Press Briefing by UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Volker Turk On The Conclusion Of His Official Visit To Mongolia

Good afternoon, ?

This is the first visit to Mongolia by a UN Human Rights Chief in nearly 26 years – a period during which this country, and the geopolitical space surrounding it, has transformed dramatically.

Mongolia’s impressive history and landlocked, geographical location has left the country with unique challenges and opportunities that it has skillfully navigated, growing a solid democratic tradition and emerging as a convener for dialogue and diplomacy in the region. Mongolia’s status as a nuclear-weapons-free zone and its abolition of the death penalty are models for other States.

During a visit to the Ganden Monastery yesterday evening, I was struck by accounts of religious persecution that Buddhists faced in this country’s history, and the spirit of compassion that has endured through that history through to the present day. Concepts of compassion and wisdom resonate with human rights, and are a guide for Mongolia’s path forward through the challenges ahead.

My Office, with the UN system in Mongolia, has worked with Government, civil society and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over many years on a number of initiatives around critical human rights issues, including business and human rights and adapting to the digital space.

I am deeply encouraged that the Government would like to strengthen this relationship further. Yesterday, we formalised this intention in a roadmap and declaration of intent I signed with the Foreign Minister.

Mongolia’s outstretched hand to the UN Human Rights Office – and to the broader UN human rights system – demonstrates its recognition that human rights offer solutions to complex multidimensional problems.

At a time when some powerful global actors are openly defying and even vilifying human rights, including through transnational repression, Mongolia’s positive commitment stands out. And Mongolia has shown how countries can leverage the United Nations human rights system to achieve real impact.

The roadmap we have agreed on with the Government of Mongolia sets out steps we will take together towards the establishment of a UN Regional Human Rights Training and Research Centre in Ulaanbaatar. I welcome the strong and positive commitment to this initiative I heard today from the Prime Minister, Ministers and the Speaker. We will be working with the Government to look at the different options, feasibility and additional resources required for this to be sustainable, as well as on promoting this initiative with others to mobilize additional resources that will be needed.

Mongolia boasts a strong human rights framework in law, an exemplary National Human Rights Commission, and an active civil society. It has also adopted the first-ever law for the protection of human rights defenders in the region.

In my meetings with civil society, I heard a recognition of the laws and policies adopted towards the promotion and protection of human rights, but some impatience for stronger implementation and enforcement.

“We live in a region where the democratic space cannot be taken for granted,” one Mongolian human rights defender told me. Indeed, this is a space that needs to be actively defended, through strengthened institutional checks and balances.

Human rights work is always unfinished business.

It is important to sustain public trust in institutions, including an independent judiciary and the rule of law, which are fundamental for the social contract.

Mongolia has a young and outward looking population who, like Gen Z elsewhere, are concerned for the future and the planet. It is important that governments are responsive and think in terms of long-term intergenerational impact – not just short- term political or economic gains.

In particular, rapid economic and infrastructure development needs to come with human rights impact assessments, carried out in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, especially the communities that are likely to be most affected by large-scale infrastructure projects, such as nomadic herder communities.

I was encouraged by the Government’s interest in applying human rights analysis in economic policy and budget processes. Such an approach – which we call a human rights economy approach – can help ensure fiscal policies are informed by the full range of human rights [economic, social, cultural, civil, political, environmental, and the right to development]. It can also help ensure that resource allocation does not lead to or entrench inequalities, but instead it supports State institutions that guarantee human rights protections, such as the judiciary and the NHRC.

Climate change is a key factor threatening sustainable development in Mongolia. There is a projected increase in the frequency and severity of climate-related natural disasters, such as severe winter freezes known here as dzuds, droughts, floods, windstorms and sand and dust storms. This could have serious impacts on a wide range of human rights. Mongolia’s leadership as President of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), to be held in August this year is an opportunity to cast a spotlight on these issues and to insist on action.

On business and human rights, Mongolia’s adoption of a National Action Plan in 2023 has been an important initiative. It will be crucial to ensure the protection of human rights defenders –including environmental rights defenders –who may be critical of businesses involved in major projects.

As one civil society representative told me, “corruption is the biggest bottleneck to the development of the country”. Stronger anti-corruption measures are clearly necessary, including to earn the trust of the population and reinforce the rule of law.

In many of my discussions, I heard a rising concern with the impact of digital technology and social media on society, particularly on young people but also on the way politics is conducted. This is a challenge countries are facing around the world. As Mongolia considers how to regulate the online space, including proposed laws for online safety to combat misinformation, its human rights obligations can provide an important frame of reference for balancing freedom of expression with protection, and my Office is here to help in this regard.

Important steps have also been taken towards gender parity, with the number of women members of parliament increasing to 25.4 per cent of all seats in the 2024 election, and even more ambitious targets being set for the next elections in 2028. Countering stereotypes and gender-based violence, as well as issues of child protection – particularly online – are priority areas of focus. The Government has also launched initiatives to close the human development gap for men who can be left behind in rural areas. Mongolia has been an open environment for LGBTIQ+ people at a time of pushback on their rights – it is important this community be protected, including from hate speech and discrimination.

As a friend to this country, I would like to encourage Mongolia to continue to be a trend-setter – in the region and beyond – in enshrining human rights protections in its laws and policies and ensuring robust implementation. My Office is ready to support, advise and accompany the people of Mongolia on this path.

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