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Foreign Office welcomes extension of Navi Pillay鈥檚 appointment as High Commissioner for Human Rights

Human Rights minister Jeremy Browne comments on the extension of Navi Pillay鈥檚 appointment as High Commissioner for Human Rights by the UN General Assembly.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Speaking today, Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said:

鈥淚 welcome the United Nations General Assembly鈥檚 decision today to extend Navanethem Pillay鈥檚 appointment as High Commissioner for Human Rights for two years.

鈥淭he UK strongly supports the role of the High Commissioner and her Office, who lead efforts to promote and protect human rights throughout the world. The struggle for human rights is continuous. The High Commissioner鈥檚 role is critical and entails enormous responsibilities: helping prevent human rights violations wherever they occur, encouraging respect for human rights by all States, and strengthening the ability of the UN system as a whole to act.

鈥淢y government will continue to robustly defend the High Commissioner鈥檚 independence and ability to speak out against such violations. I congratulate Ms Pillay on her re-appointment and extend to her the UK鈥檚 full support.鈥�

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Published 25 May 2012