Launch of the UN Human Rights Report 2025

Good morning, Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. I'm pleased to welcome you to the launch of the 25th Annual Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This should be our last meeting, I think, in Palais Wilson, last official meeting. All member states? So very pleased to welcome you. We will start by a short video, after which the High Commissioner will deliver an opening statement, and then we will have a Q&A session. I'm pleased to inform you that we have interpretation today in English, French, and Spanish. Joining the High Commissioner on the podium today, we am pleased to welcome Awad Abou, our new Deputy High Commissioner, our Director of Global Operations, Marit Kåhonen-Sheriff, our Director of Council, Treaty Bodies and Mechanisms, Mahamad Sissé-Gouraud, our Chief of Strategic Planning, Program Management, Evaluation and Change, Jennifer Worrell, our head of the Human Rights Inquiries Branch, Béatrice Balbine. And I think that's it.

We will start with the video, please.

As conflict, inequality, and shrinking civic space intensify, the need for human rights work is greater than ever. A deep funding crisis is putting our capacity under strain. Yet UN Human Rights continues to deliver, focusing on impact where it matters most. Through our global operations across 87 countries, we help strengthen institutions, support accountability, and make sure human rights are part of peace and development efforts. In Haiti, we facilitated 6,500 survivors of violence to access emergency medical care, psychosocial support, safe shelter, and survivor-centered services. In Gaza, we helped nearly 1.7 million people receive protection services through our lead role in the Emergency Protection Responders program. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our support helped achieve justice for hundreds of victims and survivors. In Ukraine and Sudan, We consistently documented violations to advance accountability. We have supported 56,000 torture survivors in 93 countries and 10,500 survivors of modern slavery in 33 countries. In places of detention, over 2,000 visits led to the release of more than 4,900 unlawfully detained people. Our partners made this possible with $262 million last year. In 2026, we need continued funding to continue to support justice, dignity, and rights. Yet we are projecting a $50 million funding shortfall compared to last year. We need your support. Because human rights can't wait.

Hi, Commissioner.

Good morning, and I know that you see quite a bit of us this week, and it will continue next week with the Human Rights Council, but I want to say I would like to start really with a big thank you to everyone in this room and beyond for your political, strategic, and financial support, and for your steadfast commitment to human rights. The report we are launching today is our accountability to you, so that we are demonstrating to you the impact, the incredible impact that our work has, and the investment that you have put into this work around the world, because as you can see, we not only— it not only saves lives in different ways, but it also gives hope. So every day, my colleagues around the world are engaging with victims, with survivors, often of the most horrific violations and atrocities, with children who have seen too much, with families who have lost everything. And wherever I go, and this year in particular I've been in all continents, I just see how much people rely on our support and engagement in ways that sometimes it's difficult to quantify. I know in— when you talk about humanitarian action, it's a bit easier because you can talk about relief items that were distributed, you can talk about all kinds of things. When it comes to the human rights protection and promotion work, it is always a little bit more difficult to actually, you know, what is it that you are actually doing and what type of impact does it have? But as you know, we have actually tried much more than in the past to show the type of impact that our work has on lives around the world. In many cases, we are the crucial representatives of the international community to listen to victims and survivors And I have myself seen, for example, when I visited a mass grave site in Sri Lanka last year, we had hundreds of people waiting for my visit because there was also this feeling that it's a, if you like, a symbol of response to their plight that they have suffered for something sometimes decades, and they needed precisely that support from the international community. The same when I went to Sudan earlier this year. When we meet with victims, with survivors, with activists, we see how much they rely on the type of work that we are doing and, you know, they are— in a way, we are often also their lifeline. And we are doing everything we can to deliver on that trust. The report reflects the work of my staff in 87 countries and at headquarters, both here in Geneva and in New York. It's made possible by the support of 113 partners, including governments, private, and multilateral donors. We carried out the last year more than 5,000 human rights monitoring missions and observed over 1,300 trials. We documented tens of thousands of human rights violations and analyzed patterns of discrimination in more than 100 countries. Globally, as you also saw from that film, we contributed to the release of nearly 5,000 people from arbitrary detention. In armed conflicts across the world, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, occupied Palestinian territory, to Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond. We documented civilian casualties, informed humanitarian responses, and gathered evidence for justice. Our reporting is widely cited by both domestic and international courts at the highest level. We influenced nearly 140 legal and policy reforms last year. So, I mean, sometimes, you know, there's the question of attribution. Is it really because of what you're doing? No, but we can actually say we most certainly influenced at least 140, which by the way, if we go back to the last couple of years, brings us to 390 policy and legislative initiatives around the world at different levels that we managed to influence in a positive way so that there is more compliance with international human rights law and standards. Our work on the Human Rights Cities and you heard a little bit what our ambition is through the Global Alliance— and the Human Rights Economy makes a practical case for human rights. We worked with more than 35 governments to embed human rights in economic policies, provided critical human rights analysis to UN country teams in their efforts to advance sustainable development. Our Human Rights Cities Network now includes 107 cities, and we are counting. We don't just advocate for technology and artificial intelligence to serve humanity, we also walk the talk. In December, as you— some of you may remember, we launched HRDx, the first— the world's first aggregated human rights data service, which puts human rights knowledge at the fingertips of policymakers, researchers, civil society, and people everywhere. And we are, as— Thank you. As we speak, developing this service further, and it's obviously a very important one. We have advanced our reform efforts to be closer to the people we serve, to be more responsive to their needs, and these efforts are paying off. And we have been assessed by MOPAN recently. We discussed the results of the MOPAN review and the assessment, and we can see also through this MOPAN review that— Thank you. An external entity reviews us as a credible— as an organization that delivers credible and meaningful results, even with very limited resources. And of course, behind this work, there are countless human stories. I don't even— and some of it is contained in the report and in the work that we do. I mean, I have quite a lot of examples. Just to give you one, Peru, we established an emergency fund We helped to establish an emergency fund that has already supported some 170 human rights defenders at risk and their families. In Moldova, we supported nearly 2,000 Roma in accessing public services, including by helping some obtain identity documents, which, as you know, identity documents is always a gateway to services such as education, healthcare, and social protection. In The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal, We worked with the governments on combating child marriage, child trafficking, and violence against children. In Brazil, we facilitated the return of more than 300 indigenous families to their ancestral territories after a decade of displacement caused by a dam project. Some of our successes are not— or impact is not necessarily measured by what happened, but what did not happen.

I—

Some of you will remember in Kyrgyzstan, I think through our engagement with the Supreme Court, we managed to prevent the reintroduction of the death penalty, for example. Or in Guatemala, there was an initiative that would have undermined the rights of the LGBTIQ+ people and women's sexual and reproductive rights, and I think we worked so that we would prevent this from happening. So there are obviously countless efforts that did not make it into this report, but they have earned a permanent place in people's lives, and we are fully aware that these stories need to be told. They also keep us from becoming numb to the absurdities and hypocrisies of today's world, and offering also a powerful alternative to cruelty, indifference, and division, and I think that's also where human rights does lift people to a more positive, hopeful world that they can keep building and strengthening. Yet our ability to support people and bring their stories to light is decreasing together with our resources. I mean, we, as you have— I have been at pains to explain to you with the funding cuts, both on the regular— with the liquidity crisis, both on the regular budget side, but also on the decreasing resources on the extrabudgetary fund, we have, and I've said it, we are in a survival mode which has direct consequences for lives and freedoms. In '25, compared to previous years, we conducted less than half the number of human rights monitoring missions that— I mean, if you compare to '24, we did only half of what we were able to Deliver do. in '24. We had to end the contracts of some 300 staff, which is 15% of our workforce. We had to reduce our presence in 17 countries, including some with fragile transitional justice processes. As you know, in Eastern DRC, we were unable to operationalize the Commission of Inquiry, which was mandated by the Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations. We were not able to do this last year. I mean, this year we are catching up, but it was impossible to do it. And we have seen our investigative mechanisms or inquiry mechanisms have had to be reduced to about 60%. This is more to do with the regular budget, but it is obviously also linked with the work more broadly. When we are faced with an escalating gender— backlash. Our work to prevent gender-based violence and to protect the rights of LGBTIQ+ people has suffered cuts of up to 75%. Our Free and Equal campaign is one that we could do less of, unfortunately, and we need it even more today in today's world. As you know, the treaty bodies had to cancel 45 dialogues with states. this is related to the RB. The Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture could only undertake half of the country visits. Special Rapporteurs could only do one country visit from two per year. Again, this is regular budget. But what all these cuts together mean is unreported violence, less accountability, weaker deterrence. They mean less trust between people and the governments. They have a tendency to threaten stability, obscuring pathways to sustainable peace, and they mean quite simply more despair, more death in some instances, and more turbulence. In Colombia, our human— some of our human rights defenders told my office, and I have to say they also told me, that our presence is one reason they are still alive in areas that are threatened by armed groups. But we had to cut one-third of our offices in the country, I mean, as a result of the budget cuts. We had— when I was in South Korea last month, one NSKP from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea told me that declining global attention to the situation in the country is creating fertile ground for continued repression. So we can't leave these and many other voices to echo in silence, and as I said, we are very grateful for all your support. We, as you know, when we launched our global appeal for this year, we asked for $400 million in voluntary funding to continue doing all our work. Thank you. Civil, political, economic, social, cultural, development, environment. But based on the current protection— projections, we anticipate, if we compare it with what happened last year, a shortfall at the moment of about 50 million. I mean, it's going a bit down, but this obviously is a cause for worry. So we— and I know that often at the end of the year, we get an infusion of funding, so I will have to appeal again also this year, whatever funding possibilities you have, be it through whatever modalities there are, in the most creative way, we would be very grateful for that. As you know, when we launched the Global Alliance yesterday, the idea is really also to build up positive energy that we also feel that comes from around the world and to open up to much bigger partnerships and to make sure that that momentum that we get through the Global Alliance is also something that inspires the world. As you know and as I keep saying, human rights are a low-cost, high-impact investment and at the end of the day, the dividends are shared by everyone so I would again, and I know, and I'm very grateful for your personal support and with your capitals, but you will have to continue doing it because increasing it to whatever possibility so that we are managing a much shorter— I mean, that we are actually managing the ambition that we have set for ourselves to at least have the same income as we had last year, which is 262 million. Yes. I mean, I know we asked for 400 million, of course, We would like that. We know that we are not going to get it, but at least not to have that shortfall that we currently project. Again, big thanks to all of you. I know you are our strong advocates and we need to give you the material to do it and whatever else you need from us, obviously with my— with our external relations section, we are at your disposal to do whatever we can to make that case. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, High Commissioner. I will now open the floor for any comments that you might have. Please raise your flags if you want to come in. I'll call member states 3 by 3. So I see Sweden, Guatemala, and Spain. Sweden, you have the floor. Ambassador.

Thank you, and thank you, High Commissioner. Sweden greatly appreciates the important work of the OHCHR under your leadership, and we also welcome the new Deputy High Commissioner. But even more importantly, perhaps, we welcome the crucial efforts and achievements of your colleagues on the ground. We commend the Office for its dedication, expertise, and tireless commitment to promoting, protecting, and advancing all human rights for all. And for supporting states in fulfilling their international human rights obligations, often under very challenging circumstances. Hi, Commissioner. We welcome the 2025 Report. It comes at a time when human rights are under increasing strain and the need to protect and promote human rights is greater than ever. The report is a testament to the essential role of the Office and demonstrates the critical work that is being carried out to protect and promote human rights globally and for all. We welcome the progress made on organizational effectiveness, the OE 2.0, as evidenced in the report, and remain a strong supporter of the UNHCR initiative, including the important establishment of the Human Rights Group. OHCHR's strengthening of regional hubs is welcome. A strong field presence is a priority with a focus on delivering efficient and effective results at country level. As you mentioned, the recent MOPAN assessment finds that OHCHR has made substantial progress and demonstrates strong performance across many areas, despite operating in an increasingly difficult global environment and under resource constraints. It also provides useful recommendations to ensure an organization that continues to be fit for the future. As reform efforts continue to progress, the human rights pillar must remain at the heart of the UN and the human rights mandate must be safeguarded. OHCHR must be given the means and the independence necessary to fulfill its vital mandate. At the same time, we encourage OHCHR to continue the progress on strategic prioritization of available resources in light of the funding environment that you described. And the global situation for human rights, as well as efforts to broaden the donor base and strengthen its partnership strategy. In conclusion, Sweden remains— will remain a strong partner to OHCHR, both politically and financially, as demonstrated through our voluntary contributions, including our support for the important Human Rights Adviser and Emergency Response Teams program. We encourage others to contribute also. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Ambassador. I will now call the distinguished delegate from Guatemala. Ambassador.

Señor Alto Comisionado.

High Commissioner, greetings to the Deputy High Commissioner. Welcome. Dear colleagues, representatives of the UN system, Guatemala is grateful for the presentation of the 2025 Report of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. The report depicts a complex international context characterized by conflict, persisting inequalities, and emerging challenges, calling for responses based on dialogue, cooperation, and the respect for human rights. Against this backdrop, we recognize the important work carried out by the Office in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. My delegation notes with satisfaction that the report highlights several initiatives aimed at improving the level of participation of indigenous peoples in creating public policies and sustainable development processes. As for Guatemala, we particularly appreciate the efforts underway in order to promote the participation of indigenous women and to improve opportunities for dialogue and coordination between state institutions, communities, and other relevant stakeholders. In our view, the effective inclusion of Indigenous peoples is a foundational, fundamental component for building more democratic, inclusive, and respectful societies with cultural diversity. We appreciate as well the support provided by the Office over the course of several national processes aimed at institutional strengthening and the promotion of human rights. As pointed out by the report, in 2025, relevant progress was made in the protection of human rights defenders, which is the product of sustained efforts of inter-institutional coordination, bringing in the state, civil society, and international partners. We believe that experiences such as these show the value of constructive cooperation and an ongoing dialogue to bring about specific results. Guatemala would also like to highlight the importance of assistance and cooperation at the technical level provided by the Office of the High Commissioner to states, particularly to Guatemala. This support contributes to building national capacities, to exchanging experiences, and to seeing through international commitments in the area of human rights.

Thank you.

Which is why we appreciate that the office continues to have a presence in countries in promoting opportunities for dialogue and cooperation that allow us to effectively tackle current challenges. High Commissioner, Guatemala reiterates its commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all people, and we reiterate our openness and willingness to cooperate openly and constructively with your office. Thank you.

Gracias, Ambassador.

Thank you, Ambassador.

The distinguished representative from Spain. Ambassador, please.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much indeed, and thank you to the High Commissioner for presenting the report. But above all, I would like to thank you and all of the staff of your office in Geneva and across the world for the work that has been undertaken over the course of 2025. This was a difficult time, a very dark time, in which your dedication to the human rights cause is one of the very few reasons for optimism, and it provides a glimmer of hope and light to the world. [SPEAKING SPANISH] In recent days, we've had a number of opportunities to voice our support for the Office's work, and we'd like to restate it here. You're well aware of Spain's position in the defense of multilateralism. And with the hope that this will be an inspiration to other delegations, we would like to briefly refer to and modestly refer to what we are doing. In addition to our contributions through the European Union, Spain has increased its contribution to the OHCHR. It has increased the unmarked proportions to the OHCHR, and after a few years, it has a number of two young persons, the GPO, in the office, and this is a contribution to its institutional strengthening. Against this backdrop of austerity, there are two dimensions we would like you to pay attention to because we believe them to be of paramount importance for the purposes of inclusivity, that is multilingualism for us. This is a constitutional element of the United Nations system, and here In this room, I would like to convey information coming from another building within Geneva, that's WIPO, with the use of new technologies, what they achieved last year. And we were told this by the Director-General, this is very meaningful and important indeed. The second dimension we feel to be very important is that of accessibility. Now, we know that we can count on your institutions reliability there. We understand that the austerity imposed by the circumstances will have some adverse impacts, and thus we support the process underway, but we believe that the creation of these regional hubs shouldn't lead to damaging in communication between Geneva— and this is where we have our human rights experts deployed. And lastly, I'd simply like to restate my thanks and the trust placed in you by Spain over the course of this year, 2026, as well. Thank you very much.

Gracias, Ambassador.

Thank you, Ambassador.

The next 3 on my list are Venezuela, Switzerland, and Montenegro. Venezuela. You have the floor, distinguished representative. I don't see you, so I don't know who you are.

Here.

Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed. A very good morning to one and all. Venezuela is grateful to the office for the presentation given. This is the United Nations Office, of course, for Human Rights. We acknowledge the efforts in the document represented, and we take note of the references contained therein, and these relate to the human rights situation in Venezuela. And here we would like to make a number of points. First and foremost, we see that there's a significant part of the activities and developments reported, they were done through relocating the operational presence of the office outside of the Venezuelan territory.

Thank you.

And thus, we believe it's relevant to think about the methodological challenges that this raises in terms of access to information, direct verification of the facts, and representativeness of the sources used to draw certain conclusions. Also, we note that the report focuses most of its analysis on issues related to the civic to non-governmental organizations and specific international protection mechanisms. Without prejudice to the importance of these topics, we believe that a comprehensive assessment of human rights also requires considering other factors that have a significant impact on the well-being of the population, including the effects of unilateral coercive measures. Financial restrictions at the international level, and also risks associated with development and challenges. It furthermore would be important to think about the allocation of resources reflected in the report in a context of severe budgetary restrictions which affect the United Nations system and have compelled us to reduce operations in a number of countries. The report Mr. President, the report highlights the significant financial resources required for monitoring, documentation, and the drafting and preparing of reports on Venezuela. We believe it legitimate to wonder whether those resources couldn't have a greater impact if they were directed to a greater extent at strengthening national capacities. Financial assistance and the support of cooperation initiatives agreed upon with states instead of prioritizing activities which in most cases reproduce assessments which are not exempt from certain questions as regards their impartiality and methodological rigor. Sir High Commissioner, these comments are being made based on the belief that promoting and protecting human rights requires objective balanced approaches and which reflect the realities of national context and bolster trust among states and international mechanisms. Thank you very much indeed, High Commissioner.

Thank you, distinguished representative from Venezuela. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative from Switzerland.

Thank you very much indeed. Obviously, you have interpretation. I have my speaking points in English, so I'm— I apologize, I am going to continue in English.

Switzerland welcomes your report for the year of, uh, of your office, uh, report for, for the year 2025, which demonstrates, uh, your office's continued impact and effectiveness in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. We commend these efforts and remain committed to supporting the office both financially and politically. At a time of profound geopolitical transformation, deepening polarization, and growing number of crises, we must reaffirm the universality of human rights as a compass for collective action. I believe we did that yesterday with the launch of the Global Alliance, and we support that— those efforts. Upholding human rights in times of peace as well as in situations of conflict is essential to addressing root causes, preventing further escalation, and laying the foundation for sustainable peace. This is why the work of your Office remains not only highly relevant but more necessary than ever. Against this backdrop, obviously, we remain deeply concerned by the persistent underfunding which has continued throughout the first half of the year. The postponement of treaty body reviews, consideration of individual complaints undermines accountability efforts worldwide. We are equally concerned that your office had to close some field presences. Their role in bridging international human rights standards with implementation on the ground remains indispensable. They contribute to deliver tangible results closer to those who need them most. And of course, I have to say it, we are also concerned about relocation, as it could lead to fragmentation of the ecosystem.

Thank you.

Away from Geneva. Um, OHCHR is Switzerland's most important multilateral partner in the field of human rights. Through our multi-year agreements, we seek to provide predictable and sustainable support, contributing to the Office's agility, effectiveness, and ability to respond to evolving challenges. Of course, we're also a member of the Council, and as host state also, Switzerland is committed to promoting a strong Council with the means necessary to protect and promote human rights worldwide, address violations and abuses, and support the implementation of the Council's mechanisms and mandates. And in this regard, we commend your efforts and your continued delivery on Human Rights Council mandates, including now DRC, despite the current financial constraints. The Office's ability to ensure the implementation of all mandates, even where delays or reduced activity are unavoidable demonstrates your strong commitment to efficiency and resilience. Over the past 2 years, our contribution has helped strengthen OHCHR's prevention and early warning capacities, both at headquarters and in the field, has also supported the development of innovative digital tools that enhance the protection of human rights globally. We're also particularly pleased to have contributed to the continued rollout of the Gender Accreditation Program. Thank you. Alongside our support for the OHCHR and obviously the Human Rights Council, Switzerland is also actively promoting a streamlined digitally enabled treaty body system, cornerstone of the universal human rights architecture through predictable clustered reviews and a fit-for-purpose digital tools. So I'm just going to stop by saying, as your report highlights, funding for human rights remains inadequate. In the current financial context, predictable and sustainable financing is more important than ever, and we therefore call on all member states to meet their financial obligations in full and on time and to provide the OHCHR with the resources necessary to fulfill its mandate effectively, both at headquarters and in the field. I thank you.

Thank you. Switzerland. Next on the list is— Distinguished Representative from Montenegro, Ambassador.

Thank you, and thank you, the High Commissioner, for presenting the annual report. Let me briefly reflect on some of the report's key points. The broad scope of the HCHR's work, from documenting violations in armed conflicts and supporting survivors of torture and conflict-related sexual violence, to strengthening national institutions, protecting civic space, and integrating human rights across governance, development, and peace efforts demonstrates essential role of the UN human rights pillar in addressing today's challenges. Second, amid ongoing armed conflict and persistent breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law, OHCHR's unique functions remain vital. Through monitoring, reporting, engaging with national authorities, supporting victims, and gathering and preserving evidence, The Office brings abuses to light, protects those at risk, and creates pathways for accountability and justice amidst deep-rooted impunity. Third, beyond crisis response, Office actively addresses torture and ill-treatment, discrimination and inequality, the rights of women and girls, the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, and supports national reform processes through technical assistance and capacity community building, it translates international communities into practical, lasting change. We also witnessed this from the firsthand, namely the Office has supported our national efforts to strengthen institutions, advance policy and legislative measures, and implement international human rights commitments, demonstrating the tangible value of sustained cooperation between the Office, and the Member States. Because all of this, yesterday, official launch of the Global Alliance for Human Rights marks an important step toward connecting and amplifying human rights action across regions, sectors, and generations, fostering a broader movement for human rights and strengthening collective efforts to translate shared commitments in positive changes in people's lives. Thank you. However, as you stressed, High Commissioner, the demands on the OHCHR are continuing to grow while resources remain inadequate and unpredictable. Political support, therefore, must be matched with sufficient and sustainable funding, as the Office's effectiveness, independence, and field presence depend on resources that align with its crucial mandate. With this message, let me reaffirm our continuing strong political, strategic, and financial support for your valuable work, Mr. High Commissioner, as well as for an independent, effective, and well-resourced office to fulfill its mission in protecting and promoting human rights. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. The next group of three is— I have EU, Iran, and Sierra Leone. EU Ambassador, you have the floor.

Is this working?

Yeah.

Okay, excellent. Hi, Commissioner. Thank you so much, and the whole OHCHR team, for a comprehensive, informative annual report speaking to the multitude of activities that you perform every year to protect and promote human rights here in Geneva, in the field, and in different regions. And the video was very right. Human rights can't wait. We very much appreciate and thank you for the work of the Europe regional office in Brussels as well. Your inputs into EU policymaking are very welcome. We are also recipient of your advocacy, for instance, to better integrate human rights into EU migration legislation. And you monitor and advocate for human rights compliance of Frontex operations and offer training to national authorities, and I would really like to thank you for that. Thank you also for sharing information on country work and thematic priorities, technical assistance, and very much appreciated capacity building. The data you provide speaks to the impact of your respective activities on people. And many thanks also for some positive stories provided, showing how human rights contribute solutions to today's challenges: climate change, AI, and so on and so forth. We also very much value the OHCHR report— support for treaty bodies, special procedures, and other human rights mechanisms. And we highly appreciate your and your office's crucial engagement in addressing urgent human rights violations and abuses, in supporting civil society in documenting and reporting on the human rights violations. And we welcome further strengthening of the office's ability to support accountability mechanisms and processes. Allow me to share 3 thoughts with you. First, on HR funding. The report confirms, and you said it here again today, the dramatic financial situation of the Office. Your clear words, High Commissioner, that, and I quote you, "severe funding cuts have pushed OHCHR into survival mode, with direct consequences for lives and freedoms," has shocked us. We need to remedy this situation together with at least 3 actions. First, we all need to take our responsibilities and do better in the UN regular budget process in New York to provide the UN human rights adequate, predictable, increased, and sustainable funding as the Pact for the Future stipulates.

We—

the EU member states pay their assessed contributions in full and on time, and we really invite everyone to do the same. Our investment into the UN Human Rights through voluntary contributions, including unearmarked funding, is concrete proof of our unwavering commitment to the work, independence and functionality of the OHCHR. As Team Europe, we are proud to field approximately 60% of the XB budget. But we really hope that others come on board. And support this crucial work in the future. Rest assured, we will stay engaged because human rights are the basis for peace, progress, and stability, and development. Second point, strengthening the human rights within UNHCR. Hi, Commissioner, we appreciate the launch of the UN-wide principal-level human rights coordination group that you lead. It will foster the integration of human rights through the whole UN system, creating synergies and supporting the other pillars. Given that UN Human Rights is by far the smallest, appropriate funding and resourcing of your office is of crucial importance to fulfilling this important mandate. Third, we need to overcome divisions and unite around human rights as a shared priority. And yesterday, many of us participated in the launch of the Global Alliance for Human Rights. It was an impressive lineup of supporters, and partners from around the world. We have supported the Alliance from the start and we really hope, and we will continue to invest in this important initiative to help refresh the human rights narrative and double down on human rights impact. So that is again a task for all of us together so that we can provide for more dignity, justice, freedom, and equality of people all around the world. High Commissioner, let me reiterate that you can continue to count on our support for your mandate and its independence, including through voluntary contributions this year, because your work matters to people all around the world. And it matters for UN colleagues arbitrarily detained in Yemen. They must be released immediately, and we will work for that with you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. Next on my list is the distinguished delegate from Iran.

Mr. High Commissioner, my delegation thanks your Office and you at the top for your tireless efforts in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide under increasing challenging circumstances. We recognize the important role played by the Office in responding to human rights concerns across regions, and in supporting Member States, mandate holders, and other stakeholders. At a time marked by multiple and overlapping crises, we believe that the Office should continue to enhance its agility, responsiveness, and effectiveness in addressing emerging human rights situations, particularly during conflict and invasions. It is essential that the OHCHR act in a timely impartial and objective manner. We are mindful of the liquidity crisis facing the United Nations system and the challenges it poses to the effective delivery of mandates. Nevertheless, we believe that critical human rights work must be safeguarded. In particular, resources are dedicated to addressing the most serious human rights violations, including the documentation and reporting of genocide. And other atrocity crimes, as well as mandates of fundamental importance such as the right to education and unilateral coercive measures should remain protected from budgetary reduction. Preserving the integrity and effectiveness of these mandates is essential to ensuring that the Office can continue to fulfill its responsibilities. Iran remains committed to constructive engagement with the Office and support its efforts to uphold the principles of universality, impartiality, and non-selectivity in the promotion and protection of human rights for all.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, distinguished representative from Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative from Sierra Leone.

Thank you. Thank you very much indeed. This report is launched at a time of growing inequalities, rising xenophobia, geopolitical tensions, global economic stagnation, and an increasing unpredictable world order. We commend the High Commissioner for his team— we commend the High Commissioner and his team for their dedication in serving humanity. The report reveals that despite the closure of some of its offices, it currently operates in over 87 countries and has carried out more than 5,000 monitoring missions and 1,300 trial observations and has assisted over 67,000 victims of torture and modern-day slavery. These figures are significant indication of the High Commissioner's dedication to promoting the human rights and dignity of all that it serves. The human stories from Nepal, Panama, The Gambia clearly shows an indication of the level of transformation— transformative impact of the work of the High Commissioner. We also welcome the progress made under the mechanisms pillar. Including the 9 new treaty ratifications, advances in jurisprudence, and strengthening guidance on xenophobia, environmental rights, children's rights in the digital age. We know, for example, that treaty bodies issued roughly 1,560 interim measures and registered 2,500 2,501 urgent actions to prevent [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]. We acknowledge as well the UPR mechanism that in this period, its advance and its growing mechanism. We are concerned, and deeply so, that the report warns of severe funding cuts, a deepening liquidity crisis,— and shrinking workforce, which undermines the High Commissioner's ability to fulfill its mandate. These constraints undoubtedly affect the Human Rights Council, treaty bodies, and of course field operations as well. To this end, while we renew our call for member states to fulfill their financial obligation and do so timely, we strongly support innovative funding modalities. For example, the creation of a trust fund for the sustenance of treaty bodies. This for us is extremely important and we trust that the High Commissioner will give due deference to the importance of this recommendation. We support the High Commissioner's call as well for a 400 million in voluntary funding for 2026.

Thank you.

And as I close, my government strongly maintains its commitment to the High Commissioner's mandate and will continue to do so. Thank you.

Thank you, Sierra Leone. The next on the list are the UK, Mexico, and Colombia. Distinguished representative from the UK, you have the floor.

I will be brief, but I wanted to add a UK voice to those welcoming this report and thanking you, High Commissioner, and your office for another year of really excellent work around the world and here in Geneva. I think our main message is please keep going despite all of the uncertainties and challenges that we have been discussing today and over the over recent weeks, months, and years. Please also keep using your impressive portfolio of project work, capacity building, monitoring, reporting, and political influence to influence and make a difference in the many parts of the world in which you operate. Like others, in a kind of— in a broadly UNAT context, I would underline too our interest in making sure that the OHCHR and the human rights pillar more broadly continues to keep pace and stay relevant in that wider context of change. We really, like others, welcome the creation of the human rights group and echo what others have said about the importance of your regional presences, particularly if, again, this is all part of in-country streamlining and de-duplication across UN functions and a general in the spirit of greater coherence. But we will continue to support you as best you can, and you can rely on that for the forthcoming period. Thank you very much.

Thank you, UK. Next on my list is the distinguished representative from Mexico. Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much indeed, High Commissioner, for your report today. We agree with you as to the importance of continuing to promote and protect human rights, particularly given the current context of the rise in armed conflict and global instability. We appreciate the fundamental work that your office is doing on the ground, and that is where its greatest impact lies, despite of the unprecedented budgetary circumstances that we are experiencing currently. In addition to our contribution to the regular budget, Mexico made a voluntary unallocated contribution, or unmarked contribution, in 2025 to the Office, and we're grateful of the Office's transparency to report on how those resources have been used in protecting human rights, and also efforts made to ensure that you are more efficient, effective, and transparent. We believe that greater coordination and communication between ourselves here in Geneva and our colleagues in New York, both as regards states and the Secretariat, is crucial to ensure the necessary financial resources and explain their impact and importance. We welcome the launch yesterday of the Global Alliance on Human Rights which I'm sure will make a positive impact to garnering greater support and resources. I'd also like to express my thanks to you for your recent visit to Mexico in April this year, which confirmed the very close cooperation between us and your office for the benefit of the protection of human rights of Mexicans. We're mindful of the fact that we face significant human rights challenges but we're also aware that we can rely on you and the support of your office to tackle these. This cooperation is one of the most valuable tools of your mandate. [SPEAKING SPANISH] That is why we regret the fact that because of a lack of financial resources, your office in Mexico must be reduced almost by half, and we're also concerned about the impact on budgetary cuts within the human rights pillar, particularly the ability of the treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council, and its mechanisms and special procedures so as to discharge their duties and their mandates. Despite those circumstances, we continue to work with you to use cooperation projects which have been materialized with your office following the visit to Mexico, and we will continue to use them here in Geneva and New York so as to comply with the important mandate. Thank you very much.

Gracias, Mexico.

Thank you, Mexico.

Colombia Ambassador, please.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. Members of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Excellencies, colleagues, friends, Colombia appreciates the valuable commitment to the currency of human rights of the Office of the High Commissioner and its members. Their contribution to the respect, the protection, and the reparation of these rights when they have been violated anywhere in the world is irreplaceable. In Colombia specifically, your support to overcoming the human rights crisis, which has beset our country for years, is noteworthy. The creation of the office by the former Commission of Human Rights in 1996 and its establishment in the country in 1997, as well as reiterating the mandate by the Council in 2006, have all been some of the most rightly targeted decisions of human rights in the world. The work done in the country is laudable, and it has allowed us to move forward and overcome that crisis. [SPEAKING SPANISH] In spite of that, the challenge before us is still quite daunting. And your presence in Colombia continues to be sorely needed. But at the same time, we need not look exclusively at the difficulties. We must also be mindful of the positive outcome of action done by the Office in a country that has learned how to positively welcome these contributions that the universal system of human rights provides, which is why we would like to encourage you to go on continue, and we invite members of the international community to continue to support the activities of the Human Rights Office in Colombia, even through some cuts. And hopefully the cuts will be overcome in the future. The road ahead of us is still quite long, but Colombia has fertile ground for the work done by the Office of the High Commissioner. For the reasons I've outlined already, we have strong civil society, that takes on and transforms and leverages the valuable contributions given by the international community, as seen mainly through the Office of the High Commissioner. We also have very valuable institutions which have been created in the country, but I say it again, the challenges are still quite large. Which is why we hope that your office will be strengthened throughout the world and in Colombia specifically. Regarding Colombia's contribution, the financial contribution, though modest, I should say that we have met the regular contribution, that is Colombia's quota, to the UN in 2026, and part of it is set aside for the regular budget of the Office. And we hope that that contribution, though modest, we hope it remains useful. Thank you very much once again.

Gracias, Colombia. Next on my list, I have Burkina Faso, Liechtenstein, and I just see now State of Palestine. Burkina Faso. Madame l'Ambassadrice, vous avez la parole.

De me donner la parole.

Thank you for giving me the floor. I also would like to thank the Office of the High Commissioner for the presentation of the 2025 reports. We would also like to welcome the Deputy High Commissioner. My delegation would like to thank the High Commissioner for the presentation of the reports. Which is part of accountability efforts showcasing the activities to promote and protect the human rights carried out by the on-field presence and throughout different areas in the world. We appreciate the presentation which gives an opportunity to specialized agents, to donors, and to countries to come together, to talk to each other, and better understand the priority contexts and the challenges to human rights. We would also like to take this opportunity to, uh, laud the efforts and the activities made for the benefit of our population. And here I'm referring mainly to those benefiting Burkina Faso. We would like to thank the partners that uphold carrying out activities of the Office of the High Commissioner there. We have taken note of information about the situation in Burkina Faso as outlined in the 2025 report. We would like to make a few comments. To begin, I would like to note that for more than a decade already, Burkina Faso, as well as two other countries of our Confederation, Mali and Niger are victims of terrorist attacks leading to serious violations of the human rights of the population. This situation is characterized by attacks against populations and their assets, the destruction of public infrastructure. be it educational or healthcare-related infrastructure, which deprives the population of basic health services and brings about a humanitarian crisis with displacement of the population. These are all facts. All facts that have an impact on the country's efforts to promote and protect human rights. We would like to reiterate that the need to prioritize dialogue and listening to the states that have already been made fragile by this security challenge. It is only through constructive dialogue that We can pool our efforts with those of the Office of the High Commissioner in order to protect and defend human rights and to address the violations reported. We would like then to call for impartial treatment of all human rights situations anywhere in the world while reiterating our countries' willingness, as well as those of our network, to constructive dialogue and to cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with other earnest partners in the area of human rights.

Thank you.

Merci, Madame l'Ambassadrice. Next on my list is Liechtenstein Ambassador, please.

Thank you very much, High Commissioner, for the report, and thank you for the dedication and hard work in an increasingly difficult context of you and the whole team. And for the annual report, which of course, and what it represents, it's an account rendered with rigor and candor of what the international community can still achieve together to protect human rights. But it's also a report on what we're increasingly failing to resource and, and to address. And I think there's 3 things that stand out for us, and, and the first of it is, of course, that the Office has become really the connecting tissue of the human rights system. And where political processes fail, it monitors, documents, and preserves, and it works frequently as the only bridge between violations as they occur and accountability as it may one day be achieved. And that function cannot be improvised later, and it exists only if it can be maintained continuously. And in this context, of course, we also welcome the putting into place of the HR Coordination Group, and of course this is a continued effort also, not least in New York, where my colleague there will be a renewed effort to really keep human rights more on top of the discussions there as well, and invite you to make use of the network there. Secondly, the gap between mandate and means is no longer just a budgetary issue, it's a protection question, and an office forced into survival mode does not merely do less, it sees less, and what goes unseen goes unaddressed, and the cost of underfunding the humanitarian pillar is not just a budget line, but it will appear in prevention that did not happen. And thirdly, the support for the Office is a measure of seriousness, of seriousness of us all. States can no longer invoke the rules-based order while letting its institution being hollowed out, and Liechtenstein—

Thank you.

Will sustain its effort at the level and encourages others to do so, so that the Office can plan and not merely survive. And we also thank the Office— my good colleague from Norway just pointed out that you're now also reporting by capita contributions, and I'm happy to see Liechtenstein where it is, and I hope it encourages others to do the same. So Thank you. thank you. With that, you can continue on our support. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. Next on the list is the distinguished representative from the State of Palestine.

Thank you very much for giving me the floor. The State of Palestine thanks the High Commissioner for presenting this report. And commends OHCHR staff for their work under increasingly difficult circumstances. The report demonstrates the indispensable role played by the OHCHR in documenting violations, supporting accountability mechanisms, and providing protection to victims worldwide. In this regard, we wish to express our particular appreciation for the work of the Office of the High Commissioner in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. At a time of unprecedented suffering, continued violations of international law, escalating atrocities, continued genocide, and also increasing pressure on UN institutions and personnel, the Office's monitoring, reporting, and advocacy efforts remain indispensable for the protection of civilians, the preservation of facts, and the pursuit for accountability and justice. We are deeply concerned by the report's warning that severe funding constraints have placed OHCHR in survival mode. Human rights cannot become a casualty of budget— budgetary pressures. At a time when violations are increasing and accountability gaps continue to widen, sustained support for OHCHR is more important than ever. We also reaffirm the importance of preserving and strengthening OHCHR's presence and operational capacity in the OPT. Any reduction in the office's ability to carry out its mandated work would undermine efforts to ensure protection, accountability, and respect for international law at a time when these are needed most. Thank you. The report is also a reminder that the credibility of the international human rights system depends not only on its ability to document violations, but also on the willingness of states to support and act upon its findings. We therefore reaffirm our support for a strong, independent, and adequately resourced OSCHR capable of carrying out its mandate without restrictions and of standing with victims wherever they their rights are under threat. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative from the State of Palestine. I have one last flag. I see Norway and—

Netherlands.

The Netherlands, sorry. Norway, please, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. High Commissioner, thank you very much for the presentation of the Annual Report for 2025. We wish to take this opportunity to express Norway's strong appreciation for your efforts, as showed by the report, during a particularly challenging year, and for the excellent work and impact of the entire OHCHR organization. As you are well aware, Norway attaches great importance to being a steadfast supporter of your mandate and your work, politically, strategically, and financially, as you highlighted just now. In the current context, the independence and integrity of your office are particularly crucial assets. Your principled and clear insistence on the promotion and protection of all human rights for everyone, everywhere is greatly needed and more—

Thank you.

Much appreciated. We wish to dwell for a second on the financial situation of the Office, like others have done. The need for adequate and predictable funding can hardly be overstated. Human rights continue to be greatly underfunded at the UN, we all know it. As mentioned by others, it is more important than ever to— that assessed contributions are paid in full and in a timely manner. Norway remains committed to doing our part, both when it comes to the regular budget and also to extra-budgetary support. As to the latter, we wish to underscore the importance of unairmarked support. Norway has over time removed the vast majority of air markings from our voluntary contribution. This reflects a strategic choice to bolster your ability to direct resources where your efforts are most needed and most effective, quickly and flexibly. We urge others to consider doing the same or more of the the same. With that, High Commissioner, you can count on Norway's continued strong support, and we thank you.

Thank you, Norway. And I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative from the Netherlands.

And thank you, High Commissioner, for the presentation of your report. The Kingdom of the Netherlands commends you and your office for your continued efforts to promote and protect all human rights everywhere and for everyone, which is also clearly reflected in the report you presented today. The report provides a sobering reminder that human rights violations continue to occur across the globe. The Netherlands remains deeply committed to effective multilateral cooperation, and we will continue to defend human rights, particularly in times of geopolitical turmoil. We value your leadership in navigating us through the global human rights landscape, marked by growing challenges. At the same time, the report demonstrates once again the indispensable role of OIT HR in documenting violations, supporting accountability, strengthening national capacities, and providing early warning of emerging risks. We were pleased to read about the important achievements highlighted in the report. We particularly welcome the important work undertaken to advance accountability including through support to accountability mechanisms, the provision of technical expertise to strengthen the rule of law, and assistance to victims and survivors in the pursuit of truth, justice, and reparation. We also recognize the challenging geopolitical environment in which your Office operates, as well as the financial constraints it continues to face. Yet, in a context of growing global challenges, OHCHR's work is more important than ever. We therefore encourage you and your office to continue carrying out your vital mandate. You can continue to count on the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you.

Thank you, Netherlands. I don't see any more flags, so High Commissioner, I will hand the floor back to you for some answers.

Well, first of all, a big thanks to all of you. I think when we have these exchanges, we learn from each other, including, I think, I hope my colleagues have taken good note of some of the arguments that you have given to us to make even a stronger case. So I think that's deeply appreciated. They assure me they have, so that's good. So we obviously pick up on that. I'm grateful that— You mentioned Yemen and the situation of my 8 colleagues in Yemen. You probably saw we put on the first page, we named them all, and we obviously not only stand in solidarity with them, but for some of them, it's not 2 years, it's 5 years, so they have been in this horrible situation for a protracted period of time, and it's 8 colleagues who have given their all to precisely the type of work that we are doing. And as you know, overall it's 73 colleagues, and we seem to be getting nowhere with their release. So I think it's— I'm very glad that you mentioned it specifically, because it is obviously one of our preoccupations on a daily basis, our 8 colleagues and the other 70— and the total number of UN colleagues and NGO colleagues that are detained under— totally unlawfully in Yemen just for doing their work. That's obviously totally unacceptable. I would like to also thank you and all of you for the testimonies of the type of work and the impact of the work of my office in your respective situations.

—particularly in Colombia, for example, but also in Guatemala and all the other countries we have heard from.

European Union, it's not only—the European Union is not only a donor, very important, and the countries of the European Union are not only very important donor countries, but we actually also have, as you said, areas where we work with the European Union and its member states on the improvement of human rights issues, on offering our perspective and making observations. So it is truly universal, and I think it's important to actually highlight this. And it doesn't matter whether you are a low-income country or a higher-income country. Human rights apply to everyone, and there are no exceptions to be made. And quite on the contrary, we need to ensure consistent application to everyone. all the time. In terms of prioritization, because a number of you asked about how we are using and how we are dealing with prioritization, obviously prioritization with a fairly high and ever-increasing earmarking is more difficult because then you only have what you— in terms of unearmarked funding, and I'm very grateful to those countries who provide us with unearmarked funding because it does give us a flexibility. And within that, we obviously have our organization management plan that allows us at least to have a broad framework of prioritization. And last year in particular, we had developed a dedicated prioritization framework. In fact, the Director for Global Operations here to your— To your right, to my left, has been undertaking precisely from the perspective of resource constraints a review, a prioritization review that has led to some of those cuts, but it is, as you can imagine, often an exercise in what we get in terms of earmarked funding, but also from the perspective of effectiveness and impact.— we obviously then when we don't— when we have less funding, we then need to find ways and means to do it at the regional level, which is also why the regionalization effort has helped us, because some of the things that we can't do anymore at the country level, we have to do it at the regional level. But this being said, the Ambassador of Sweden mentioned the presence of human rights advisors, and I cannot but fully agree with him that the presence of human rights advisers in UN country teams is extremely valuable. They are not only providing support to the UN country teams and to the RCs when it comes to— especially on our development cooperation framework, but they are also, if you like, the link to the capacity building work, to the technical work of the human rights ecosystem. And as you know, since end '24, we had to close 8 presences of human rights advisors. I mean, this is essentially a one-person issue. And we are— we still have 12 deployments that were approved and that we think are a priority we cannot fund at the moment. So we have basically quite a number of countries where there is— a strong request from UN country teams and RCs to have a presence, and we, from our own analysis, would agree with that, but we are not able to fund this. So I think there's a special pitch to be made for the presence of human rights advisers because it also allows us precisely to work on development issue from a human rights perspective, and that is very much appreciated. Let me also— I would like to say how important it is— many of you have mentioned it— to broaden the donor base. And whatever we can do together to be creative about that is very— would be very important to brainstorm further on this. I think a number of you came forward, even if the contributions are minor, it still makes a difference. So we— whatever— whoever can make contributions, please make them, increase them. I think that helps. I mean, we have 113 partners now that have provided, including, by the way, from foundations and the private sector. Sometimes you have— in your countries, you are aware of foundations, so please alert us to that because we would like to get in touch with them. I mean, we have broadened that base, and in fact, I'm going to have a meeting with with probably a couple of dozens of foundations in July that also have human rights funding. So we are trying to work on that. But there's also then even— I mean, where we have been less successful is— and because we don't have the seed funding to actually undertake it— is especially with high net worth individuals and digital funding, because that requires a certain base of investment in order to be able to do this. And as you know, I know that my partner organizations have been very successful, but they had the seed funding to do this. If you don't have the seed funding, you can't actually invest. I have no money to invest, so we can't actually kick this off. This being said, there is a lot of interest, including on individual giving, because of the nature of our work, and maybe through the Global Alliance we are also able to tap into some of this. But it's, as I said, it's a more complicated issue than we think. I would also like to, I mean, the indigenous population, I think I'm fully agree this is a very important aspect of our work, especially in Latin America, but also in Africa and in Asia-Pacific region. We have this fellowship program We are still running it with perhaps less participation than in the past. The fellowship program for the indigenous fellows is one that I'm always looking forward to meeting because— and by the way, also all the other fellowships with people of African descent. I mean, these are our eyes and ears. They become part, if you like, of our alumni. They— I even, whenever I go to country visits, I usually meet some of the fellows in in meetings, they are either civil society activists or human rights defenders, or they are— some of them have ended up in government. So I think we have this base of hundreds of people from all over the world, both from— it comes from indigenous communities or from indigenous peoples or from people of African descent who are really, frankly, an extension of the work that we are doing, and that's extremely useful. I pay a lot of importance to these fellowships. I fully agree multilingualism is an area that we are very committed to. In fact, the Director General of WIPO informed me about this tool. I immediately told our innovation colleagues because we want— and he told us that— it's made available to everyone. I think we are looking at it because indeed also for the Global Alliance we need this type of tool so that we can really communicate in all languages. We know how important it is because otherwise we are not going to reach populations at large. And for us, especially accessibility and human rights is absolutely critical. As you know, we are still in the Guinness Book of Records when it comes with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because it is the most translated document in the world, even beyond a lot of sacred texts. It's the most sacred text is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in translated into, I don't, I can't remember what it is, but it's probably over 500 languages or so. But I mean, we still are at the front on this and probably more with the Global Alliance. Yes. On regionalization, just to assure you, I mean, the office in Geneva remains one of the biggest of presences, of international presences. I mean, we have, I think, the latest count, but don't— I mean, we can't give you the exact figure, but we have 840 staff members here in Geneva, I think. I mean—

850.

850, but I mean, so we have a very substantial presence here for obvious reasons. We— and I also want to give assurances to all of you, despite the fact that we have moved some or actually created some positions at the field level, not least because of the authorization from the Fifth Committee and the GA budget, there's— you should not feel any difference in terms of interactions with the Office. I think there— I give you that assurance. There's no way that we are going to anyway jeopardize the very important relationship that we have with all of you, with the missions, with the NGOs. I mean, the pillar is present. I hope we can make— I mean, of course, Pali Wilson offered a fairly strong presence here in town, but I hope we can make— when we all of us move and are in one building, which has a lot of advantages as well, let's not —don't forget that— when we are in the H Building at the Palais, that we can make it a very visible human rights presence because we should be very— Geneva should be very proud that one of its three pillars is here, of the UN, is present through the human rights pillar, and I hope that we can make— turn the H Building into a human rights house and give it the visibility that it deserves, and also with the connectivity that we need with the population. I mean, we need to be a house that is available, that is accessible to human rights defenders, to people who want to come to us, but also to the public at large. And I think our challenge will be how can we make sure that that visibility that we have here, that we make it even more visible at the Palais des Nations. And I think that's— we are obviously in discussions also with UNOG about this.. But I think your support would also be very much appreciated in that regard. Fully agree with the many colleagues who have mentioned the Geneva-New York divide that we sometimes see. I think we have now also— we have, first of all, New York in Geneva and we have Geneva with Claudia in New York. So we hopefully, from our side, certainly strengthening this. I addressed the AC— I defended our budget submission for next year before the ACABQ earlier this week. It took 3 hours. We had— I don't know how many hundreds of questions we will receive. We usually receive a lot of questions, but I think then when it goes— and we hope that the budget is going to be approved by— I mean, or recommended at the ACABQ level, and then when it goes to the Fifth Committee, that there is very strong interaction. But I also agree with you, and I mentioned it to the ACABQ, Thank you. That the Pact for the Future, the very clear signaling that we got from the Pact is unfulfilled. And yes, we understand the financial constraints at the moment, but I did flag to them that what we are presenting is not at all ideal. It is what is the basic necessity and the minimum that we need to survive, but it has to be met with liquidity. Just to give you the example of this year, RB, we have only received the allotment for 60% so far. I mean, we hope that it will increase to at least 78%, as we saw last year, but this is already less than we had received last year because the budget level has gone down.

It would be 19 million less.

And it's 19 million less in the best-case scenario, even for the RB. Allotment. So, I mean, I was absolutely clear, which is perhaps not what a lot of the budget colleagues had expected, but it was absolutely clear to the ACABQ that despite all the efficiency and effective measures that we have taken, that we had to manage last year, all of us collectively here in Geneva, an incredible unhappiness because we were not able to deliver in the way that we should. And I will make— I will not hide that truth from anyone. What I told you many times here and my— our previous deputy when she briefed you, and I think now we also had the briefing earlier this month by the current deputy, we are going to not beat around the bush. We are going to always tell the truth when it comes to this so that everyone knows because there is sometimes the impression given, ah, with more effectiveness and efficiency we can deliver more. We can't. Everyone knows this. We can't— if we don't have the money for a third session of the treaty bodies, if we don't have the funding to provide the staffing for the investigative mechanisms or the funding for country visits, it has its impact and we should not hide it in any way. And I made this very clear to the ACRBQ and I will also hopefully will need to make this also clear to our Fifth Committee delegates, but also to those countries who need to pay up in full and in time when it comes to the regular budget and DSS contributions. On UNATI, in UNATI the human rights group is internal coordination, as you know and as I've mentioned. It is a chance for us to ensure— and this is a substantive issue— it is a chance for us to ensure that each and every part of the UN owns the human rights cause in their respective areas. Just to give you one example, we have 20,000 seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, in the different boats at the moment. They have— I mean, fate of seafarers, you can imagine what this means if you're not able to disembark. This is one human rights issue that obviously we need to discuss also with IMO and with ILO. So even if, you know, International Maritime Organization, you wouldn't immediately think that this has a connection with human rights, while it does have a connection with human rights because the people who work on ships are human beings and they have rights. The same when it comes to rescue at sea. Rescue at sea is of course an issue of the laws of the sea plus maritime practices, but these are human rights issues first and foremost. Yes. As well. So it's clear that the more we develop our strategic alliances with the whole part of the UN system, we will actually be able to address some of the fundamental human rights issues that people all around the, the world face in respect of their particular responsibilities. And I think the Human Rights Group helps us to bring this out more, but it also helps us to have a more coordinated approach within the organization to offer human rights as a solution and as a tool and as a solution in— and as a prism, as a lens through which the rest and the different UN agencies can look at it, but also to ensure that they benefit from the normative system that has been developed here in Geneva over many decades. Be it through the Human Rights Council work or be it through the work of the standard setting of the treaty bodies, for example. I, for instance, mentioned in yesterday's discussion at the Executive Committee, when it comes to gender-based violence in electoral contexts, I mean, we have a very strong recommendation from the CEDAW Committee. It's Recommendation 40, participation of women in decision-making processes. But they need to use what this system, what the human rights system developed. Sometimes I have the impression there is still— we're still too siloed, too fragmented, and the human rights group helps us bring the enormous expertise that is developed here in Geneva to the rest of the UN system and actually also brings this link of the normative side to the rest of the UN system, and I think that's extremely, extremely helpful and very much appreciated. So again, I know that you are our strongest allies. We need to be creative and innovative as we manage this year and years to come. Very grateful for your support, for your continued support, and let's keep brainstorming of how we can meet our goal of achieving well, at least the same income level that we had last year, if not more. I think we should always be ambitious. Thank you very much and have a good weekend. Thanks.

Thank you.