Third Committee, 1st plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Morning, colleagues. If you'd be kind enough to take your seats. So, thank you very much for everybody being so wonderfully on time. It's definitely a practice I'll do my very best to keep. I can't guarantee that I'll keep it, but we'll do our very best to keep. And wonderful to see all of you here. And in particular, I want to thank upfront the work of the Secretariat in getting us here. for this 81st session. So with that, I will declare open the first meeting of the Third Committee of the General Assembly at this session, the 81st session. Let me extend a very, very warm welcome to everybody in this room. It's wonderful to see the spirit with which we've gathered, and I think we very much would like to continue in the spirit that we started. So I know there's a sort of a first day back from school sense, so it's great to see everybody here. Let me, on behalf of the Committee, pay tribute to the members of the Bureau of the Committee at its 80th session, and in particular my colleague, the Permanent Representative of Thailand, my good friend, Chuchai. who did a fantastic job, and I really appreciate all the work that he did. And I also want to congratulate the Bureau members who supported him over the course of the 80th session. The work that we have before us, I think, is not insubstantial. I'll go into some of the details as I progress with my opening remarks, but as you know, it's a very charged agenda, and we will have to work in very good time to get through that agenda in an efficient way. And so I very much look forward to the support of everybody in this room to help us do that. Let me acknowledge and thank upfront the vice chairs for this 81st session. Flavia Umlisa of Rwanda, uh, Ivana, uh, of Montenegro, and, uh, of Guyana, and our reporter, uh, Mr. Safa, uh, Hijab Yasin of Iraq. Those colleagues have already been working very hard over the course of the last several months to get our work in order, and I thank them for that contribution that they've already made, and I look forward very much to working with them over the course of this 81st session. And you will, from time to time, of course, have them in the chair position. and I'm confident you will give them exactly the same support that you will provide me. So I thank you very much in anticipation of that. I'm delighted to say that this is the first time in Australia's United Nations history that we have the privilege of chairing the Third Committee, and in celebration of that, there's a little Australian chocolate I don't think it would meet Belgian chocolate standards, so there's to be no intervention from Belgium concerning the chocolate content, but nevertheless, by Australian standards, that's a full-on chocolate. So please, enjoy that. And if we progress satisfactorily over the course of the session, there'll be a further bribe of an additional one, so you never know. It depends on how fast we can work. Obviously, as Chair, I will be guided by Australia's very long commitment to upholding and protecting the United Nations human rights pillar. As everybody in this room knows, it is one of the absolute core pillars of the work that we do here in New York, but also across the United Nations system. And we have a very special responsibility as the members of this committee in this 81st session to stand up for human rights and to stand up for the work of the committee in its crucial role in protecting our global human rights interests. And I recall with pride Australia was one of the only eight countries involved in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we have been a long-standing supporter of and contributor to the multilateral human rights agenda. And I'm delighted to be here in the shadow of that legacy and very much hope we can work together to maintain and continue to contribute. I think it's evident to all of us in this room because we've spent a lot of time over the last couple of years focused on this issue of the challenges that we face as an organisation. In fact, my colleague from Rwanda was just pointing out, if we look at the state of the chairs in the room, it's pretty obvious that things are looking fairly frayed. So we clearly have work to do to try and make this system work effectively and make this system deliver to those who it is intended to support. And those are basically people in our countries across the globe. We're not here actually to support ourselves in the New York community. We have a whole community globally, which is in need of our support and engagement. And I think we can make a contribution to doing that as a part of our work. We have an exceptionally full program of work, and it's important to remember as we go through it, the crucial normative role of the resolutions that we will be considering, and in particular, the role of those resolutions in helping to uphold international human rights norms that underpin the multilateral framework that we have all agreed to. In addition, of course, we have, and all of you will have seen the proposed program, we have a large number of reports and briefings from independent special procedures mandate holders and those reports are, of course, also a very important part of the work that we do. And so I make those comments really just to underscore what I know every one of you believes, that the work we do here actually does matter. But equally importantly, I think how we do our work can make a difference. And so we can do our work in a a contested and fractious and difficult manner, or we can do our work in a disciplined, collaborative, and positive manner. And I think if we take that latter approach, we can make a real difference in advancing a future where human rights are a living reality for all and can be enjoyed by individuals everywhere, no matter who they are. With those broad comments, having already been made, can I just make clear two critical asks in my role as chair. The first, I would urge all delegates in your negotiations to have the UN80 processes front of mind. And please give careful consideration to some of the issues of those UN80 commitments that we have worked very hard on over the past period, and in particular, give thought to reviewing and assessing the periodicity and implementation of mandates to ensure they remain relevant and effective and to identifying opportunities for consolidation. I would also ask us to take full account of the decisions that we've made in recent times concerning the full use of concept notes, review clauses, and the other measures agreed in resolution 80251 and further developed by the reform working group. And we had the good fortune to have Ambassador Brian Wallace brief us the other day on his work continuing the mandate reform effort. and I take his comments very, very seriously and I urge all of us to do likewise because if we don't accept that mantle of individually and collectively as a group taking responsibility for making this a more effective, efficient and fit for purpose enterprise, we will collectively fail and that's not necessary. We can avoid that and we have this opportunity, I think, to to contribute in that space. As chair, of course, I will do my best to facilitate a productive, transparent, and respectful atmosphere. And of course, I would ask all colleagues to approach our engagement in the same light. It's so important, I think, that we are able to disagree courteously, that we are able to make our points in ways which are positive and constructive. Every single one of us in this room, not myself as chair, of course, but every single one of you in this room is here to prosecute, of course, your national interests. But we do have a collective responsibility to make the system work as effectively and functionally as we possibly can. And that, I think, calls on all of us to be as constructive as we possibly can be in engaging with our files. Let me say upfront how much I look forward to our working together. Can I say I have my colleague here, David, of course, the secretariat, every one of us, the vice-chairs, our rapporteur, every one of us is here to make this committee work as effectively as we can. So if you have issues with how we are proceeding, if there are things that we can do better, or if you have concerns, really it is an open door. Please make those known. Of course, you're welcome and have every right to make them known in the plenary, but also please feel free to come and raise any concerns with myself or any of my bureau colleagues and we will do our very best to address them. I now have a suite of operational and organisational matters that I need to refer to, to set us on the correct administrative path. To start off with, I would invite the committee to turn its attention to the organisation of work for this session contained in document AC3/81/1. As you will be aware, the note by the Secretariat on the allocation of agenda items to the third committee is contained in document AC3/81/1. The modalities on the arrangements for the work of the Third Committee at this session are pursuant to recommendations contained in General Assembly decision 80/525. and in accordance with the program of work, a single general debate of the third committee will be held at the start of this session, and it will be followed by separate general discussions on each agenda item or cluster of items in a rolling format. Delegations may choose one of these options, but not both. And I will now briefly go over the main elements of our program. Let me first stress the importance of punctuality and adherence to the time limits set for statements in the general debate, general statements and interactive dialogues. And also let me note and urge the main sponsors to strictly observe the deadlines for the submission of draft proposals. I do think we can make a real difference to our work if we are disciplined in terms of our approach to timeframes. I have seen the work of many of our colleagues in the committees last year, where a disciplined approach to time was strictly enforced, and it is quite clear that that can make a very real difference to how we do our work. Obviously, in this space, it is important that everybody be treated equitably. and if time limits are applied to one, they need to be applied to all. So I very much urge you to work with me in making sure we make the most of being punctual, being effective, and being in conformity with the limitations we have imposed upon ourselves. Chapter 2 of the report of the General Committee, contained in document A/81/250, provides relevant guidance by the General Assembly regarding the work of the main committees, and in particular paragraph 4 and 4. I would urge you to turn your minds to that in relation to how we will be conducting ourselves over the current session. In addition, I would like to draw the attention of the committee to paragraph 21 on questions relating to the program budget. The attention of the committee is also drawn to the relevant provisions of General Assembly Resolution 79192 on its working methods. I would also like to draw the attention of delegations to the following important points that relate to our work and our agenda. In order to use the services available to us in the most effective manner and in light of the ongoing liquidity situation of the organisation, I propose that the timetable we are about to approve should be respected as much as possible, as I've just articulated, with the understanding that adjustments will be made if the situation warrants and with a view to maximising the time and resources allocated to the committee. It is of particular importance for draft resolutions that generally involve lengthy negotiations to be drafted by the main sponsors as early as possible and that all submission deadlines should be observed. Delegations are encouraged to start their informal consultations earlier than the beginning of consideration of the relevant agenda item, and I encourage main sponsors to start their consultations as early as possible. As mentioned during the briefing on 14 September, delegations are to initiate and submit draft proposals for processing and issuance as L documents by the agreed deadlines through the e-submission module of the e-delegate portal. The updated guidelines for the submission of draft proposals are available on the iGov platform. The Secretariat requires a minimum of 96 hours or more, starting from the business day following that on which the proposal was submitted, for the processing and issuance in official languages of draft resolutions and decisions. This timeframe excludes weekends and holidays, and I'd ask all of you to take note of that, please. Draft proposals should therefore generally be submitted at least five working days before their date of consideration. Again, I draw your attention to that and would ask you to pay particular attention to that timeframe. As you are aware, inscriptions to the list of speakers for the general debate of the various agenda items close on 28 September through the eSpeakers platform. The lists of speakers for the general discussions on individual items and clusters will close at the end of the first meeting in which the discussion takes place. As per past practice, the committee will maintain a rolling list of speakers. Delegations are requested to monitor constantly the live list of speakers whose link has already been shared in advance, so that delegations stand ready to deliver their statements earlier if necessary. I would like to propose that whenever a delegation inscribed on the list of speakers is not prepared to speak, that delegation will be placed at the end of the list for that meeting, unless it switches speaking slots with another delegation in a timely manner. I wish to emphasise that, as stated in document AC3/81/L.1, organisation of work, statements in the general debate on behalf of groups of delegations are limited to 12 minutes. For individual delegations, statements shall not exceed 10 minutes. Statements in the general discussions of individual items or clusters are limited to four minutes for groups of states and three minutes for individual delegations. For the interactive dialogues and question time, time management will be critical. I therefore urge all delegations to make brief interventions of two to three minutes or less for a single dialogue and six to nine minutes or less for combined dialogues in response to the presentations and to put their questions to the presenters in a succinct and direct manner at the start of their intervention. I think all of us will have experienced past practices and we know that exercising this degree of discipline can make an enormous difference to the effectiveness and efficiency with which we operate. I would urge delegations to avoid reading lengthy statements during the interactive dialogues and very much underscore that point. Regarding requests to intervene during the interactive dialogues, I wish to remind delegations that the floor will open for requests at the start of the presentation by the special procedures mandate holder or other experts. As per established practice, the list will be closed three minutes after it is opened. Delegations are requested to signify their interest in taking the floor during interactive dialogues as soon as the Chair invites them to do so, and the Presiding Officer will announce the time limit before proceeding to the speakers. and speakers are strongly encouraged to start with their questions and comments during interactive dialogues. Also, in accordance with established practice, time limits for all statements or interventions in the committee will be strictly enforced, and microphones will be cut off when the speaking times have elapsed. I wish to propose that points of order and statements made in explanation of position or vote shall not exceed three minutes. Given time constraints, I kindly request that speakers omit congratulatory text and other diplomatic courtesies. I would like to emphasise that statements delivered during formal meetings of the committee will be reflected in the official summary records and, therefore, requests for statements to be included in the official records are not necessary. Concerning the introduction of draft resolutions, I hope that main sponsors will continue to make only one statement at the time of action. This will significantly improve the efficiency of our work. In the event that delegations still prefer to make introductory statements, they could do so within the time limit of three minutes. May I take it that the committee agrees to the recommendations that I have just made? I hear no objection. It is so decided. Now, before we take action on the proposed programme of work, I wish to refer to the provisional list of special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council and the chairs of treaty bodies or working groups mandated to report to the Third Committee. The latest list was circulated on 8 September and made available to all delegations in the e-delegate portal and on the iGov platform. The list of special procedures mandate holders, chairs of treaty bodies and other experts has been inserted into a conference room paper, AC.3/81/CRP.1, which has been circulated to all delegations. As you are aware, the 63rd regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to conclude its work on Friday 9 October 2026, and it is expected that relevant decisions of the Council mandating additional presenters to report to the committee would need to be brought to the attention of the committee for its consideration at a later date. and following the conclusion of the 63rd session of the Council. These additional presenters will be inserted into an addendum to the conference room paper and circulated to all delegations before their consideration by the Committee. May I take it that, as per past practice, the Committee wishes to extend an invitation to the special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council, chairs of treaty bodies and other experts whose titles are included in document AC3/81/CRP.1 to present their reports to and interact with the committee. I hear no objection. It is so decided. As mentioned, The Committee is expected to consider extending an invitation to additional special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council and other experts following the conclusion of the 63rd session of the Council. I now move to adoption of the organisation of work. And are there any comments on the organisation of work of the third committee as contained in document AC3/81/L1? I see no requests for the floor. In that case, I will take it that the committee wishes to approve its organisation of work. as contained in that document, with the understanding that further adjustments will be made if necessary as the session progresses. In the absence of any objection, it is so decided. I now wish to draw colleagues' attention to the status of documentation for the third committee of the 81st session of the General Assembly, which is before you in document AC.3/81/L.1/Add.1. Are there any comments on the status of that documentation? I see no requests from the floor. May I take it that the committee wishes to take note of the status of documentation for this session as contained in document AC3/81/L1/Ads1? In the absence of any objection, it is so decided. I would like to remind delegations that the latest versions of the programme of work and the list of documents under each agenda item are available on iGov with regular updates. With that rather long list of procedural matters, thank you for being engaged and thank you for agreeing to those decisions. Now I invite the committee to begin its general debate. Before I give the floor to the first speaker on my list, and for the moment there is no speaker on my list. There is indeed, it's a different list. So I do have a list. Before I give the floor to the first speaker on my list, I wish to remind delegations that the time limit for speakers on behalf of groups is 12 minutes and for individual delegations is 10 minutes. And you'll see the microphones blink 30 seconds before the expiration of the time limit and the microphones will be automatically switched off when time is up. Right. Now, I do have-- do we get a list on the screen here or we don't? That's a luxury that we don't have. Very good. Well, the first speaker I have is the representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to be followed by Egypt on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Uruguay, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, Ambassador James Lawson, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, allow me to extend our warmest congratulations to you, Mr. Chair, and the members of the Bureau on your election. The Group of 77 and China assures you our full support and cooperation during this session. The group thanks the Secretary-General for the submission of the reports and the agenda items of concern for the group, which will enrich our discussions. The Group of 77 and China renews its unwavering commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation, and the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The group pledges to continue to advance its three interlinked pillars, peace and security, human rights, and development, in a balanced manner, and calls on all member states to renew the multilateral spirit that gave birth to the organization for the benefit of present and future generations. The group also emphasizes that we must join hands to realize the 2030 agenda, leaving no country and no person behind, and building together a just, inclusive, and better world, respecting, promoting, and protecting human rights for all. The group also reaffirms that the Commission for Social Development has the primary responsibilities for the follow-up to the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, and stresses its role in contributing to the follow-up to the 2030 agenda. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms that all humans are equal in dignity and rights, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. The group also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent and interrelated, and the international community must treat them, human rights, globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis. Mr. Chair, the group would like to remind delegations that is the traditional proponent of four draft resolutions reflecting our shared priorities and collective commitments, meaning implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly, follow-up to the 13th anniversary of the International Year of the Family and Future Needs, follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Aging, Global call for concrete action for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Program of Action. Thirty years after the World Summit for Social Development, we acknowledge the progress made in advancing the core pillars of Copenhagen Declaration. Yet, we remain deeply concerned that poverty, inequality, exclusion, and challenges to achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all persist, compounded by new and emerging global challenges. In that regard, we welcome the hosting by the State of Qatar of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held from 4 to 6 November 2025, which reaffirmed the commitment to the Copenhagen Declaration and its Programme of Action on Social Development and to its implementation, while providing renewed momentum towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The group also underscores the need to strengthen inclusive social policies and programs, including family-oriented policies and programs through concrete strategies that build national capacities within a comprehensive approach to development as catalyst for reducing poverty and hunger, promoting the well-being of all at all ages, supporting children's development, and breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. At the same time, as the global population ages, we must also foster an enabling environment for the equal and meaningful participation of older persons by combating discrimination and safeguarding their rights and dignity. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms its strong opposition to all forms of discrimination, including racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. and expresses concern at the alarming rise in religious hatred and intolerance. The group calls upon member states and the international community to condemn religious intolerance and hatred, foster dialogue, tolerance, and respect for cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. The legacy of colonialism, slavery, and systemic exploitation has created deep-rooted global inequalities that persist across generations. Advancing reparatory justice is vital in addressing global inequality through structural reforms in global governance, trade, debt, finance to advance the SDGs. Mr. Chair, the Group of 77 and China recommit to eliminating all forms of discrimination, violence against all women and girls. and to ensuring their empowerment in all spheres of life, since achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, as well as the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women, are also indispensable to just and inclusive societies. The G77 and China also stresses the importance of redoubling efforts to ensure full and equal access to education, employment, and healthcare for persons with disabilities, and of strengthening support for youth, through inclusive education, training, skills development, addressing digital literacy challenges, and promoting employment. The Group of 77 and China reaffirmed it is crucial to cooperate internationally to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration, involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants, regardless of their migration status, refugees, and displaced persons. Such cooperation should also strengthen the resilience of communities hosting refugees, particularly in developing countries. The Group also stresses that migrants positively contribute to sustainable development, while recognizing that the roles and responsibilities of the countries of origin, transit and destination should be appropriately balanced. The group further commits to combat misinformation and disinformation, negative stereotyping, and misleading narratives that generate negative perceptions of migration and migrants. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and to advancing social development. We wish this session of the Third Committee every success and look forward to counting on the constructive participation of all delegations in the consultations on the resolutions that the group will be introducing during this session. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I now invite the distinguished permanent representative of Egypt on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to be followed by China. Permanent representative of Egypt, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, I wish to congratulate you on the assumption of the chairmanship of this committee and wish you all the best. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation under agenda item 71 on the promotion and protection of human rights. The OIC group reaffirms that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated, and must be treated fairly and equally. Their promotion and protection should be pursued through constructive dialogue and international cooperation in accordance with the principles of impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, while taking into account national and regional particularities and different historical, cultural, and religious backgrounds. The group stresses the importance of ensuring equal attention to civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights including the right to development, and of protecting the rights of women, children, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, as well as protecting and empowering the family in accordance with relevant OIC resolutions. The Group wishes to highlight three pressing concerns. High among the Group's priorities is the plight of the Palestinian people under Israel's illegal occupation. Despite the universal rights guaranteed by the UN Charter and international human rights instruments, the Palestinian people remain deprived of their rights, foremost among them their inalienable right to self-determination. The OIC Group strongly condemns the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the continuing violations across the occupied Palestinian territory. which have killed and injured tens of thousands of Palestinians, devastated civilian infrastructure, and deprived civilians of their basic human rights. The group categorically rejects any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland. Israel, the occupying power, must comply with international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, fully respect the ceasefire, protect civilians, and ensure safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Gaza. We condemn all attacks and illegal measures against UNRWA and call for adequate and sustained political, legal, and financial support for the agency. The group further condemns Israel's illegal policies and practices in occupied West Bank, including East Al-Quds, notably settlement expansion, land confiscation, settler terrorism, forced displacement, and attempts at annexation. These measures are null and void under international law, undermine the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and destroy the prospects of the two-state solution. The group rejects any attempt to fragment the occupied Palestinian territory or separate Gaza from the West Bank. including East Al-Quds, and reaffirms its support for an independent and sovereign state of Palestine on the borders of 4th June 1967, with East Al-Quds as its capital. The group reaffirms that Israel has no sovereignty over East Al-Quds or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. We condemn the repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Haram Al-Sharif, restrictions imposed on Palestinian worshippers, and attempts to alter the existing historical legal status quo or the character of the city. We stress that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Haram al-Sharif, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. Mr. Chair, the dehumanization of the Palestinian people and statements inciting hatred, violence, and genocide are closely linked to the group's second pressing concern. The group is gravely concerned by manifestations of intolerance, discrimination, hate speech, incitement and violence based on religion or belief, including the burning of the Holy Quran. Such acts violate the religious and cultural rights of Muslims and cannot be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression. which entails duties and responsibilities. The OIC group welcomes the adoption without a vote of General Assembly Resolution 80/200 on combating intolerance and violence based on religion or belief. We also reaffirm the importance of fully implementing General Assembly Resolution 79/316 on promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech. These resolutions provide an important framework for combating religious intolerance and protecting persons, religious symbols, holy books, and places of worship. We call upon all States to implement them fully and adopt appropriate legal measures to prevent such acts and ensure accountability. The Group stresses the urgent need to combat Islamophobia, which threatens peaceful coexistence and social cohesion. We welcome the appointment of the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia and reaffirm our commitment to working closely with him. Mr. Chair, the third pressing concern is the continued plight of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. The group strongly condemns the atrocities perpetrated against the Rohingya and calls for urgent action to uphold their rights, end their targeting and stigmatization, address the root causes of the crisis, and create the conditions necessary for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of all displaced Rohingya, including those who have sought refuge in Bangladesh. The group commends Bangladesh and other OIC member states for hosting Rohingya refugees and calls upon the international community to provide adequate and sustained support. We further urge continued support for international efforts to ensure justice and accountability for the Rohingya people. In conclusion, the OIC group reaffirms its commitment to promoting and protecting all human rights in accordance with international law, guided by equality, justice, tolerance and mutual respect. We will continue to work with all partners to foster dialogue and understanding among cultures and civilizations, and ensure that no people or community is left behind in the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Egypt, and I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of China, to be followed by the European Union. Permanent Representative of China, you have the floor.

I have the honour to deliver a joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 28 member states, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Russian Federation, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Sudan, Uganda, Bolivian Republic of Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and my own country, China. Today's world is plagued by rampant unilateralism and the raging unilateral coercive measures. History has proven that the UCMs are a major source of international turbulence and disorder. As the United Nations enters its ninth decade, the international community must remain clear-headed, strengthen unity and cooperation, and firmly oppose and bring an end to such unlawful practices. Developing countries and their peoples continue to bear the brunt of UCMs, which violate the principle of sovereign equality and cooperation. interfere in other countries' internal affairs, run counter to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and undermine the foundation of multilateralism and international rule of law. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores the equal enjoyment by all states of the development dividends, and strongly urges states to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Regrettably, despite repeated calls by the international community for the urgent lifting of UCMs, These unlawful measures continue to have devastating, sometimes even life-threatening consequences for countries and their peoples. UCMs compounded by secondary sanctions and overcompliance exacerbate existing humanitarian and economic challenges and threaten food, energy, and financial security. The growing use of tariffs as a tool of unilateral coercion, including additional tariffs based on unilateral determinations under domestic law and imposed under the pretext of national security or human rights, further politicizes economic and trade issues, undermines the multilateral trading system, disrupts global industrial and supply chains, and impede the efforts of countries concerned to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, UCMs severely violate the basic human rights, including the right to life, health, development, and education, and impede the ability of targeted countries to realize those rights. The Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of UCMs on the enjoyment of human rights for the UN Human Rights Council pointed out unilateral sanctions have led to shortages of healthcare services, medication, and energy supplies in sanctioned countries, with persons in vulnerable situations such as women, children, and the elderly facing particularly dire circumstances. We are also concerned that unilateral coercive measures and overcompliance have limited the ability of affected countries to access and acquire foreign investments and technology and hindered international cooperation in culture, arts, sports, travel, people-to-people exchanges, and transports, including civil aviation. Chair, we welcome the 2026 ministerial declaration of the Group of 77 and China on reaffirming that the imposition of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions against developing countries, does not contribute to economic and social development, including dialogue and understanding among countries. We highlight the Non-Aligned Movement's declarations and communicates on condemning the promulgation and application of unilateral coercive measures, including those measures used as tools for political, economic, financial pressure against any country, in particular the developing countries. We recognize the work done by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of UCMs on the enjoyment of human rights for the UN Human Rights Council and take note of the reports, country visits and statements delivered by the Special Rapporteur. We reaffirm our opposition to unilateral coercive measures and call on the few Western countries to heed the just cause of the international community honour their commitments to upholding the UN Charter and international law, and immediately, unconditionally, and completely lift all UCMs. We also call upon Member States, the UN system, and other international organisations to jointly oppose such unlawful practices and help targeted countries mitigate their plight. We also request the Secretary-General to continue monitoring the imposition of unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion. The current circumstance calls for solidarity and unity, rather than confrontation and division, to address global challenges and promote and protect human rights for all. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of China. And I give the floor to the European Union, who will be followed by Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM. European Union, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The candidate countries Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement. And the full version of this statement will be available online. Let me begin by congratulating you and the members of the Bureau on your election. You can count on the EU's full support. We meet at a difficult time. War and armed conflict are taking an unacceptable toll on civilians, often hitting the most vulnerable hardest. And around the world, we are witnessing worrying levels of violations and pushback against human rights and attempts to reverse hard-won progress. It may seem tempting to believe that in times like these, human rights are somehow less important than peace, security, or development, that they are a luxury to be pursued only once certain level of stability or prosperity has been achieved. Nothing could be further from the truth. Respect for human rights is not the sole preserve of peaceful and prosperous societies. Rather, it is an essential condition for building them. Europe's own history has taught us this lesson at enormous cost. Our continent has known war, authoritarianism, and grave violations of human rights. We do not claim to have overcome all our challenges. But our experience has shown us that reconciliation, lasting peace and sustainable development require respect for human rights, the rule of law, democracy and institutions strong enough to protect them. It is therefore precisely the wrong time to allow the weakening of the international human rights system painstakingly built over decades. It's time to defend it and make it work better. Chair, the Third Committee has an important role in this regard. The EU will engage actively across all agenda items of this committee. Protection of human rights, gender equality, social development, fighting racism, crime prevention and criminal justice all go hand in hand to achieve the same shared goal, a better life for all. Our commitment is to all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural. And this includes the right to development as reflected in the 1986 declaration. The EU continues to translate this commitment into practice through our leading political and financial support for the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. Our own history has taught us that there can be no lasting peace without justice and accountability. We therefore reaffirm our unwavering support for the international criminal justice system, particularly the International Criminal Court, and reject attempts to undermine its independence and integrity. The core message of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is clear. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And we will continue to combat all forms of discrimination, hatred and violence, whether based on the color of your skin, how you worship, who you love or who you are. The EU remains firmly committed to advancing gender equality, the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls. and their empowerment in line with the global commitments we have all made. Equality in law is not enough. We need to take a transformative approach to actively address and dismantle the structural barriers and underlying root causes of gender inequalities and take proactive measures to achieve substantive equality for all. Equal rights, opportunities and dignity for women and girls benefit our societies as a whole, and this is what the gender equality agenda is about. It is an agenda that unites us, and we will continue to defend this unity and reject forces that try to divide and polarize us. We also must defend a safe and enabling space for civil society. We may not always agree with what civil society, journalists, or human rights defenders have to say about our governments and our policies, but open debate, peaceful dissent, and scrutiny are not threats to democratic societies, they help them thrive. And we must ensure that digital technologies, including AI, are developed and used in ways that are human-centric and never undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms. Chair, inevitably, our deliberation will be impacted by the challenges and horrors of the world around us, and it's our responsibility to address those. For more than four years, Russia has continued its war of aggression against Ukraine, in blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter. The human cost continues to grow. UN human rights monitors have documented rising, systematic, and deliberate Russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian, cultural, and energy infrastructure, alongside widespread and systemic torture, ill treatment, and summary executions of Ukrainian civilian detainees, and unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children. We condemn in the strongest possible terms these atrocities. Russia and its leadership must be held accountable. We have become accustomed to Russia using this Committee to try to justify its aggression and to downplay its catastrophic impact. We ask other delegations to reject this politicisation of our work. The EU condemns the structural system of human rights violations in Russia, which are part of a further intensifying systematic, state-sponsored internal repression. We condemn all violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory and remain gravely concerned by the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We urge Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and immediately remove all restrictions to access and allow sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza. We call for the permanent disarmament of Hamas and other non-state armed groups and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Hamas cannot be part of any solution in Gaza. We regret the lack of progress in the implementation of the ceasefire and all other provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and reiterate our call on all actors to implement them. We condemn the continued and growing settler violence in the West Bank and Israel's unilateral actions aimed to expand its presence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. We remain deeply concerned by deteriorating human rights situations in many countries around the world, whether driven by war and armed conflict, democratic backsliding, or growing authoritarian tendencies. In this regard, we refer to the recent EU statement under item 4 of the Human Rights Council. Chair, in this session, the EU will present the following resolutions: First, on the human rights situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, together with the OIC. Nine years after the military operations that led to the mass exodus of Rohingya, and more than five years after the military coup, The Rohingya and the people of Myanmar have suffered too much and far too long. We must continue to shine a spotlight on this unacceptable situation. Second, we will also present the resolution on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations in one of the world's most closed societies require sustained international attention. All EU Member States are also members of the Interregional Task Force presenting the biennial resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. This remains an important priority. Reported executions rose sharply in 2025, driven largely by a small number of countries. Yet, the broader global direction remains clear. Some 170 countries have now abolished or introduced a moratorium on the death penalty, either in law or in practice. That's remarkable progress since the General Assembly adopted its first moratorium resolution in 2007. Chair, defending the human rights system also means being willing to reform it. The UN faces a severe liquidity crisis. Through the UN80 initiative, we are collectively considering how this organization can become more efficient, effective, and focused on delivering results. The EU strongly supports these efforts. However, reform must strengthen and not weaken the human rights pillar. It must safeguard the integrity, independence, normative role and operational capacity of the UN human rights architecture, including through adequate, predictable and sustainable funding. And in the Third Committee, the EU is ready to do its part. Almost all resolutions presented by the EU and its Member States in this Committee are already biennial or triennial, and we are ready to consider further steps. However, reform and efficiency efforts must be a shared responsibility, undertaken collectively and on a balanced and equitable basis. We encourage you, Chair, and the Bureau to play an active role in helping all delegations deliver on this shared commitment so that we can devote more time to what matters most: implementation and impact of our resolutions on people's lives. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union, and I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Jamaica, speaking on behalf of CARICOM, to be followed by Cuba. Jamaica, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I do have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean Community. We congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election to guide this committee's work. during the 81st session and assure you of CARICOM's full support. CARICOM aligns with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China. And we thank the Secretary General and the relevant UN agencies for the reports provided under the respective agenda items, which will guide our discussions during this session. Chair, as we draw closer to 2030, we must take stock of our accomplishments, reflect on challenges to the advancement of social development, and reiterate the need to scale up efforts to achieve the objectives set forth in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, the Doha Political Declaration, and the SDGs. These provide comprehensive frameworks for advancing implementation and accelerating progress in social development. Eradicating hunger and poverty, reducing inequalities, ensuring access to decent work, education, and social protection are some of the fundamental elements that guide our social development framework. CARICOM's own efforts to address these challenges are guided by the region's human resource development 2030 strategy. As a region that knows all too well the devastating effects of climate change and how it can contribute to widening inequalities. CARICOM reiterates its commitment to continue building the resilience of our people and our region. CARICOM remains committed to a people-centered approach to development to ensure that noone is left behind. Notwithstanding, effective implementation of commitments are hampered by resource constraints. CARICOM therefore reiterates the need for international cooperation aimed at building resilience, reducing inequalities, and alleviating poverty. Chair CARICOM reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and all other relevant international frameworks aimed at achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. The full, equal, and meaningful participation of women is indispensable to the realization of sustainable development. including in such critical areas as peacebuilding, conflict prevention and climate action. We remain deeply concerned by the persistent and disproportionate challenges faced by women and girls, particularly regarding poverty, gender-based violence and unequal access to decent employment and economic opportunity. We welcome the adoption of the resolution on the revitalization of the Commission on the Status of Women. which reaffirms the Commission's central role in follow-up to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and seeks to strengthen its effectiveness in accelerating implementation, bridging the gap between global commitments and lived realities, and advancing the rights and empowerment of all women and girls. CARICOM urges the international community to translate commitments into concrete action. This requires increased, predictable and adequately targeted international financing to address the needs and priorities of women and girls, as well as strengthened policies, legislative reform and renewed political will. Only through sustained implementation and accountability can the international community deliver meaningful and lasting progress. Chair CARICOM reaffirms the pivotal role of the Human Rights Council in advancing the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. While awaiting the forthcoming report of the Council, CARICOM underscores the importance of ensuring that its work is carried out in an equitable, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner, including through initiatives that enhance the meaningful engagement of small island developing states. CARICOM further highlights the inherent interlinkages between sustainable development, climate resilience, and the full and effective enjoyment of human rights for all. CARICOM maintains that every child has the right to grow up in an environment where their dignity, safety, and well-being are protected. This includes the right to education, healthcare, and family life, as well as protection from violence and exploitation, and the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect their lives. These rights must be upheld without discrimination, regardless of a child's background or circumstances. Children's lives are becoming increasingly connected to artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Digital tools can create valuable opportunities for learning, communication, and access to essential services, but they can also expose children to new risks, including privacy violations, online harm, and exploitation. It is therefore essential that children's rights and safety remain at the center of how these technologies are developed, used, and regulated. Ultimately, protecting children's rights is a shared responsibility that requires action from our governments, local communities, and international organizations. This means ensuring that children's voices are heard and that policies, services, and technologies reflect their best interests. By investing in and protecting children's rights today, we can help build safer and more equal societies for generations to come. Chair, CARICOM remains committed to the promotion, preservation, and transmission of culture and heritage across generations. In this regard, we look forward to CARIFEST, the Caribbean Festival of Arts in 2027. This will provide an important platform to showcase the diverse cultural expressions of the Caribbean, including music, dance, visual arts, literature, and other creative forms. CARICOM also welcomes the resolution adopted last month on enhancing the participation of indigenous peoples, representatives, and institutions in meetings of relevant UN bodies on issues affecting them. We view this as an important step towards strengthening the meaningful, effective and inclusive participation of Indigenous Peoples in multilateral processes and ensuring that their perspectives and priorities are reflected in decisions that affect their communities. CARICOM encourages governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to continue supporting and contributing to the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples. Such support is essential to ensuring that Indigenous Peoples can meaningfully participate in the international processes that shape their future, while preserving and advancing the knowledge, traditions, and stories of our ancestors that continue to define and enrich our identity today. Chair, this year we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. As the most relevant and comprehensive international framework for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the DDPA must continue to underpin our efforts to create a more just and equitable world. On this anniversary, We must regrettably acknowledge that racism, discrimination, and xenophobia remain pervasive worldwide, now intensified by digital technologies and AI systems. Addressing these contemporary manifestations requires collaboration among various stakeholders, but most importantly, the political will to prioritize the elimination of racism and racial discrimination from digital spaces. Addressing these challenges requires us to also confront the root causes of racism. The historical injustices perpetrated against people of African descent, particularly through colonialism and the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, are the foundational causes of modern racism. Without meaningful redress for these crimes, true justice and healing will evade the descendants of victims, deepening systemic exclusion and inequality. CARICOM launched in July of this year its revised 10-point plan for reparatory justice, building on the previous plan and providing a comprehensive framework for repairing the legacies of the period of colonization, native genocide, and the transatlantic trafficking and enslaved Africans in our countries. It acknowledges the persistent ills faced by descendants of the victims and sets a clear path for providing remedy. including through a formal apology, restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation. CARICOM believes that it is well overdue for the international community to confront and adequately address the issue of reparatory justice for people of African descent. CARICOM reiterates our support for the work of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent whose fifth session earlier this year placed a central focus on expanding human rights under the second International Decade for People of African Descent. We believe that the second International Decade must be more impactful than the first and must truly deliver recognition, justice, and development for people of African descent. Chair, CARICOM remains deeply concerned by the persistently high levels of violence and transnational crime in the region. which are driven by the illicit proliferation of firearms, trafficking in persons, other forms of organized transnational crimes, and emerging threats. CARICOM therefore reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive response, integrating public safety, security development, and fair justice perspectives within the Caribbean, supported by regional mechanisms such as CARICOM IMPACS, and the Caribbean Community Action Plan for Social Development and Crime Prevention. CARICOM further welcomes the technical cooperation provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in advancing regional security priorities, including efforts to address firearms trafficking, maritime and border security, drug trafficking, cybercrime, corruption, and crimes affecting the environment. CARICOM particularly welcomes the launch of the UNODC Enforce project, which supports the implementation of the arms embargo on Haiti and seeks to strengthen regional cooperation and enforcement capacity. Continued, predictable, and demand-driven technical assistance from UNODC remains essential to enabling Caribbean states, including small island developing states, to build resilient, accountable, and human rights-compliant criminal justice systems strengthen cross-border cooperation, and respond effectively to the evolving threats posed by transnational organized crime. CARICOM also recognizes the direct correlation between the prevalence of gun crimes and trafficking in narcotics due to the many shared routes that facilitate the parallel flow of drugs and illegal firearms through our borders. We note in the report of the Secretary General the acknowledgement of the growing complexity of the global drug challenge. Of particular concern for CARICOM is the expansion of cocaine trafficking, other synthetic and new psychoactive drugs whose movement relies heavily on maritime routes. The increasing infiltration of these substances into our societies has resulted in a growing popularity among and consumption by our youth, heightening their health risks and the risk of them choosing a life of crime. while significantly undermining efforts.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM. I invite the distinguished permanent representative of Cuba on behalf of the Group of States to be followed by Ireland. The distinguished permanent representative of Cuba, you have the floor.

Thank you, President. Mr. President, I have the honor of delivering the statement on behalf of Belarus, Burundi, China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, State of Palestine, Russian Federation, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and my own country, Cuba. To save some time, I'll read an abridged version. The official version in English will be available in the UN Journal. allow us to convey our best wishes to you and to other members of the Bureau. We look forward to working together in an active and constructive manner throughout this session. Mr. President, we attach a supreme value to the promotion and protection of all human rights, both individual and collective, without distinction of levels or categories. And we also consider that their protection and promotion must be enhanced on the basis of dialogue and cooperation and in adherence to the principles of impartiality, objectivity, transparency, non-selectivity, non-politization, and non-confrontation, taking into account the respect for sovereignty and non-intervention in internal matters of states as set out in the Charter of the UN and within the framework of equality and mutual respect. All actors of the UN human rights system, including treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council, its special procedures, and the Universal Periodic Review, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant departments of the UN Secretariat, should continue to work on the basis of multilateralism, cooperation, respect, and dialogue. Achieving this goal while preserving the credibility and the integrity of the UN human rights system is only possible through a constructive dialogue and cooperation with States. The UN human rights machinery must be protected from politicization at all times. Mr. President, we live in an extremely challenging and dangerous international context. Threats to international peace and security are on the rise. Attempts are being made to legalize flagrant violations of the UN Charter and policies of domination are promoted, policies which threaten social development, the right to self-determination, and the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The exacerbation of trends that promote unilateralism and divisionism weakens the United Nations and undermines a truly democratic, fair, inclusive, and equitable international order. In this complex context, we reiterate our deepest concern and condemnation at the ongoing acts of violence committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, including its systematic resort to forced displacement and starvation, as well as the deliberate destruction of civilian and critical infrastructures. Israel's ongoing violations of the ceasefire reached in Gaza are unacceptable. We renew our call to end the ongoing occupation, violence, bloodshed, and the prevailing cycle of impunity against Palestinians. A serious multilateral effort within the framework of the United Nations is essential to ensure, among other aspects, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for those in a situation of desperate need as well as the mandate and work of UNRWA in the occupied Palestinian territory. We continue to advocate for a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the question of Palestine, in line with relevant UN resolutions and the two-state solution. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous attacks perpetrated by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran on 28 February 2026, which caused the death of innocent civilians, including women and children. We stress that these reprehensible attacks constitute flagrant violations of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, including international human rights law, and international humanitarian law. They also grossly violate the fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of states. Dialogue, good neighborliness, and relations based on peace, friendship, and cooperation must prevail in the region, Mr. President. The political, economic, social and cultural diversity of today's world constitutes a value that must be preserved and respected on the basis of multilateralism and the continued promotion of a culture of peace, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, nonviolence and the fight against hate speech and disinformation as indispensable tools for strengthening the values enshrined both in the Charter as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this context, we strongly oppose any form of collective punishment against certain nations as a result of the freely expressed will of their peoples. This includes the so-called cancel culture, which negatively affects the realization of their rights in the spheres of education, culture, sport, science, religion and other relevant fields and leads to social exclusion. We reiterate our categorical rejection of double standards in the field of human rights, and we express our grave concern over the continued proliferation of mechanisms and procedures that pretend to conduct impartial assessments of the human rights situations in specific states without the due consent or participation of the concerned states. We condemn the establishment of any mechanism of this kind on the basis of bilateral agreements with states other than states concerned and under the pretext of providing technical assistance to third parties. We reiterate the need to rely on credible and verified sources to take into account member states efforts when it comes to human rights, as well as the impact of external challenges. We also reaffirm our strong condemnation to the application of unilateral coercive measures, especially against several of our countries, which dramatically affect the full enjoyment of human rights for more than one third of humanity, preventing and hindering access, among others, to food, medicines and medical treatment or equipment, financial services, education, technological advances, sources of energy, among other fundamental goods and services. Allow us to be clear. It is not just contradictory, but also immoral that some governments pretend to portray themselves as advocates and alleged defenders of human rights, while at the same time their deliberate and systemic policies, especially the application of unilateral coercive measures, cause mass violations to the human rights of billions of people around the world on a daily basis. This is simply unacceptable. We reiterate our strong condemnation of the illegal economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba. tightened with an energy siege, which continues to have devastating consequences for the Cuban people. Once again, we urge States to refrain from enacting and implementing them and to lift any unilateral coercive economic, financial, or commercial measure that could impede the full achievement of economic and social development, given the negative impact of these measures on the full enjoyment and realization of all human rights and the achievement of the SDGs. Mr. President, we also express our grave concern at the persistent world drug problem, which must be addressed in full respect of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the sovereignty of States. We reaffirmed our firm commitment to the international drug control regime. We underlined that migration is not a crime and that the rights and the dignity of migrants must be respected in line with relevant national and international obligations. We recognize that external factors, such as the systematic application of unilateral coercive measures, are one of the main drivers of migration. We reaffirm that migration, including voluntary return, must be safe, orderly, and conducted in full respect of the dignity of migrants in order to prevent crimes related to trafficking in persons. We also stress that migration policies must be rooted in solidarity, international cooperation, and the full respect for the sovereignty of states and international law. while we strongly reject the persecution and stigmatization of migrants, particularly in Western countries. Mr. President, we condemn and reject systemic racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and any related form of intolerance, and we reaffirm that human rights belong to everyone without distinction of any kind, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, we categorically reject the resurgence of tendencies that promote the idea of superiority among human beings. This includes fascism, Nazism, neo-Nazism, and any form of racial exceptionalism. We reaffirm that the right to development is an inalienable human right. It belongs to every human being and all peoples, and it must be fully realized without discrimination of any kind. We call for the timely finalization of an International Covenant on the Right to Development as a legally binding instrument on the basis of the proposal made by the Human Rights Council. The adoption of this covenant would be a historic step to rectify the global asymmetry, reaffirming the right of developing countries to pursue their own development paths free from coercion, and ensuring that international cooperation is based on equity, solidarity, and shared responsibility. We insist that there shall be no other option but dialogue, cooperation, engagement, and national ownership in each process that is truly aimed at strengthening human rights at both the national and international levels, while we also reaffirm our firm our staunch determination to continue working in an active and constructive manner towards the enhancement of the efficacy and credibility of the UN human rights system, as well as to preserve, promote, and defend the prevalence and validity of the Charter of the United Nations, both in its letter and spirit. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Cuba. and I will pass the floor in a moment to Ireland, followed by Germany. Distinguished Permanent Representative of Ireland, you have the floor.

I wish to you and your colleagues for the time ahead. Chair, I have the honour to deliver the cross-regional joint statement on reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations on behalf of the following member states: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Spain, Sweden, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, as well as our colleagues from Uruguay, the European Union, and my own country, Ireland. The participation of civil society actors and human rights defenders is integral to advancing the work of the United Nations and our collective commitments to uphold human rights, accelerate implementation of the SDGs, and build more peaceful, equal, and just societies. Their safe and meaningful participation brings expertise, transparency, accountability, and lived experiences to the heart of global policymaking and ensures that our efforts are responsive, effective, and grounded in the realities that individuals face. This increases UN credibility and effectiveness by contributing to more informed and inclusive decision-making. It also empowers communities, enhances good governance, leads to greater impact on the ground, and amplifies the voices of those left further behind. At a time of continued and increasing threat against civic space, we reaffirm our collective commitment to protect, support, and ensure the safe, meaningful, and unhindered engagement of individuals and groups with the United Nations, including its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights. As Member States, we bear the primary responsibility for preventing and addressing reprisals against those who cooperate with the United Nations. We condemn in the strongest possible terms all acts of intimidation or reprisal, whether online or offline, perpetrated by state and non-state actors against those who seek to cooperate or who have cooperated with the United Nations. Chair, we welcome the latest report by the Secretary General on reprisals, as well as his presentation by Assistant Secretary General Claudia Fuentes Julio to the third committee later this month. The report's findings are, again, deeply troubling. They demonstrate that reprisals remain widespread, persistent, and in some contexts, increasingly sophisticated. Civic space is shrinking. Individuals and organizations face criminalization, harassment, threats and attacks, as well as administrative restrictions and hurdles, simply for cooperating or seeking to cooperate with the UN. Repeated and longstanding instances point to broader efforts to control and restrict civic space and deter engagement with the UN. The report also notes the severe effects on family members, on witnesses, and on survivors. The instrumentalisation of legal and regulatory frameworks to counter transnational crime, as well as the continued misuse of counter-terrorism, cybercrime and national security laws to restrict the engagement of civil society organisations and human rights defenders with the UN, as set out in the report, is also of great concern. Such oppressive misuse of legal and regulatory frameworks undermines international human rights obligations and weakens the multilateral system on which we all depend. It is especially alarming that more than half the States referenced in the Secretary-General's report applied, amended or enacted laws that criminalised or further restricted cooperation with the United Nations. We acknowledge with concern that the extent and instances of reprisals reported do not reflect the true breadth and scope of the issue. In many instances, individuals resort to self-censorship, anonymous engagement or even cease engagement with the UN because of a climate of fear and intimidation and concerns for their safety and that of their families and communities. Chair, the report also confirms that transnational repression is on the rise. This appalling reality requires concerted action on the part of Member States. Reports of arbitrary detention, criminal charges, in absentia trials, physical attacks, intimidation, confiscation of property and passports, and movement restrictions demonstrate the increasingly cross-border nature of reprisals and intimidation. We are deeply concerned by the increasing role of digital technology in enabling transnational repression through intimidation, surveillance, harassment, coordinated disinformation campaigns and reprisals. Chair, rising instances of reprisals not take place in a vacuum, nor do they only affect civil society and human rights defenders. Targeting of independent mandate holders, representatives from staff of international organizations, and judges for implementing their mandates aimed at upholding human rights obligations and standards, investigating violations, and promoting accountability is completely unacceptable. Such actions also have a deterrent effect on individuals and groups seeking to cooperate with them. We affirm our unwavering support for those who seek to work towards accountability for violations of international law. We are concerned about the impact of restrictions and denials of access to UN personnel, including in the context of peace operations and against those who cooperate with or brief the Security Council. Such actions weaken the ability of the UN to fulfil its responsibilities and deprive it of critical information required to respond effectively to emerging risks and crises. We are further concerned about the disproportionate impact of reprisals on certain groups. Women human rights defenders often face gender-based forms of intimidation and violence. Indigenous peoples also face particular risks, including in the context of lands, territories and resources, the environment, biodiversity and climate, as do young people, LGBTI persons and those advocating for non-discrimination and equal rights. It is the responsibility of Member States to take concrete action to prevent and address acts of reprisals, including acts of transnational repression. We call on all States to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law. All Member States must refrain from unlawfully or arbitrarily surveilling, harassing or targeting individuals or groups for cooperating with the UN, including through the use of digital technologies. Where reports of reprisals, including transnational repression, arise, States should conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations, ensure accountability for those responsible and provide adequate safeguarding and protection mechanisms for those at risk. We welcome the good practices identified in the Secretary-General's report and call on Member States to engage actively with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure meaningful and safe engagement of civil society and human rights defenders with the UN, including through the political and financial support necessary for the Office to fulfil its mandate effectively. We call on Member States to promote the meaningful and safe participation of civil society actors and human rights defenders in UN processes, including through support for access and appropriate modalities, and to push back against any efforts to further diminish their participation. We welcome the Secretary-General's commitment to placing the prevention of and response to reprisals at the core of the United Nations' work, in line with the organization's zero-tolerance approach and the UN Agenda for Protection. We encourage his successor to maintain and to strengthen this commitment. In line with the zero-tolerance approach, we call for tangible steps to put safeguards and support mechanisms in place for those who are implementing their mandates or are cooperating with the UN, including with the Security Council. We urge the UN to take further measures to further strengthen its institutional response to ensuring that robust systems are in place to identify, document, report and follow up on reports of reprisals, regardless of how long such incidents have been reported, through designated focal points, as well as sustainably resourcing their work. A strong and vibrant civil society is indispensable in our collective efforts to respect, promote and protect human rights and ensure accountability for violations at the domestic, regional and international levels. As civic space continues to shrink, safeguarding meaningful civil society participation with and at the UN is a human rights imperative, an essential element of effective and inclusive multinational action, and a responsibility shared by us all. Those who raise concerns, provide accountability, and expose violations and abuses must be protected, not persecuted. As Member States, we will do all that we can to ensure that those who engage with the United Nations can do so safely, freely, and without fear. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Ireland. I will pass the floor to Germany, followed by Portugal. Distinguished Representative of Germany, you have the floor.

Chair, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of two core human rights treaties, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Sixty years later, their promise remains as vital as it was in 1966. Every person is entitled to the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, every day, everywhere. Human rights are universal. They unite us, transcending the different political, economic, and cultural circumstances under which we live. Germany is a strong supporter of the UN human rights system. This is why Germany is seeking election to the Human Rights Council for 2027 to 2029. The history of our own country has shown what happens when human rights are systematically denied, when the foundations of freedom and peace are destroyed by terror. We are aware of our responsibility to stand up for human rights wherever they are violated or challenged. both at home and around the world. The full realization of human rights is essential to human dignity, peaceful and inclusive societies, and sustainable development. Allow me to highlight four thematic points. First, Germany is deeply alarmed by the sharp surge in the use of the death penalty by only a few remaining states worldwide, including the application of the death penalty in relation to drug-related offenses. There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty contributes to curbing or preventing drug trafficking more than other types of punishment. We remain equally concerned about extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions. Second, we are deeply concerned by threats, intimidation, and reprisals, including acts of transnational repression, aimed at silencing voices beyond national borders. The protection of human rights also depends on those who have the courage to defend them, human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society representatives. They give a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. They expose violations and strengthen accountability and contribute to a more open, resilient, inclusive, and democratic societies. Human rights needs defenders. and they need alliances across regions and political divides. Third, the commitment to human dignity and equality must extend to the digital sphere, including the right to privacy. We are therefore proud to again co-facilitate with our Brazilian colleagues the resolution on the right to privacy in the digital age to ensure a human rights-based approach to rapid technological developments, especially artificial intelligence. Fourth, We remain firmly committed to the principles of equality and non-discrimination. No one should face discrimination, violence or persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The deadly attack in Berlin this July reminds us that violence against LGBTI people is equally an attack on human rights as a whole and the foundations of the rule of law. Chair, Human rights and fundamental freedoms are all the more urgent as they are under increasing pressure around the world. During the more than four years of Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, we have witnessed blatant and systematic violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by Russia in Ukraine, including in the temporarily occupied territories. We are gravely concerned about the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and unlawfully detained civilians, as well as the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia. The link between external aggression and internal repression is evident. We are alarmed by the widespread repression and serious human rights violations directed against its own people inside Russia and transnationally. We are appalled by the brutal suppression of the protests in Iran at the beginning of 2026, including findings of severe human rights violations which amount to crimes against humanity. We condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and the use of the death penalty by Iran to punish individuals exercising their basic human rights. Moreover, we call on Iran to end its systematic repression against women, as well as ethnic and religious minorities. In Afghanistan, the Taliban's systematic oppression of women and girls denies them even their most basic rights and effectively excludes them from public life. Syria deserves our continued support as the country works on its transition from decades of repression and from 14 years of war. We reiterate our support for a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned transition process, for the UN's mechanisms set up to support this transition in the areas of transitional justice, accountability, and the search for the missing, the IIIMP, and the Commission of Inquiry, and for Syria's civil society, whose meaningful participation in the transition is needed for it to succeed. Germany will continue to work towards achieving lasting peace through a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East. This can only be achieved if human rights and dignity of all are respected and protected. We continue to make concrete contributions to the implementation of the 20-point plan and the UN Security Council Resolution 2803. Urgent progress is needed on the ground. At the same time, Germany remains concerned about unprecedented levels of violence in the occupied West Bank. Chair, Germany is fully committed to the UN human rights system. Our Foreign Minister, Vade Foul, has just announced in Geneva that Germany provides an additional voluntary contribution of 6 million euro to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. At a time when human rights and international law are under pressure, our answer must be better and stronger cooperation. Germany stands ready to work with all partners to ensure that the promise of human rights becomes reality for all. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Germany, and I will shortly pass the floor to Portugal, followed by the distinguished permanent representative of Egypt. Representative of Portugal, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Good morning, distinguished delegates. Portugal fully aligns itself with the statement made by Ireland on behalf of the European Union. Mr. Chair, allow me to congratulate you on your appointment, wish you the best of luck, and let me reassure you that you have Portugal's full support in the coming weeks as we move. I think we, from the Portuguese side, we will continue to defend the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature of all human rights, be they civil, cultural, economic, political or social. This is a mantra which we must keep at the fore of our thoughts as we work in this third committee. Human rights are not optional, nor can they be selectively applied. We meet at a time when the universal human rights framework is facing profound challenges across regions, conflict, inequality, discrimination, shrinking civic space, and attacks against fundamental freedoms continue to affect millions of people. At the same time, humanitarian needs are growing, and the multilateral system itself faces increasing financial and political pressures. So, Mr. Chair, Portugal is committed to strengthening the international human rights system and its mechanisms. We remain strong supporters of the Human Rights Council, the independence of the special procedures, the treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms. We must not forget the importance of the Universal Periodic Review. And, Mr. Chair, we encourage and support your efforts to strengthen cooperation between us here in New York and our colleagues in Geneva. The abolition of the death penalty, the universal abolition of the death penalty, is one of our key priorities. Capital punishment is incompatible with human dignity and the fundamental right to life. We will continue to work with partners towards the universal abolition of the capital punishment. And pending that objective, we will strive for the establishment and the strengthening of a moratorium on executions. We are determined to protect the fundamental freedoms that enable societies to remain democratic and inclusive. societies ensuring freedom of expression, of peaceful assembly, of association, of religion or belief, and the freedom to fully participate in public life. The full respect of these freedoms is particularly important in an increasingly complex information environment. Digital technology, including AI, offer tremendous opportunities, but they must remain human-centered. Innovation must serve people, respect human rights, and contribute to reducing inequalities. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls remain high on our priorities. There can be no genuine progress towards sustainable development, peace or human rights while women and girls continue to face discrimination, violence and unequal access to opportunities. We must accelerate the implementation of our commitments and obligations on gender equality, on women's full, equal and meaningful participation in political and public life, and on women's full participation in peace and security processes. We must intensify efforts to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence. And in times of peace and in situations of armed conflict, we must continue to ensure the full realization of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Mr. Chair, the protection of children must also remain central to our human rights approach agenda. They are amongst the most severely affected by conflict, poverty, displacement, climate change, and humanitarian crisis. Their rights must be protected irrespective of where they live or the circumstances in which they find themselves. The importance of education is paramount. especially in emergency and conflict situations. Education is a fundamental right and a powerful instrument for breaking cycles of poverty and exclusion. The rights of persons with disabilities must also not be forgotten. Full inclusion requires more than formal equality. It requires removing systemic barriers and ensuring meaningful participation in all areas of public life. In accordance with the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disability, accessibility, autonomy, participation and adequate support systems must remain central to our efforts. We are, Portugal, deeply committed to combating racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of intolerance. We are equally committed to combating violence, stigma and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including also, let us not forget, religious intolerance. Discrimination has no place in our societies and we must address it both its structural dimensions and its manifestations in everyday life, including online. Mr. Chair, the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights is a long-standing priority for Portugal. It is essential to advancing social development. The two dimensions cannot be separate and they are mutually reinforcing. Young persons must be recognized as persons and agents of change. Their meaningful, inclusive and safe participation in decision-making should be strengthened across the United Nations system. And our societies must also respond to the demographic change by protecting the rights and dignity of older persons, by strengthening solidarity between generations. Intergenerational approaches are essential to building society in which no one is left behind. Portugal fully supports the intergovernmental working group in Geneva mandated to elaborate a legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons. There can be no lasting peace without development, no sustainable development without human rights, and no effective human rights protection without peace. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals remain closely connected to the work in this third committee. Poverty eradication, social inclusion, gender equality, access to education and health, and the protection of vulnerable groups are not merely development objectives. They are fundamental dimensions of human dignity and human rights. Mr. Chairman, the challenges before us demand that we strengthen our resolve to defend the universality of human rights, reinforce multilateral cooperation, and translate international commitments into concrete action. Throughout this GA's Third Committee, Portugal will continue to work constructively with all delegations to achieve these goals. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Portugal. I give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Egypt, to be followed by the representative of the Russian Federation. Distinguished permanent representative of Egypt, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Egypt associates itself with the statements delivered by the Islamic Group and the Group of 77 and China. Allow us to add the following in our national capacity. Our Committee meets at a time of profound international complexity that is marked by escalating geopolitical shifts and tensions, where armed conflicts and humanitarian crises intersect with widening development gaps, mounting debt burdens, a deterioration in global energy and food security. We also witness a time where funding is declining for development and humanitarian action, while racism, hate speech, xenophobia, and Islamophobia are on the rise. The rapid advancement of digital technology, especially artificial intelligence, has generated new risks that require ensuring that such technologies do not become a source of pressure on human rights and fundamental freedoms. or a means of discrimination or of spreading hatred and misinformation or violating privacy. Egypt emphasizes that effectively addressing these challenges requires serious efforts to tackle the root causes and a qualitative shift in international cooperation. Foremost among them is poverty, inequality, foreign occupation, the lack of fairness in the international economic system. The enjoyment of human rights cannot be separated from access to food, to housing, health care, education, and decent work, nor can it be separated from people's right to peace and security and development, and the right to self-determination. The right to development, whose 40th anniversary we commemorated only days ago, remains a concept that is comprehensive and multidimensional. It is a key pillar for the promotion and the protection of all human rights. In this context, Egypt welcomes the efforts made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future, as well as the outcomes of the second world summit for social development and the Doha political declaration. We consider these a renewal of the commitment to the Copenhagen declaration and program of action with its three core pillars. We look forward to transforming these commitments into practical measures that are supported by adequate and sustainable means of implementation and financing that take into account the needs and priorities of developing countries. Mr. Chair, Egypt reaffirms the universality of human rights, their interdependence, and their indivisibility. We stress the need to address all rights, be they civil, political, economic, social, and cultural, including the right to development, on an equal footing and with equal attention. Egypt rejects the politicization of human rights issues or using them as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of states or applying them selectively or as a tool to exert pressure. The best path in this field is through international cooperation, international cooperation through constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and due consideration for national, cultural, and religious idiosyncrasies. Efforts should focus on building broad consensus rather than repeatedly revisiting issues that have continued to generate deep divisions as has been proven. And in this regard, we stress that the universal periodic review mechanism of the Human Rights Council is the appropriate framework for a dialogue that is objective and comprehensive on developments in the human rights situation in all countries equally. Guided by a comprehensive national vision, Egypt continues to implement its constitutional and international human rights commitments. It draws upon the integrated framework established by the National Human Rights Strategy for the period 2021 to 2026. This framework links all rights and freedoms with the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt's Vision 2030. The state of Egypt regularly publishes updates on the progress achieved and is currently about to launch the second edition of the strategy and its accompanying plan of action. Egypt continues to implement the recommendations it accepted during the fourth cycle of the UPR, based on its firm conviction in the national ownership of the human rights agenda through a process that is cumulative and continuous, and that involves the coordinated efforts of state institutions, national councils, and civil society. The recent years have witnessed the adoption of a number of laws and policies related to the criminal justice system, fair trial guarantees, regulating asylum, and civil society work. Moreover, programs on social protection have been adopted and national initiatives launched that aim at improving living standards, expanding access to healthcare and education services, and providing adequate housing. In this regard, Egypt emphasizes the importance of the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society and its pivotal role in upbringing and maintaining social cohesion. The state also continues its efforts to promote the empowerment of women, including in public life and in decision-making positions. We continue to protect the rights of children and in degrade the rights of persons with disabilities, youth, and older persons into national policies and plans. Mr. Chair, people's right to self-determination is one of the fundamental principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Nevertheless, Israel, the occupying power, continues to deprive the Palestinian people of this right and of all the rights systematically. Israel disseminates misinformation and false narratives aimed at undermining their historic inalienable rights. It continues its brutal aggression against the Palestinian people with the objective of killing them, dispersing them, displacing them, and exhausting their right to self-determination. Egypt reiterates its absolute rejection of the numerous Israeli practices aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land and undermining the rights of Palestinian refugees to return and compensation. Egypt condemns the repeated Israeli violations of the ceasefire and its continued expansion of settlement activities and the confiscation of land and the restrictions that are imposed on the delivery of humanitarian assistance and on recovery and reconstruction efforts. and the systemic targeting of humanitarian organizations and United Nations bodies, especially the UNRWA. Not to mention the pressures imposed on the Palestinian Authority and the repeated Israeli incursions into the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and the restrictions on the freedom of worship. Egypt affirms that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its holy sites. Egypt renews its full support for the Hashemite custodianship of Jordan over the holy sites and for preserving the existing historical and legal status quo of Jerusalem. And from this podium, Egypt further stresses that Israel must implement its obligations under international law. And a just and comprehensive peace starts with the end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Egypt calls for broader recognition of the State of Palestine for granting its full membership in the United Nations. Egypt welcomes the measures adopted by certain European countries to prohibit trade in goods produced in settlements and to address settler violence, and we call upon the international community to take similar action. In closing, Mr. Chair, Egypt reiterates its determination to continue promoting and protecting human rights in their comprehensive sense and to support multilateral action that is founded on objectivity and non-selectivity and a respect for state sovereignty. Egypt will continue its constructive engagement in the work of the Committee based on the conviction that human dignity is not... The microphone has been cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation on behalf of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Congratulations to you and to all members of the Bureau on your appointment to these important positions, and I wish you a successful session. I have the honor of making the following statement on behalf of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State, the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. The unwavering compliance with human and civil rights and fundamental freedoms in line with generally accepted principles and norms of international law is one of the fundamental goals of our integration union. This also includes implementing harmonized social policies focused on creating the necessary conditions for a dignified life and the free development of humanity and the fight against crime. In this connection, the Union state attaches particular importance to developing international cooperation on topics that fall within the scope of the third committee. and we are working in detail on the work of this body. At the same time, our States are guided by the principles of universality, indivisibility, interconnectedness and interdependence of all human rights, and we understand that the enjoyment of all human rights is not possible without the full moment of the right to development. Chair, and this year, we are marking the 60th anniversary of the adoption of international treaties and covenants on human rights. These were the first universal and legally binding international treaties in this field. On this occasion, the UN Human Rights Council, during its 61st session, adopted a commemorative resolution submitted by the Russian Federation calling for a broad celebration of this anniversary. At the same time, we are convinced that the international community has no better way of marking the anniversary of the International Bill of Human Rights than rejecting politicization of this field and also rejecting double standards, instead focusing on good faith, meeting of Obligations and cooperation. Unfortunately, experience of intergovernmental cooperation, including at the third committee, has been going in the opposite direction. Human rights issues are used to exert pressure on governments who are charting their own sovereign political course. Any flaw becomes grounds for any, not for dialogue and seeking solutions, taking into account the social, cultural and economic realities of the states, but rather for rabid criticism. every year country specific resolutions are cast before the committee without prior consultation and this is clear proof of this moreover often accusatory narratives and completely unjustified without which are completely unjustified skew reality for the benefit of political expediency the union state decisively rejects this approach and calls on western countries who take it upon themselves to judge others pay close attention to what is happening on their own territories to help them Also, the foreign ministries of Belarus and the Russian Federation annually prepare a far-reaching study on the human rights situations in some countries, countries who often position themselves as models of democracy. The most recent report of this type was distributed as a General Assembly and Security Council document A/80/793 and S/2026/543. We invite you to read it in the run-up to the session. The information contained in it allowed us to better understand the position of Western countries on the thematic aspects covered by this Committee, including such pressing issues as regulation of migration, indigenous peoples' issues and the question of systemic racism. Chair, the Union States' commitment to eradicating any forms of discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances is common knowledge. At the UN, we continue to work on increasing, raising awareness on the worrying trends of the return of ideology of racial supremacy, including the glorification of Nazism and neo-Nazism. In the annual thematic resolution that the Russian Federation submits alongside the Republic of Belarus, With broad co-sponsorship, we propose concrete steps focused on addressing the situation. We are convinced that constructive participation in finding effective solutions to this problem and support of this thematic resolution is the moral duty of all states, particularly the members of the anti-Hitler coalition, the former USSR, USA, China, the UK and France. Chair. The protection promotion of human rights and freedoms is facing today unprecedented challenges. The reason for this, the majority of developed countries are not ready to consider types of multilateralism that would, for example, include the dignity of the people of the global South. As a consequence, the collective West refuse to take into account human rights considerations when carrying out their own foreign policy. An obvious example of this is the use of unilateral coercive measures, an instrument which in its very essence contradicts the spirit and letter of international law. At the same time, UCMs have an direct impact on the enjoyment of many human rights, including the right to food, when we're talking about restrictions on agriculture, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, when we're talking about the refusal to provide vaccines or medical equipment. And in other cases, we're really talking about a threat to the right to life. For example, when UCMs are applied in civil aviation sphere. The UN of States supports the mandate of the special rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the negative impacts of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. We welcome the appointment of Ms. Zeina Jalad to this post, and we express the hope that she will preserve and build on the work done by her predecessor, Ms. Elena Dovgan. Chair, our countries pay such high attention, attach such great importance to the question of the ubiquitous normalization of socio-economic opportunities for our people for good reason poverty a lack of opportunities for work and access to education create a breeding ground for for crime thus female unemployment feminization of poverty poor quality of life for families with children because of ongoing demand for cheap and disenfranchised workforce are some of the root causes of the ugly phenomena trafficking persons this trafficking in turn is a source of financing for other types of illegal activity by transnational organized criminal groups. In this context, we need comprehensive work, including strengthening socio-economic success of the population, preventing trafficking in persons and providing support to its victims, and ensuring irreversible punishment for it. These are the principles behind the work of the Group of Friends United Against Human Trafficking, which was created on Belarus' initiative. We welcome also the efforts of the UNODC in this sphere. We are also in favour of building and increasing international cooperation to fight crime in other areas, with the central coordinating role of the UN on a depoliticised basis. We reaffirm our commitment to the well-functioning international narcotics control regime, based on the three counternarcotics conventions of the UN, which are attached. importance to the UN Convention on Cybercrime and we call on States to join and accede to this important treaty. We continue to advocate for the inviolability of the guiding principles of review mechanism of the UN Convention against corruption and we are convinced of the importance of improving international legal regimes in place for the return of assets. Chair, The Union State is generally concerned by the increasing attempts of some states to pit family-related questions against gender equality. Belarus and Russia are equally committed to the goals of supporting the rights and opportunities for women and strengthening the institution of the family. In this connection, we categorically reject characterizing the family as some patriarchal structure which seeks to oppress women. In a world riven by disagreement, where humanity with each passing year has to address even more challenges, it is the family that is an island of stability and security. The family lays the foundation for social cohesion. The family fosters a culture of dialogue between generations. At the end of the day, it is the family where a child gradually learns the principle of leaving no one behind. Belarus and the Russian Federation intend to continue to work, including as part of the group of friends of the family led by Belarus, Egypt and Qatar. We need we continue to work on for society's nucleus to have protection from those societies and states as set forth in the documents of the international bill on human rights. We also advocate for the inclusion of the family, a family mainstreaming in all spheres of work of the UN, particularly on social development and having specific action orientated obligations in this field. Chair, in conclusion, I'd like to say a few about the methods of work of our committee in an era of reform when UN 80 and the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is going full steam ahead we must remember that the key a key instrument for this is the resolution of the African group 79 192 we call on secretary at the Bureau and all members of our body to organize their further work around its provisions thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative from the Russian Federation on behalf of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Austria.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Allow me to congratulate you on your appointment and wish you every success in steering this important committee. Austria aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and the joint statement delivered on behalf of a cross-regional group of countries on reprisals. Madam Chair, as our Secretary General stated earlier this year, when human rights fail and fall, everything else tumbles. Peace, development, social cohesion, trust, and solidarity. Human rights are under severe pressure today. our world faces transformational change and a surge in armed conflict. Polarization is deepening, civic space is shrinking, and far too often, international law and respect for human rights are treated as optional. Our response cannot be selective. Let me therefore highlight three points. First, Austria remains firmly committed to a rules-based international system, with human rights at the centre. As incoming member to the Security Council, we pledge to make human rights a priority across thematic and regional files, with a strong focus on the protection of civilians, women, peace and security, and children and armed conflict. We continue to attach great importance to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the GA 60 years ago. These foundational treaties, as others have pointed out before me, converted the aims and aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into binding law. Austria also renews its steadfast commitment to the Human Rights Council, as we celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, its special procedures, the universal periodic review, and, not least, the work of this very Committee. I would like to mention in this context that we also welcome the High Commissioner's initiative launching the new Global Alliance for Human Rights, mobilizing actors from all sectors, regions, and generations. Second, we must address the human rights implications of unprecedented technological advancements. Automated drone systems have profound consequences for civilians. AI-driven capabilities are exploited to recruit children for their use in cyber operations. Online platforms are misused to spread hatred and technology-facilitated gender-based violence. As others have pointed out, this cannot be let go. Digital surveillance can endanger fundamental freedoms and pose threats to independent media. To harness the opportunities of modern technology, but also regulate and prevent its misuse, we must adopt a human rights-based approach to the development of IA and digital governance. In continuing a long-standing tradition, Austria will facilitate this year the resolution entitled Human Rights in the Administration of Justice, and its focus this year will be on the use of application of new technology in the legal system. And dear colleagues, distinguished delegates, we count on your support and cooperation for this text, including co-sponsorship. Third, as we shape the future of the United Nations through the UNAT, we must be crystal clear. Human rights are not an ornament of peace. They are its bedrock and the very core of the United Nations organizational purpose. The world needs a more effective, coherent and responsive UN, a UN that is inclusive, accountable and guided by human rights, while advancing peace, security and sustainable development. Madam Chair, in our reform efforts, we must also listen to and actively involve young persons, who have the highest stake in a UN that is fit for the future. I therefore yield my remaining time to our Austrian UN Youth Delegate, Katharina Reisenauer. Thank you very much.

Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, it is an honor to address you as Austria's 13th youth delegate to the United Nations. Young persons are often painted as idealists with unrealistic dreams. Yet, in my role as youth delegate, I have exchanged with young persons across Austria, and in many cases, they share concerns over the most basic of necessities, not lofty dreams. The reality is that many young persons struggle to see a bright future for themselves in today's economic conditions. Despite entering the job market with more education and experience than ever before, youth unemployment has reached 15% in the European Union, more than double the average unemployment rate. In hope of one day beating those odds, an ever-increasing number of young persons provide their time, experience, and expertise for free under the guise of unpaid and underpaid internships. Of course, only the most privileged can even afford to work without a salary and pay rent, especially when rent costs routinely outpace inflation in the context of a housing crisis that hits young persons particularly hard. At the same time, we face unprecedented challenges posed to young persons by today's digital environment. This point was a recurring theme of the Austrian Annual Youth Conference. For most young persons, it seems almost impossible to escape highly addictive algorithms, and the companies profiting from them continue to face almost no regulation or accountability for their impact on youth mental health. Unchecked digital evolutions also put young women's and girls' rights at risk through hate speech, AI deepfakes, and algorithms that are drawing millions of young persons into openly misogynistic content. If we wish to build a UN that is fit for the future, we must build a UN that is ready to address and capable of tackling these challenges through concrete steps and accountability. Actions speak louder than speeches and slogans. So let me call on all of you to reserve a seat at the table for young persons as active participants in UN processes. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representatives of Austria, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Thank you very much, Chair, for giving me the floor. At the outset, Rwanda looks forward to working closely with you and your Bureau throughout this session. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by G77 and China on our behalf, and I will focus on national remarks on social development, women, children, and human rights. Chair, Rwanda's approach to social development is centered on ensuring that economic progress translates into tangible improvements in people's lives. The recent report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights following his visit to Rwanda recognized that Rwanda has made progress in reducing poverty. National poverty declined from 39.8% and in 2017, 27.4% in 2024, lifting approximately 1.5 million Rwandans out of poverty. Extreme poverty reduced more than half from 11.3% to 5.4%. Rwanda's progress has also been recorded in health and social protection. Life expectancy has risen from 51 years years of old to 70 years today. Skilled birth attendance has reached 98% and community-based health insurance covers close to 90% of our population, with the poorest households subsidized by our government. Nearly 60,000 community health workers remain the backbone of our primary health backbone ecosystem. Our social protection strategic plan 2024-2029 therefore focuses on protecting vulnerable households, strengthening resilience and investing in nutrition and human capital. Children remain central to these efforts through expanded access to education, nutrition, social protection and national school feeding programs, creating the conditions for them to learn, develop and participate fully in our society. Rwanda has also maintained a strong focus on advancement of women. Women occupy leadership positions across public institutions in judiciary, parliament, finance, and private sector. Great attention is now being placed on preparing the next generation of women leaders. The recently launched African Academy for Women in Political Leadership in Kigali is just one example. Rwanda is also home to the permanent campus of the School of Leadership Afghanistan, where more than 100 Afghan girls are able to continue their education. Chair and colleagues, our approach to human rights cannot be separated from Rwanda's own history. Following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda rebuilt its institution and society. That experience has shaped the way we look at human rights today. This year, as we mark 40 years anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights to Development, Rwanda reaffirms the importance it attaches to the rights to development. Development is a fundamental to the full enjoyment of people's rights. It requires expanded opportunities, reducing inequalities, and ensuring that the benefits of progress are shared across societies. Madam Chair, our own history of displacement has equally shaped our approach to refugees and asylum seekers. Generations of Rwandans experienced displacement and sought refuge outside the borders of Rwanda. Today, Rwanda hosts more than 120,000 refugees and asylum seekers and continue to provide protection to vulnerable people, including through emergency transit mechanisms established by the African Union and UNHCR. As of September this year, Rwanda received 3,274 evacuees through this mechanism, and 2,685 have been resettled in 30 countries. Rwanda remains committed to constructive engagement with international human rights Earlier this year, we underwent our fourth universal periodic review, receiving 286 recommendations and supporting 249, 87% of that. We attach particular importance to UPR because of its universal nature, state-driven and cooperative character. Every Member State is reviewed on an equal basis with an opportunity to present its progress and challenges and engage constructively with other States. It is in this spirit, Madam Chair and colleagues, that Rwanda remains concerned by selective approach to human rights and attempts by some states to assume a privileged role in judging the human rights performance of others. Human rights are universal. Their scrutiny should therefore be universal, objective, and grounded in dialogue. Politicization and selectivity weaken trust in the multilateral human rights system. We equally recall that while democracies share common principles, there is no single model of democracy, nor does democracy belong to any country or region. Countries have different histories and social contexts, and their institutions will naturally reflect those realities. What we should remain as common is respect for human rights and dignity, the rule of law, accountable governance, equality, peace and sustainable development. Madam Chair and colleagues, as we begin a new session of this committee, Rwanda looks forward to engaging constructively across all agendas and working through with all delegations in the spirit of dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect. towards a successful decision. And thank you, Madam Chair and colleagues, for listening. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Rwanda. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Italy.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to add some remarks in its national capacity. It's our firm conviction that human rights constitute the very foundation upon which just, peaceful, and inclusive societies are built. This conviction is also enshrined in the fundamental principles of the Italian legal system, on the basis of which Italy consider human rights essential to foster international peace and security and to strengthen the rule of law. In this regard, our election in October 2025 as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the universal protection of human rights. Madam Chair, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight key issues that guide our commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. First of all, Italy remains firmly committed to the universal abolition of the death penalty. We believe that capital punishment, as a cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, is incompatible with the right to life and human dignity. It does not contribute to greater security or to the prevention of crime, while its irreversible nature leaves no possibility of remedy once a judicial error has occurred. Italy has long been at the forefront of international efforts towards abolition. In 2024, also thanks to Italy's commitment as co-facilitator, The resolution 71/179 for a universal moratorium of the death penalty received for the first time the support of more than two-thirds of the members of the United Nations, with 130 votes in favor. With regard to the violence against women, Italy's position remains unequivocal. Harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and early child and forced marriage, together with every other manifestation of gender-based violence, constitute grave violations of human rights and a major obstacle to achieving gender equality. We call upon all States to guarantee survivors effective access to justice and to address the root causes of such violence in order to prevent its recurrence. At the national level, we are proud to announce that Italy has introduced femicide as a distinct criminal offence, punishable by life imprisonment alongside strengthened victim support mechanisms and measures to promote women's economic independence, which are essential factors in enabling women to break free from cycles of violence and abuse. Italy's commitment extends beyond the prevention of violence to the removal of structural obstacles that continue to hinder women's participation in decision-making and professional advancement. Italy currently co-chairs, together with the Philippines, the network of focal points on women, peace and security, whose eighth capital-level meeting was convened in Rome this past June. This reflects our continued commitment to advancing gender equality and to ensuring that women can fully and meaningfully contribute to the decision-making processes. This commitment is all the more important in the context of today's unprecedented humanitarian crisis, which continue to have a disproportionate impact on women and girls. Italy's longstanding efforts to promote women's empowerment and gender equality are rooted in the recognition that meaningful and effective inclusion of women in all areas of public life is essential to fostering lasting change, strengthening peaceful coexistence, and building more inclusive societies. Italy firmly believes in the key contribution of youth to multilateralism and international cooperation, and it's committed to ensuring that youth participation is not only a matter of principle, but is supported by concrete institutional structures and measurable action. Since 2017, Italy has implemented a United Nations Youth Delegate Program, providing young people with a direct channel to participate in international policymaking. Since 2018, this commitment has also been reflected in the establishment of a National Youth Council, a formal advisory body bringing together youth organizations from across the country. Building on these efforts, Italy became the second country in Europe to adopt a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security. The plan for the period of 26-29 includes concrete measures such as a dedicated funding line to support youth participation in international peace and security processes, an increase in the number of Italian UN youth delegates, as well as the establishment of a permanent youth forum and foreign policy. Its implementation is overseen by a national steering committee and on the WPS agenda, with periodic reporting and evaluation against the five pillars of the WPS agenda. This monitoring framework helps ensure accountability and assess progress towards concrete outcome, ensuring that commitments to youth participation are translated into sustained institutional action and measurable results. The protection of children in armed conflict remains a matter of grave concern to Italy, despite the three decades of normative progress within the United Nations. Recent reports point to an alarming increase in grave violations against children, including attacks on schools and hospitals, recruitment, sexual violence, and denial of humanitarian access, compounded by the growing use of autonomous aerial systems and artificial intelligence in battlefield targeting. Children must never be regarded as an acceptable cost of armed conflict. Italy therefore reiterates its call for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2601 and for the broadest endorsement of the Safe School Declaration. Similarly, violence against children in all its form must be eradicated wherever it occurs. Italy is firmly committed to ensuring that the rights of children, especially those in situation of vulnerability, are protected everywhere and that every child can grow up free from abuse, trafficking, exploitation, or other forms of violence, including in digital environments. Madam Chair, several of these concerns converge in the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Women represent barely one in five artificial intelligence professionals worldwide and hold fewer than one in seven senior leadership positions in the sector. At the same time, the growing use of artificial intelligence can amplify online abuse targeting women and girls while reinforcing gender stereotypes and existing patterns of structural discrimination. Children are also exposed to these emerging risks, including persuasive disinformation, misleading deep fake content, and the potential misuse of generative AI systems. Italy calls for strengthened international cooperation to ensure that the governance of artificial intelligence remains firmly grounded in human rights and effectively addresses the specific risks faced by women, girls, and children. The fight against all forms of discrimination remains central to our human rights agenda. We believe that any form of discrimination is fundamentally incompatible with the universality and indivisibility of human rights. Italy has given concrete expression to this principle through its third national action plan for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, grounded on the importance of ensuring persons with disabilities greater autonomy in decisions concerning their lives. In addition, Italy has undertaken a broader reform, establishing a national guarantor authority for the right of person with disabilities and introducing the life project, conceived to overcome the fragmentation between healthcare and social services. The same principle informs Italy's approach to the aging population, whose needs call for coordinated policy and sustained investment in lifelong learning, so that all the works are not left behind by the green and digital transition. Lastly, we wish to underscore the importance of culture and dialogue in fostering mutual understanding, respect, tolerance, and in promoting human rights. Cultural diversity should be valued as a source of enrichment for all humanity, while fully preserving the universality and indivisibility of human rights. At the same time, cultural heritage must be safeguarded, particularly in situations of armed conflict, where cultural sites and traditions are too often deliberately targeted. In this regard, Italy has taken a concrete step by co-chairing, since September 2026, together with Mexico, the Group of Friends for Culture, working to give culture a more central place on the United Nations agenda, including through the responsible use of artificial intelligence to document and safeguard cultural heritage. Madam Chair, Italy stands ready to work with all Member States in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation to address these pressing challenges and to ensure that human dignity and rights are upheld for all. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Chair, colleagues, I would like to congratulate Ambassador Larsen on his assumption of the chairmanship of the Third Committee. I'm confident that under his leadership, this session will be a great success. Respecting, protecting, and realizing human rights is a shared aspiration of all countries, and peoples. Looking back, we have witnessed both progress in the international human rights endeavor and the persistence of injustice, intolerance, and instability. We've also seen the continued evolution of the international human rights system alongside the serious strain it faces from unilateralism and power politics. The international landscape is undergoing the most complex and profound changes since the Second World War. The international human rights endeavor faces unprecedented risks and challenges. In particular, imbalances between the two categories of human rights have deepened. The politicization of human rights has intensified. Double standards are increasingly prevalent. These trends not only erode the fundamental values of human rights, but also seriously undermine the authority and effectiveness of multilateral human rights mechanisms. widening the governance deficit and hindering effective response to real-world challenges. What kind of human rights governance system does the world need? How can countries participate in and advance global human rights governance? We must build consensus and make choices that stand the test of practice, the people, and history. A year ago, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Governance Initiative, charting a course for addressing current global challenges and providing China's answer to reforming and improving global human rights governance. On numerous occasions in multilateral human rights fora, China has called for upholding the vision of a community with a shared future, uniting under the banner of the UN and working together to steer global human rights governance back on course. First, we must uphold fairness and justice and stay firmly on the right political course. All countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equal and have the right to independently choose their own path of human rights development and to participate, make decisions and benefit on an equal footing in international human rights affairs. We must uphold the fundamental principles of international law, including sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs, as well as the basic norms governing international address human rights issues in a fair, objective, and a non-selective manner, reject double standards and the imposition of one's will on others, oppose politicization, instrumentalization, and the weaponization of human rights, and strengthen the international community's confidence and resolve to uphold the multilateral human rights system. Second, we must put people first and uphold the right values. People are at the heart of human rights. Effectively addressing the most pressing and practical concerns of people's lives and development and enabling people in all countries to lead better lives is the starting point and ultimate goal of the international human rights endeavor. In the face of global turmoil, we must resolve international disputes and hotspot issues through peaceful means, oppose violent conflict, and protect human rights through security. With development in mind, we must narrow the North-South divide, jointly promote inclusive development, and advance human rights through development. In a new multipolar landscape, we must eliminate barriers and prejudices, deepen dialogue among civilizations and people-to-people exchanges, and advance human rights through cooperation. Third, we must practice multilateralism and focus on action. Without a stable international order, there can be no effective human rights protection. Without genuine multilateral cooperation, human rights governance will remain empty rhetoric. We must support reform to strengthen multilateral human rights institutions and enhance the representation and the voice of countries in the Global South. We must ensure balanced progress on the three pillars, focus on key issues. develop a common agenda, and actively address new challenges related to emerging technologies, climate change, and public health security. Turn commitment to multilateralism into action and build a more just and equitable global human rights governance system. Chair, colleagues, Today marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the UN. History bears witness to China's practice of respecting and protecting human rights, and its vision and steadfast efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity. We uphold the belief that a happy life is the greatest human right, and we continue to develop and improve whole-process people's democracy, ensuring that the benefits of Chinese modernization are shared more extensively and equitably by all. We promote the common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups through the rule of law, and protect the rights of women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities to equal participation and development. We advance green and low carbon development and promote people's all-round development through digital and intelligent technologies. We advocate shared values for all humanity, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, deepen international human rights cooperation, and inject strong impetus into to building a better world together. China has consistently demonstrated through concrete actions as a responsible major country that progress in the cause of human rights must be supported by development, safeguarded by good governance, and advanced through cooperation. China calls for strengthening the development pillar, better supporting the UN's social development agenda, increasing investment in economic, social, and cultural rights, and the right to development, and stepping up support for countries in the global south. We will take the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative as a new starting point to strengthen international cooperation in development and promote stronger, greener, and healthier development worldwide. China calls for accelerating a new process toward gender equality and women's comprehensive development, fully leveraging women's leading role and the transformative power, and building a broader platform for cooperation among women from all countries. We stand ready to work with all parties to fully implement the outcomes of the Global Women's Summit held in Beijing last October and to further advance the global cause of women's development. China calls for eliminating all forms of racism and racial discrimination. promoting inclusive coexistence, mutual exchange and learning among different countries, peoples, civilizations and religions, and ensuring that all people enjoy equal dignity and rights. The sovereignty and national dignity of all countries must be protected and respected. We support the just cause of the Palestinian people. in pursuing their legitimate national cause, national rights, and a call on the international community to make sustained efforts to advance historical justice and reparations for Africans, people of African descent, and indigenous peoples. China calls on all parties to uphold a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, strengthen Solidarity and collaboration oppose unilateralism, promote international cooperation and global governance in AI, public health, refugees and migrants, and combating drugs and crime. We attach importance to protecting the rights and interests of specific groups, including women, children, youth, and the persons with disability and older persons, so as to better promote human well-being. Chair, colleagues, good principles keep abreast of the times. The trend toward a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations is unstoppable, and our times call for a fairer and more equitable global governance system. China has always been a force for stability in a turbulent world, a steadfast force for shared development, and a force for progress in an era of transformation. China will continue to champion multilateralism, promote the spirit of unity and cooperation, and further contribute to global progress through its own governance. We will work to ensure the fruits of reforming the global governance system and building a community with a shared future for humanity bring greater benefits to people around the world. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sweden.

Thank you, Chair. As we gather here today, we are preparing for weeks of negotiations, discussions, and debates. Weeks where we will disagree and compromise, but where we will also come together. In honor of the promise we made here in New York, as stated in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, almost 80 years ago. The promise that human rights should be effectively recognized and observed by all member states. I would like to take this opportunity to remind us not only of what human rights are and the many ways that they can be violated, but also on what they can build. Respect for human rights creates prosperity, foster trust, and lay the foundation for security. Because when human rights are not respected or protected, societies are not safe and not just, and the risk of conflict and aggression rise. Around the world, we witness the blatant disregard of human rights. In Ukraine, Russia continues its brutal and illegal war of aggression and deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The mounting evidence of Russia's violations of international law is appalling. At the same time, the authoritarian Russian regime effectively suppresses the right of freedom of expression and opinion within their own borders, as demonstrated by the so-called Duma elections, marked by severe restrictions on opposition voices and independent participation. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settler violence against Palestinians is escalating as Israel continues its settlement policy in clear violation of international law. At the same time, humanitarian aid and NGOs and independent media's access to Gaza is effectively restricted or denied. while the continued refusal of Hamas to disarm and leave power constitutes a significant obstacle to peace. In Iran, peaceful protests have been followed by violent repression and a dramatic and deeply concerning increase in the use of the death penalty. And from Sudan, we hear horrifying reports of sexual and gender-based violence being used as a method of war during a humanitarian crisis. I could go on, but the pattern is clear. Human rights violations are followed by increasing insecurities around the world. And where human rights are not respected, the prospects of peace is bleak. It also goes hand in hand with a growing pressure on democracies around the world, limiting people's ability to participate, organize, and speak freely, and hold those in power to account. Human rights and democracy are mutually reinforcing. Democracy provides the foundation through which human rights can be protected and advanced, why it remains one of our strongest safeguards against conflict, instability and insecurity. At the same time, respect for human rights is essential for democracy to function, ensuring the freedoms and safeguards on which democratic societies depend. This is why I say Human rights are not only values, they are legal commitments, but even more so, they are fundamental building blocks of a more secure and prosperous world, a world which we all have an interest to create. In the coming weeks, it is our duty to fulfill at least part of this task, an overwhelming task it may seem, but possible if we come together. I say this with hope because I dare to believe. I believe that we, the majority of states represented today, remain committed to the cause. And I believe that we can ultimately agree that we are willing to put in the work to come together in the interest of a more secure and prosperous world, where human dignity is not only a value or a moral imperative, but a guarantee. Madam Chair. Of course, the close interconnection between human rights, security, and prosperity is no news to an organization such as the UN, built around furthering those very objectives. Still, it seems that now, more than ever, you need a reminder of what that still means. The UN was founded on three pillars that can and will not be separated, three pillars guiding our work, closely intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Because only when human rights are respected can peace, security and sustainable development be achieved. Yet one of these pillars remains severely underfinanced, and we have seen the negative effects of a liquidity crisis. And at this moment in time, when violent crises arise and the need for protection from gross human rights violations and abuses continue to grow, The UN human rights pillar urgently needs to be strengthened, not weakened. Adequate, predictable and sustainable funding is a prerequisite for its functioning, because it is in fact an investment in our security. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the treaty bodies and the special procedures, including the mandates of the fact-finding missions and independent experts, together they develop norms and standards, they investigate and they collect evidence on human rights violations and abuses, and review States' compliance with the human rights treaties that we have agreed on. They translate our shared human rights commitments into action and ensure accountability. and they must be given the resources and the independence they need to fulfill their mandates, free from political interference. Because the impact of the human rights pillar goes far beyond the meeting rooms here in New York or in Geneva. It helps train judges and police officers, supports legal reforms, protects human rights defenders at risk, contribute to the release of arbitrarily detained individuals, strengthens national institutions and documents violation to to ensure future accountability. In this way, it delivers tangible results on the ground and improves the lives of so many people, far beyond the words that we agree or disagree on, on paper. Ensuring accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims of widespread human rights violations and abuses is an important part of this pillar. We recognise in this regard the vital role of the International Criminal Court. Of course, we as Member States must also take our shared responsibility for the functioning of the pillar to protect this crucial work. We encourage all Member States to pay assessed contributions in full on time and without conditions, and to contribute to the rationalization and efficiency process here in New York and in Geneva. But we also expect UN leadership, including the next Secretary-General, to fully stand behind the equal value and functioning of all three pillars. We need an effective UN as a cornerstone of multilateralism and human rights. The UN80 reforms should enable a UN that is better funded, less fragmented and stronger on both delivery and norms. Let me also take this opportunity to welcome the High Commissioner's recent initiative, the Global Alliance for Human Rights. We look forward to its contribution to stronger partnerships, broader engagement, and more effective human rights action across regions and generations. Madam Chair, let me close this statement by zooming in on the reality of human rights lived today. Around the world, in this very moment, civil society organizations and human rights defenders working tirelessly to promote human rights are themselves subjected to intimidation, repression and violence. LGBTIQ persons continue to face discrimination, violence and hate. Restrictions on sexual and reproductive health and rights deny people autonomy over their own bodies and future. Children caught in conflict are deprived of education, protection and opportunities. And many, many more are unable to raise their voices. in this very moment and this very week to come. We owe it to them to take these negotiations seriously, to find common ground, to protect the systems and procedures in place, to safeguard the norms and strengthen human rights protection, because by doing so, we ultimately agree to create a safer world for all of us. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sweden. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Panama.

Thank you, Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegations, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me, Chair, to first begin by congratulating you and members of the Bureau for your election to chair over the work of our Third Committee. You can count on Panama's collaboration and commitment, Madam Chair. Discussions in this forum focus on numbers, indicators, resolutions, and other aspects that can be quantified. These are indispensable tools for our work. However, we must recall that behind each number there is a person, there is a mother, hoping that her daughter will be able to grow up without fear. There is a young person seeking opportunities to study and work. There is an older adult that aspires to live out this stage of his or her life with dignity. There is a child that should be learning and playing, not fleeing from violence. And this is why we are here. We are here for them. And this is why our work carries so much value. For our country, social development and human rights cannot be solely understood as abstract commitments. They should be translated into something much more tangible, into the possibility of a person living with dignity and a person being able to build his or her own future. And in 2026, this responsibility acquires particular urgency. we are increasingly closer to 2030. We have shown that the Sustainable Development Goals can deliver results. Nevertheless, progress in the process continues to be slow, insufficient and unequal. This should lead us to simply reflect. We already know a lot about what works. Now, what we need is the will to do this more swiftly and with cooperation and solidarity. In Panama, we consider that investing in people is one of the most important investments that a state can make. And this is why we continue strengthening our policies when it comes to education, health, social protection, and inclusion. We also continue to work in order to close gaps that affect populations that are most vulnerable. This includes our indigenous peoples and people of African descent, people living with disabilities, older adults, migrants, women, youth, boys, and girls. Madam Chair, I would like to specifically touch upon the issue of women and girls. The violence that millions of them continue to experience cannot merely become a number that we react indifferently to. When a woman lives with fear inside her own home, when a girl faces barriers to go to school, when an indigenous woman cannot fully participate in the decisions of her community, we are not just facing an individual problem, but rather a society that has still not fully realized its promise of equality. Panama continues to make progress through its Public Policy on Equal Opportunities for Women 2024-2034, by folding in gender in our policies for climate action and initiatives to strengthen the leadership of indigenous women. And we are firm in our commitment to the Beijing Platform of Action, but we know that policies and instruments really acquire value when a woman can feel results in her daily life. The same thing happens with our boys, girls, and adolescents. Protecting them is a legal and moral obligation, but it is so much more than that. It means deciding what kind of a society do we want to build. No child should grow up thinking that violence is something that is normal. No child should have to leave school because poverty and hunger decided for him or her. No child should become a victim of human trafficking, exploitation, or recruitment in a conflict that they never chose. This is why Panama will continue to champion comprehensive protection for children, and we will support international efforts to prevent grave violations against children. Madam Chair, we should also speak about trust. Corruption, transnational organized crime, and institutional weakness have consequences that are deeply human. When resources for a school, a hospital, or a social program do not reach those who need them, human rights are also affected. This is why Panama reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation in the areas of crime prevention, criminal justice, and the fight against corruption. We specifically value the presence in Panama of the UN Regional Office of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for Central America and the Caribbean. We also value the joint work of the United Nations Program for Development, along with national institutions and other agencies, funds, and programs of the United Nations that, from their offices in Panama, contribute to sustainable development in the region. And in that very same spirit, Panama supports efforts to make the United Nations more efficient and effective. Efficiency, however, cannot be an end in and of itself. Each reform, each resource that we optimize, each duplication that we avoid should, at the end of the day, respond to a single question. Are we really reaching the people that need this organization, Madam Chair? We are living in a moment that is very complicated for multilateralism. Conflicts are multiplying, inequalities persist, and climate change hits the hardest those that have the least. And trust in our institutions is being stress tested. Given this scenario, we could sink into pessimism, but Panama, however, is choosing another path. We choose to believe in cooperation. We choose to believe that differences between states should not prevent us from recognizing what we share, what we have in common. And we choose to recall that human rights do not belong to a single country or region, culture or ideology. They belong to each person. As an elected member of the Security Council for 2025-2026, Panama has endeavored to take that conviction to this body by championing international peace and security and the protection of those that are in the greatest situations of vulnerability. Madam Chair, Agenda 2030 reminds us that no one should be left behind, but in recent years, Perhaps we should ask ourselves an even more challenging question. When we reach the end of this decade and we look back, will we be able to say that we did everything in our power so that the dignity that we champion in this room became a reality in people's lives? Panama. wants to be able to answer yes. And we will work alongside all of you to make it happen. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama. We have heard the last speaker on my list for this meeting. The committee will continue its general debate in the afternoon promptly at 3:00 p.m. The first three speakers are reflected in the live list, which has been circulated on the iGov portal. This meeting is adjourned.