We, the Ministers and representatives of the Human Security Network, reaffirm our strong support for multilateralism, and in particular for the United Nations, guided by the principles and norms of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. As we face a new world marked by astonishing scientific and technological progress, as well as by devastating poverty, underdevelopment and conflict in many regions and global threats to people's health, we believe that the time has come to bring about real change that will help us to collectively work for a better future. In this context, we strongly believe that the UN's capacity to promote human rights should be strengthened. This is why we commend the United Nations Secretary General's efforts, in consultation with member states, to reform the UN in order to effectively address human security issues, and wish to make the following observations and recommendations to the Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.

• As clearly demonstrated by the many internal conflicts of the last decades, the concept of security can no longer be associated only with the State but has to encompass the security of people, which includes both freedom from fear and freedom from want. It is a primary responsibility of each State to protect all individuals and peoples under its responsibility. Where States are unable or unwilling to ensure such protection, that responsibility falls to the international community, in conformity with international law. Human rights are at the core of human security and closely interlinked with human development.
• Respect for human rights is a key element of conflict prevention, stability and peace; systematic, widespread and flagrant violations of human rights and international humanitarian law constitute a threat to international peace and security. Respect for human rights is also essential for the creation of the necessary conditions for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. These goals and the implicit commitment to work together in seeking to achieve them, are significant because for the first time the UN members have taken a global view of socioeconomic issues such as poverty, communicable diseases and environmental degradation and its consequences. The UN has to put human rights and human rights education at the centre of its commitments and activities.
• We encourage the Panel to look at human rights protection machinery as a whole, with a view to mainstreaming human rights and human rights culture into peacekeeping, humanitarian operations, peace building, and development activities, thus ensuring that human rights are fully incorporated in all UN activities on the ground.
• We reaffirm the importance we attach to the Commission on Human Rights as the pre-eminent body for the protection and promotion of human rights. We are committed to improving its effectiveness in preventing human rights abuses and strongly believe that collective action can make a difference in addressing these challenges.
• Effective UN human rights programs that contribute to conflict prevention, security, and capacity building require additional resources, from the regular budgets of the UN, more in line with the importance attached to the respect for human rights in the UN Charter.
• We salute the entry of the International Criminal Court into an operational state which sets in motion its role as a powerful tool in the fight against impunity. We also stress the importance of full cooperation between the Court and the United Nations.
• We encourage the Panel to take due consideration of the essential role of civil society in the promotion and protection of human rights and to find ways to strengthen the existing cooperation between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.