slovakia will advocate for women`s rights and defend the cross-cutting approach to gender equality in all multilateral bodies and fora. Women, peace and security, violence against women, girls` education, women`s economic, social and political participation will be our priority areas of interest. 2
Youth Slovakia will actively participate in the efforts of the international community in building a strong basis for sustainable and inclusive development by addressing the multiple challenges faced by young people across the globe. We will promote the needs and rights of youth and work towards enhancing, empowering and strengthening the position of young people. Slovakia supports the efforts, activities and programmes aimed at improving the situation of young people, especially with regard to employment, education, social and political inclusion, entrepreneurship and international participation. Slovakia commends the related activities of the UN Secretary-General and his Envoy on Youth. International Criminal Court Slovakia fully supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and actively promotes the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern whose perpetrators should be without exception brought to justice. Supporting ratification and implementation of the ICC Rome Statute remains a cornerstone to making the Court truly global and universal. We will promote strengthening and expanding the relationship between the ICC and the UN, in particular the UN Security Council. Rule of Law The principle of the rule of law and its promotion at the national and international levels should be of utmost importance. Slovakia belongs to its supporters as it significantly contributes to sustainable international peace and security. Establishing respect for the rule of law is fundamental to achieving durable peace in the aftermath of conflict, to the effective protection of human rights, and to sustained economic progress and development. Law of the Sea Developing an international legally-binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction is currently the main agenda within the law of the sea. Slovakia wishes to make a substantive contribution as the adoption of an instrument which can achieve universal acceptance is of utmost importance to the preservation of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. International Humanitarian Law Slovakia supports the initiatives aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and enforcement of international humanitarian law (IHL). The future IHL compliance system needs to be effective and based on dialogue and cooperation while avoiding becoming politicized at the same time. Slovakia will support creation of such mechanism which shall cover all types of armed conflicts and ensure full universality, impartiality, and non-selectivity of IHL enforcement. Humanitarian Assistance Slovakia will continue to support UN`s leadership in the coordination and provision of international humanitarian assistance as well as promote further compliance with International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and Refugee Law. Slovakia will emphasize the need to focus on protection of the most vulnerable groups, such as women and children in the area of proliferation of violence against civilians. Slovakia will participate in the preparatory work 3
for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit advocating strengthening and adapting the humanitarian system to the changing circumstances as well as broadening its support base. More attention needs to be attached to addressing the root-causes of the conflicts, which represent the overwhelming majority of the current humanitarian emergencies. Post-2015 Agenda The complex and universal post-2015 development agenda links all pillars of the UN's work and unlike the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), new goals of sustainable development (SDGs) should apply equally to all countries, developing and developed ones. The new development agenda means also new tasks and challenges for the Slovak Republic. Slovakia is committed to the implementation of the post-2015 agenda and fully supports it. Slovakia promotes establishing and implementing a strong monitoring, accountability and review framework as an integral part of the post-2015 agenda. We will further support the leading role of HLPF as a key UN platform for follow-up and review of the new universal sustainable development agenda at the global level. Communication on national and local levels will be extremely important. The new development agenda will have to be transformed to local conditions, taking into account the ability of the country to implement it, determine its own priorities while maintaining the highest possible level of ambition. Another crucial feature of the future post-2015 development agenda will be integration. On one hand it means the integration of economic, social and environmental dimensions to sustainable development, as reflected in all 17 proposed SDGs. On the other hand, the integration also means involvement of all relevant stakeholders - state and non-state actors and a need for an inclusive approach. Slovakia supports SDG 16 on peaceful and secure societies as another set of significant development enablers as it is highlighted in the UN Secretary General s Synthesis Report on the post-2015 development agenda: Participatory democracy, free, safe and peaceful societies are both enablers and outcomes of development. In this regard, Slovakia has been advocating for Goal 16 as a crucial element of the post-2015 agenda. Security Sector Reform is a fundamental step towards achieving this goal. That is why a high-level breakfast meeting of the UN Group of Friends of SSR will be hosted by Slovakia and South Africa in cooperation with DPKO and UNDP on 2 October 2015 in the margins of the UN General Debate. Policy coherence for development is critical for a sound implementation of the development agenda. This is of high priority for the EU and Slovakia will continue to uphold this priority also during its Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2016. Climate Change Slovakia realizes the necessity of taking action as quickly as possible to reduce dramatically global emissions of greenhouse gases and to facilitate a transition to a low carbon and resilient economy, taking into account the needs of the most vulnerable countries. Slovakia supports the ambitious new international climate convention to be concluded in Paris in 2015, which will be global, and will comprehensively address mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation. It should include ambitious mitigation commitments, strong rules for holding all Parties accountable for their commitments, provisions for regular review and strengthening of Parties' greenhouse gas reduction commitments over time. Strengthening of the Effectiveness of the UN system and its Reform 4
Slovakia will actively work to further strengthen the UN and enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability and representativeness of the system. We are committed to continuing deliberations on the reform of the UN System and of its main bodies and organs. We support the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council. We will continue supporting the System Wide Coherence process and engage in the debate on the role of the UN in global governance. Slovakia will continue to encourage sound financial management and budgetary discipline at the UN and will work for a fairer and more balanced distribution of the financial responsibilities among UN Member States according to their capacity to pay. 5