Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to increase efforts in carrying out investigations and monitoring allegations of human rights abuse and violations in West Papua.
“All states have a legal duty and moral responsibility to uphold, respect and promote human rights and where necessary take preventive, protective and punitive measures against human rights abuses or violations in accordance with the UN Charter and applicable international laws,” Sogavare said.
PM Sogavare said that the UN cannot shy away from the root causes of violations against the ethnic Melanesians of West Papua.
The head of the Pacific nation made these comments during his address at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He told the summit that Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have approved for a fact finding mission to West Papua; this decision, he said, was made at the recent Pacific leaders’ summit held last month in Port Moresby. He said the summit resolved to appeal to the Government of Indonesia to allow free and unrestricted access to this mission ‘in the true spirit of regional cooperation.’
Watch video of statement by Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly here.
