Geneva: Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Minister, Youssef Rajji, is expected to head to Geneva on Monday to participate in the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, which will be held this February at a high representation level, bringing together a number of foreign ministers of member states and heads of international delegations.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Lebanon’s participation is of exceptional importance this year, being the first at the ministerial level since 2015 when it last participated at this high level in the same UN forum. This reflects a clear Lebanese intention to restore an active diplomatic presence on the international scene and to utilize UN platforms to serve national interests.
Minister Rajji will deliver Lebanon’s official statement before the Human Rights Council on Tuesday, February 24th, expressing the country’s positions and approaches on human rights. He will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with several heads of partaking delegations and international organizations, leveraging this international gathering to convey Lebanese political messages through the human rights lens.
Rajji’s core message will revolve around reaffirming Lebanon’s unwavering commitment to respecting and upholding human rights, despite the accumulated crises and challenges facing the country.
Through his meetings in the Swiss capital, Minister Rajji will focus on mobilizing international support to protect the rights of Lebanese citizens in all dimensions, starting with securing the return of displaced Syrians, stopping Israeli violations of Lebanese territory, addressing interference in internal affairs, and preserving national sovereignty, which has always been the cornerstone of the steadfast Lebanese position.