Third Committee, 16th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Colleagues, if you take your seats, I'll start in a couple of seconds. Very good. The 16th meeting of the Third Committee at the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. And I now invite the Committee to continue its consideration of agenda item 70, entitled Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and its sub-items A to D. This morning, we will first hear the introduction of reports in a combined briefing, and we have speakers on the panel already, by the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources. The committee will then hear separate briefings by the chair of the Human Rights Committee, the chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the chair rapporteur of the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas, each to be followed by an interactive dialogue. I would like to welcome, I do have a point of order which I'm going to address in just a moment, so the delegation concerned about that, I'm aware of that and I will address that. I will, however, before I move to that, I'd like to welcome the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Claudia Fuentes Julio, and the Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources, Marta Helena Lopez. And participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button, but we'll do that after we've heard the point of order, and then I'll give you the absolutely standard instructions on timing and such like. But for the moment, I wanted to turn to the delegation from Bahrain, which I believe wishes to raise a point of order. And if you still wish to do so, Bahrain, you have the floor.

Chair, the countries of the GCC, the Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia, and my country, must speak of what occurred yesterday during the interactive dialogue with Iran. Iran used this as a platform to threaten us directly, whereas we are sovereign countries and we reject what has been said and we state that our security, independence and territorial integrity cannot be threatened. This platform should be one of dialogue.

Representative Bahrein, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt you. I just wanted to make it clear that, as Chair, I am open to hearing a point of order. At this stage of the proceedings, it's not open to make a substantive intervention on a point of substance. So, Bahrein, do you have Do you have a point of order that you wish to make?

Yes, this is a point of order, Your Excellency.

Well, in that case, you need to raise a question with me. I've heard you make what is in effect an explanatory statement concerning a position of policy. If you have a point of order, I would ask you to come straight to that point of order, otherwise I will need to move on.

If I can kindly continue my My point of order, Your Excellency.

No, you may not. I am the chair of this committee and you have not raised a point of order. So are you able to raise a point of order in an appropriate form, which is a question, or shall we move on? Bahrain, do you wish to take the floor?

Only if I will continue my statement, Your Excellency, it is a point of order.

Well, my request to you is that you need to move directly to the question and the point of order. I'm not giving you permission to continue with the broad general statement on policy issues.

All right.

I'm willing to continue, please.

Thank you.

We believe that these statements should have been interrupted and stopped by the Chair of this Committee in order to preserve this platform and mutual respect between States and to avoid using this Committee and its work in order to threaten the security, sovereignty and independence of other States. Iran must immediately cease its threats and must respect article 4 of the Charter. This is a point of order.

Oh, sorry, Bahrain. I rule that this is not a point of order. I'm very happy to come back to consideration of a point of order if you wish to raise one, but I've made my position quite clear that this is not an opportunity for an articulation of a policy position. Okay, we will proceed. I do have another state, another delegation which wishes to raise a point of order. Cyprus, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to make a point of order with regards yesterday's statement by Turkey in the way that they

referred to the Republic of Cyprus.

It's deeply regrettable that the Turkish delegation used arbitrary name.

It has unilaterally called to refer to the Republic of Cyprus. I wish to stress the importance of according respect to all Member States in this Hall and addressing them solely by their official name. Cyprus is a Member State of the United Nations.

I'm so sorry, Cyprus, if I may interrupt you. So I hear your point. My query is what is the point of order? What is the procedural point you would wish to raise? You're raising a point of substance. What is the procedural point that you would like me to address?

that the Turkish delegation referred to the Republic of Cyprus with an arbitrary name it has unilaterally coined, and the Republic of Cyprus expects that all Member States refer to the rest of the Member States with their official name as it is in the UN. Thank you.

Thank you, Cyprus. We will include that in the record of this meeting. Thank you very much indeed. Okay, with that, I would like to proceed to the substance of this morning's proceedings. As I mentioned, participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button within the next five minutes, after which the list will be closed and the time limit for each speaker, in the usual way, will be announced before the floor is given to the first speaker. I thank you for your cooperation. I would now like to invite the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights to make an introductory statement. You have the floor.

Thank you very much. Chair, good morning, distinguished delegates. It is an honor to address this committee for the first time as Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, and I look forward to our continued engagement. I am pleased to present 17 reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights under agenda item 70 A to D on the promotion and protection of human rights as mandated by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Under sub-item A, implementation of human rights instruments, I have the honor to introduce the Secretary General's report on reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, A/81/135, as the designated senior official leading system-wide prevention and response. This year's report includes cases from 32 states, the same as last year, regrettable, Verified cases concerning four member states were not included because of serious risk to the victims. The report details deepening concern over four trends: increase in transnational repression across borders, with incidents documented in nearly half of the states; online and offline surveillance, reported in almost half of the states; compared with the one-third last year. The persistent misuse of laws and regulations on counterterrorism, cybercrime, and national security to deter and hinder cooperation with the United Nations, and continued pressure leading people to self-censor, decline engagement, or seek anonymity. The report also underscores the increased targeting of those engaging with United Nations human rights mechanism, which deters cooperation. I call on the General Assembly and all States to protect those who engage or seek to engage with the United Nations. The Secretary-General's report on the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, A/81/264, reviews activities from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. In 2026, 38 grants supported direct services for more than 100,000 victims and survivors in 31 countries. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is grateful for contributions received, but notes there is remaining insufficiency to meet growing demand, and the Fund currently faces a funding gap of nearly $4 million. The note by the Secretariat on the Human Rights Treaty Bodies, A/81/291, contains the report of the 38th meeting of Treaty Body Chairs held in Geneva from 15 to 19 June 2026. The Chairs focused on the United Nations liquidity crisis and its impact on the Treaty Bodies' ability to fulfill their mandates, as well as follow-up to the previous meeting. They consider proposals to reform the treaty body system set out in an OHCHR working paper. They also review treaty body implementation of the Addis Ababa Guidelines on Members' Independence and Impartiality and the San Jose Guidelines against Intimidation or Reprisals. The Secretary-General's report on the status of human rights treaty body system underscores both the indispensable role of treaty bodies in upholding states' human rights obligations and the severe challenges facing the system. Amid ongoing liquidity constraints and chronic underfunding, treaty bodies continue to face delays in reviewing state reports and considering individual communications. In 2025, 40% of the meetings of the meeting time was canceled due to the liquidity situation and has led to reduced deliverables and has limited access and remedies for right holders and victims of human rights violations. The Secretary General's report recommends that member state, inter alia, ensure timely submissions of the reports, ensure sustainable, predictable, and adequate funding and resources for the treaty body system as committed to in the Pact for the Future, ensure support for the implementation of the proposals in the OHCHR working paper, support the development of an integrated and automated digital case management system for individual communications and urgent actions. and expands accessible and secured hybrid participation modalities for states and stakeholders. Turning to submission B, human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The note for the Secretariat on the right to development A/81/129 transmits the High Commissioner's annual report to the Human Rights Council The report reviews activities to advance the right to development and examines key barriers to its realization, particularly unilateral coercive measures, the non-repatriation of illicit funds, and unsustainable debt burdens. Together, these challenges underscore the urgent need for stronger international cooperation, solidarity, and structural reform to build a fairer global economic order. Making the Declaration of the Rights to Development's 40th anniversary, the report called for renewed commitment to cooperation on global justice and encourages consideration of a legally binding instrument to give its principle practical effect. The note by the Secretariat on the one-day intersectional panel discussion on harmful narratives about migrants, hate speech, xenophobia, and related intolerance. A/81/248 transmits to the Assembly the High Commissioner's report to the Council. It links such narratives to discrimination, violence and restrictions on migrants' rights and calls for rights-centered narratives that include migrants' voices, stronger border monitoring, accountability and remedies. The note by the Secretariat on early warning and genocide prevention, A/81/266, transmits to the Assembly the Secretary-General's report to the Council contained in A/HRC/63/84, which calls for a stronger early warning, legal safeguards, accountability, and cooperation to address genocide risk, including hate speech, discrimination, violence, and attacks on cultural heritage. It also includes recommendations on the human rights-based use of data and artificial intelligence. The Secretary-General's report on the role of the Ombudsman, mediator, and other national human rights institutions, A/81/280, finds that these institutions strengthen accountability, the rule of law, and public trust. It recommends safeguarding their independence, funding, and merit-based appointments, protecting them from reprisals, applying the Paris Principles to monitor mandates, and including them in national sustainable development goals reviews. The Secretary General's report on the effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities, A/81/281, review efforts from July 2025 to 30th of June 2026, noting key anti-racism anniversaries and persistent structural discrimination, socioeconomic exclusion, hate speech, and violence against minorities. The Secretary General's report on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incident to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief, A/81/299, covering 1st of July, 2025 to 30th of June, 2026, warns that suppressing freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief fuels fear, exclusion, and violence. It highlights promising measure by states, national human rights institution, civil society, United Nations entities, and human rights mechanism that can be adapted and scaled across context. The Secretary General's report on moratorium to the use of death penalty, A/81/316, reviews developments from mid-December 2024 to June 2026. Executions continue and sometimes increased, with most carried out by a few states. It documents non-compliance with the human rights standards and steps to resume and expand capital punishment. The Secretary-General's report on the question of human rights in the administration of justice, A/81/351, examines the growing use of neurotechnology in justice systems and the human rights risk arising from its convergence with artificial intelligence. It warns of risk to dignity, privacy, freedom of thought, fair trials rights, liberty and protection from ill treatment, especially for marginalized groups. It urged prohibitions on coercive and abusive uses and a strong and safe word, informed consent, scientific validation, oversight, accountability, and protection of neural data. The Secretary-General's report on missing persons, A/81/352, reviews measures taken from July 2024 to June 2026 to prevent disappearances, locate and identify missing persons, promote accountability, and support families. It notes persistently high numbers in conflict settings and growing recognition of families' rights and needs. Turning to item C, human rights situations and reports of special reporters and representatives. The Secretary General's report on the situation of human rights in the temporally occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea and Sevastopol, A81317, covers 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Based on rigorous remote monitoring, it examines the implication of the political, legal, administrative, law enforcement, and judicial systems imposed by the Russian Federation. It documents violation of international human rights and humanitarian law affecting Ukrainian civilian detainees and restrictions on fundamental freedoms. The Secretary-General's report on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, A/81/346, covers 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026. It addresses accountability, disappearances, detention, separated families, digital developments, and economic, social, and cultural rights. The report concludes that the overall situation has not improved and calls for renewed efforts particularly in confidence building measures for engagement as human rights in the DPRK are intrinsically linked to peace and security of the Korean Peninsula. The note by the Secretariat on the situation of the human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, A/81/265, transmits to the General Assembly reports of the High Commissioner to the Council, which document systematic abuses by all parties, particularly against civilians and the Rohingya. The reports contain targeted recommendations to Myanmar military, the National Unity Government, anti-military armed groups, and the states, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian aid, and support peace, democracy, and human rights in Myanmar. Finally, regarding the Secretary-General's report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, A/81/371, I wish to inform you that circumstances beyond our control delay its timely finalization. It was recently circulated as an unedited advanced version. Covering 1st August 2025 to 10th of May 2026, the report updates on the human rights situation with particular focus on the nationwide protests from December 2025 to February 2026 and the use of military force against Iran by Israel and the United States, which reportedly caused thousands of civilian deaths. significant damage to civilian infrastructure, and the targeted killing of senior political and military officials. The report also addresses concerns about domestic repression and the challenges arising from what was, as of the reporting period, the largest internet shutdown recorded globally. Thank you.

Thank you, Assistant Secretary-General. I now pass to the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources. You have the floor.

Thank you. Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, thank you for the opportunity to introduce the report of the Secretary-General on disability inclusion in the United Nations system, A/81/228. At the outset, I wish to reaffirm the United Nations' renewed commitment to advancing the rights and leadership of persons with disabilities. Disability inclusion is not only a human rights perspective imperative, it is essential to the effectiveness and credibility of the United Nations across all its pillars. human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. This year's report marks the conclusion of the first phase of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, launched in 2019 by the Secretary-General. It presents the progress achieved and persistent challenges while identifying priorities for the future. The strategy has driven significant change across the UN system. In 2025, UN system entities met 50% of the strategy's requirements, compared with 60% in 2019. UN country teams met 54% of requirements, up from 24% in 2020. Disability inclusion is increasingly embedded in the way the organization works. Stronger leadership and coordination, enhanced accountability, and greater engagement with organizations of persons with disabilities have contributed to the progress. These results demonstrate the value of integrating disability inclusion as a shared institutional responsibility. At the same time, progress remains uneven in accessibility, inclusive employment, and the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making. We must continue translating commitments into measurable results. Distinguished delegates, we are now entering a new phase of disability inclusion across the UN system. In response to the independent evaluation of the strategy, the transition of responsibility of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy from the Executive Office of the Secretary-General to the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, DMSPC. reflects the organization's commitment to institutionalize the strategy, ensuring its continuity and sustained impact. This transition also reflects the maturity of the strategy and the recognition that disability inclusion is integral to the way the UN manages its people, resources, policies, and operations. DMSBC is committed to providing strong leadership for the implementation of UNDIS 2.0, strengthening accountability and supporting entities to deliver results. UNDIS 2.0 builds on the foundation established since 2019, while reaching half of the strategy's requirements system-wide. is an important milestone, our focus must now shift from building systems to accelerating implementation and delivering greater impact. Achieving that impact will require sustained commitment and sustainable resources. Continued investment in accessibility, inclusive workplaces, capacity building, data and the strategies core coordination, monitoring and support functions will be essential to maintaining momentum and translating policy into practice. In this regard, the continued support of Member States will be critical. The results before you demonstrate the meaningful progress is possible when leadership, accountability, partnership and resources come together. As we embark on the next phase of the strategy, I encourage Member States to continue championing disability inclusion and working with us to build a United Nation that is more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the rights and aspirations of persons with disabilities. Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General. We now open the floor for questions or comments in relation to both of those presentations. I have a long list and the time limit will be 1.5 minutes for each delegation seeking to intervene. And I begin, I'll read out the first list of delegations who appear, but we have a good number. We have Ukraine, Chile, Namibia, Ireland and Morocco. And let me start with the representative of Ukraine. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Our intervention also concerns the presentations by the treaty bodies. Is this too soon or

Ideally not. It is too soon. So can you confine your intervention to the presentations of this morning?

Yeah, but I guess we'll just have to skip it. The only thing we would say is that we thank very much the briefers and reaffirm our strong support for their work. And we particularly thank Assistant Secretary General Fuentes Julio. for her integrity and the monitoring of the situation in our country and dedication to independent human rights monitoring. And that would be all. Thank you.

Thank you. I thank Ukraine. I pass the floor to Chile. You have the floor, followed by Namibia. Chile.

Chile is grateful to the ASG, Claudia Freundlich-Hullio, for her leadership and for introducing the report on emerging threats facing human rights defenders who work with the organization. Chile has joined the joint statement presented by Ireland and Uruguay, reiterating our concern as regards the acts of intimidation and reprisals against those cooperating with UN human rights mechanisms, and we are also committed to their protection. We'd also like to take this opportunity to specifically recognize the work undertaken by her office in New York. In the context of the UNAT process, we believe it is fundamental for any institutional change to contribute to strengthening the human rights pillar of the United Nations, and in no case should this lead to a reduction in the status, attributions or work of the Office. The report that you presented today highlights the importance of a strong human rights presence with an ability to react in a timely way and to coordinate amongst the challenges the organization is facing. I thank you.

Thank you, Chile. I pass the floor to Ireland to be followed by Morocco. Ireland, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. Ireland aligns with the statement of the European Union and thanks the briefers for their presentations and engagement. We welcome the Secretary-General and the Office of the Secretary-General's report. All individuals must be able to communicate freely with the United Nations, its human rights mechanisms and its representatives. They bring expertise, crucially lived experience and enable accountability. Ireland continues to prioritise support for human rights defenders and civil society actors, and we will do so as part of our membership of the Human Rights Council. Civil society must be empowered to participate meaningfully, including through the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We condemn in the strongest terms all acts of intimidation against those who have engaged or seek to engage with the UN and its human rights representatives and mechanisms. We are concerned by the increase in self-censorship and the decrease in cooperation with those mechanisms due to the fear of reprisals and reduced access to protections as identified in your report. It's the responsibility of all member states to tackle this issue and to cooperate with the UN on this issue. So, Assistant Secretary General, could you share some reflections on what role states can usefully play to support the role of civil society and to protect against reprisals and, in particular, transnational repression? Thank you.

Thank you, Ireland. I pass to Morocco, to be followed by the European Union. Morocco, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At the outset, the Kingdom of Morocco warmly congratulates Assistant Secretary-General Fuentes for her appointment and wishes her every success in her new functions. Morocco shares the conviction that prevention begins early, at school and in the community. This is why my country has established human rights clubs in schools. These clubs help detect discriminatory behavior at an early stage and promote peer mediation, turning young people into actors of tolerance, other than mere recipients of awareness campaign. Mr. Chair, we encourage the Office to continue promoting the use of the Rabat Plan of Action on the Prohibition of Advocacy of National, Racial or Religious Hatred, including through the first plan of action for religious leaders and actors, and in this context, of the International Day of Countering Hate Speech initiative led by Morocco. Finally, Madam Assistant Secretary General, no prevention strategy can succeed without youth. Young people are not only the target of hate and extremist narratives, they are above all the first line of resilience. Morocco is investing in their education, employment and participation so that every young person can build a dignified life and sense of belonging. And I thank you.

Thank you, Morocco. I pass to the European Union to be followed by Switzerland. European Union, you have the floor.

Chair, the EU and its Member States welcome you, Mrs. Fuentes Julio, in your new role, and thank you for your presentation. We will focus on three points. First, we acknowledge the report on cooperation with the UN. We are appalled by the reported increase in intimidation, harassment, and reprisals against those who cooperate or seek to cooperate with the UN. We deeply regret the instrumentalization and misuse of the legislation by some states to deter or hinder cooperation with the UN. The disturbing increase of transnational repression enabled by digital surveillance demands stronger and more coordinated action. Second, the SG's report on the human rights treaty body system reminds us that protection depends on functioning institutions. We are deeply concerned by the impact of funding shortfalls and the liquidity crisis. Reform must be accompanied by adequate, predictable and sustainable funding. We call on all Member States to ensure regular and timely reporting, to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time, and on the SG to ensure sufficient funding for the human rights pillar. Third, the SG's reports on the four countries' situations underscore the importance of independent monitoring, cooperation with UN mechanisms and accountability. We urge all delegations to take good note of these reports. As SG Lopez, we welcome the launch of the new phase on the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy. With this new phase, how will the UN system ensure the mainstreaming of human rights?

Thank you, European Union. I pass the floor to Switzerland, to be followed by Kuwait. Switzerland,

you have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, we'd like to extend our sincere congratulations to the ASG for human rights. Congratulations on your appointment. We wish you every success. We also would like to thank her for introducing the reports today. Civil society participation in the work of the United Nations is vital. Preventing and addressing acts of intimidation as well as retaliation related to cooperation with the UN system is a clear priority for Switzerland. We echo the Secretary-General's call to ensure that the procedures for granting and revoking ECOSOC consultative status are fair and transparent. Madam ASG, we have two questions. From your vantage point, what concrete measures can be adopted to prevent unjustified actions in the ECOSOC accreditation process, as well as to guarantee that there is effective remedy available? And more broadly, what are your priorities on this issue for the coming years? What would a human rights-based response by Member States look like? given the global trend towards reprisals, in particular transnational repression. I thank you.

Thank you, Switzerland. I pass to Kuwait and then Nepal. Kuwait, you have the floor.

To address ASG Fontes on a matter that directly concerns the protection of human rights and the standards we must uphold in this committee. What happened in this very room yesterday was unacceptable. The representative of Iran issued an explicit threat against countries in our region, warning that this response would be like anything you have ever seen before. Such words cannot pass without a response, particularly in a committee entrusted with human rights and humanitarian questions. The State of Kuwait categorically rejects these threats and any attempt to justify attacks against its territory. Kuwait has repeatedly and unequivocally stated that no attack against Iran was launched from Kuwaiti territory. And any legal justification for attacking another sovereign state is not acceptable. We therefore ask ASG Julio, how can your office, within its mandate, help ensure that the human rights consequences of these attacks are addressed and that explicit threats for further violence against countries in our region receive a clear and principled response? Silence in the face of such threats undermines the confidence of those who look to the United Nations for protection. The people of our region deserve to live in safety, and they deserve an equivocal defense of their rights. Thank you.

Thank you, Kuwait. I pass to Nepal and then the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nepal, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Nepal thanks the briefers for their insightful presentations. We take note of the valuable analysis and recommendations contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur. Nepal remains firmly committed to equality, inclusion and social justice. As recognized by the Special Rapporteur, Professor Nicolas Levratt, following his country visit to Nepal in December 2025, Nepal's legal framework is exemplary in many respects, including constitutional guarantees of equality, Dalit rights, proportional inclusion, and social justice. Our constitution prohibits discrimination and provides safeguards for diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious, and social communities. Constitutional and legislative measures have strengthened the representation of women, Dalit, indigenous peoples, Modis, Tharus, Muslims, and other marginalized groups in public institutions. Nepal remains committed to narrowing the gap between legal guarantees and implementations as observed by the Special Rapporteur. We note the Secretary General's reports recognition of youth-led civic engagement in Nepal, recommendations to strengthen meaningful youth participation in decision making and maintain an enabling environment for independent youth associations. Nepal remains committed to constructive engagement with UN human rights mechanisms and implementation to recommendations through inclusive policies and institutional strengthening. Thank you.

Thank you, Nepal. I pass the Islamic Republic of Iran to be followed by Vietnam. Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights. The effective enjoyment of these rights, however, continues to be undermined by the politicization, selectivity and double standards that characterize certain human rights mechanisms. Country-specific mandates and reports, including those directed against the Islamic Republic of Iran, remain politically motivated instruments of pressure, filled with unsubstantiated claims drawn from unreliable sources. On a separate note, I must thank the Chair for the elementary lesson in the rules of procedure that Bahrain apparently required. Unfortunately, the lesson does not appear to have taken. Bahrain continues to demonstrate the striking inability to grasp how this Committee or indeed international law actually functions.

Islamic Republic of Iran, I would ask that you not engage in a commentary on the role of Chair in this particular context. Do you have a more substantive point to raise?

I must therefore remind Bahrain and Kuwait in the clearest possible terms that if the territory of any state in our region is used as a platform for attacks against Iran, there will be a response. This is not a threat. It is a statement of established policy. Bahrain and Kuwait and others may choose to treat it lightly if they wish. They will not, however, be able to claim they were not informed when that response proves to be of a nature and a scale unlike anything that they have previously experienced. Thank you.

Thank you, Iran. Vietnam, followed by Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Vietnam, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, we thank Madame A.G. for Human Rights for her presentation. Vietnam values cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms through dialogue and collaboration. In this regard, we remain concerned about unverified allegations concerning Vietnam in the Secretary General's report on reprisal for cooperation with the UN. Despite repeated information and clarifications from our government, some allegations remain without due consideration of its responses. We also object the continued use of the term Montagnards in this report and other official UN documents. During the colonial era, this term was used in a racially discriminatory manner to refer to ethnic minority communities in central highlands in Vietnam. We also reject attempts to portray individuals prosecuted for violations of Vietnamese law as victims of reprisal for cooperating with the UN. the prosecution is unrelated to such cooperation and follows applicable laws and due process. We therefore urge greater objectivity, accuracy and impartiality in future reporting, with due consideration given to information provided by the state concerned. I thank you.

Thank you. Vietnam. I would remind all colleagues that the purpose of this particular segment is to make comments on the presentations received and to ask questions, and I would ask that you confine yourself to that, if you would, please. Let me pass to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to be followed by Cuba. DPRK, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The DPRK delegation rejects the report of the UNSG on the DPRK as it relies on unverified sources and fails to reflect the factual realities on the ground. Moreover, we remain concerned of the misuse of these documents by certain countries as an instrument for political pressure on other sovereign states and interference in their internal affairs. For the DPRK, the human rights is national sovereignty that can never be compromised in any case. The DPIK will not tolerate any attempts to impair its dignity and system and encroach upon its people's interests. We deeply regret the ongoing practice of introducing country-specific reports and mandates that runs counter to the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and non-selectivity. My delegation wants to reiterate constructive dialogue and mutual respect remain the only effective means to advance human rights globally.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, DPRK. I pass to Cuba and then Norway. Cuba, you have the floor.

Chair, we are grateful to Ms. Claudia Lopez and Marta Elena Lopez for their presentations. As this is the first time that Madam Fuentes is participating in an interactive dialogue with the third committee, allow me to congratulate you on your appointment, Madam, and reiterate our desire to cooperate with your office. We've taken note of the reports introduced today, and we were listening carefully to your presentation, especially the report of the High Commissioner 63/73 that states that restrictions on oil products and derivatives not only impact the operation of the central infrastructure in general, but also create fuel shortages, interruptions in electricity supply and transport that undermines humanitarian support and the enjoyment of human rights. this on a daily basis impacts the Cuban people. It would be interesting to know what other States may be facing this lack of fuel, paying attention to human rights as Cuba has done. We would be grateful if you would draw attention to this, and we invite you to continue following up on this issue of the utmost priority. I thank you.

Thank you, Cuba. I pass to Norway, then the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Norway, you have the floor.

Mr Chair, Norway is deeply concerned that intimidation and reprisals remain widespread. The Secretary General's report covers 31 member states and one non-member observer state across all regions. Yet the true scale is greater. Serious protection risks leave cases anonymized and unreported, and reports reflect fear and self-censorship rather than progress. Madam Assistant Secretary-General, how can States and the United Nations better detect and address reprisals when fear and self-censorship prevent defenders from reporting them? Shrinking civic space, restrictive laws, criminalization of human rights defenders, attacks and funding cuts continue to obstruct safe engagement with the UN. More than half of the States covered in the report used or introduced laws restricting civil society and their cooperation with the UN. Women defenders, youth, peacebuilders, and indigenous peoples face heightened risks, as do lawyers, environmental defenders, and journalists. Norway is particularly alarmed by the rise in transnational repression. Norway urges all states to recognize the legitimate role of the human rights defenders, to guarantee safe and unhindered access to the UN, to investigate reprisals, and hold perpetrators accountable. Protection and prevention must include digital security, psychosocial support and sustainable funding. I thank you.

Thank you, Norway. I pass to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to be followed by Saudi Arabia and then Bahrain. Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Chair, I deliver this statement on behalf of the Benelux. As we already underlined in our recent joint statement in Geneva, we welcome the ASG's report and condemn all acts of reprisals against human rights defenders, especially for engaging with the UN. We would like to highlight four cases. First, human rights defender Chow Hang Tung from Hong Kong, arbitrarily detained and recently sentenced alongside other Hong Kong Alliance members for peacefully advocating democratic rights. We call for immediate release. Human rights defender Roberto Perez Fonseca from Cuba, facing reprisal after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found his detention arbitrary. We call for his immediate release. Journalist Pham Doan Trang from Vietnam, arbitrarily detained for sharing information with the UN on the country's human rights situation. We call for her immediate release. Finally, human rights defender Alexei Gorinov from Russia, subjected to punitive measures despite the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention finding his detention arbitrary. We call for his immediate release. We call upon all States to end all reprisals against human rights defenders. Thank you.

I thank the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I pass the floor to Saudi Arabia, to be followed by Bahrain. Saudi Arabia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A point of order. My delegation would like to draw your attention to the repeated interventions of Iran and the clear threats that they contained to target the countries of the region. Therefore, as part of your responsibility, we call you to maintain order and the good conduct of this committee and to remind all speakers to follow decorum and mutual respect between member states and to refrain from issuing threats as part of this committee, and we call on the Chair to tell the representative of Iran to stop issuing these threats during this session. We categorically reject that, and we ensure that and we emphasize that this is contrary issuing threats in such manner is contrary to the UN Charter. Thank you.

Thank you, Saudi Arabia. I think your point is well made. I think it is a responsibility of all delegations to use the time available for the proper purpose of the segment and to ensure that we are engaging in the debate and discussion about the subject matter at hand and not to use it for peripheral purposes. Thank you for making that point. Bahrain, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The GCC would like to clarify that our countries put the responsibility of protecting and promoting human rights as part of our highest priorities and our foreign policy. And we work jointly on development, environmental, and humanitarian fields and on human rights. Therefore, we reject the attempts to distort facts and to mislead the international community. Our territorial integrity, security, and sovereignty is not an issue to be threatened. This venue should be a platform not for issuing hollow threats, but to discuss the topics at hand. The use of territories for military attacks and such baseless statements this is not the place for them and as for resolution 61 this spoke against this and this is what is happening is against all international law and it called on Iran to stop these attacks immediately and Security Council in 2817 condemned these attacks that are against the security and sovereignty of countries and a serious attack against international peace and security thank you

thank you Bahrain.

A delegation has requested a second statement, which I will grant. Cuba, you have the floor.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, Chair. I wasn't planning to speak about the report on reprisals. However, I regret that the Netherlands have decided to play the US's game and replicate an international campaign against my country. This has nothing to do with human rights, but rather the goal of overturning our constitutional order. The Netherlands' statement about Cuba is unfounded. The report presented today, all the report presented today, I wonder if they are just playing to Washington's game and participating in this game of manipulation sponsored by U.S. funds and providing false information in order to twist our reality, generate instability, and justify the hostile policy against Cuba. We invite the Netherlands that if they have any concerns about human rights in Cuba, I would suggest that they begin by strongly condemning the commercial, financial, economic blockade imposed by the United States against my country for six decades. Because nothing, ladies and gentlemen, has such a grave impact on the human rights of the Cuban people as the blockade. I thank you.

Thank you, Cuba. That brings to an end interventions from delegations, and I thank you for your contributions. I would now like to pass to our panelists, and I give the floor first to the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Ms. Claudia Fuentes Julio. You have the floor.

Thank you so much. Let me start from the outset to thank all of you for your comments. And to reiterate that myself as Assistant Secretary General and my whole office is always ready to answer any of these and further questions, because I just have five minutes to answer many questions. So, but my doors are, of course, always open and I very much would like to engage with each one of you in the incoming years. So, the great majority of questions were related to issues to reprisals, to the reprisals report. First to say that states have a fundamental obligation to make sure to protect human rights, to refrain from reprisals and also to condone also reprisals. I think here the main objective would be that every person that would like to cooperate with the United Nations should not feel fear to do so, and on the contrary, they should be safe. to cooperate with the United Nations. There were specific questions, some prevention, and as well to good practices. Let me just to name a few. Strengthen the capacity of diplomats and representatives to support and contribute to the protection of defenders at risk. Develop national policies or strategies to the protection of human rights defenders. including against reprisals for cooperation with the UN, issue joint cross-regional statements on safe participation in UN spaces and zero tolerance to reprisals, make voluntary pledges to strengthen the United Nations for a space for civil society, In my office, I think a special focus is also on the victims of reprisals. And I think it's very important when we deal with this issue to center on the victims, to publicly support and provide funds for civil society actors, engagement in United Nations rights spaces, raise reprisals cases, situations, sometimes at the bilateral level when it's needed, develop programs to temporarily host human rights defenders facing threats or risk, facilitate temporary visas for human rights defenders at risk, including by creating a dedicated password for them. Those are some of the examples in terms of how can we really protect victims of reprisals. The issue of transnational repression, as some of you mentioned, it remains high when dealing with the issue related to reprisals. There are many concrete measures that states can also work on specifically on TNR. strengthen cross-border and supranational cooperation, particularly addressing the digital forms of transnational repression, establish clear institutional mandates, responsibility and coordination mechanisms, adopt victim-oriented approaches that prioritize the rights, needs and protection of affected individuals, raise awareness and build the capacity of officials, institutions, law enforcement, judges and prosecutors, and many other examples. On my priorities on the reprisals report, let me name just a few. First, I would like to zoom in on the global trends and in particular to pay attention to, as I mentioned before, transnational repression, online and offline surveillance, digital space, the misuse of law on counterterrorism, cybercrime, and national security. Second, focus a little more on disaggregated data, recognizing obstacles faced by specific groups like young activists activists that many of you mentioned today, women, environmental defenders, and indigenous peoples. Of course, deep in the engagement with member states, I think it's very important that we work together on good practices and addressing emerging situations bilaterally, strengthen engagement, of course, with the whole UN system. I think this is something that we will do through the human rights group. that as you know, we have in place now. And finally, improve data management, how to collect, organize, secure, and store data to be used efficiently for strategic decisions when it comes to reprisals. And finally, let me just end by saying that the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, as always, is committed to monitor, document human rights abuses, and and as well as working on strengthening state capacities to promote and protect human rights across the globe. And thank you so much for your questions and ready available to meet you at a certain time throughout the year. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Ms. Fuentes Julio. I now pass the floor to Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources, Ms. Lopez, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And regarding the question of a bit more details on the next phase on the disability inclusion strategy under 2.0, mainly this is to strengthen, it strengthens mainstreaming by making disability inclusion a requirement of results-based management systems rather than a standalone initiative. It requires UN system entities to integrate disability inclusion into strategic plans and results frameworks, including disability disaggregated indicators and targets. and introduces a new indicator on resource tracking so that investments in disability inclusion can be reported to and monitored by each entity's senior leadership. On the programming side, UNDIS 2.0 requires disability inclusion to be integrated into the program cycling, including UN country team cooperation frameworks and entity country program documents with a stronger focus on measurable results for persons with disability and meaningful engagement with organizations of persons with disabilities. Finally, UNDS 2.0 also reinforces accountability through annual reporting from entities and country teams, designated institutional responsibilities across key operational functions and greater senior leadership oversight. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Assistant Secretary General, much appreciated. That concludes this particular discussion. We'll have a brief pause to change the podium over, and then we'll proceed to our next item. Thank you very much indeed for joining us, both of you. Okay, it's now my pleasure to welcome the chair of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Chung-Rock So, who is joining us virtually. And as is always the case, participants willing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed, and the time limit, as is the case in each of these instances, will be determined by reference to the number of speakers seeking to intervene. I now invite the chair of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Seo, to make an introductory statement. Mr. Seo, you have the floor.

Chairperson, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends, I am honored to address the Third Committee, connecting remotely from Seoul, and to present the annual report of the Human Rights Committee reflecting the work of its 144th and 145th sessions held in June and July 2025 and in March 2026, respectively. Under its reporting procedure, the Committee reviewed 12 initial and periodic reports of the State Parties and issued recommendations. It also adopted one list of issues and 14 lists of issues prior to reporting. To those States parties that have received a list of issues prior to reporting from us, but have not yet responded, please submit your replies as soon as possible. Reporting delays seriously hinder the fulfilment of our mandates. On individual communications under the Optional Protocol, the Committee adopted the views on 116 cases. declared 23 cases inadmissible and discontinued 33. At its 144th session, the Committee decided to develop a new general comment on freedom of association, which has already drawn over 250 contributions from stakeholders. The Committee will hold its 146th session from 19 October to 6 November including the second reading of the draft general comment. On 6 November, we will jointly commemorate the 60th anniversary of the two covenants with the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and we hope to see many of your counterparts in Geneva. Chairperson, the Committee is deeply committed to its mandate. Like all treaty bodies, however, it has been affected by the UN liquidity crisis and chronic underfunding. Our outputs this past year, markedly lower than in previous years, reflect the loss of resources, particularly meeting time and staff. For the second year in a row, an entire session had to be canceled. We do not yet have clarity on the financial prospects for 2027. We appeal to the General Assembly to ensure that the Treaty Bodies can operate properly, including by enabling our Committee to hold all three of its scheduled sessions in 2027. Distinguished delegates, with your understanding, I now speak in another capacity. As a chair of the 38th annual meeting of the chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies, I have the honor to present the report of that meeting held in Geneva in June. The meeting took place in the shadow of the same liquidity crisis. In 2026, across the treaty body system as a whole, 40% of meeting time was cancelled. resulting in the postponement of 51 State Party reviews and decisions on over 100 individual communications. These conditions undermine the predictable, accessible and effective monitoring of States Parties' obligations. On this, the Chairs spoke with one voice: the financing of the treaty bodies must be secured before anything else. And the exceptional measures taken under this crisis must not become the norm. The Charter of the UN sets out the aim to establish conditions under which justice and respect for obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained. It is what the treaty bodies do, and I count on this body to uphold it. Therefore, I urge you to engage constructively with the treaty body system by submitting reports and follow-up replies promptly and by paying your assessed contributions on time and in full. I welcome the interest states have shown in the strengthening process, including the recent joint statement endorsed by more than 90 states. Allow me to add two points. First, The treaty bodies have long strived for and made considerable progress toward the harmonization of working methods. The annual meeting of chairpersons, supported by the secretariat, already serves as our coordination mechanism. What it needs is not a new coordination structure, but the resources for the existing mechanisms to function. Second, this is a question of priorities. At a time when 40% of meeting time has been canceled, what the treaty body need mostly is a guarantee of adequate and predictable funding for their core mandates. Without that guarantee, no reform, however well intended, can endure. New structures can wait, but reviews and individual cases cannot. OHCHR's four-page working paper presented in May sketches general proposals only, without the detail needed to assess them. We are still awaiting the details to follow up the Chair's request in June. We will also need clarity on the legal implications, feasibility, cost, and human rights benefits of each proposal. The Treaty Bodies welcome meaningful reform. The Human Rights Committee was among the first to embrace the simplified reporting procedure and an eight-year calendar of reviews. Making these arrangements work, however, requires more than the Committee's commitment alone. We need the well-staffed secretariat. Instead, we lost a post. We needed States parties to report on time. Instead, reports received have fallen steeply since the pandemic. Political support for reform should be matched by meaningful participation of the committees in its design, respecting their independent mandates. Improvements must also be accompanied by adequate and predictable regular budget resources as this Assembly itself envisaged in resolution 68/268. The treaty bodies and their chairs are committed to strengthen the system and ready to move forward on the basis of genuine partnership, transparency, and shared commitment to making human rights a reality on the ground. I thank you for your attention and look forward to your comments and questions.

I thank the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, and I now open the floor to delegations who wish to intervene. The time allowed for each intervention will be three minutes. My first speaker is Ukraine, to be followed by Republic of Korea. Ukraine, you have the floor. I'm sorry, Ukraine has left us, so let's move first to Republic of Korea. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Republic of Korea would like to note that the Human Rights Committee has played a central role in upholding the ICCPR and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Republic of Korea also extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Chang Hyeok-seol, not only for his professionalism and dedication as the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, but also for his leadership in steering the work of human rights treaty bodies in this difficult time. Today, civil and political rights face both ongoing and emerging challenges worldwide. Gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms persist in many parts of the world. While new and emerging technologies provide new opportunities, they simultaneously pose risks on human rights and freedoms. The Human Rights Committee, in line with other human rights treaty bodies, faces such challenges amidst a chronic liquidity crisis. In such situation, efforts to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the human rights treaty body system, along with state support and political will, are important than ever. In this regard, the Republic of Korea welcomes discussions and efforts to strengthen and enhance the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system, including the upcoming developments in this 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Korea also reaffirms its full and steadfast support for the treaty body system as a guardian of international human rights law and remains committed to timely reporting and implementation of the Human Rights Committee's recommendations. Despite the current liquidity crisis, we believe the Committee's vital work to prevent human rights violations and provide remedies to victims must be safeguarded. In this vein, Korea is making an earmarked contribution to support the Committee's effective functioning. We will continue to work closely with the Human Rights Committee, especially under Mr. Sal's leadership, to strengthen international human rights mechanisms and protect human rights. Thank you.

Thank you, Republic of Korea. I pass the floor to Spain, to be followed by the Russian Federation. Spain, you have the floor.

Chair, Spain aligns itself with this the statement to be delivered by the EU, and we value the work of the Human Rights Committee in ensuring the effective implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. And we also thank them for their work with independent experts, including Carlos Fernandez, who is a Spaniard. The pact, the covenant is crucial to ensuring that basic rights such as the right to life, right to freedom of expression, prevention of torture are respected by states. Spain gives the utmost importance to the rights in the covenant in Including the second, in our second national plan through 2027, we once again advocate for protection of individual liberties and guaranteeing that citizenship participate in the life of this state. This should also be done under conditions of equality and without discrimination. Chair, Spain once again encourages the remaining states to ratify the second protocol on the abolition of the death penalty, which is a very important matter. In 2010, we created a coalition, and this is supported by Navi Pillay, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Finally, I'd like to raise a question to Mr. Chandru. So what recommendations would you have for States who still have the death penalty in place in order to ensure full respect of the right to life as recognized by Article 6 of the Covenant. I thank you.

Thank you, Spain. I give the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by Timor-Leste. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, among all of the legal norms on the agenda during an armed conflict, What is most important is the right to life. Since the start of the year, the number of victims at the hands of Ukrainian militants within the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has reached 10,253 civilians. In April, Kyiv received a lot of funds from the EU, arms, and the blessing to use all of this in order to conduct terrorist attacks against civilians in Russia. Zelensky's regime is waging transport war against civilians. Deliberate attacks by Ukrainian drones on private cars, well, they're resulting in the deaths of families, women, and children. Since the start of the year, they've already attacked 277 passenger buses who were conducting regular intra and intercity trips. Such strikes have resulted in over 450 civilians suffering. This barbaric practice used by the armed formations of Kyiv to this day has not drawn any condemnation from the UN, nor has the UN clearly responded to Ukraine's strikes on areas where civilians generally amass. This has resulted in dozens of casualties. For instance, the mass raid on a college campus in Starobelsk in the Lugansk People's Republic in May. Over 90 people were victims, first and foremost children. Drones also bombed a medical facility in Kirillovka in the Zaporizhzhia area, a region in July, over 30 people, including five children, suffered. Then a raid by Ukrainian drones on a busy beach in Osipovsk in the Kherson region in August, over 70 civilians were victims. The Ukrainian armed forces are deliberately attacking civilians, targeting very often children, women, and older persons. killing of civilians is a serious war crime, and attempts to justify or explain away such attacks is tantamount to promoting terrorist impunity. We demand from the Committee the start of verifications of the aforementioned facts and to issue a clear-cut response to Kyiv's practice of waging mass terrorism against civilians, violating the main right, the right to life.

I thank the Russian Federation. I pass the floor to Timor-Leste, followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Timor-Leste, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am pleased to welcome the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, and I appreciate the Committee's continued work in promoting and protecting human rights. As a State Party to the core human rights treaties, Timor-Leste remains dedicated to translating our international obligations into effective national laws, policies, and institutions. human rights values, constructive engagement with the treaty bodies, as well as the technical assistance and capacity building that strengthen national implementations and reporting mechanisms. As we prepare for its fourth universal periodic review in 2027, we view this process as a vital opportunity to assess progress, address remaining challenges, and reinforce our national commitment to human rights. We therefore encourage the Committee to continue offering clear, practical and accessible recommendations that consider the different capacities of States parties, while upholding universal human rights standards. Mr. Chair, allow me to conclude with a caution. How can Human Rights Committee far is trained to take technical assistance and follow up mechanism to help small developing countries translate its recommendations into measurable improvement in human rights protections, particularly where institutions and financial capacity remains limited? I thank you.

Thank you, Timur. Let's take Islamic Republic of Iran to be followed by China. Iran, you have the floor.

Do I have to? Yes. The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the continued imposition of country-specific human rights mechanism and reports. Such mandates, including the Special Rapporteur and related fact-finding processes directed at Iran, are inherently selective, politically driven, and incompatible with the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and the non-politicization of human rights. Country-specific mechanisms undermine the universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity that must govern the UN human rights mechanisms. They transform human rights into instruments of political pressure, serve the foreign policy objectives of a limited number of states and erode trust and genuine dialogue. The annual ritual of drafting, tabling and adopting confrontational texts against a predetermined list of states, while remaining silent or restrained on comparable or more severe situations elsewhere, exposes the double standards that continue to afflict this organization. Iran reaffirms that the Universal Periodic Review remains the only legitimate, equitable, and non-discriminatory mechanism for addressing human rights situations. We have engaged constructively with the UPR, with thematic special procedures, and with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the basis of mutual respect and consent. Depoliticization of the human rights agenda through country-specific mandates serves neither the people of the targeted States nor the cause of international cooperation. Thank you.

Thank you, Iran. I pass the floor to China, to be followed by Ukraine and then the European Union. China, you have the floor.

Chairman, China would like to thank the Chairman of the HR Committee for the briefing. China is not a party to the ICCPR member state. That said, China has always, based on the Chinese conditions, taken proactive measures to protect the citizens' political and civil rights. In Hong Kong and Macau, the two Chinese special administrative regions, apply the conventions by analogy. They fulfill the reporting obligations and participate in reviews of relevant work. Hong Kong is a society under rule of law. The Hong Kong administration, in terms of the legal systems and the prosecutorial systems, do their work in accordance with law. It is transparent and it is open. It is fair and just. The alleged person's rights are protected. The independence of judiciary is fully guaranteed. There are certain elements that are anti-China and trying to destabilize Hong Kong. For a long time, engaging such activities, they advocated to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government. Their crimes challenge the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law in Hong Kong, which is the Basic Law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is regrettable that the representative of the Netherlands once again abused the platform of the Third Committee of the UN and alleged China's offenses. This is disinformation. China categorically rejects such information and opposes what they have said. When it comes to human rights, there's always room for improvement. China is ready to engage on equal footing with parties in dialogue on human rights issues in order to move forward the human rights cause to build a community of shared future for humankind. I thank you.

Thank you, China. I pass the floor to Ukraine, to be followed by the European Union. Ukraine, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Ukraine thanks the briefers and reaffirms its strong support for the UN human rights treaty body system. For Ukraine, implementation of international bill of rights is especially important amid Russia's ongoing war of aggression and temporary occupation of our territories. Indeed, there is hardly provision in either covenant that Russia has not violated in the course in this war. This makes it all the more outrageous to see Russia show disrespect for this committee and use this room to repeat the most brazen and detached-from-reality propaganda claims, none of which have been verified independently by the United Nations. In the meantime, while Russia's delegates spread lies in this room, Its henchmen in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine continue arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, while persecuting Ukrainians for their identity and views. Its attacks on civilian infrastructure deprive millions of their right to health, education, and adequate standards of living. These violations underscore the importance of independent scrutiny and effective follow-up to the Treaty's body's recommendation. Mr. Chair, we also remain deeply concerned that persistent financial constraints undermine treaty bodies' ability to review state reports, consider individual communications, and ensure timely follow-up. The credibility of the UN human rights system depends not only on the standards it upholds, but also on its capacity to ensure implementation. Our question to the briefer is how member states can best support the treaty body system in preserving its independence, effectiveness, and accessibility amid ongoing financial challenges, particularly in situations of armed conflict and occupation. Thank you.

Thank you, Ukraine. And finally, I have European Union. You have the floor.

Chair, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States. We would like to welcome you again to the third committee and thank you for your presentation. The EU highly values the work of the Human Rights Committee in monitoring the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in ensuring the enjoyment of civil and political rights worldwide. We reaffirm our strong support for the Committee's work and for its important role within the international human rights protection system. We welcome the continued progress towards universal participation in the Covenant and its optional protocols. As we mark this year the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the ICCPR, we believe this anniversary provides an opportune moment to further advance its universal ratification and implementation. We recall that the authority of the Covenant depends on the good faith of States Parties. We regret that some States Parties fail to submit observations on communications, disregard requests for interim measures or do not implement the Committee's views. We call on all State parties to cooperate fully with the Committee and to protect those who turn to it from intimidation and reprisal. Chair, armed conflict, climate change, digital technologies, shrinking civic space and growing inequalities are presenting new challenges for the protection of human rights. In your view, how can the Covenant continue to provide meaningful protection of civil and political rights in 2026 and beyond, while responding to current and emerging challenges that could not have been foreseen in 1966? Thank you.

Thank you, European Union. That brings to an end the list of delegations seeking the floor. I pass back to the chair of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. So, for any responses or comments in relation to those interventions. Mr. So, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. Chairperson, I thank delegations for their kind words and encouragement, and also thank you for congratulating us for celebrating our 60th anniversary. And many have said, it is also written in the statements of the states themselves, that treaty bodies are cornerstone of international human rights law, and more important than ever. But the reality, unfortunately, is the opposite. We have never had fewer resources to do work. The work is growing beyond the fundamental rights in the covenant. As many people say, the right to life, freedom of speech, et cetera, we now face emerging challenges to those rights from climate change and from digital technologies and artificial intelligence. I believe this makes the Human Rights Committee more important than ever, and I hope you will continue to support us. To the questions from Spain on the death penalty, as you know, we have a second optional protocol to the Covenant aiming at the abolition of death penalty. And that falls under our committee, and death penalty is also a standing question in our reviews of all state parties, and we will continue to do it. On the issue of technical assistance, The committee itself does not provide, but there is a mechanism available under the resolution 68/68, which is HR1's capacity building program that supports state parties in preparing reports and in follow-up on the recommendations, including through its regional offices and UN country teams. The simplified reporting procedure also lightens the burden considerably. And our follow-up reporter stands ready to engage with you all the time. The committee's effort cannot succeed without the support of our stakeholders. And we count on OHSHR and particularly states to make that assistance available. To the issue of the universal peer review, I agree that universal peer review is indeed universal and very innovative mechanism. But treaty body actually value, it is very complement to their work. Without the treaty bodies, I think universal peer review is difficult to be operated. And two are not in competition. So UPR is a peer review among states. Treaty body is an expert review of legal obligations that states have freely accepted by ratifying a treaty. The Covenant has more than 170 states parties, including Iran and other countries, and many UPR recommendations call on states to implement treaty body recommendations. The two mechanisms strengthen each other, and human rights system needs both. I'm grateful for the support of many states on strengthening process. Let me repeat that treaty bodies are open and constructive, including on pilots. We ask that proposals be detailed enough to assess and committees take part in designing them with respect for their independence and their improvements must come with predictable regular budget resources. So we look to this Assembly in December to reaffirm the commitment made in resolution 68/68. Several delegations refer to the specific situations in individual States parties, including in the context of armed conflict. I will not comment on those matter here, The Committee addresses the human rights situations in every State Party through its regular reviews, its concluding observations, the follow-up procedure, and through individual communications. That is how we work to advance the rights in the Covenant in all circumstances, in all State Parties, and we will continue to do so. I thank you, Chairperson, and invite all delegations to join us through your colleagues in Geneva in making the 60th anniversary of two covenants on 6th November. Thank you.

Thank you very much indeed, Chair. And that concludes that particular item. And we will now move to a further virtual briefing from the chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Ms. Preeti Saran. And as is the case, participants wishing to make comments or pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed and the time limit for interventions will be determined by the number of speakers. I now invite the chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to make her introductory statement. You have the floor.

Respect Chair, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I'm honored to address you today as chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Since I speak after the chair of the Human Rights Committee, with whom I share many concerns about the treaty body system, including those related to the resources and the impact of the ongoing liquidity crisis. I would like to reiterate the concerns expressed collectively by the chairs of the human rights treaty bodies regarding the chronic resource constraints affecting the system. The year 2026 is a milestone year for the treaty body system, which merits recognition and celebration. we mark 60th anniversaries of the two covenants as you heard before, the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as the 20th anniversary of the Sub-Committee on Prevention of Torture. These anniversaries make us recall the importance of the international human rights treaty system and the contribution it has made in the protection of human rights around the world. Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, The present liquidity crisis has had a direct and serious impact on the ability of the treaty bodies to discharge mandates entrusted to them. In 2026, official meeting time across the system was reduced by approximately 40%. This has meant fewer state party reviews, growing backlogs, and the cancellation or postponement of other mandated activities. For CESC, my committee, the liquidity crisis reduced our 79th session from four weeks to two and a half. We've been constrained to compress our work into fewer weeks. That has adversely affected our work. The impact is significant across the system. Reporting cycles are becoming longer, communications are delayed, and other areas of our work are affected. Reductions in meeting time also affect individual communications, inquiries, follow-up, and the cooperation with states and society, national human rights institutions, and other stakeholders. The latest information available to the Chairs illustrates the longer-term impact. The time required to clear the existing backlog has increased from approximately two years in 2023 to almost four years today, assuming no new reports are added. If a calendar of reviews were established based on all ratifications, the current meeting time and existing working methods would result in a review cycle of approximately 14 years. This is difficult to reconcile with a predictable and effective monitoring system. The treaty bodies have adopted exceptional measures. At the 38th annual meeting in June 2026, as you heard Mr. So brief you, the chairs emphasized that such measures are neither normal nor a substitute for regular budget resources. Crisis management is not reform. The chairs also considered the working paper. prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner proposing reforms of the treaty body system, including a proposal to combine state party dialogues of different committees in clusters without the full participation of all the members of the committees, established by you, state parties, for the purpose of reviewing the implementation of the treaties. The chairs were of the view that before undertaking such significant transformation of the treaty body system, there should be a robust and a verifiable theory of change demonstrating how the proposed reforms are expected to lead to improved implementation and stronger human rights outcomes. Budgetary pressures, while real, do not justify structural changes that would fundamentally alter the nature of the treaty body system established by state parties in such a way that they would violate the treaty provisions and undermine the independence, integrity, specificity of individual treaties and the cohesion of the treaty bodies system. We emphasize the need to have additional information regarding feasibility, longer term sustainability, a thorough impact assessment and a cost benefit analysis was necessary for these proposed reforms with greater transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, the only way to strengthen the treaty body system would be to equip it with the necessary financial and administrative resources from the regular budget and allow it to undertake its work without compromising its integrity and independence. Against this background, I'd like to provide some information regarding the work of my committee in 2026 regarding the 174 state parties to the Covenant and 31 state parties under the Optional Protocol. This is in addition to the annual report, which is available, while our report for 2026 will be adopted at the end of the 80th session of the committee in November. The primary function of the committee is to monitor the implementation of the covenant by state parties. The committee has continued to work within the very limited meeting time allocated to it. At our 79th session, we considered the reports of Australia, Georgia, Kenya, Uruguay. We also continued consideration of individual communications and other mandated work. Our 80th session is scheduled from 2nd to 13th November, during which we are scheduled to consider the reports of Austria, Eswatini, Mexico and Pakistan. In the absence of additional resources to enable predictable review calendar and simplified reporting procedure, State Parties continue to prepare and submit their reports in accordance with the regular procedures. Numerous State Parties are overdue. including initial reports and their periodic reports. We continue to encourage concerned states that have not yet submitted their initial reports to kindly make every effort to do so. Individual communication procedures provides an important avenue for redress, yet as with other areas, the capacity to consider cases in a timely manner is affected by constraints. Broader participation would strengthen accountability and cooperation, and here participation of civil society is indispensable in our work. The UN liquidity crisis and chronic underfunding of the treaty body system continues to have serious impact on the effective discharge of the mandates entrusted to the committees by the treaties. The treaty bodies were established by international human rights treaties. They therefore require the sustained commitment of states, including adequate and predictable resources. The Charter of the United Nations reaffirms the faith of Member States in fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person, and the equal rights of men and women and of the nations large and small, and the determination to establish conditions under which justice and respect for obligations arising from treaties can be maintained. I therefore urge States to make their assessed contributions to the United Nations in full and on time. and to ensure that the international human rights system has the resources necessary to fulfill its obligations. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights remains fully committed to fulfilling its mandate to be working constructively with State parties and other stakeholders to advance the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. I thank you all.

Thank you.

Thank you so much indeed, Chair. I now open the floor to delegations wishing to intervene. I have a small list of speakers. Let me read it out as it stands. Namibia, Portugal, Nigeria, China, Malaysia, European Union and El Salvador. In the first instance, let me give the floor to Namibia. Thank you.

I have the honour to deliver the statement or to speak on behalf of the African Group and we thank the Chair for the insightful presentation. The African Group reaffirms that economic, social and cultural rights stand on an equal footing with civil and political rights. Africa continues to make progress, but realisation of these rights is constrained by unsustainable debt, climate change and and inequitable international financial architecture. Many African countries spend more on debt service than on essential sectors such as health or education. We stress that the right to development is an inalienable human right, and we call for debt relief, concessional financing, and fulfilment of commitment of official development assistance. Mr. Chair, remain concerned by unilateral coercive measures that impede these rights and affect our populations, and we call for their removal. In report A/81/355, the Secretary-General indicates that 43% of treaty body meeting time scheduled for 2026 and 2027 is expected to be cancelled. We therefore support sustainable and predictable funding of treaty bodies through the General Assembly in line with the commitments made in the Pact for the Future and within existing treaty mandates. Mr. Chair, we therefore welcome the Chairs or the briefers' views on how the Committee interprets the maximum of available resources when debt service exceeds health or education spending, and how its draft general comment on the Covenant in armed conflict will address creditors and third states. We would also appreciate the Chair's views on holding the proposed decentralized dialogue on the continent, which will enable African state parties to remain in a predictable view cycle despite Council decision. Thank you.

Thank you, Namibia. On behalf of the African Group, I pass the floor to Portugal, to be followed by Nigeria. Portugal, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Portugal aligns with the statement to be delivered by the EU. Madam Chair, Portugal thanks you for the presentation of the report and reaffirms its support to the work of the Committee in advancing economic, social and cultural rights across the globe. Portugal welcomes the most recent accessions to the Optional Protocol to the Covenant and calls upon all States that have not yet acceded to it to consider doing so. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which together with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, constitute the legally binding foundational instruments of international human rights law. In 60 years, we have made substantial progress, but the multiple and interconnected crises we are currently witnessing remind us that economic, social and cultural rights still need the utmost attention of the international community as a whole. If we are to achieve the full realization of human rights, we must tackle systemic inequalities involving not only States, but also civil society and international organizations. In this regard, Portugal welcomes the Committee's upcoming General Comment on economic, social and cultural rights in the context of armed conflict. Conflicts are usually triggered by major violations of economic, social and cultural rights, such as food insecurity or environmental degradation. As a newly elected non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Portugal has committed to put human rights at the center of conflict prevention. Portugal reaffirms its firm commitment to the human rights architecture, of which the treaty bodies are a key pillar. Madam Chair. Portugal regrets the impact that the UN liquidity crisis has had on the work of the Committee, namely cuts in meeting time, increased backlog and the generalization of simplified reporting procedure. What priority measures could be taken to overcome these constraints? And what measures are you taking to overcome it? And do you consider that using new and emerging digital technologies can be helpful? Thank you.

Thank you, Portugal. I pass the floor to Nigeria, to be followed by China. Nigeria, you have the floor.

Thank you. Nigeria thanks the Chairperson for presenting the Committee's report and appreciates its work in advancing economic, social and cultural rights. Nigeria shares the Committee's emphasis on effective implementation. The purpose of reporting and dialogue must be to assist States in addressing gaps and improving access to education, healthcare, food, housing, decent work and social protection. It is in line with these objectives that Nigeria, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, is implementing strategic economic and fiscal reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy, strengthening public finances, and promoting inclusive growth. Our priorities include poverty reduction, food security, and support for vulnerable households. through the national social investment programs. We are also pursuing opportunities in the digital economy to equip young people with skills and improve access to employment and livelihoods. Sustaining these efforts requires an enabling international environment. Debt pressures, climate impacts, and limited fiscal space continue to constrain developing countries' capacity to deliver essential services. International cooperation access Accessible financing and technical assistance requested by states remain essential. Nigeria supports a well-resourced committee and practical assistance to assist states in maintaining their reporting obligations and achieving lasting improvements in the lives of our people. Thank you.

Thank you, Nigeria. I pass to China, to be followed by Malaysia. China, you have the floor.

China: Chair, China thanks the Chair of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for her remarks and commends the Committee for the fact that despite a severe financial crisis at the UN and reduced meeting time for the Committee, it has improved efficiency and working methods, conducted implementation review and prepared general comments, which served as a guide for States parties to better implement the Covenant. China supports further reforming the human rights treaty bodies with full regard for the will of States parties, and supports the Committee in communicating, coordinating and synergizing efforts with other human rights treaty bodies and human rights institutions in order to better promote and protect human rights. Economic, social and cultural rights are important human rights. Regrettably, Resources allocated to these rights continue to be disproportionately low, it is important for the international community to. afford greater priority to these rights on the multilateral human rights agenda, revitalize global cooperation, fulfill obligations under the covenant, accelerate efforts to improve global human rights governance, and value and address the needs of developing countries. China has released its latest iteration of National Human Rights Action Plan, which aims at fully advancing the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights, promoting social equity and justice so that modernization can better and more equitably serve all our people. China stands ready to work in a constructive relationship with the Committee and to work with all partners to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights, and deliver inclusive development for all. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, China. I pass the floor to Malaysia, followed by the European Union, and finally El Salvador. Malaysia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Malaysia thanks Ms. Priti Saran for her presentation and take notes of the Committee report. Malaysia reaffirms that all human rights are universal, interdependent and interrelated. Economic, social and cultural rights must be accorded equal attention and priority alongside civil and political rights. We also recognize the financial constraints faced by the Committee and emphasize the importance of adequate resources for its mandate. Mr. Chair, Malaysia notes the Committee's ongoing work towards developing a general comment on economic, social and cultural rights in the context of armed conflict. This is particularly timely as conflict continues to undermine access to essential services and the enjoyment of fundamental rights, including food, healthcare, education, and adequate housing. The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly Gaza, demonstrates the devastating consequences of armed conflict. Palestinians continue to face immense human suffering. Malaysia reiterates the importance of protecting civilians, ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, and upholding accountability for violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Mr. Chair also notes the Committee deliberations on the proposed open letter concerning Gaza. While recognizing the differing procedural and mandate-related views, we note that the gravity of the situation was not contested by any member. Against this backdrop, Malaysia will welcome the Chair's views on how the Committee could strengthen its response to situations involving serious violations of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in the context of armed conflict. How might the forthcoming General Comment contribute to these efforts? Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Malaysia. European Union, followed by El Salvador. 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. We thank Ms. Saran for her comprehensive presentation and congratulate you on your re-election to the Committee. The EU commends the Committee for its dedicated efforts to promote the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We welcome its valuable guidance to State parties in the implementation of their obligations under the Covenant. A strong and effective treaty body system is essential to the international human rights framework. Against the backdrop of ongoing operational challenges, the European Union and its member states commend the Committee's continued effort to maintain its effectiveness and ensure the sustainable delivery of its mandate. The EU recognizes civil society organizations and national human rights institutions as indispensable partners in supporting the effectiveness of the United Nations human rights treaty body system. The EU and its member states will continue to support the Committee's efforts to ensure the meaningful, effective and inclusive participation of all relevant stakeholders. which remain essential to the overall impact of the treaty body system. Chair, we recall that the covenant continues to apply in situations of armed conflict occupation, including where access to healthcare, pensions, social benefits or education is made conditional on the acquisition of the citizenship of an occupying power. As highlighted in the report, additional meeting time would contribute to reducing the backlog of reports awaiting consideration and to enhancing alignment with other human rights mechanisms. However, capacity constraints continue to affect the Committee's work. Against this backdrop, what measures would most effectively enhance the implementation of the Committee's annual work cycle? Thank you.

Thank you, European Union. And finally, El Salvador, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. El Salvador is grateful for the presentation of the report of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We recognize their important work in following up on the implementation of the International Compact on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We have taken note of the remarks as regards reform of the treaty body system, and we agree on the importance of the independence and specificity of every treaty body in order to ensure that it properly functions. For our country, The gradual implementation of these rights represents an essential human rights component, and this should lead to concrete improvements in the quality of life of the population. In this regard, El Salvador will continue to drive public policies aimed at broadening opportunities and strengthening access to essential services. In education, we highlight more than 1.6 million in technology provisions in the public system. as well as 60,000 grants or scholarships for technical education in the area of health, with strengthening care with a center for non-transmissible diseases aimed at improving timely diagnosis and treatment of prevalent diseases. We're also continuing to promote comprehensive care for early childhood through health, nutrition, education, and protection. We also recognize the importance of constructive dialogue and international cooperation to strengthen national capacity and make progress in fulfilment of all of the obligations under the Covenant. In this regard, Mr. Chair, we would like to ask what measures you believe are a priority to strengthen technical cooperation between the Committee and States, especially as regards follow-up of the implementation of your recommendations, taking into account national capacity and reality. Thank you.

Thank you, El Salvador. Ms. Saran, you have an opportunity to respond to any of those questions or comments. Please do so. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I would like to first and foremost thank all the delegates for their words about the importance of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in upholding human rights. Secondly, I would like to thank all those delegates who have specifically drawn attention to the general comment that we are now formulating, which is economic, social, cultural rights in armed conflict situations. Your inputs are extremely valuable and I would like to convey to you that I will convey your specific concerns raised regarding Yam conflict to our colleagues when we start our discussions. We've already initiated internally within our committee and your inputs will be extremely useful for us in formulating the interpretation of our covenant. With regard to the specific question raised by the distinguished delegate of Namibia, representing the African group on unsustainable debt burdens as well as unilateral coercive measures. And I would just thought I'd take this opportunity to draw your attention to all the members attending this meeting today that article two, paragraph one of our covenant specifically refers to this issue where it states, and I quote, "Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take steps individually and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources with a view to achieving progressive and full realization of the rights recognized in the present Covenant." This is a very important article in our covenant and we invariably raise this particular issue when we are undertaking our constructive dialogue with state parties during the periodic review. In the case of developed countries, we definitely ask them about their obligations to international cooperation and whether they're adhering to their commitment on their contributions to that effect, which would obviously help developing countries to that extent. Moving on to the other issue about how we can prioritize in terms of technical cooperation, I think you already heard Mr. So respond to that question that there is a mechanism available to state parties to use with the help of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in order to be able to better respond to the concluding observations that have been raised. Specifically, I thought there was another question that was raised to Mr. So, and also generally in the context of the questions that have been raised so far, I think I'd like to first and foremost thank the distinguished delegate of El Salvador for once again reiterating, and of course the distinguished delegation of China, on the independence and specificity of treaty bodies. Our particular committee, as you are well aware, gets its mandate from ECOSOC, unlike other treaty bodies, committees. And so therefore, we are, of course, answerable to state parties. How do we maintain our independence? We are a creation of the state parties who are party to the covenant. Not all state parties of members of the United Nations are signatories to all the covenants. And therefore, there is a certain specificity and independence. which is available to each of the covenants and clearly state parties are legally bound by the commitments they have undertaken. And it is really incumbent upon the state parties, therefore, to ensure that those who have signed on to that particular covenant are obviously adhering to those provisions of the Covenant and thereafter they kindly ensure that they provide the necessary resources to the treaty body system so that we can fulfill our mandate. But our mandate comes entirely from the state parties. You are the ones who created us and you're the ones who can strengthen us. You're the ones who will allow us to work if you provide us the regular financing resources from the regular budget. That would be my final message. just to reiterate and complement what Mr. So had mentioned. With these remarks, Mr. Chair, I will close, but I'd be happy to take any additional questions should you wish, but otherwise I take this opportunity to thank you all for providing me this opportunity for sharing my thoughts about the working of our committee and on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by state parties, and of course on the importance of economic, social and cultural rights in rights. Thank you.

Mr. Haran, I thank you both for your presentation and your response to the comments and questions raised. That concludes that particular exchange, and I now am delighted to be able to welcome the chair rapporteur of the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, Ms. Shalmali Ghutale. We will, of course, hear Ms. Gutal in a moment. Delegations have three minutes to identify an interest in speaking, and we will have a list and go through that list in the usual way. But now, before anything further, let me invite Ms. Gutal to address us. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Chair. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. I'm honored to present on behalf of the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, our report, Land and Sea Territorialities under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas UNDRP. Its central finding is that territory is the enabling condition of every right the declaration recognizes. Without territory, all other rights remain formal entitlements. We speak of territorialities in the plural. A territory is a space. A territoriality is a relationship a community builds with that space through use, collective governance, and ecological knowledge. These relationships differ among peasants, fishers, pastoralists, Indigenous peoples, and rural workers. UNDROP protects them on equal terms in complementarity with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Protection frameworks must therefore recognize plural forms of tenure without assimilating them to individual or state property. Small-scale fisheries employ 90% of the world's fishers and fishery workers, about half of them women. For fishing communities, coast, estuary, and mangrove form a single territory. For the 200 to 500 million people who depend on pastoralism, territory moves with the herd. The report is built around a paradox. Progress in normative laws and policies against a regression in distribution. Between 2012 and 2022, the international framework expanded significantly with the FAO guidelines on tenure and on small-scale fisheries, General Recommendation No. 34 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW, UNDROP itself, and General Comment No. 26 on land of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Over the same decade, land concentration reached historically unprecedented levels. The FAO, International Land Coalition, and CIRAD have found that 85% of agricultural holdings are smaller than two hectares and hold 9% of cultivable land, while the largest 0.1% operate more than half of all agricultural land. This is equally true for the global north. In the European Union, 3.1% of holdings controlled 52.2% of farmland in 2013. In the United States, the largest 4.4% of farms held 61% in 2022. Part of the explanation lies in the frameworks themselves. Dominant approaches practice formalization without redistribution. They secure existing occupation and leave intact the asymmetries that produced it. Yet, the redistributive mandate exists. Article 17.6 of UNDRIP calls upon states to engage in agrarian reforms to provide broad and equitable access to land and other natural resources and to limit excessive concentration and control of land. Article 4 of the Declaration requires states to eliminate discrimination against peasant women and ensure their rights to land, water and productive resources. General comment number 26 on land and economic, social, cultural rights imposes positive obligations of redistribution, not merely registration. General recommendation number 34 of CEDAW generates a substantive equality obligation that encompasses individual, collective and customary land tenure systems. Landless peasants, young people, small scale fishers and other rural workers should be given priority in the allocation of public lands, fisheries and forests. Excellencies, The old drivers of dispossession remain at work. Armed groups, transnational agribusiness, extractive industries, and institutional investors. State legal architectures assist them by validating individual static property and rendering collective and mobile territories and territorialities invisible. Registries inherited from colonial law demand fixed boundaries and continuous use. So pastures, corridors, and water points are reclassified as vacant, state-owned, or open to investment. Customary systems cover 42% of the world's land, yet communities hold documented rights to only 8%. In sub-Saharan Africa, the figures are 73% and 1%. War empties territories. UNHCR counted 117.8 million forcibly displaced people at the end of 2025, down from 123.2 million. The fall reflects a surge in returns, many under adverse conditions, but return without land restitution merely postpones dispossession. In Sudan, 70% of smallholders in the Gezira scheme were displaced. In the state of Palestine, more than 5,000 hectares were confiscated in the West Bank in 2023 and 2024, and 70% of Gaza's farmland was devastated. In Ukraine, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam flooded 600 square kilometers of farmland. Forced displacement produces differentiated gender effects. Post-conflict titling in individual names shuts out customary and informal rights holders, above all rural women. New mechanisms now compound the old, green, blue, and invisible grabbing. It is estimated that national net zero pledges could require up to 1.2 billion hectares of land, preparing a wave of land grabbing potentially larger than that of 2008, 2009. By 2024, carbon credit projects covered at least 9.1 million hectares in low and middle income countries, often without free, prior, and informed consent. Nearly 60% of customary lands in 64 countries face threats from industrial activities. Renewable energy is the most frequent threat, accounting for 42% of documented cases, and pastoral plains sit at the center of that pressure. At sea, blue economy initiatives drive a third of the conflicts facing Latin American fishing communities. Under UNDROP, the climate agenda cannot advance at the expense of those who contribute at least to the crisis. Other mechanisms take land without leaving a trace. Over the past five years, particularly in Latin America, legal frameworks designed for land access have been subverted to facilitate corporate land grabs and the dispossession of smallhold farmers with precarious tenure. We see this in piecemeal accumulation of medium-sized farms, digitalized land records, and titling processes that regularize illegal seizures while erasing customary claims, and individual parceling and credit schemes that turn communal territories into plots open to foreclosure. Globally, more than 1.1 billion people consider it likely that they could lose their land rights within five years. Honorable delegates, Chair, the General Assembly adopted General Recommendation 34 in 2016, UN draft in 2018. and General Comment 26 in 2022. Giving effect to them requires the recognition of plural forms of tenure, redistribution where access is unequal, and restitution where dispossession has occurred. Without territory, the rights they proclaim will remain empty entitlements. I look forward to the interactive dialogue and proposals for cooperation and follow-up. I thank you for your attention.

Thank you, Chair-Rapporteur. I will now open the floor. We have three minutes per delegation. We have three speakers seeking the floor, the European Union, followed by Cuba, followed by China. European Union, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair-Rapporteur, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The EU thanks the working group for its report on land and sea territorialities under the United Nations Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas. The report highlights a persistent gap between the recognition of rights and their effective implementation. Secure and equitable access to land, water, fisheries, forests and pastures is essential to sustainable livelihoods, food security and environmental protection, and the enjoyment of human rights. We are particularly concerned by the disproportionate barriers faced by rural women, including unequal access to land and productive resources and underrepresentation in territorial governance. The EU underlines that the green transition must be just, inclusive and firmly grounded in human rights. climate mitigation, renewable energy and conservation projects should not result in displacement or the erosion of legitimate tenure rights. Transparent decision-making, meaningful participation by affected communities, appropriate safeguards and responsible business conduct are therefore indispensable. The report's attention to aquatic territories and to the mobility of pastoral and transhumant communities also demonstrates that the importance of tenure frameworks that reflect diverse forms of land and resource use. Ms. Chair, we reaffirm the importance of gender equality, access to justice, and effective remedies. The EU remains committed to constructive engagement that advances human rights, resilient food systems, and environmental sustainability in a mutually reinforcing manner. Ms. Chair, among the affirmative measures recommended to States, which legal and institutional measures have proved most effective in ensuring that rural women enjoy substantive equality in access to land, water and productive resources, as well as parity and meaningful influence in territorial governance bodies? I thank you.

Thank you, European Union. I pass the floor to Cuba, to be followed by China. Cuba, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. We recognize the work of the working group and we thank the Chair Rapporteur for introducing the report today. We are pleased to be members of the core group that in 2023 tabled the resolution for the creation of this mechanism at the HRC in order to review it. And the HRC review that's managed just a few days ago reiterated our interest in technical cooperation with the working group. The alarming structural paradox the group identifies in its report is a reflection of the broader and more worrying concentration of wealth at an international level. It's simply unacceptable that a handful of wealthy people continue to enrich themselves while the vast majority are systematically impoverished. We reiterate our commitment to the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants since the revolution, Cuba has defended and promoted the rights of peasants and the rural population, as well as dignifying their living conditions. With this approach, the National Assembly of People's Power recently adopted the law on agriculture and forestry and land. It encourages sustainable production on agroecological bases, places decision-making power at the municipal bodies, promoting rational use of land that is compatible with the environment in accordance with the right to work, to food, and also providing guarantees of use and access to land for peasants to guarantee that no land grabs occur. Chair, the main exercise of the-- the main obstacle, apologies, to the full exercise of rights and peasants in the rural population in Cuba is the reinforced blockade by the United States. The fuel stranglehold, the persecution and prohibition of financial transactions, the lack of access to foreign currency, to input, to raw materials, fertilizers, machinery, chemical products and technologies has led to a significant reduction in the production, transport and preservation of food. Let me give you one example. The rice program in Cuba only had a yield of 1.9 tons per hectare. of planted area in 2025 that is 3.21 tons per hectare less than in 2018. This policy is criminal and has a direct impact on food and nutritional sovereignty and security, as well as impacting the full realization of the right to food. In this regard, we would suggest that the working group study deeply the impact of these unilateral coercive measures on the implementation of the rights of peasants. I thank you.

Thank you, Cuba. I pass the floor to China.

Chair. China thanks the Chair, Rapporteur of UNDRIP for the briefing. China is the world's largest grain producer and has always considered improving the well-being of its peasants as a vital mission, prioritizing issues related to agriculture, rural development and peasants. China has successfully carried out the largest poverty alleviation campaign in human history, lifting nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty. Agriculture is fundamental to the survival and development of human society. Advancing agricultural development and eradicating hunger and poverty remain major global challenges and a shared responsibility of all nations. China has long been committed to advancing global food security cooperation and supporting poverty reduction efforts worldwide. It has engaged in agricultural cooperation with more than 140 countries and regions, and introduced over 1,000 agricultural technologies to developing countries, taking concrete steps to help realize the global vision of ending hunger and poverty. China stands ready to continue engaging in constructive dialogue with the working group. To further promote and protect the rights of peasants, China will continue to strengthen agricultural cooperation with all parties and make sustained efforts to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and contribute to building a better world. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, China. That concludes the list of speakers seeking the floor. I will now return the floor to Ms. Gutal for any responses or comments. Thank you.

Sorry. Thank you very much, Chair, and thank you very much to the delegates who have responded and asked questions. Particularly in response to the European Union's question, the working group has identified positive precedents where we see that these advances occur on a number of planes. And we've identified three broad factors that can be combined together, legal recognition, bottom-up governance, and structural limits on concentration. Now, these advances can occur on three planes, international human rights jurisprudence, national legal levels and legal legislations, and then international cooperation across agencies and across sectors and various issues. There are some very positive examples that are there in our report. For example, the Nepal's community forestry program, fisheries co-sharing, territorial co-sharing in parts of Africa and Latin America and Asia, and also the recognition of peasant territorialities. But in particular, what we recommend in the recommendations that we present to states and to international agencies is that we that affirmative measures that governments legislate should ensure that peasant women exercise their rights over land, water and productive resources in terms of substantive equality. Following Article four of the Declaration and Article 14 of the Convention, including parity representation in territorial governance bodies. And really, there is no legislation that can replace that of structurally addressing the asymmetries, the historical and asymmetries in power that women and gender differentiated peoples have faced. And let me move into the recommendations then, if that's okay, Chair. So Chair, Excellencies and distinguished delegates, formalizing existing unequal land ownership is legally insufficient. Reversing the asymmetries produced by land and resource concentration and disposition requires replacing voluntary compliance models with binding regulatory architectures that subordinate corporate activity to human rights obligations. The working group offers practical recommendations for national legislation and for international negotiations. We call for binding regulation in place of voluntary compliance for absolute caps on land accumulation, for a moratorium on the transfer of customary lands, waters and pastoral rights, for mandatory human rights due diligence, and for comprehensive agrarian reform that transfers land to marginalized communities. We call upon States to legally recognize and protect collective customary aquatic and pastoral tenure on an equal footing with private property. We asked states to secure substantive equality for peasant women in rights to land, water and productive resources and representation in all territorial governance bodies, as I already mentioned in response to the European Union. We call for prohibitions to agricultural destruction and land confiscation as methods of warfare, operationalization of the rights to return and restitution and reparation for those displaced from war, conflicts and occupation. And here we take note of the proposal and the suggestion by the honorable delegate from Cuba on studying the impact of unilateral coercive sanctions on the peasantry. We urge states to consult in good faith with peasants before renewable energy and conservation projects even touch their territories. We have also a number of recommendations for international agencies for the Human Rights Council and to the United Nations systems. We ask the FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to incorporate the declaration as a guiding normative framework for the operations in rural areas and produce the kind of statistical information disaggregated by gender, by rights holder and by sector and region so that the present, you know, the rights of all and the interests of all the rights holders protected by UNDROP are advanced. We also have recommendations to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to international financial institutions and multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, regional banks and green climate funds, to integrate the declaration into their due diligence processes and safeguards. conditioning rural project approval and verification that they will not reproduce dispossession, displacement, or erosion of collective territorial rights protected by the Declaration. The Working Group condemns the US government sanctions against the International Criminal Court, ICC, which follow previous sanctions against ICC judges and the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, as well as threats of sanctions aimed at other mandate holders. These actions violate international law and undermine the core integrity of the UN human rights system, including special procedures as a whole. We call on states to preserve the integrity of the ICC and the human rights system, speak out against the sanctions and not abide by them. and for member states of the ICC to take strong action to cooperate with the ICC. On behalf of the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants, I thank you all for your attention and support. We look forward to continuing collaboration with states, rights holders, and all relevant actors in the effective implementation of UNDROP. We are here to work with you. Please reach out to us with ideas for cooperation. I thank you again.

Thank you, Chair, Rapporteur. And that concludes that particular segment. So thank you very much indeed, and very much appreciate your joining us. That enables us to move to resumption of our consideration of agenda item 65, entitled Report of the Human Rights Council. I have only one speaker on my list, and that is Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Let me remind delegations that, as was the case in earlier consideration of this item, delegations speaking on their own part have three minutes, delegations speaking on behalf of a group have four minutes, and the microphone will blink at 30 seconds. So, with that, I will pass the floor to Bahrain. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I deliver this statement on behalf of GCC countries, namely UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait, State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and my country, the Kingdom of Bahrain. We attach a special importance to protecting and promoting human rights. We believe that this is a joint responsibility that requires respect for international law and meeting international obligations and working on enhancing accountability. GCC countries have a significant history in working this and to decrease crisis and their consequences around the world. And this is based on the principles of Islam, which talk about brotherhood and cooperation. Therefore, we refer to Human Rights Council 61/1, which talks about human rights effects on of the on human rights for the attacks carried out by Iran against a number of countries in the region which was adopted in March through consensus this position clearly shows a solid position against the human rights consequences of such attacks. We reaffirmed the importance of what the resolution contained in terms of condemnation of the missile attacks and the attacks by drones, which targeted the territories of our countries and the resulting losses in human lives, in critical infrastructure and properties, including airports, oil facilities, energy facilities, desalination plants and civilian residential areas. emphasize that the consequences and implications of these attacks and Iranian threats go beyond our borders. They affect basic human rights, especially the right to food, because of threatening the free navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and the transit of fertilizer and other material necessary for agriculture. This was warned about by the Secretary-General and its consequences on everyone, including developing countries, which threatens the safety of millions of people. The resolution emphasized the immediate and unconditional cease of all attacks and unprovoked threats against our countries and for Iran to comply with its obligations under international law, including Resolution 2817 by the Security Council, which condemned the Iranian attacks through missiles and drones against the territories of our lands and those of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We emphasize that respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the prevention -- and preventing the use or threat of the use of power are the main principles for international peace and security maintenance. We also reaffirmed the right of states to collectively or individually defend themselves in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. And finally, in In conclusion, we call on the chair to undertake the responsibility in conducting the work of this committee, including ensuring the good conduct of delegations and interfering when there is any attack against any other country. Also, the point of order that was raised on behalf of the GCC countries was of a procedural nature because they were related to the conduct of this session and the application of its procedures. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank Bahrain for your comments. I have no other speakers on this item, thus the committee has concluded its general discussion on item 65. Just let me check something with the The committee will resume its consideration of agenda item 70, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and its sub-items A to D this afternoon at 3 pm sharp to hear statements by the special procedures mandate holders, chairs of treaty bodies, and other experts to encourage them in an interactive dialogue pursuant to the programme of work. The afternoon meeting will conclude at 5 pm. I have a delegation who has sought a right of reply. Let me remind all delegations that the right of reply has been requested, that a right of reply must be requested in accordance with rule 115 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. I should like to remind delegations that the number of interventions in exercise of the right of reply for any delegation at a given meeting should be limited to two per item. The first intervention should be limited to five minutes and the second to three minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly rejects the allegations made by Bahrain. We will not, however, dignify the inflammatory and legally unfounded remarks by the representative of Bahrain except by referring to our previous statements and formal communications to the Security Council and the Secretary-General. Those communications set out in detail the factual and legal basis of our position. The armed attacks launched against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran in late February and the subsequent use of certain regional territories and facilities for that aggression constitute a clear violation of the prohibition on the use of force under Article 2, paragraph 4 of the Charter of the United Nations. In response, the Islamic Republic of Iran has exercised its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter. Those measures taken have been necessary, proportionate and directed at the bases and facilities of the aggressors. Any attempt to invert the facts to mischaracterize lawful self-defense as aggression or to shield those who have facilitated the unlawful use of force against Iran is without legal merit and will not alter the applicable principles of international law. Thank you.

Thank you, Iran. The representative of Bahrain has asked to take the floor. Bahrain, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We reject once again the clear Iranian attacks to mislead the international community, distort the facts, and change them, and to put the responsibility on other parties. We stress that allegations regarding the responsibility of countries of the regions or the use of their territories in the frame of military operations do not absolve Iran from the responsibility in terms of international law. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of our countries are not subject to intimidation or threats, and the podiums of the United Nations should be a space for mutual respect and respect for the Charter. The Resolution 61/1 of the Human Rights Council, as well as resolution 2817 of the Security Council had condemned these dangerous attacks by Iran on our countries.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Bahrain. I have no other speakers seeking the floor. And with that, this meeting is adjourned to resume at 3:00 p.m. today. Thank you.