Third Committee, 18th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good morning, colleagues. May I ask that we take our seats and begin the meeting. The 18th meeting of the Third Committee at the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. I 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. The documentation under agenda item 70 and its sub-items is listed on iGov. I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under this agenda item is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 November. I first welcome the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Ms. Jeanna Romero. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press the microphone button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I thank you for your cooperation. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to make an introductory statement. Ms. Romero, you have the floor.

Thank you. Excellencies, I stand before you today while youth in Iran are being executed for participating in peaceful protest. While youth in India have been arbitrarily detained and mistreated in detention for raising their voices. While youth in Serbia are being surveilled for speaking truth to power. While youth in Kenya, Tanzania, Thailand, Indonesia, Chile, and Colombia are waiting for accountability and reparations for gross human rights violations in past protests. While youth in Nepal and Bangladesh are patiently waiting for adult-led reforms to deliver what they mobilized for. While youth in France, Belgium, Albania, Spain are demanding dignity, while youth worldwide are facing excessive police responses, while acting as the guardians of our conscience in the face of occupation, war, genocide, and environmental catastrophe. And the list continues. This is not the first time and won't be the last that youth serve as a catalyst for change. They have been on the front lines of pro-democracy movements for decades. Today, youth and Gen. Z activists are rising up against corruption, systemic abuses of power, failed public services, worsening inequality, and growing authoritarianism, opening vital spaces for democratic transformation worldwide. Although global, regional, and national commitments widely acknowledge the rights and contributions of young people, systemic gaps persist. Youth participation remains largely tokenistic. Youth is excluded from policy design and decision making. Moreover, they are left behind by development and bear the heaviest burden of compounding global economic, environmental, political, technological, and security crisis. El activismo juvenil enfrenta grandes.

Youth activism faces huge barriers. Youth is stigmatized, criminalized, often called ingenuous, manipulated with peaceful protesters, student strikes, blockades, often labeled threats to security. They face legal obstacles, including restrictive norms on registering impossibility to raise money and collect resources. Rather than facing protection, they face repression, violations of their rights, including arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force, and extrajudicial executions, with low levels of access to justice or reparations. They also face digital threats. digital space are essential to mobilize, but they also face state surveillance and discrimination based on age. Lastly, educational institutions that are historically centers of critical thinking are becoming hyper secure spaces marked by institutional violence and surveillance. Marginalized youth, in particular young women, LGBTIQ+ persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous youth and migrants face aggravated structural exclusion, coordinated disinformation, social exclusion and physical violence for young people.

It's A moral necessity to break the silence against injustice and to protect their rights, well-being and future. But youth activism goes far beyond public protest. It is continuous and constructive. Young people are driving community projects, leading student unions, drafting proposals, Policy proposals, delivering peer training, negotiation with authorities, preserving collective memory, and taking action in countless other ways. Their activism is former looking, pursuit of tangible community transformation, sharp decision making, and global solidarity. Define narratives that brand them as apathetic or lazy, their activism is deeply personal, political, values based, and rooted in life experiences. Young people are actively reimagining political participation. They favor fluid, decentralized networks and rapid horizontal action over rigid structures. In many cases, by adopting a digital-first approach, they have redefined assembly into a seamless continuum where digital and physical spaces reinforce each other. Their activism is intersectional and links climate, social, and economic justice into a unified struggle for rights. Youth activism involves an intense moral commitment that creates heavy pressure, often leading to mental health burnout. And society at large frequently misjudges movements as failures if they do not deliver immediate institutional reform. But this is a flawed metric. Reclaiming public space and taking participatory action to demand accountability, it's a victory itself. It serves as a vital arena for building political agency and democracy literacy.

I'm presenting six pillars to establish a framework that guarantees the legal recognition and institutional binding institutional participation. Providing real participation means sharing power with youths, involving them throughout the whole of the cycle of public policies in all areas, ensuring safe and inclusive civic spaces, protecting the digital civic space, including the participation of youths without limiting their rights, accountability for tech companies, recovering educational environments as centers for learning and democracy, and the practical exercise of rights and freedoms, and providing resources and autonomy for their administration, including structural support for wellbeing and safe, impassive meeting spaces to mitigate problems on mental health.

Recommendations for all sectors to ensure these pillars come to life. However, I want to highlight only two. First, stop talking about youth without having them in the table. And second, stop expecting youth to be soft, tidy and silent, where the present and future are being gambled away, and when repression, stigmatization, and criminalization is what they receive from institutions. I call on youth to sustain the peaceful nature of your activism and urge states to address youth concerns from early stages and to ensure their response is focused in dialogue and not in unnecessary use of force. I want to thank youth worldwide for persisting. Your action, commitment and sacrifice sustain our hope and must guide the outcome of our work. Thank you.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. I will now open the floor for questions or comments to Ms. Romero. As per past practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to three minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Latvia, to be followed by the representatives of Ireland and the Russian Federation. Latvia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I'm delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States. Special Rapporteur, we thank you for your report and the youth-informed recommendations. We agree that youth activism is essential, not only for the political participation of young people, but also for strong democracies, the sustainability of democratic institutions, and the protection of rights and freedoms. Ensuring open, safe, and enabling civic space, both online and offline, is a responsibility of states. Yet, civic space is increasingly under pressure across the globe, with arbitrary restrictions on the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association, undermining meaningful participation in public life. Young people are often at the forefront of civic engagement and, consequently, particularly exposed to these restrictions. All youth, regardless of gender, ability, or sexual orientation, must be able to participate in decisions that define their future. In the Nordic Baltic region, the annual Nordic Baltic Youth Summit is a crucial opportunity for young people to make their voices heard and play key roles in shaping the future. Madam Special Rapporteur, what measures should states prioritize? to ensure that youth participation goes beyond consultation and that young people's perspectives, including youth with disabilities or living in vulnerable situations, are systematically integrated in the policy design, implementation and the follow-up. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia and I'll give the floor to the representative of Ireland.

Thank you, Chair. Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the EU and thanks the Special Rapporteur for her report. Freedom of assembly and association are essential in ensuring the full enjoyment of civil and political rights. As the Special Rapporteur notes, young people around the globe are deeply engaged across a range of social and political questions, and it is vital that the right to exercise these freedoms is protected and upheld. We are concerned by the report's findings regarding patterns of excessive restriction or repression of youth activism, including the use of excessive force. Any restrictions to the freedom of peaceful assembly and association must comply with the state obligations under international human rights law. Ireland calls on states to maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society. and the protection and promotion of civic space will remain a priority as we take our seat on the Human Rights Council in 2027. We welcome the report's recommendation for States to give due consideration to the views of young people in decision-making. Ireland's participation of children and young people in decision-making action plan 2024-2028 requires all government departments and state agencies to include young people in decision-making. particularly in policy development and implementation. Special rapporteur, how can states ensure that the participation of young people in decision making is inclusive, accountable, and meaningful? I thank you.

Thank the representative of Ireland, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Distinguished chair, special rapporteur, we thank you for the report and detailed briefing on the topic. Freedom of assembly is an expression of democratic principles in modern times to be protected not only within the state, but also from attempts from the outside to put pressure on people, including youth, on their right to associate and express their views, including through taking part in elections. The September parliamentary elections held in Russia were conducted under heavy external pressure and provocations, and I'm sure they deserve the rapporteur's special attention. It's important to note that the main source of pressure on the elections organizers in Russia and the very voting process itself was a state in which the last local elections took place six years ago, parliamentary elections seven years ago, presidential elections seven and a half years ago. I'm talking about Ukraine, where the president has lingered in power by two and a half years beyond his constitutional term of office. But it seems that this has become a thorn in his side. prompting him to try to exert pressure by every possible means on democratic processes in a neighboring state. During the elections, attacks by Ukrainian fighters on civilian objects in Russia's border regions reached their peak with up to 1,200 strikes per day. Over the several days of voting, 74 buildings were damaged in these attacks that were involved in the electoral process, in the preparations for the elections, the counting of results, seven members of local election commissions were killed. Aren't these violations I have just told you about sufficient grounds for the Special Rapporteur to take note of these facts and to provide an independent and impartial evaluation? We believe it's important to insist that this unprecedented situation aimed at disrupting our elections and obstructing the free expression of will of our citizens should be scrutinized and examined in detail. Ignoring such acts will only lead to the further scaling up of impunity and attempts to to influence democracy through military and terrorist means. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland, to be followed by Cuba and Switzerland. Poland, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Poland aligns with the EU statement. We thank Madam Special Rapporteur for her important work and for drawing attention in the recent report to the challenges of young persons to exercise their fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Young activism is an essential component of democratic life. Young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow, they are rights holders and agents of change today. Yet in many parts of the world, young activists continue to face disproportionate barriers to participation. These include restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, intimidation, arbitrary detention, online harassment, and criminalization of peaceful dissent. Protecting youth requires not only preventing repression, but also creating an enabling environment in which young people can organize freely and participate effectively in public life. We are particularly concerned that participation of young people is too often treated as a formal exercise rather than a meaningful opportunity to influence decisions. Madam Special Rapporteur, how can the international community better support youth organizations and movements, particularly operating in shrinking civil spaces, and ensure that our young activists are protected against intimidation, reprisals, and the misuse of digital technologies. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Poland, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Special Rapporteur must stick to their code of conduct, show probity and professionalism, and ensure that they are not influenced by third parties. We reiterate our respectful appeal to the special rapporteur to check her sources and not be led astray by individuals distorting the noble cause of human rights. or making it a platform for politically motivated campaigns against countries. We reiterate our willingness to cooperate constructively with UN human rights mechanisms, as long as they are applied in a universal, non-biased and non-discriminatory manner. Cuban youth play a fundamental role in all aspects of the political and social life of our country, including in the area of human rights and the democratic popular participation in electoral processes, referenda and legislative consultations, among others. The Code of Youth, Adolescence and Adolescence strengthens the rights of our youth. In the last year, marked by an unprecedented ratcheting up of the blockade against Cuba, with a huge impact on Cuban youth. The Cuban youth network has emerged to engage in social action, production, cultural aspects and solidarity. Madam Chair, unlike other countries, the rapporteur didn't mention the sources that she had for reports on Cuba, in line with our domestic legislation and international obligations, we continue to guarantee peaceful association and assembly, including for youth. Like in all countries with the rule of law, we must apply the law when it is broken. And we will not stop calling out the manipulation for political purposes of human rights. We will continue to call upon mandate holders to work on criteria that enable them to preserve their credibility and legitimacy. Thank you very much.

Thank the representative of Cuba, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Madame Chair, Switzerland thanks Special Rapporteur for her report and her tangible recommendations, and also commends the broad consultations with the youth in preparation for that report. The protests by Gen. Z around the world demonstrate a desire for justice, inclusion, and accountability. Young people are not only asking to be heard, but also to participate in the decisions that shape the future. Petter Lind emphasizes the importance of protecting their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including on university campuses and in the digital space. Arbitrary restrictions on social media, digital surveillance, and obstacles to student associations undermine this participation. As chair of the Freedom Online Coalition, Switzerland reaffirms its commitment to a free, open and safe digital space. Beyond protests, as you mentioned, it is essential to build bridges between youth movements and decision-making processes in order to foster sustainable structural change without compromising the autonomy of their movements. How can states institutionalize meaningful youth participation in political decision making while ensuring that young people can continue to organize freely and protest without facing reprisals, either online or offline? Thank you.

I thank the representative of Switzerland. And I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom, to be followed by India and Germany. The United Kingdom, you have the floor.

Thank you, Special Rapporteur. The United Kingdom welcomes your report on youth activism and participation. We agree that freedom of peaceful assembly and of association is vital for open.

Democratic and resilient societies and essential for enabling young people to participate meaningfully in public life.

We therefore share your concern that young people continue to face disproportionate barriers to public participation, including intimidation, discrimination and violence. This is occurring within a global trend of increasingly contested civic space, both online and offline, as authoritarian governments and actors seek to silence dissent.

The UK condemns these actions and the misuse of laws created to regulate foreign.

Funding and influence as attempts to delegitimise civil society.

The UK is proud to co-chair the Lighthouse Fund, providing protection for human rights.

Defenders under threat, and the Open Government Partnership champions civic space, inclusive public participation and accountable governance.

Special Rapporteur, what more can governments and civil society do together to promote an enabling environment for civil.

Society and the meaningful participation of young people.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the UK, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Madam Chair, India takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association. In India, these freedoms, together with freedom of speech and expression, are guaranteed to every citizen under Article 19 of our constitution, and are protected by an independent judiciary, a free press, and an empowered national human rights commission. Yet, the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Gina Romero, asserts that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatization for discussing mental health or gender justice, though merely citing unnamed submissions in the footnote. This level of arbitrary report writing is precisely the reason that the United Nations and its institutions have lost credibility. A sweeping charge against the world's largest youth population, resting on anonymous and unverified claims, is not evidence. It is hearsay dressed up as a UN report, and my delegation rejects it outright. Ironically, the same report notes that young Indians created a satirical political movement. In which repressive state does a satirical youth party questions the government, marches on the capital, and then sits across the table with senior national leaders? The High Commissioner for Human Rights stated in the Human Rights Council last month that dialogue with young leaders is far more effective in the context of youth-led movement in India. Perhaps that update escaped the special reporter's attention. When students protested this summer over irregularities in public examinations, the government engaged constructively with the youth. Within weeks, Parliament amended the Public Examinations Act, doubling punishments for paper leaks, carried out systemic examination overhaul, and created fast track courts in every state, specifically dedicated to prosecuting individuals involved in exam fraud. This is the true testament of democracy in action. Youth represents our strength and shared future. In the words of our Prime Minister, youth's capability will become India's capability, and their success will take India's success to new heights. Over 5 million young people took part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue this year, shaping national priorities directly with the Prime Minister. Several ministers, including Honorable Prime Minister, continue to engage with youth of our country directly and through social media. Chair, a mandate holder who relies on anonymous inputs to generalize for 1.4 billion people does a disservice to the very mandate she holds. We urge the Special Rapporteur to verify before she vilifies and to bring the required rigor and fairness in her reports. I thank you.

I thank the representative of India, and I'll give the floor next to the representative of Germany.

Thank you, Chair. Germany thanks the Special Rapporteur for insightful briefing and welcomes the focus of this year's report on youth activism. We strongly support the freedom of peaceful assembly and association as a fundamental pillar to democratic societies. Young people must have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in public life, make their voices heard, and help shape the decisions that will affect their future. We take note that Germany is mentioned in this year's report. Allow me to reaffirm our strong commitment to the freedom of peaceful assembly and association. This freedom is protected by the German Constitution as a fundamental right. At the same time, this freedom is not guaranteed without limitations. Where public order is at risk, authorities may intervene within these limits. Safeguards include an independent judicial review of any intervention by the authorities to ensure their compliance with international human rights law and national laws. Youth activists play a crucial role in bringing their perspectives into public debate, holding decision makers accountable and driving positive change. helping to ensure that democracy remain inclusive and responsive to the needs and expectations of present and future generations. Madame Special Rapporteur, what concrete measures can member states take to better engage young people from policy formulation through implementation, evaluation, and tracking? Thank you.

I thank the representative of Germany, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel, to be followed by Afghanistan and Morocco. Israel, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The State of Israel takes note of the report. As a strong democracy, Israel is committed to the freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. These fundamental rights are the cornerstones of Israeli society and are rigorously protected by its legal system and independent judiciary. It is precisely because of this commitment that Israel must address the clear methodological flaws and inherent bias in the document before us. In several cases, the report distorts cited documents to serve a preconceived agenda. The report lacks a clear standard for how sources were verified and relies on anonymous testimonies. Israel categorically rejects the baseless allegations leveled against it. The arrests and law enforcement operations are conducted strictly for criminal offenses, violence, or involvement in terrorism, and not for political activism or the expression of opinion. The report's attempt to blur the lines between terrorism, incitement, and peaceful protests is both dangerous and unacceptable. Furthermore, the State of Israel views with great concern the manner in which this report dismisses the rising tide of anti-Semitism on university campuses worldwide. The report frames efforts to protect Jewish students as a mere excuse to suppress protests. This narrative legitimizes harassment and exclusion within academic spaces. Protecting students from violence and bullying is not suppression. It is a fundamental legal and moral obligation. This biased report, alongside the Special Rapporteur's public statements, raises serious doubts about her objectivity as a UN mandate holder. Israel calls upon this committee to reject the exploitation of professional mandates to advance political agendas. The State of Israel will continue to safeguard and protect the freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Thank you, Chair.

We thank the representative of Israel. I'll now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Afghanistan.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We thank Ms. Romiro for her briefings. Peaceful assembly, international solidarity, and truth, justice, and reparations are inseparable. People must be able to express their legitimate concerns, demand their rights, receive support, and obtain redress. In Afghanistan, these principles are systematically denied. The Taliban's new police law prohibits demonstrations. In September, at least six people were detained for protesting. the closure of a university serving the Shia community. Between July and September, UNAMA documented at least 443 arbitrary arrests and detentions and 97 incidents of ill-treatment by morality enforcement personnel of the Taliban. Afghan youth face shrinking educational opportunities, unemployment, and exclusion from decisions shaping their future. The expansion of Taliban-controlled jihadi madrassas raises grave concerns about the madrasa-ization of education and ideological indoctrination, entrenching intolerance and gender discrimination. Young Afghans need comprehensive education, critical thinking, and opportunities to contribute to peace. They must be empowered as agents of change with a meaningful role in shaping Afghanistan's future. International solidarity must mean standing with the Afghan people, especially women and girls excluded from education and public life. Engagement must deliver measurable improvement in their rights and must never legitimize and institutionalize discrimination. Truth, justice, and reparations require sustained documentation, preservation of evidence, protection of victims, witnesses, and support for independent accountability mechanisms. Survivors must help shape these efforts. Reconciliation cannot rest on enforced silence or impunity. We urge support for Afghan civic space, human rights defenders, and an inclusive Afghan-led process, political process, with meaningful participation by women, youth, civil society, and democratic forces. My question to Ms. Romero is, how can your mandate jointly protect Afghan civic actors and young people, address indoctrination, and ensure victims' demands shape international engagement? I thank you.

I thank the representative of Afghanistan, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The modalities for the participation of youth in the public space are, well, if, well, political, electoral participation remains an important tool of a representative democracy, new forms of expression show the way that youth can participate in collective decisions and establishing public policies. The Kingdom of Morocco is pursuing its efforts to create conducive conditions for enhanced youth participation inside institutions as well as in spaces for citizens dialogue. In terms of electoral participation, financial support mechanisms have been set up to encourage young men and women candidates, covering 75% of independent campaigns. These measures seek to facilitate youth access to elections and contribute to the renewal of our politics. This support is complemented with youth political parties that continue to train and mobilize youth while facilitating their integration in political life. These efforts are echoed in the institutional representation of young people. Following the legislative elections that took place in September 2026, the proportion of MPs under 35 in the Chamber of Representatives reached close to 10%, the global average according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. In addition to that institutional participation, we are seeking to develop new spaces for citizens' participation, in particular in the digital sphere. In 2018, the national platform provided associations and civil society actors with the possibility of submitting petitions, recommendations and important suggestions on public policy. They are thus contributing to diversifying dialogue between citizens and institutions. willingness to enable more participation from youth is part of our new development model. National consultations have been organized with youth and high school students in order to listen to their aspirations, concerns and their perspectives for the future. Madam Chair, all of these initiatives shows Morocco's commitment that youth is an important part of the present and the future of our society. Thank you very much.

Morocco, I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union.

Thank you, Chair. On behalf of the EU and its member states, I thank the Special Rapporteur for her thorough report, and we welcome its focus on youth activism and meaningful participation. Young people have an important role to play in all societies, and their voices and perspectives should be meaningfully reflected in public life and decision or policy making. Ensuring that they can freely associate, peacefully assemble, and participate in civic life contributes to democratic, open, inclusive, and resilient societies. We are therefore concerned by the persistent barriers faced by young human rights defenders, including stigmatization, criminalization of peaceful dissent, and excessive restrictions on students' civic participation. We are particularly alarmed by the misuse of national security laws and counter-terrorism frameworks to silence legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms. We also share your concern about growing threats in the digital sphere. Surveillance, internet shutdowns, and arbitrary restrictions on social media can have a profound chilling effect on young people's participation, particularly for those from marginalized groups. Meaningful participation must go beyond consultation. Young people must have safe and inclusive spaces to organize and genuine opportunities to influence decisions that affect them. Madam Special Rapporteur, given the increasingly central role of digital platforms in youth activism, How can states best protect young activists from digital surveillance and other online threats, while ensuring that measures aimed at online safety do not unduly restrict the freedoms of assembly and association? I thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union, and I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Madam Chair, We look forward to continue Turkey's constructive engagement with Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in advancing the promotion and protection of human rights through dialogue and cooperation. However, we regret that there is a particular reference in the report A/81/186 to the civil society in Turkey. Civil society is an integral part of Turkish democracy. Representatives of civil society are also actively involved in the comprehensive reform processes carried out in Turkey aiming at strengthening democracy, promoting respect for human rights and consolidating the rule of law. Our constitutional system is based on the equality of individuals without discrimination. Article 10 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law, irrespective of language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect or any other such considerations. This implies that all individuals enjoy the same rights and have the same obligations without discrimination. This article also stipulates and promotes positive discrimination for women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities. In addition to the Constitution, various laws specifically recognize the equality of all persons before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds. Persons claiming to have faced discrimination can launch an application before the Ombudsman institution as well as the Human Rights of human rights and equality institution which has a specific mandate with regard to the prevention of discrimination in addition to seeking remedies before the judiciary. In this regard, we would appreciate receiving additional and concrete information regarding the submissions concerning Turkey in the said report of Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Turkey. I now give the floor to the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Ms. Gina Romero.

Well, thank you again for all the interventions. I'm going to put my, okay, how long do I have? 10 minutes. 10, okay. So, well, thanks again for all the comments and questions. About the participation of of of youth that could be meaningful and traceable. The report includes a couple of pillars with very concrete recommendations on on these. I think that perhaps we can try to. can try to go to some of the good practices that have been uh have been mentioned some of them have been mentioned in the uh report or others that act other actions that you have been uh also mentioning uh but first thing I I think that there are several windows of opportunities to strengthen a more a meaningful participation of Jews in many different uh levels so one strengthening of shared governance in educational settings are good options and I think that these not not only includes university but also school settings. This is something that could also be reinforced in many different contexts. The second one is also related to just participation in more institutional ways, like for example, youth councils. Many different youth from different contexts have mentioned how youth councils are desirable practice. So some countries, some youth want to have like institutionalized youth councils, but in some other places where youth councils are institutionalized, they also, youth have questions about their real meaningful participation in these councils, especially if they are only consultative. So perhaps we can just open up again this idea of having youth councils that are elected by youth, that represent youth in their wide diversity and how these can be involved in all the decision-making process, for example, in political and public policy decisions and legislative developments. Also, for example, participatory budgeting has been proved in the past to be impactful and efficient to promote meaningful participation. That can be led by youth in specific projects or also through participation in general budgeting, not only participatory. Those exercises need to be promoted. The report is very clear that, at some point, we need to take off the participation of Jews only from these youth silos, right? So sometimes youth are called to be to to call for their inputs on, for example, sports or culture and not in the in in more bigger areas like main decisions on education or what is happening around elections or what is happening also for example in in in other more more hard topics like security or finances. There are others other very experiences, like for example, the youth ambassadors to international organizations. This is something I've been studying because I had a lot of conversations with youth ambassadors to the UN. And I think that this is something that can be replicated also in, for example, local councils and local parliaments and so on and so forth. All these need to come with a real power sharing. Otherwise, they create more frustration than real solutions. I can't remember who asked about the technological impacts of youth in youth, and then also how to actually just advance on the protection of youth in tech at the same time that is protecting also the rights of assembly and of association. And then I need to say several things. One, the risks are real. I mean, internet has risks. But protective responses cannot create more harm. And I really need to bring up all these social media bans that are being adopted in so many countries, including in the EU, in EU countries. So these age social media bans are not only impossible to fully enforce, but also it creates a wider surveillance for an early age, for example, with the use of biometrics, and also pushes due to unregulated internet that are less safe and unsafe physical spaces. So responsibility cannot only be in the hands of users. Even parents are completely hooked up with social media. So we need mainly to be accountable or held accountable to companies, accountability for inequality design, for digital violence, for arbitrary content moderation. And tech must be safe by design, and harm designs need to be changed. taking into account safety and rights and freedoms above profit. There will need to be programs for better use, intergenerational interchange, support for additive use, including from parents, and mental health impacts, including from online surveillance. I need to address these questions about the sources that I used. I didn't include one single anonymous sources. don't have the sources in the document is because youth are afraid of the retaliations that they can have for sending information to me. I read all 190 submissions that I received, and some of those submissions were sent by youth as young as 15. And then some of those literally say that they didn't want their names. to be disclosed because they were afraid of the retaliations. So this is something that is very important. So I didn't deal with anonymous sources. And then I did actually a confirmation of these sources because I did also consultations, interviews, and I've been talking with Jews since I took the mandate. I think that I included a number in the report with over 500 Jews have been talking. About the question by Israel, listen, I have not received one single submission from an Israeli youth that feel that he has been or he or she has been affected in the rights in in campuses I did a a thorough review in in at the end of 2024 of all the allegations that I had for violence against Jews and the violation of rights of assembly and of Association in in in um in campuses I actually reached out directly to several Jewish associations in universities and got zero respond So please don't tell me that I'm not including information that I don't receive because I can't include it because I don't receive it. About Russia and Cuba, I wonder, I really wonder why when youth think different to the people in power, the first thing that you say is that they are being manipulated by somebody else. They actually have the possibility to understand that the regime in where they are living is not respectful of rights and freedoms. And therefore, they need to also be listened to. And all these considerations need to be addressed. And also, the dreams that they have for their own countries need to be addressed. About India and Turkey, I know it's a little bit weird because, for example, for Turkey, Turkey says that the country, the government respects the rights of assembly and association, but then we have seen what has been happening with the associations and activism, all LGBTIQ actors whose organizations have been raided, dissolved, and the people have been even arrested only for exercising the rights of assembly and association. So, DNI, I don't understand Where is this right, the respect of the right of association in Turkey? And about India, I know that there are several, India is the biggest democracy in the world. So I know that they have several participatory bodies and scenarios to include the voices of youth, but also we have youth in the streets protesting. And also these youth have been mistreated. These youth have been faced with violence, excessive use of force, less lethal weapons, some of these youth, especially in the last, in the more recent protests, have been actually mistreated and subjected even to ill treatment in the context of the tension. So at the end, I know that things can happen at the same time, but if you want youth to be meaningfully involved, you can only involve only one part of this youth. You need to involve them all. I need to, I would like to take this last minute to also complain about two things. One is the second time that I come to this assembly and I see so many empty chairs and I think that this is very problematic I mean we are here trying to also work for you and to present some of our recommendations of the work that we do so please just I wish next time the room is is full and and second I I really regret that we special rapporteurs are still in a in under attack the special rapporteur Francesca Albanese couldn't come because she couldn't get a visa and then she still faces reprises for the work that she so diligently do. One another last comment, I wish I could have more words in the reports to actually include more of all the sources and all the information that you request, but every year we get less number of words. So this is also a problem when you want us to be not biased, but then we don't have the space, the words also to put the information there that can ensure you that our work is unbiased and independent. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Special Rapporteur. I next welcome the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, Ms. Cecilia Belliot. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button within the next three minutes. after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I thank you for your cooperation. I now invite the Independent Experts on Human Rights and International Solidarity to make an introductory statement. Ms. Bellio, you have the floor.

Ms. Vice President, ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, it is a true honor for me to present my third report to the UN General Assembly titled Women and International Solidarity. So women are often at the forefront of international solidarity actions. At a time in which states are reducing social welfare guarantees in order to fund militarization for endless wars, We witness that climate change cataclysms are increasing, that global inequality is unparalleled, and our youth face despair over the threat of AI singularity. Women are leading solidarity calls for the inclusion of all persons in the enjoyment of their rights, including labor rights, access to health care, the right to education, access to housing, protection of migrants and minorities, access to a clean, healthy environment, and the right to peace. Nevertheless, there is a significant backlash against women's rights. Women are experiencing political, legal, and economic disempowerment at a level that may itself be considered a threat to peace. This presentation will explain the regression of women's equality in practice. Then it will give examples of women's solidarity actors. It will explain the link between solidarity and care. And then it will highlight the risks they face, and I will give some examples of my recommendations to the states. My report confirms that even though national constitutions and other legislation may guarantee women's equality on paper, in practice, many women are unable to access justice due to a denial of legal aid, as well as the failure of the state to reverse the burden of proof in discrimination cases. International solidarity with and by women is contingent on the enjoyment by civil society of the right to engage in freedom of expression and association in person and online. And I celebrate the wide range of women's solidarity initiatives promoted around the world, and I will give some examples. There are several women's solidarity consortiums, such as the African Women's Development and Communication Network that helps to promote sustainable supply chains and train women in human rights and environmental law. ACT Alliance engages to counter the backlash against women's rights, including the sexual and reproductive health, and it's actually led by faith-based actors in a transformative process to pursue gender justice. In Indonesia, women's organizations have formed coalitions addressing intersectoral issues such as social justice, violence against women, environmental protection, indigenous people's rights, and migrant and labor rights. La Red de Mujeres por el Trabajo Justo.

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For garment workers between Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Central America. And there are also spontaneous actions, such as Afghani women protesting in front of the Iranian embassy in conjunction with Women, Life, and Freedom movement. I wish to highlight the relationship between solidarity and care. Feminist solidarity incorporates engagement in care work. It's the acceptance of responsibility for others and the pursuit of social transformation. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued an advisory opinion calling for the protection of care workers from deportation and guarantees of labor protection. An ecofeminist approach would incorporate policy of care for all forms of life within a territory based on the recognition of interdependence, solidarity, and horizontal relationships. Examples include the Women Creating Community Group of Bolivia, which has developed the notion of body territory resistance against extractivism. In Sudan, women lead community initiatives to provide food for affected families through what are locally known as Takaya community kitchens in many places. And these initiatives have become the only reliable source of food for thousands of families who have lost their incomes because of an endless internationalized war maintained by a flood of weapons and war economy. In Nepal, the feminist Dalit organization is run by Dalit women who work towards the elimination of caste, ethnic, class, geographic, and gender-based discrimination. And in Kenya, the Center of Rights Education and the Federation of Women Lawyers have led a campaign against gender violence. And similar approaches have been used in Uganda, in Nigeria, and Mozambique. And in Austria, the Girls in Politics program provides civic education that include women and girls with migrant backgrounds. And the women law students of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico tackle structural violence affecting women. Women judges have contributed as international solidarity leaders within international courts to provide that jurisprudence that is both emancipatory and empowering. Women's participation in peace negotiations, peace building, and redistribution of resources is an area in which there remains much need for improvement. In Ghana, women participate in the peace-building efforts within the UN, African Union, and Economic Community of Western African States. Building on resolutions following Security Council Resolution 1325, there remains a need to ensure that women participate in deciding how the economic wealth from mining will be distributed within society. It's important to identify some of the risks faced by women solidarity actors. I am concerned that international solidarity activism performed by women may be wrongfully classified by states as acts that undermine national sovereignty and can result in criminalization and incarceration. They experience raids without warrants, surveillance, doxing, travel bans, smear campaigns, defamation, cyberbullying, criminal prosecution without due process, and assassination. The extent of anti-gender mobilization has prompted self-censorship among women solidarity actors. We see that targeted women are leaving politics, they are leaving journalism, they are leaving academia and advocacy work. I will now highlight some of my key recommendations to the states. We need to strengthen international solidarity coalitions and networks for women. And I call on all states to adopt feminist foreign policies supporting the self-determination of women and their rights to equality, non-discrimination, and inclusion, as well as their right to peace. I also call on states to create gender equality seminars for government officials, for judges, universities, the police, and other institutions to identify best practices and design effective remedies for violations of gender equality. And it's absolutely urgent that governments pursue corporate accountability for the online attacks and the harassment against the women solidarity actors. And further, states should provide early warning mechanisms, responsive legal aid, digital literacy and information. And I call for ensuring access to asylum for women international solidarity activists. There was a time when women led governments demonstrated international solidarity for women in other countries through feminist foreign policies. However, these policies are now receding, and they're often being replaced by renewed militarism and extraction of natural resources to the detriment of both environment and women's human rights. The international community is challenged to reinvigorate emancipatory international solidarity strategies that will dismantle patriarchal power hierarchies that perpetuate economies of violence and exploitation. It was inspiring and humbling to learn about the broad range of women's international solidarity organizations, and State would be wise to follow their leadership and increase their participation on behalf of all humanity and future generations. So I'm very happy to respond to your questions and comments now. Thank you very much.

I thank the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity. I will now open the floor for questions or comments to Ms. Belliot. As per past practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to three minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria, to be followed by Uganda and Brazil. Nigeria, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Nigeria thanks the independent expert for her report on women and international solidarity. Across our communities, women mediate disputes, support displaced families, and help rebuild livelihood after conflicts. Their contribution demonstrates why women's participation must be central to to efforts to achieve sustainable peace. Nigeria's Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security seeks to strengthen women's inclusion in conflict prevention, peace building, and decision making while improving protection for women and girls. It provides a framework for bringing their experience and priorities into peace and security efforts. Meaningful participation also requires education and economic opportunities. Through the Nigeria for Women program and the Adolescent Girl Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, Nigeria is supporting women's livelihood and addressing barriers to girls' education. These efforts help strengthen the ability to contribute to community and national development. However, poverty, insecurity, violence and limited access to resources continue to constrain women's contribution. International solidarity should therefore provide practical support through predictable financing, capacity building and exchanges for experiences, particularly for women in conflict-affected rural and underserved communities. Such cooperation should support national priorities and agreed international obligations, working with women's organizations, families and communities. Nigeria remains committed to partnerships that strengthen women's participation, protect their rights and translate their contribution into more inclusive development and lasting peace. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Nigeria, and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uganda.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to the briefing from Ms. Baile, independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, to whom we pledge our support in the fulfillment of her mandate. International solidarity and human rights, including their protection and promotion, are fundamental and historic values upon which the Non-Aligned Movement is based. As stated in the Declaration on the Purposes and Principles and the Role of Our Movement in the Current International Juncture, solidarity is a fundamental component of relations among nations in all circumstances. The NAM recognizes that solidarity is the highest expression of respect, friendship and peace among states, which is a broad concept encompassing the sustainability of international relations, the peaceful coexistence and the transformative objectives of equity and empowerment of developing countries whose ultimate goal is to achieve the full economic and social development of their peoples. We reiterate that their determination that if any member of the movement suffers harm, whether this is economic, political or military in nature, or in terms of security, as well as from the politicization of human rights, or if a Member suffers harm as a result of the imposition of unilateral sanctions or embargoes, the Movement should express its solidarity with the affected country through the provision of political, moral, material and other forms of assistance. To this end, NAM will continue to review the Movement's existing mechanisms and explore new mechanisms for rendering such assistance, if necessary. The movement reaffirmed its opposition to all unilateral coercive measures, including those measures used as tools for political or economic and financial pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, which violates the Charter of the United Nations and principles of international law, and that under no circumstance should people be deprived of their own means of subsistence and development. At this time, we are consistent and guided by the Movement's principled positions. We agreed, among other things, to initiate further vigorous, transparent and inclusive initiatives to achieve the realization of multilateral cooperation in the areas of economic development and social progress, peace and security, and human rights for all under the rule of law, including through enhancing the Movement's unity, solidarity and cohesiveness on issues of collective concern and interests. To conclude, the NAM reaffirms its commitment to achieve international cooperation based on solidarity among peoples and in solving international problems of a political, economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Uganda. I give the floor next to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Madam President.

Brazil appreciates the timely report of the Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Ms. Cecilia Bailliet. We express our deep concern over the ongoing global backlash against women's rights and persistent attempts at their political, economic, and legal disempowerment. In particularly, we firmly condemn recent calls questioning women's fundamental right to vote. Brazil believes that civil society participation through international solidarity is essential to advancing women's empowerment and securing their rights. We welcome the report's recognition of Brazil's vibrant society in strengthening community resilience, and we reiterate our commitment to protecting vulnerable groups, including women and LGBTQIA+ persons in all their diversity. Protecting fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and association, is a prerequisite for meaningful society engagement. For that reason, we are very concerned with political gender-based violence, particularly in the digital sphere, which threatens and restricts civic space. Mindful of that situation, a group of countries, including Brazil, organized a side event during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council on freedom of expression and women empowerment. We hope this issue remains at the forefront of the multilateral agenda. Furthermore, we stress that care work must be fully recognized, valued, and redistributed to achieve genuine gender equality. We support multilateral initiatives aimed at raising public awareness and action on the care economy. My delegation would like to pose a question to the independent expert.

From your perspective, what best practices?

Can be deployed to translate international gender solidarity into political empowerment, particularly in entrenched patriarchal societies.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali, to be followed by Cuba and the Russian Federation. Mali, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. The African Group aligned itself with the statement delivered by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Group thanks the Independent Expert for her report. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights makes the right to development a right of peoples. Agenda 2023 rests on self-reliance and an integrated continent, and in the past decade, the continent has built its owned instrument, the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa CDC, and the pooled procurement that carried the continent through the pandemic and the African risk capacity that ensures states against droughts and cyclones. This is solidarity as an obligation between equals, not a charity. The group is deeply concerned by the declining trends that risk undermining international solidarity and collective responsibility towards Africa. Development assistance is falling. Humanitarian appeals for African crises are funded at a fraction of needs. Debt servicing consumes revenue that should go to social economic development, and technology must be on borders rather than across them. Solidarity that depends on the goodwill of the moment is withdrawn at the moment it is needed. Madam Chair, the group will welcome the insights of of the Special Rapporteur on how does the revised draft declaration propose to make solidarity a duty that can be measured with obligation that survive a change of budgets or of governments, and what place does it give to SASSAF cooperation? The group look forward to constructively engage on upcoming works within our mandate. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Mali and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Cuba attaches the highest level of importance to the important role of international solidarity and the role it must play in the promotion and protection of human rights, strictly in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. We support the recognition of international solidarity as a right of peoples and individuals, insisting on the need to increase international solidarity in a context of growing crisis and an increase in inequality gaps between the richest and poorest countries. Madam Chair, international solidarity is an essential part of the practice of the Cuban Revolution. There are many examples of this. One of the most recent was the COVID-19 pandemic, where Cuba supported 42 countries and territories in tackling this disease. We had more than 58 specialized Cuban medical brigades whose sent many professionals from Cuban healthcare, many of whom were women, who worked in 66 nations as part of the Cuban medical cooperation brigades sent by our country. Despite contributing to the well-being of many people across the planet, we face a ferocious campaign against Cuban medical cooperation, which is a general UN example of South-South and international cooperation. The United States have blocked and imperiled access to millions of people across the world to healthcare services in, um, opposing this. Madam Chair, Cuba faces a criminal, um, blockade imposed by the United States. The energy siege is one of the cruelest faces of this. The sanctions increased against the island in 2026, in addition to the ones that already existed, are affecting not only our international cooperation, but also our reception of help from other countries. So we'd like to ask the expert about her opinion on the impact of unilateral coercive measures and the energy siege in the context of international solidarity. Thank you.

Representative of Cuba, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam Chair, distinguished experts, thank you for the detailed briefing. On October 31, 2000, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. Its goal was to improve the status of women that have become victims of war, equality between men and women, in conflict and equal access of women to the peace process. Russia remains committed to these goals. In my view, humanitarian consequences of conflicts are especially keenly felt by women. It is these consequences that are being suffered by women who lived and are living in Donbass. In 2014, women as well as men in the southeast of Ukraine were branded as terrorists because they wished to speak their native language, Russian, go to Orthodox church, and to remember their history. At that time, Kyiv, seized by a coup d'etat in a response to peaceful protests by Donbas inhabitants, unleashed a full-scale war against them using tanks, aircraft, and heavy artillery. Today, these events, which bear every hallmark of genocide committed by the Ukrainian coup leaders, is being considered in by the ICJ, where Kiev is a respondent in a case involving violations of the Convention on Genocide. The continuing conflict is especially relevant to the fates of women on both sides of the war, as the reserve of draftable men in Kiev is for Kiev is being depleted. We're hearing calls for conscripting women as well, sending them to the front lines. The Kyiv regime is not batting an eye at sending the entire gene pool of the Ukrainian people to its destruction just to serve its masters. There are many women now trapped in a blockade created by Ukrainian fighters in Oleshky, and this siege is made possible by the flow of lies spread by Kyiv. On one hand, they pretend to care about the humanitarian situation, and on the other hand, they are laying mines on the road leading to the city. There is now dialogue between the presidents of Russia and the U.S. to create a women's channel of communication between First Lady Melania Trump of the U.S. and the Russian human rights ombudswoman, Yana Lantrotova. We hope that this women's solidarity will help ensure that humanity prevails over the senseless use of any means possible to achieve Ukrainian goals, which has which is holding women, children, and defenseless people hostage. Russia has defended and will defend true gender equality, as well as improving their socioeconomic position and protecting them from the consequences of armed conflict. Thank you.

Thank you, representative of the Russian Federation. And I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China, followed by Algeria. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

China takes note of the.

Report of the Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity and appreciates its recognition of the contributions made by women as agents of solidarity. Women are a vital force for social development and progress. The Chinese government, through a people-centered approach to development, continuously promotes gender equality and women's full development. It strives to provide enabling environment, opportunities, and safeguards for women's empowerment to ensure that modernization benefits women more fully and equitably. The outline for women's development in China 2021-2030 includes women's participation in decision-making and management with a focus on strengthening.

Support for such participation and removing barriers.

China is committed.

To safeguarding and improving women's well-being through development and accelerating the establishment of a multi-tiered social security system, women's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security continues to grow. As a responsible major country and a member of the Global South, China supports further UN efforts to advance women's rights and enable women to play their unique role in national and international solidarity. We stand ready to work with all parties to build broad consensus and strong synergy to advance women's development.

Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of China, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation welcomes the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity and thanks her for the insightful presentation. Algerian women have always been active actors of solidarity and progress. During our glorious revolution of liberation, they contributed to the struggle for independence and the writing of our national history. Today, they continue to play an important role in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of our country. This progress is reflected in our constitution. Article 68 promotes parity between men and women in the labor market and encourages women's access to positions of responsibility. In this regard, the election of a woman as a president of the People's National Assembly in July 2026 marks a history first in Algeria. Furthermore, Algeria's commitment to protecting women is enshrined in Article 14 of its Constitution, which guarantees their protection against all forms of violence in public, professional, and private settings. This commitment has been translated into concrete actions through the launch of Himayati, Algeria's first national platform of its kind, providing women victims of violence with a secure means to report abuse, seek support, and access the appropriate protection and assistance services. Madam Chair, to conclude, we pay tribute to women living under occupation who continue to defend their people's legitimate right to self-determination. Their resilience reminds us that solidarity must translate into concrete support for freedom, dignity, and independence. Algeria remains committed to working with the international community to make solidarity a tangible reality for all peoples. And thank you.

I thank the representative of Algeria. I now give the floor to the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, Ms. Cecilia, you have the floor.

Thank you very much for the interventions. In terms of implementing solidarity in a practical way, the starting point is nonviolence. Peace cannot be achieved by the meeting of elite women at the very top. We need a complete ceasefire, and we need women at all levels in communities, in corporations, in faith institutions, to meet to discuss how to build sustainable peace. This is the only way forward. Immediate ceasefire. The second thing is the position on the UCM. So I support the General Assembly vote that happens every year. This issue is very clear. We can't have sanctions that are not in accordance with the UN Charter. That is illegal. The regarding What do we do with entrenched societies that are not open to gender equality? Well, look at the women who are within the governments of these societies. We once had a very famous minister of health who was known as the minister of toilets because she realized that women were not going to the hospitals because there was no bathroom. And so her mission was to make sure that all hospitals in the country had a bathroom so women could go get health care. And so she didn't use the word gender or women. She just said, we need toilets. And this is how we do it. We go and we talk about access to food. We talk about access to education. And we don't have to label it feminist. But it's about increasing access in a way that will benefit all people within society. We have a declaration, it was mentioned, on international solidarity. It includes elements of gender and women's solidarity within it. So it will go to the Human Rights Council in June for a vote. We're having regional consultations this month. So please come to those meetings to ensure that the language is in accordance with what you think is appropriate. And the implementation mechanism is the UPR. So stakeholders and states will be able to go to the UPR and give examples of best solidarity practices regarding women, but also regarding other groups. So I encourage all of you to get a copy of that declaration and to participate. And we can maybe build a very constructive age for the Human Rights Council, where we can have the regional groups cooperate for a better implementation of human rights to emancipate as many as far as possible. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Independent Expert. I next welcome the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Reoccurrence, Mr. Bernard Duhame. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I thank you for your cooperation. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence to make an introductory statement. Mr. Duhaime, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chairperson, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

Today I'm honored to present my new thematic report on the impact of emerging technologies on transitional justice. Considering the speed, scale, and volatility at which emerging technologies impact societies, as well as the important warnings made last month by high-level figures of the technology industry, this report could not be more timely. Indeed, To the extent that emerging technologies offered significant transformative potentials for transitional justice, ignoring its inherent risks may well have disastrous impacts on recurrence of violence and conflict. While companies may see transitional justice as ripe commercial opportunities, states have an obligation to ensure that these businesses act responsibly, do not contribute to or cause harm, and if they fail to meet their duty to identify, prevent, mitigate, and remedy their actual and potential human rights impact, to hold them accountable. Just like in the context of artificial intelligence, it is imperative that the use of technology in transitional justice contexts is designed, deployed, and governed in a way that complies with international standards. Let me enter into the details of my report and highlight its five main findings. First, technologies are being integrated and deployed often in innovative ways to support all five pillars of transitional justice. Today, Modern technologies are being used to support investigations, use open source information, such as satellite-based earth observation and remote sensing data, which can be particularly effective in contexts where physical access is difficult. Technologies can also be used to ensure that a wide range of victims can participate in truth commissions. as well as to enable the evaluation of harms that are less readily documented, such as the degradation of the environment. My report contains several such innovative examples where technologies make transitional justice processes more readily accessible by a broader range of victims, state institutions, and practitioners. Second, despite its obvious potential, Integrating technology in transitional justice in context often marked by fragility presence, inherent risks and limitations. Disparities in digital literacy, internet shutdowns and limited access to technology. This information and hate speech accelerated by digital platforms. Surveillance with database filled with sensitive biometrics as well as over-reliance on artificial intelligence and machine learning by accountability actors, among so many others, all present immense risks for truth, justice, reparations, memory, and non-recurrence. This is particularly true in the current context where post-truth polarization policies are the case, as was indicated in my recent report on denialism, revisionism, and transitional justice, presented last month at the Human Rights Council. Third, integrating technology into transitional justice initiatives warrants special care and exceptional sensitivity as they evolve in contexts often uniquely fragile, involving widespread trauma, weak institutions and often polarized communities. In fact, while some of the risks posed by technologies can be managed and mitigated, in other cases, the dangers outweigh the potential benefits and should be excluded. Fourth, addressing these risks and challenges requires keeping a clear and unwavering focus on victims' rights and needs. There is simply no technological solution to engaging with the root causes of violence and repression, nor to the painful work required by post-conflict reconciliation. The fundamental needs of affected communities cannot be resolved through any new technology-based initiatives on their own. Healing from trauma, learning to coexist with former adversaries, and rebuilding trust in civic institutions and leaders, these are long-term, difficult, and fundamentally human processes that can be aided, but never fully replaced by technology. As for other aspects of transitional justice, it is critical to always remember that responses to past gross violations needs to be context-dependent, require deep engagement with victims and affected communities, and intentionally centering their perspectives and needs. Five, addressing these risks and challenges require a multi-stakeholder approach that should involve states, companies, civil society, and human rights experts. It's critical that technology companies exercise extreme care and conduct heightened diligence in transitional justice contexts. In recent years, some technology companies have adopted protocols to mitigate risks related to their products in high-risk settings, for instance, in times of elections or conflict zones, but transitional contexts have received far less focused attention from these companies. It is critical that they deepen their understanding and engagement with transitional justice mechanisms, civil society, and victims to appreciate the ways in which they can best uphold their responsibility to respect human rights. This should entail, for example, engaging in rigorous consultation with communities, adopting transparent human rights compliance and policies on storage of data and metadata, preserving data that may serve as future evidence of international crimes, and offering opportunities to complain and obtain redress for rights violations, amongst others. Madam Chairperson, ladies and gentlemen, excellencies, several human rights experts, scholars, and now industry actors have articulated that grave risks of placing functions that were traditionally held by states in the hands of unresponsive and unaccountable technology companies. In transitional settings where institutions may have limited capacity or authority, states must guard their functions closely. Expanding dependencies upon non-responsive actors may provide fertile grounds for further injustice, disempowerment and discrimination, and indeed recurrence of violence and conflict. It is urgent that the international community assume its role to ensure that states enact and enforce rights compliance regulation on technology companies, including in transitional justice contexts. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Reoccurrence. I will now open the floor for questions or comments to Mr. Duhaime. As per past practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to three minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, to be followed by Switzerland and China. EU, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States. We thank you, Mr. Special Rapporteur, for your work and welcome your report. We fully share its essential message: technology must remain a tool for victims and practitioners, never a self-standing solution. It cannot compensate for weak institutions, nor replace the intrinsically human work of reckoning and reconciliation. The EU supports comprehensive, context-specific, and nationally-owned transitional justice processes that uphold victims' rights to truth, justice, and reparation, preserve memory, and provide guarantees on non-recurrence. These processes must be grounded in international law, address the root causes of violations, and contribute to accountability and lasting peace. As your report illustrates, digital tools can help document atrocities, analyze extensive archives, locate disappeared persons, and facilitate access to reparations. They can also enable victims, including those in exile, to contribute to truth-seeking and the preservation of memory. At the same time, we share your concern that disinformation and manipulated content can undermine the credibility of evidence, and enable perpetrators to deny documented abuses. Moreover, algorithmic bias, surveillance, and the misuse of sensitive data can expose victims and survivors to further harm. Digital documentation also has blind spots. Among others, sexual and gender-based violence and violations in rural or disconnected areas are less often captured. In this context, we stress the need for effective human oversight, independent review, transparency about the limitations and error of rates of these tools, informed consent, and robust protection of personal data. Finally, and in line with the UN guiding principle on business and human rights, we think that technology companies should treat transitional settings as high risk contexts and thus undertake human rights due diligence and embed safety by design from the outset. Mr. Special Rapporteur, your report recommends supporting human rights mechanisms in developing a declaration of principles or a code of conduct on emerging technologies in transitional justice. How can victims and affected communities be meaningfully involved in shaping it? I thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Madam.

Chair, Switzerland has two questions for the Special Rapporteur. First of all, how can we use new technologies to ensure that archives at risk are less vulnerable to destruction? Second, the documentation of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip is currently only being carried out in a partial fashion. How can we collect and preserve documentation of these violations more comprehensively. So then, thanks for the report. The potential of emerging technologies for transitional justice is evident, but the risks and challenges associated with their use must be better managed. Digitizing archives can help ensure the availability of evidence documenting human rights violations. In the Marshall Islands, the archives of the tribunal handling complaints related to the nuclear testing program have been digitized and transferred to the Federal Archives in Switzerland, thereby ensuring the preservation of and access to valuable data on human rights violations linked to the legacy of nuclear activities. Switzerland also supports the global initiative Refuges for Archives in Peril. This initiative aims at helping archives at risk of destruction find a host institution and provides guidance on best practices for preservation. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Switzerland. I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Chair, China thanks the Special Rapporteur for the briefing. Achieving transitional justice is a complex and multifaceted undertaking involving political, judicial, economic, social, and livelihood-related issues, among others. China believes that such efforts should adhere to the following principles. First, it's important to respect the sovereignty of the countries concerned and uphold impartial and objective stance, ensure that the investigation, documentation, preservation, and use of information concerning human rights violations comply with the laws of the countries concerned and their people's wills. The authoritative information provided by the governments concerned should be respected. Unsubstantiated reports should not be accepted uncritically, and investigations based on presumption of guilt should be avoided. Second, it's important to maintain a comprehensive and systematic approach, focus on addressing the root causes of conflicts and turmoils. and support the active efforts of the countries concerned to build peace and promote development. Countries concerned should be supported in advancing transitional justice in a gradual manner in a way that fit their national conditions. And the imposition of foreign models should be rejected. Third, it's important to firmly uphold fairness and justice and support the legitimate called legitimate pursuit of African and Latin American countries to address historical injustices dating back to the colonial period and achieve reparative justice. The legacy of colonialism should be eradicated, and the international rule of law and fairness and justice should be upheld.

Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of China. I now give the floor to the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-Reoccurrence. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. So I am very grateful for the European Union, the delegation of the European Union, Switzerland and China for their comments and questions. As regards to the first question formulated by the European Union, how can victims and concerned communities be involved in shaping the mechanisms that should be implemented in ensuring the protection of human rights and the development of these technologies in transitional justice context. The report reiterates the importance of ensuring a series of measures to increase this participation. And it is relatively complex to the extent that the actors involved are several. There are not only state parties and official institutions, but as well companies, civil society organizations, communities, and victims, of course. The big challenge is also related to digital literacy and ensuring that victims and concerned communities are well equipped to address these issues in an informed manner during these discussions. And I would say that it's quite also a challenge to ensure that companies make it a priority when developing these technologies to perceive the context not as a ripe commercial opportunity, but rather as a fragile and a context that requires a heightened degree of diligence and of safeguards. And in order to ensure that these safeguards are adequate to the context, consultation with communities and victims is essential. With respect to the question formulated by the Swiss delegation regarding the protection of archives. I think you very well illustrated through the examples that you provided excellent initiatives, including the world initiative on the protection of archives and the examples that you referred to where the Marshall Islands archives from the nuclear claims tribunal are currently being preserved in the Swiss Federal Archives is an excellent one. We refer to it in the report. I just returned from the Marshall Islands and have discussed this with colleagues there. There is also discussion to look at the possibility of preserving not only the archives from the Nuclear Claims Tribunal, but also the archives that have been surrendered by the United States in 1998 concerning the tests, the nuclear tests that took place in the archipelago between 1946 and 1958. So I will discuss this further with other stakeholders, including Swiss stakeholders, next February. And how to ensure the preservation of evidence and information in the current context of the conflict in Gaza, I think we should first strengthen and encourage the institutions that already exist, including the Commission of Inquiry's excellent work on this situation. I've had the chance to witness their capacity to to investigate and look at the evidence in this context. I think there are other interesting examples in the region, including the triple IM in Syria and in other regions, but the Human Rights Council has established investigative bodies in this context, and I think they should be supported. Talking of support, I would like to take this opportunity, as we are here together, to reiterate my solidarity with my colleague, Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as all the judges from the International Criminal Court who are currently the object of unilateral sanctions. I encourage all states to denounce them and not apply these measures, which are contrary to international law and weaken the United Nations and more specifically, its human rights system. So I thank you, Madam Chairperson.

Thank you very much, Mr. Special Rapporteur. The Committee will continue its consideration of agenda item 70, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and its sub-items A to D this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. promptly to hear statements by special procedure mandate holders and other experts and engage them in a combined interactive dialogue. I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under agenda item 70 and its sub-items A to D is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 November. Information on the work of the Committee, including the schedule of meetings, the latest programme of work and the documentation under each agenda item, is available on ICAV. The meeting is adjourned.