Third Committee, 19th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Yes, but -- Okay, colleagues, thank you so much for being so on time. The 19th meeting of the Third Committee at -- colleagues, can I ask for some quiet, please, and if people could take their seats. The 19th meeting of the Third Committee at the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. 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 afternoon, we will first hear a combined briefing by the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, followed by a combined interactive dialogue with both rapporteurs. So, thank you both for joining us. I'm delighted to have you here. The committee will then hear a briefing by the Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, also followed by an interactive dialogue. I'd like to welcome the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Ms. Elena Carolina Diaz Galan, and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Ms. Sofia Monsalve Suarez. I hope I've articulated that sufficiently well. You're both extremely welcome. We're delighted to have you here. As colleagues all know, participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the Special Rapporteurs are invited to press their microphone button within the next six 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 speaker. As you're all aware, that's generally somewhere between one and three minutes. Please note that this is not the time to request the floor for the dialogue with the Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, which, as announced, will take place later in this meeting. I will make it clear when that opportunity arises. Let us kick off. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights to make an introductory statement. You have the floor. Thank you.

Thank you so much, President. Excellencies.

Distinguished delegates, it's an honor for me to present my first report to the General Assembly as the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. I'm starting my mandate with a simple conviction. Human rights are realized and poverty is fought to a large extent at the local level. Accordingly, I've decided to examine which factors drive poverty in cities and which measures could be adopted to fight it. This first report analyzes how urbanization and the related political decisions can help to reduce poverty or, on the other hand, cause more poverty. Today, as we all know, approximately 57% of the world's population is living in urban areas, and that figure will probably increase to 68% by 2050. Therefore, urbanization is one of the transformations that define our century. However, urbanization is not only a demographic trend, it's a political, economic, and social process that profoundly affects the exercise of human rights, the distribution of opportunities, and the reduction or exacerbation of poverty. Cities are often perceived as engines of growth, innovation and cultural exchange. Indeed, when they are backed up by inclusive public policies, urbanization processes can play a fundamental role in reducing poverty and improving living conditions. However, If they are not planned or managed adequately, these processes can cause exclusion, segregation and new forms of deprivation. Cities are the work of human beings. The type of urbanisation that is pursued is a political decision. Just as poverty is not inevitable, the way in which our cities develop is not inevitable either. Decisions about housing, land use, infrastructure, transport, technology, social protection and public investment determine who benefits from urban development and who is left behind. Throughout the world, different urban models are proposed depending on the political positions of the national authorities or mayors. Some cities prioritize global competitiveness and attracting investment. Others focus on the digital transformation. Yet others promote proximity through the concept of the 15-minute city, or they seek to be more inclusive and participative. Each model can offer different opportunities, but it's not possible to fulfill the social contract with the inhabitants or fight discrimination and poverty if human rights and social justice are not at the heart of those proposals. When urban development isn't focused on the needs of people, in particular the most vulnerable groups, investments become concentrated in areas that attract capital, while low-income communities receive less attention. Urban renewal projects can also cause increases in housing costs, displacement, and gentrification. Also, public technological innovations can improve services, but they can also exacerbate inequality when access becomes a problem for various groups, including, unfortunately, people living in poverty and older persons. I'd just like to mention three major problems that we see when we examine citizen policy. The first is housing that occupies approximately half of the urban space, as we know, between 1.6 and 3 billion people worldwide are facing the housing affordability crisis. More than a billion people continue to live in slums and informal settlements. Treating housing as a financial asset rather than as a human right has resulted in a housing crisis worldwide. Many people cannot afford adequate housing. Secondly, we need to consider the spatial dimension of poverty. Poverty is not distributed randomly in cities. It's often concentrated in areas where certain certain groups of people have been historically marginalized or that have in inadequate infrastructure or limited services or fewer opportunities over time spatial segregation perpetuates inequality between generations and undermines social cohesion lastly there's the matter of informality around a billion people live in informal settlements and more than 2 billion workers work in the informal sector worldwide. Informality cannot be considered simply as a lack of regulation. It's often a consequence of housing markets, planning systems and labor markets that don't offer accessible and affordable alternatives. Communities and workers aren't outside the city, they're essential for its functioning. However, in many places, People are punished and criminalised simply because they are carrying out activities that are necessary for their survival, like resting, sleeping, begging, or doing informal work in public spaces. All of that has to be said, the situations based on rights are not just more humane, but we also think that they are more effective. Excellencies, urban policy is not just a matter of income. It is a multidimensional question. Therefore, reducing urban population requires a holistic approach to urbanization and in the governance of the related processes based fundamentally on human rights and on encouraging the participation, equality and accountability. Therefore, I encourage states and local governments to incorporate human rights norms into urban legislation, planning and development. to fight spatial segregation, ensure universal access to essential services, and replace punitive responses to poverty and the lack of housing with policies based on rights, dignity, and inclusion. Distinguished delegates, the future of human rights will increasingly be defined in our cities. We must decide whether cities are going to become spaces of dignity and opportunities that fight poverty and inequality, or whether they'll become places in which deprivation can take root. Urbanization can reduce poverty, but only if it's guided by human rights. Allow me to conclude with just one last thought. Poverty is a question of human rights. It's essential to the debates in New York on sustainable development, including the SDGs. Owing to the changes made this year in the resolution that governs my mandate, I won't be able to present reforms to the GA next year or participate directly in the Assembly's debates on development, poverty and inequality. Given that situation, I would welcome any opportunity to collaborate with the Member States UN entities and civil society and the relevant bodies to address these very important questions. Together, we can ensure that cities help to eliminate rather than reproduce poverty. Eradicating poverty is upholding human dignity. I thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you, Special Rapporteur, very much indeed. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Ms. Soares, to make your introductory statement. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. It's an honor for me to address this Assembly for the first time as Special Rapporteur on the right to food. I'm beginning my mandate at a difficult historical moment. Today, there's a combination of factors that is seriously threatening food security in various regions of the world. The first factor is climate. The El Nino of 2026 to 27 has now reached the level of being a super El Nino, and it's forecast to be the most intense ever registered. The FAO warns that in various parts of the world, there's more than a 50% chance of drought. The second factor is wars, which are breaking supply chains. Since July 2026, the recent escalation in the Black Sea has paralyzed almost all the maritime grain exports of Ukraine and Russia. which together provide nearly 27% of the world's wheat. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz, where a third of the world's fertilizer traffic passes, there's a severe disruption because of the war against Iran, and the prices of fertilizers have been seriously affected. But what concerns me most is something else, the rapid increase in famine and the use of hunger as a weapon of war. It's true that in 2025, chronic hunger decreased. But acute hunger has only risen since 2016. Today, six countries have people who are in disaster situations. That's 1.4 billion people who have no way of obtaining food, nine times more than in 2016. And 266 million are facing acute hunger, hunger every day. The most severe situations are in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen and Gaza, among others. The return of famine and the deliberate use of hunger as a weapon of war is an unprecedented moral challenge for our generation. So far, these crimes have gone unpunished. Nobody is being held to account for them. They are the most abject expression of the global war economies and of the intense geopolitical competition that has undermined the foundations of our coexistence. This confluence of climate, geopolitical and economic factors is looming in such a threatening way over many countries because their food systems are already very fragile. Why is that? Because of decades of neoliberal policies that have fostered over-dependence on imports, on industrial monocultures that are highly dependent on global supply chains based on oil or gas. by over-exploitation of ecosystems and workers, and by extreme inequalities in access to and control of food resources. The necessary transformations to change these systems are colossal, and they will have to be made in very difficult circumstances. Therefore, my task is to contribute to those transformations and support the efforts of states, local governments, women who do essential food care work, unions of workers in the agro-food sector, campesino organizations, fisheries organizations, indigenous people's organizations, and many others. At the heart of my vision is a reaffirmation of human dignity in these times of global war economies. The protection of dignity must be at the heart of the transformation of food systems, not just as a legal right, but as a lived and practiced reality. In my work as Rapporteur, I want to give center stage to survivors of famine. I want to help them to heal and help their communities to heal and to help them in their activities. And I want to mobilize the political will that is needed to restore their dignity and avoid more famines occurring. That is why I would like to read you today a testimony of that suffering. It is by Nixti, a 47-year-old woman from central Tigray, Ethiopia. where unfortunately, war has broken out again. Before the war, I led a good life in the country with my husband. We lived near Edaga Arbi. We were bringing up our five children with the income that we made from agriculture. Then the Tigray war started. When my sons were still young, didn't feel safe here, they joined the struggle in February 2021. The situation worsened after that. The Ethiopian and Eritrean troops passed through here and they blamed us for sending our sons to fight with the resistance. They destroyed our irrigated farm and they burnt our food store together with the stocks of hay and grain that were around the house. The Ethiopian soldiers raped me again and again in my own house in front of my husband. Then they arrested my husband together with other neighbors and they executed them in the forest. The pain of losing my husband, my concern for my sons who'd gone to the Iran struggle and for hunger, made me incapable of maintaining and taking care of my other children. As the days and months passed, I felt that I was losing any capacity that remained to me until I couldn't even get up and stand on my feet. I got weaker and weaker. I began to feel pain all over my body, a pain that I could not overcome. That was Nixty's testimony. But life can go on. In feeling the rain, we are renewed. In plunging our hands and feet into the earth, we put down new roots. In caring for seeds so that they sprout, grow and bear fruit, we recover hope. In cooking and savouring life in company, our dignity is restored. Food makes us who we are as individuals, communities and peoples. It gives us a sense of belonging and at the same time it builds coexistence. Food is a threshold at which our deepest convictions about the cosmos and about justice are embodied. The right to food has proved to be an effective tool to realize those convictions. It is possible for all of us to live free of hunger. It is possible to organize our communities and societies around care for life and to recover dignity. Excellencies, today, the 16th of October, World Food Day, I am here to ask you to end the use of hunger as a weapon of war. And I'm also here to put myself at your service to help to prepare us ourselves adequately to face up to the impacts of the Nino and the other challenges that we have ahead of us so that the right to food is a reality for all humankind. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, both special rapporteurs, but our most recent speaker, thank you very much indeed. We now have a good list of speakers. The time limit will be 3.5 minutes per intervention. and let me identify the following, the first five speakers, and then we'll return to the first. So I have in order Morocco, Cameroon, European Union, Mexico, and Brazil. Morocco, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Morocco welcomes the Special Rapporteurs, congratulates them on their appointment, and thanks them for their first reports. We share the Special Rapporteur on the right of food choice of human dignity as the foundation of her mandate. We also note attention to localization, to territorial food systems, and to South-South cooperation. For Morocco, these are live priorities rather than abstract notions. Through the Generation Green 2020-2030 and the National Program for Drinking Water and Irrigation, my country seeks to strengthen the resilience of small-scale farmers and rural community in the face of recurrent drought. remain committed to sharing this experience with African partner in a spirit of solidarity. We read with great interest the report on cities and poverties. Its central idea that urbanization is a political choice invites a shared reflection on how cities are planned, governed, and financed. The special rapporteur's call for non-digital channels to public services and for the participation of affected communities in urban decision offers useful guidance for all of us. Morocco would welcome the views of both special rapporteurs on the two questions, on these two questions. How can South-South and triangular cooperation best support national strategies on food resilience? How can local authorities, often with limited resources, be better equipped to integrate a human rights-based approach into urban planning? I thank you.

Thank you, Morocco. I give the floor to Cameroon, to be followed by European Union. Cameroon, you have the floor.

Thank you for giving me the floor.

My delegation aligns itself with the statement that will be made on behalf of the African states, welcomes the, congratulates Special Rapporteur Suarez on her reputation and welcomes the strategic priorities that she has presented, in particular with regard to the structural challenges related to the right of food in a context of increasing climate stress. In Cameroon, The right to food is seriously under threat because of a triple threat: terrorism, poverty, and climate shocks, severe climate shocks. The effects of this asymmetric conflict in Boko Haram and unpredictable climate behavior have brought the period before forward and expose many of our people to food insecurity. Despite their great resilience, their capacity to absorb environmental and economic shocks has reached a breaking point. And that's aggravated by the insufficiency of world funding for the fight against climate change. For example, in the extreme north, the right to food is under considerable stress because of extreme climate phenomena such as prolonged droughts and devastating floods.

I have the following questions for the Special Rapporteur. First, your report correctly identifies that global hunger figures are climbing due to climate instability and systemic vulnerabilities. What legal framework can developing states deploy to hold international actors accountable for the climate-induced loss and damage that directly destroys local food systems? Second, what policy intervention do you recommend to protect small-scale food producers in sub-Saharan Africa from market volatility when localized environmental shocks force a reliance on expensive imported commercial food supplies? And lastly, How can your mandate assist Lake Chad Basin Commission member states in reinforcing localized food systems in conflict-affected zones where terrorism and climate shocks collide to deeply erode rural human dignity? I thank you.

Thank you, Cameroon. I have European Union to be followed by Mexico. European Union, you have the floor.

Chair, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The EU fully supports the 2030 agenda's priority of eradicating poverty. We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report, which rightly identifies urbanisation as a political choice impacting human rights. We share the view that inclusive urban planning, secure housing and access to services are fundamental to preventing exclusion. We commend the work of the UN-Habitat on these matters.

The report's analysis of how models like smart cities can deepen inequalities through gentrification and digital exclusion is crucial.

The EU believes cities must be spaces of opportunity for all. EU policies aim to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 15 million by 2030, and we support member states in strengthening rights-based social protection and promoting inclusion at the local level. Madam Special Rapporteur, what specific safeguards do you recommend for local authorities to ensure that smart cities initiatives and urban renewal projects actively reduce poverty and respect human rights? Chair, we also thank the Special Rapporteur on the right to food for her report. We share the report's concern that conflict, climate change, biodiversity loss, economic shocks and structural inequalities are placing food system under increasing pressure.

These challenges require renewed multilateral cooperation and responses firmly grounded in human rights.

The EU is particularly concerned with the use of starvation as a method of warfare. We are also alarmed by the attacks against civilian infrastructure essential to food production and distribution. International humanitarian law must be respected in all conflict situations. Civilians must be protected. Safe and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured, and those responsible for violations must be held accountable. The EU's commitment is also reflected in concrete action. Through the Global Gateway strategy, we support partner countries in transforming food systems, strengthening nutrition, and building greater resilience and self-reliance. Madam Special Rapporteur, in the report, you also call for financing for food system transformation. Could you elaborate on how you see the development partners could better prioritize and target investments at scale in sustainable and resilient food system transformation to effectively advance the right to food and also reach the communities most affected by hunger and structured inequality. I thank you.

Thank you, European Union. Mexico, followed by Brazil. Mexico, you have the floor.

Mexico.

Mexico thanks the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights for the presentation of her report. We agree that cities must be spaces of inclusion and guarantee equitable access to adequate housing, basic services and economic opportunities without leaving anyone behind. In order to achieve that, we must link human development to policies that reduce poverty and inequality. In Mexico, Social justice has been consolidated as one of the axes of the country's transformation. In that agenda, the eradication of poverty is a national priority. In 2000, between 2018 and 2024, more than 13 million people were lifted out of poverty, among them 1.7 million out of extreme poverty. This progress is based on the gradual strengthening of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights. through public policies that prioritize investment in infrastructure, health, education and water. All of the above is in line with our investment plan in infrastructure for development with well-being by 2030. We recognize that challenges remain and therefore we reaffirm our commitment to inclusive and sustainable urban development that puts people and their rights at the center of decisions. They are the center of public management. Mr. Vraufort, what measures can states take to ensure that the changes in urban development do indeed reduce poverty and inequality with a human rights approach, particularly among populations that are vulnerable? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mexico. Brazil, followed by Russian Federation. Brazil, you have the floor.

Brazil warmly welcomes Ms. Sofia Suarez, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, and thanks her for the presentation of her first report to this Committee. Brazil attaches great importance to the existence of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, which provides an essential platform for advancing the realization of the human right to food. Brazil reiterates its full support for the mandate, particularly at a time marked by budgetary constraints affecting the special procedure system. as well as by attacks and undue pressure faced by the mandate holders in the exercise of their functions. Their capacity to carry out their mandates independently must be preserved, including by protecting mandate holders from undue interference in their work. We commend the Special Rapporteur's vision centered on human dignity as the foundational lens through which the right to food must be advanced. The topics covered in the report are highly relevant, including the reduction of inequalities in food security and nutrition, smallholder farmers' access to territorial markets, the empowerment of women and girls through the recognition of food care work, and responsible governance of land tenure to avoid concentration. We welcome the report's attention to avoid normalizing impunity and the narratives that seek to justify starvation. Food must never be used as a method of warfare. Brazil also thanks Special Rapporteur Elena Diaz Galan for her valuable report and for placing human rights at the center of the debate on cities and poverty. We particularly appreciate the report's analysis of how urban planning choices, housing policies, and the criminalization of homelessness can reinforce poverty and social exclusion in cities. The protection of the rights of persons in street situations is an essential part of this debate. Brazil was pleased to lead the initiative that resulted in the adoption at the Human Rights Council of Resolution 61/20 on the human rights of persons in street situations. The resolution recognizes that street situations are driven by complex and multidimensional factors, including extreme poverty, systemic inequality, lack of affordable housing, insufficient social protection, and forced evictions. The resolution also calls for the elimination of legislation that criminalizes homelessness and encourages comprehensive responses encompassing adequate housing, social protection, health care, access to documentation and justice, decent work, and measures against discrimination, violence, and stigmatization. Madam Special Rapporteur, based on your findings, What are the most effective ways for local authorities to move from punitive responses to homelessness towards policies centered on housing, social protection and participation? I thank you.

Thank you, Brazil. I pass the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by Uganda, Nigeria and Malaysia. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, we share concerns about the destructive trends in the area of international food security. The illegitimate unilateral coercive measures applied by a group of Western states that are implemented in contravention to the Security Council are blocking supplies of Russian fertilizers and agricultural production to global markets. This is intentional restriction of the rights of millions of people in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As for our country, Russia has ensured its food sovereignty. Thanks to the rapid rate of development of our agricultural industry, the production of many including grain, vegetable oils, meat, and fish, has significant export potential. The state guarantees accessibility of quality products through significant support to the agricultural sector and social support for the vulnerable. At the same time, we are a reliable international supplier, exporting tens of millions of tons of cereal crops and ensuring regions that need fertilizer, including on a grant basis. Mr. Chairman, we examined very carefully the report Cities and Poverty. We support the idea that the image of the modern city is a direct result of deliberate political decisions, and Russia is an excellent example of this. We'd like to recall that in 2022, experts of the United Nations in the framework of the UN-Habitat index of urban development recognized Moscow as a world leader of a level of the development of infrastructure and quality of life highlighting the high level of transport accessibility and medical services and education today the experience of the capital is replicated throughout the country in the framework of the strategy of development of the construction sector and housing utilities infrastructure up to 2030 over past 10 years, slightly less than a billion square meters of housing is made available. Special attention is focused on eliminating substandard housing and framework of good government programs. New apartments and decent housing have been provided to almost 1,300,000 people. There are digital services in the smart city that allow for the state to swiftly allocate resources where citizens need it. Thank you.

Thank you. Russian Federation. Uganda, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and I wish to thank the Special Rapporteur on the right to food for her briefing. During the 19th Summit of the Heads of State of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Kampala, Uganda, The heads of state and government reaffirmed that hunger constitutes a violation of human dignity and called for urgent measures at the national, regional, and international levels for its elimination. They also reaffirmed the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to food and fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain his or her physical and mental capacities. They also stressed that it is essential for states to promote efforts to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimension and hunger. In this connection, the movement expresses deep concern at the high volatility and the increase in global food prices, which directly challenges the fundamental human right to food. The resulting and ongoing food crisis poses a serious challenge to the fight against poverty and hunger, as well as the efforts by developing countries to attain food security and achieve goal two of the 2030 sustainable development agenda and its related targets. Member States also take note of the limited progress that has been made in reducing hunger in the world. However, structural problems continue to sustain the widespread hunger, food insecurity and nutrition and poverty. The continuing international economic and financial crisis further puts serious hindrances in the global effort to fight against hunger as it reverberates through the global system through trade, aid and financial leaks. The multiple and complex causes of this crisis require comprehensive, coordinated and sustained response by the international community. We emphasize the need to leverage the role of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation as a means to promote and support semi-industrial and semi-industrial ventures, ensure food security and affordable nutrition, including through the promotion of sustainable agriculture and food systems, food processing agro-industries, which have the potential to link the global value chains and effectively address the market needs of developing countries. In addition, We take note of the need to further examine various concepts such as food sovereignty and its relation to food security and the right to food, taking into account the need to avoid any negative impact on the enjoyment of the right to food for all peoples at all times. To conclude, the NAM reiterates that food should not be used as an instrument for political and economic pressure, and therefore reaffirms the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from undertaking such unilateral coercive measures that affect the trade related to food that endanger food security, impacting special groups in vulnerable situations, and are not in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. I thank you.

Thank you, Uganda. Nigeria, followed by Malaysia. Nigeria, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Nigeria aligns with the statement delivered on behalf of the Africa Group and the Non-Aligned Movement. Thanks both special rapporteurs for their reports and welcome the opportunity to engage with their mandates. We agree that for many households, the promise of better opportunities in cities is increasingly tested by the constant, by the cost of rent, food, transportation and basic services. People may be working every day and still struggle to meet these ends. Efforts to address urban poverty must therefore consider both household incomes and the costs people bear. The report raises an important concern that urban development can deepen poverty when it displaces communities or moves people further from their livelihoods. Improving our cities must go hand in hand with consultations, livelihood protection, and access to affordable services. Nigeria shares the concern highlighted regarding the difficulties faced by informal workers, small traders, young people, and people with disabilities in urban settings. It is therefore important to take these circumstances into account in urban planning and access to housing, transportation, and basic services. On the right to food, Nigeria welcomes the emphasis on health, on human dignity as the foundation of the right to adequate food. We agree that addressing hunger requires more than increasing food production. Food must also be affordable, nutritious, and accessible. For households facing poverty, displacement, or a loss or loss of livelihoods, food may be available in markets yet remains beyond their reach. Nigeria therefore welcomes the attention given to to smallholder farmers, local markets, and resilient food systems. Investing in in irrigation, rural infrastructure, storage, and processing can reduce post harvest losses, strengthen farmers, income, and improve access to food. Women and young people must also have meaningful access to the resources, skills, and opportunities needed to contribute to these efforts. For Nigeria, food security and poverty reduction remain national priorities. Our efforts seek to strengthen agricultural production, support livelihood, and extend social protection. Insecurity and climate pressures nevertheless pose serious challenges, disrupting farming, displacing communities, and placing additional strain on household incomes. These challenges underline the importance of effective cooperation among national and local authorities, support by adequate resources, as well as international cooperation, developing international cooperation. Developing countries need affordable financing, appropriate technology, and practical support that responds to national priorities. Debt pressures and declining humanitarian funding must not undermine investing in food security or assistance to communities facing acute hunger. As both mandates develop, Nigeria encourages practical recommendations that reflect these realities, strengthen national capacities, and enable individuals, families, and communities to live where they can feed themselves in dignity. Thank you.

Thank you, Nigeria. Malaysia, followed by Ukraine, Spain and Permanent Representative of Myanmar. Malaysia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Malaysia welcomes the important issue raised by the Special Rapporteurs in their respective reports. Malaysia acknowledges the importance of addressing the multidimensional nature of poverty, including in the context of rapid urbanization. We believe that inclusive urban planning and equitable access to essential services are important in ensuring that no one is left behind. Malaysia's absolute poverty rate declined to 5.1% in 2024. Under the 13th National Plan, we remain committed in reducing inequality and improving access to essential services. Budget 2026 allocates USD 3.66 billion for targeted cash and basic needs assistance to ease the cost of living, particularly for low-income households. On the right of food, Malaysia underscored the importance of affordable and nutritious food, sustainable agriculture, and resilient food systems. We are particularly concerned by the devastating impact of armed conflicts on food security. particularly in Gaza, where civilians have endured severe hunger and deprivations. Malaysia reiterates that starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited under international humanitarian law. We stress the importance of unhindered humanitarian access and accountability for violation of international law. Mr. Chair, Malaysia wishes to pose two questions. First, to the Sr. on extreme poverty. How can developing countries pursue inclusive urban development while ensuring that rising living costs and urban redevelopment do not disproportionately affect low-income communities? Second, to the Sr. on the right to food, how can the international community strengthen accountability and prevent the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, particularly in situations of prolonged armed conflict? Thank you.

Thank you, Malaysia. I pass to Ukraine, followed by Spain. Ukraine, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ukraine thanks the briefers, and we highly appreciate the interest regarding the growing use of food as weapon of war in the report by the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a striking example of this practice with consequences far beyond our borders. But today, in this chamber, we again heard the piece by the Russian representative, its disinformation campaign, trying to pull wool over our eyes by talking about some vague alleged blockade of fertilizers. But actually, it's Russia that has sought to undermine Ukraine's global food supply. It blockaded the Black Sea and Azov Sea ports, attacked grain storage facilities, commercial vessels, and food processing infrastructure, and mined maritime routes disrupting exports and threatening the global food security. These attacks are intensifying. While 25 attacks against vessels were recorded throughout 2025, 89 occurred between June and August 2026 alone. On 3 October, Russian forces struck a Liberian-flagged civilian cargo vessel in Odessa region, killing one crew member and injuring three others. Russia increasingly targets alternative export routes as well. Recent strikes on a border crossing with Moldova and Romania threatened the infrastructure sustaining Ukrainian food exports. Meanwhile, vast areas of Ukrainian farmland remain mined and contaminated, depriving farmers of their livelihoods and undermining agricultural production. So as the Special Rapporteur emphasizes, attacks on infrastructure sustaining food systems constitute a direct assault on the right to food. So Russia's aggression demonstrates vividly how attacks against one country can threaten food security and human dignity worldwide, especially that we are facing a global food crisis now all over the world. We call for the Special Rapporteur's continued attention to these violations and would appreciate her views on how the mandate can strengthen monitoring and accountability for attacks on food infrastructure and their global consequences. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ukraine. Spain, followed by Myanmar. Spain, you have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, Spain aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union and is deeply grateful to the Special Rapporteurs, Elena Carolini, Diaz Galan, and Sofia Monsalve Suarez, for their excellent and on-target reports and their first appearance in the Third Committee. Spain reaffirms its firm commitment to the path towards the eradication of poverty and the achievement and provision of sufficient food for everyone. Poverty is a multidimensional challenge that requires measures that are very diverse. Cities are the main areas where we need to combat poverty. inclusivity of our cities, ensured guaranteed access to basic services, protection of those who work in the informal sector, and cooperation amongst actors are key pillars for an effective fight against poverty and inequality. The Spanish Cooperation Agency and our authorities in charge of urbanism and social policies have implemented projects aimed at reducing informal settlements and rundown areas to diminish the risk for those who are excluded from services, whether because they like their settlements, like legal recognition, concentration of extreme poverty, or lack of territorial planning, or other causes. Confronting these issues is necessary, and we're promoting access to services and decent living conditions. A minimal living wage is one of the main tools that Spain has to combat poverty, but there must be a link with spheres as diverse as social support, employment, education, digitalization, healthcare, housing, care, energy shortages and entrepreneurship. In line with a multidimensional vision of international cooperation against poverty, Spain will continue. calling for an imposition of a global tax on the super-rich as set out in the Civil Action Platform, and working on the full implementation of the first SDG, both within our country and outside. We reiterate our sincere support to the Special Rapporteurs for their first appearance in the Third Committee. I would like to ask them the following question. Madam Special Rapporteur for extreme poverty, which safeguards do you consider essential to ensure that the projects envisioned do not promote gentrification and exploit the vulnerable population. The rapporteur for the right to food, which international mechanisms do you consider most effective to support the population groups most exposed to food insecurity? Thank you.

Thank you, Spain. I pass the floor to the Permanent Representative of Myanmar, to be followed by China, Ireland, Afghanistan, and Mali. Myanmar, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Myanmar welcomes these vital discussions. I thank the Special Rapporteurs for their respected reports and comprehensive presentations today. Extreme poverty, food insecurity, and conflict are deeply intertwined, exacerbating each other with devastating generational consequences. For the people of Myanmar, this is a catastrophic daily reality. Over five years since the illegal military coup in Myanmar, the perpetrating military junta has weaponized economic mechanisms and inflicted deliberate starvation. It has ruthlessly prioritized diverting national revenues for weaponry and blocking humanitarian aid. The military's atrocities are widespread. The country's economy has totally collapsed. The countless households in the country have been pushed into poverty. Meanwhile, the cash-strapped junta has been imposing punitive tax and remittance rules to further suffocate people. Local currency continues to depreciate while inflation rises. The scale of this crisis is unprecedented, leaving Myanmar no room for even discussing development. According to the newly released UNDP report, Layers of deprivations, multidimensional poverty in Myanmar, poverty is widespread, affecting nearly two-thirds of the populations, with about half living below the national poverty line. Currently, 17.9 million people are multidimensionally poor, and a further 19.5 million are at severe risk. This means our people face profound deprivations, with deficits in health and living standards accounting for over 80% of this multidimensional poverty. Concurrently, the right to food is collapsing. Millions remain forcibly displaced, and the FAO and the WFP warn that 12.4 million people in Myanmar are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including almost 1 million people in emergency. In addition, around 360,000 children are expected to be more nourished this year. The people of Myanmar are systematically being starved into submission. The people of Myanmar cannot afford further delay. Impunity must end. Any kinds of support to the military junta must cease in order to end the military junta's atrocities against civilians. It is also imperative that the international community needs to work directly with the NUG, the SEEF, and the trusted local organization to guarantee an impeded humanitarian access to people in need. In this connection, Madam Special Rapporteurs, how would you help us to ask the international community to make full use of existing mechanisms to hold the perpetrators accountable and to help the success of international action on Myanmar to end the people's suffering. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Myanmar. I pass the floor to China, to be followed by Ireland. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. China has taken note of the thematic reports of the two special rapporteurs. Eradicating poverty and hunger is the primary goal of the UN 2030 Agenda and a shared aspiration of the international community. As a responsible major developing country, China prioritizes not only speed but more importantly, tangible results. in its poverty alleviation efforts. We have lifted all 800 million impoverished people out of poverty, achieving the poverty reduction goal of the 2030 agenda 10 years ahead of schedule. Our contribution accounts for more than 70 percent of global poverty reduction. China's poverty reduction efforts demonstrate not only compassion, but also a strong sense of responsibility. Mindful of the urgent, difficult, and pressing livelihood challenges faced by developing countries, we have many nations explore poverty reduction and sustainable development pathways suited to their national conditions, China has proposed and implemented the Global Development Initiative, mobilizing more than $23 billion in funding to carry out over 2,000 cooperation projects. We have continuously upgraded the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. Practical cooperation under this framework has borne fruit in more than 70 countries benefiting over 40 million people and accelerating the global poverty reduction process. China is the world's largest food producer. By implementing the most stringent arable land protection system, advancing agriculture science and technology innovation, and developing high-standard farmland, we have continuously enhanced comprehensive food production capacity. This has ensured China's stable annual grain output of 650 million tons, achieving the miracle of feeding nearly one-fifth of the world's population with less than 9 percent of the world's arable land, thereby making a major contribution to global food security. Under the framework of the FAO South-South cooperation, China has been the leading developing country in terms of financial systems, the number of experts deployed, and the number of cooperation projects carried out. China is ready to continue strengthening cooperation on food security with all parties, actively implement food and agricultural assistance projects, and work together to build a world free from hunger. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, China. I pass the floor to Ireland, followed by Afghanistan. Ireland, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Ireland aligns with the statement delivered by the EU and thanks both Special Rapporteurs for their reports. We welcome the attention placed on the link between urbanization and poverty, and strongly support the assessment that inclusive urbanization requires effective multi-level governance, adequate municipal financing, participatory planning, equitable access to public services, and specific measures of social protection. We thank Special Rapporteur Diaz-Galan for drawing attention to the fact that informality is not a low-cost solution to poverty. Those most disadvantaged often incur higher economic, social and environmental costs while receiving fewer public services and weaker legal protections. Reaching the furthest behind first is the overarching frame of Ireland's international development policy. We must look beyond national income per capita as the sole measure of extreme poverty, something also stressed in the report. Special rapporteur, could you identify specific challenges connected to urbanisation in more fragile contexts? particularly as this is where extreme poverty is increasingly concentrated. Chair, we also welcome the opportunity to engage with the Special Rapporteur on the right to food. We welcome your report's emphasis on protecting human dignity, with particular attention to those whose dignity is systematically undermined, as well as the report's focus on promoting equality and on supporting localization. We share your concerns around the impact that conflict, climate and geopolitical instability are having on food security and nutrition. We welcome the call for a collective, inclusive and sustained engagement to addressing these challenges. The right to food is one of Ireland's priorities for our membership of the Human Rights Council. We are particularly concerned about the weaponisation of food. Ireland reiterates the critical importance of complying with international humanitarian law in armed conflict. as well as sustaining efforts aimed at protecting safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Special Rapporteur Soares, could you elaborate on what priorities you see in transitioning from the current fragmented governance architecture to a more robust and cohesive framework? I thank you.

Thank you, Ireland. Afghanistan, followed by Mali. Afghanistan, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, we thank the briefers for their presentation. The reports before us remind us that social protection must be treated as a right and that food systems must serve people rather than leave them vulnerable to unaffordable prices and disrupted supplies. For Afghanistan, these are the immediate concerns. UNDP estimates that three in four Afghans, around 28 million people, could not meet their basic needs in 2025. Draft large-scale returns and declining assistance have placed still greater pressure on the families. The World Food Program projects that nearly 3.7 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women will suffer from malnutrition in 2026. These hardships are made worse when women cannot work freely and girls cannot continue their education. UNICEF reports that more than 2.6 million girls have been denied secondary education since the 2021 fall. The loss of future teachers and health care workers will make it even harder to protect families from hunger and illness for years to come. First, food and nutrition assistance must be sustained and delivered according to the need, with women able to take part in its delivery and communities able to raise their concerns safely. Second, support for returnees, families headed by women, and people affected by climate shocks must be reliable and accessible. Poverty should never be treated as a failure of the person experiencing it. Third, recovery requires stronger local food systems. Fair procurement, support for Afghan farmers, and transparent supply chain can help communities withstand shocks and support dependency on emergency aid. Our question today to the briefers is, what concrete steps should the United Nations and the member states take to connect urgent food assistance with lasting social protection and local livelihood, especially when restrictions on women are weakening Afghanistan's capacity to recover? Thank you.

Thank you, Afghanistan. I have Mali, followed by Cuba, Israel, and Italy. Mali, you have the floor.

Lexi, excellence.

Thank you, excellencies. It's always a pleasure to see you here, providing overall work.

It's self with a statement delivered by the distinguished representative of on behalf of a non-aligned movement. The group welcomes for reports of the special rapporteurs on the right to food and extreme poverty and human rights and appreciate this briefing. The group attached a paramount importance to this mandate and shall be protected. The number of people in acute food insecurity rose from 105 million in 2016 to 295 million in 2024. That conflict drove 12 of the 13 hunger hotspots last year. And that funding for food assistance fell by 59% between 2022 and 2025. Hunger in Africa today is driven by conflict more than by harvest. The Group recalls Security Council Resolution 2417 and shares the report reading that the Covenant imposes a duty to prevent famine and runs alongside international humanitarian law. The compiler declaration and the strategy and action plan adopted by our heads of states in January 2025, we commit the continent to at least 10% of public expenditure for agri-food system and $100 billion of investment with mutual accountability through the bi-annual review. The local reserves, school feeding linked to local production and public procurement, the report poses the Kampala instruments. The group under call that debts burden and unilateral coercive measures remain as constraint on the right to food and it's concerned that data behind digital agriculture is held outside the continent that produces it. Mr. Chair, regarding the report on extreme poverty, indicates trajectory that urban population in low income countries to grow exponentially over the next five decades, and we call that informal employment is over 85% and all employment in Africa. For most urban Africans, informality is gateway the city and therefore that informal settlements are rights bearing communities and not anomalies to be cleared. The group will welcome the briefers views on how the international community shall discharge the duty to prevent farming and eradicate extreme poverty in realizing the SDGs in the final stretch of the agenda 2030. I thank you.

Thank you Molly. I pass to Kibu and then to Israel. Kibu you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'd like to begin by addressing a question of format. I can't understand why this is the only interactive dialogue that's combined between two procedures on matters that aren't directly related, although we understand the benefits of combined dialogues that are clearly when the areas of expertise are clearly represented or clearly linked. we cannot understand why we should bring together the consideration of other special rapporteurs. We are hoping for a balanced debate with the minimum standards of the committee in future sessions. We thank the presenters for their presentations, and we congratulate them on their appointments. You can count on our support. The unjust current international order is accentuating the gaps between rich and poor. It's a matter of indignation that there's no progress in eradicating poverty or for reaching the SDGs, but there is in increasing the military expenditure worldwide. We need to stop the UCMs, which have a very adverse effect, not just on human rights, but also on efforts to eradicate poverty. As the Special Rapporteur on the right to food says in paragraph 53 of her report, UCMs, including the economic sanctions and embargoes, lead to shortages of essential essentials like food and medicines, agricultural machinery, fertilizer, fuel for transport and food, and it also affects citizens and especially the most vulnerable groups, that they may constitute collective punishment. The Cuban people has been suffering this for more than 60 years. In the last nine months, the blockade has been tightened to unprecedented extremes, including with an oil siege and secondary sanctions, with a very damaging impact on food security and food sovereignty of our people. The blockade against Cuba is the UCM that is the most severe and prolonged applied against any country. It's a huge, flagrant, systematic violation of the human rights of the entire Cuban people and the main obstacle to our development. It has the cruel purpose of causing shortages, difficulties, and difficulties for our people. Its damages have been greatly monitored by the UN system, including UNHCR. We like to ask the Special Rapporteurs and alert them to the Cuban situation, which is the product of the escalation by the US, including joint declarations that they've made during their mandates that have condemned the US blockade against Cuba. We therefore invite the Rapporteurs to continue looking at the effect of UCMs in the sphere of their various mandates.

Thank you. I passed to Israel, Italy, Sudan, and Algeria. Israel, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Ms. Suarez, three years ago, Hamas attacked the agricultural communities of southern Israel, murdering and abducting agricultural workers and devastating the infrastructure that sustained one of Israel's key farming regions. It destroyed irrigation and water systems, damaged greenhouses and dairies, killed livestock, and destroyed farm machinery. In the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, terrorists destroyed the kibbutz irrigation controls. In the kibbutz Alonim, after Hamas burnt the poultry crops and destroyed automated feeding and watering systems, some 300,000 chickens were destroyed. This was a deliberate assault on Israel's food production and the communities that sustain it. Hamas also deliberately starved Israeli hostages in captivity. Speaking before the Security Council after 491 days in Hamas captivity, Eli Sharabi testified that Hamas stole humanitarian aid entering Gaza, including boxes bearing UN and UNRWA emblems, brought them to the tunnels, and ate it in front of the starving hostages. Sharabi returned weighing just 44 kilos. He told the Council, and I quote, "Hamas eats like kings while hostages starve." Ms. Suarez, Why does your report advance dangerous libels against Israel while completely omitting Hamas and its victims, even that you recognize that non-state actors can attack productive capacity and weaponize food? The same selectivity appears in your discussion about the northern front. Hezbollah attacks have devastated northern Israeli agriculture, destroying orchards, wineyards, burning farmlands, damaging livestock and poultry infrastructure, and forcing farmers from their fields. Yet your report completely omits Hezbollah. Ms. Soares, how do you reconcile this selectivity in your stated commitment to listen to affected communities and recognize the dignity of all human beings? As you begin your mandate, how will you ensure equal recognition of victims, scrutiny of all relevant actors, openness to contrary evidence, and clear distinction between political advocacy and legal findings.

Thank you, Israel. Italy, followed by Sudan and Algeria. Italy, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, I address you today as one of the Italian youth delegates to the United Nations. Let me begin by thanking the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for her important work and for recognizing young people not only as future beneficiaries, but as indispensable agents of transformation in the present. Italy considers food security a cornerstone in its international agenda and is committed to support food systems that ensure the concrete realization of the right to food for all. As young people, we are particularly worried by the increasing figures of people facing acute food insecurity, whose heaviest burden often falls on those least able to bear it. Our generation is ready to carry the responsibility to defend the right to food, which is grounded in human dignity. In order to meet the zero hunger objective of Agenda 2030, it is essential that young people's voices and visions have a meaningful role in shaping food security policies able to tackle the challenges of our time. Madam Special Rapporteur, as young people, how can we meaningfully contribute to the efforts to prevent famine and reimagine food systems that are just, sustainable and resilient? Thank you.

Thank you, Italy. Sudan, followed by Algeria. Sudan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sudan aligns itself with the statements delivered by Mali on behalf of the African Group and Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chair, Sudan welcomes the Special Rapporteurs and commends their reports for placing human dignity at the center of the right to food. We echo the report's alarming finding that acute food insecurity is rising significantly, driven by conflict rather than poor harvests. The legal and moral duty to prevent famine, alongside Security Council Resolution 2417, carries profound relevance for Sudan today. For my country, these statistics are a painful, lived reality. The ongoing war of aggression waged by the terrorist militia and its regional sponsor has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, systematically targeting Sudan's agricultural sector and humanitarian lifelines to weaponize hunger. Most devastatingly, the terrorist militia has attacked the Gezira Scheme, the historic backbone of Sudan's agricultural economy. destroying irrigation channels and disrupting planting seasons. Beyond production, the militia has engineered starvation by besieging cities like Al-Fashir for many months, strictly blocking the entry of food and life-saving supplies to trapped civilians. Simultaneously, they have ruthlessly targeted and looted humanitarian aid. Just days ago, on October 3, 2026, An attack struck clearly marked World Food Program trucks traveling through the Kordofan region, killing a driver and destroying critical food commodities. This follows repeated targeted assaults on UN convoys across Darfur and Kordofan, cutting off the last remaining lifelines for millions. Mr. Chair, Sudan would welcome the Special Rapporteur's views on how the international community can enforce the duty to prevent famine when a terrorist militia intentionally besieges cities and targets UN food convoys. How can early warning systems be translated into immediate, concrete action to protect humanitarian routes in active conflict areas? Thank you.

Thank you, Sudan. I have the following speakers: Algeria, Kenya, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and then the Sovereign Order of Malta, at which time we will revert to our two rapporteurs for responses. The next speaker is Algeria, followed by Kenya. Algeria, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Algeria thanks both Special Rapporteurs for their reports and reaffirms that combating poverty and reducing inequalities require an integrated approach centered on social justice, access to adequate housing and essential public services, and balanced territorial development. Algeria attaches great importance to social protection, housing provision, and access to basic services. Between 2020 and 2024, more than 1.7 million housing units of various types were delivered, together with 900 public facilities with the necessary infrastructure. Furthermore, the 2024-2029 five-year plan provides for the construction of 2 million housing units across all categories, reflecting Algeria's commitments to improving living conditions and strengthening social cohesion. On the right to food, Algeria emphasizes the importance of strengthening the resilience of food systems, supporting local agriculture production and rural communities, and ensuring access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food. Furthermore, conflicts and disruptions to humanitarian assistance must not deprive civilian populations of access to food. International solidarity remains essential to preventing hunger and ensuring that food security is not undermined by geopolitical instability. In this regard, how can the international community strengthen practical support for developing countries in building resilient and sustainable food systems, and how it can ensure safe access to food in conflict settings? I thank you.

Thank you, Algeria. I have Kenya, followed by Indonesia. Kenya, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Kenya aligns with the remarks delivered by Mali on behalf of the African group and by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We thank the special rapporteurs for their reports and for the briefings today. At the heart of the Charter of the United Nations is a commitment by we the peoples to, quote, "reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person and the equal rights of men and women of nations large and small," end quote. The critical mandates of today's briefers speak to this fundamental duty we owe to all persons, the assurance of human dignity through addressing the most basic human needs, including food and decent housing. This year, Kenya is especially grateful to receive the report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, analyzing the links between urbanization and poverty. As a fundamental part of our national development agenda, we seek to reaffirm and protect the inherent dignity of our urban populations through social housing and affordable housing programs with the intention of building 200,000 homes every year. Kenya remains committed to working with all member states and other partners to advance these goals and objectives internationally as well. Particularly central to our approach is partnership with the UN's Human Settlements Program, UN-Habitat, and through the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor program, which focuses on improving the living conditions and climate resilience of the urban poor by working directly with the urban poor. Special Rapporteur Ms. Diaz-Galan, your report notes that low-income households and other vulnerable groups often face greater exposure to pollution and climate-related hazards. What particular value do you see in initiatives such as the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor program, BCRUP, which seeks to actively involve communities in informal settlements towards addressing these concerns, especially in developing countries? Thank you.

Thank you, Kenya. Indonesia, followed by Bangladesh. Indonesia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Indonesia thanks both Special Rapporteurs for their reports and welcomes their constructive engagement with Member States. Indonesia agrees that human dignity must be the core lens for realizing the right to food and shaping inclusive urbanization. Hunger and urban poverty are not inevitable. They stem from structural inequalities, policy choices, and broader economic and social challenges that require sustained national and international actions. Indonesia links food security with social protection and local economic empowerment. Our free nutritious meals program addresses malnutrition and stunting among school children and pregnant mothers while procuring from local farmers, cooperatives, and smallholders. We recognize that realizing the right to adequate food requires continuous efforts to improve governance, food quality, accountability, and beneficiary data accuracy. We carry this commitment to the multilateral level.

Earlier this month, the Human Rights Council.

Adopted by consensus resolution on children's equal access to adequate nutritious food submitted by Indonesia together with cross-regional core group members and supported by more than 80 countries. It is the council's first resolution on this issue. On poverty eradication, we share the view that urbanization must be inclusive and rights-based. Indonesia continues to expand social protection, affordable housing, and basic services while empowering local governments. Our people school, now 166 nationwide, give children from poor families access to quality education, breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. However, national efforts alone are not enough. In this regard, we would like to ask the Special Rapporteurs, first, In the face of rising debt burdens, unilateral coercive measures, and declining humanitarian funding, how can the international community better safeguard the policy space for developing countries to address poverty and food insecurity? And second, how can South-South and triangular cooperation be further strengthened to support the realization of the rights to food and development? To conclude, Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to food systems and urban governance rooted in dignity, equity, and human rights. I thank you.

Thank you, Indonesia. I pass the floor to Bangladesh, to be followed by the Sovereign Order of Malta. Bangladesh, you have the floor.

Mr. President, Bangladesh thanks the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for her first report. Indeed, the report provides us with important findings that affect the right to food, particularly the connection between urbanization and food security. Bangladesh has made a significant progress in food production and food security through investment in agriculture, rural development, stronger supply chains, and support for farmers. Our government is providing farmers card to help farmers access agricultural inputs, subsidies, machinery, affordable irrigation, credit, and insurance. As a country vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, Bangladesh stresses the need for climate resilient agriculture, diverse food production, better water management, and early warning systems. We are also making national efforts to develop strong local food reserves, agroecology, and public feeding programs. School feeding and social protection are also important for improving nutrition. The use of digital tools and artificial intelligence in food systems must protect human rights, traditional knowledge, and the interests of smallholder farmers. Bangladesh is deeply concerned about the use of starvation as a weapon of war and the obstruction of humanitarian aid. All parties to armed conflict must respect international humanitarian law and allow unhindered humanitarian assistance. Developing countries need stronger international cooperation, debt relief, and concessional financing to realize their people's right to feed. Before I conclude, I would like to mention that Bangladesh recognizes women's vital role in food production and household nutrition. In this context, Madam Rapporteur, is there unpaid food-related care work recognized adequately in the context of food security? Do you think that significant global efforts are being made to ensure their access to land, finance, technology, and to decision-making process. Thank you, Madam.

Thank you, Bangladesh. And finally, I pass to the Sovereign Order of Malta before we revert to our two rapporteurs. Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When a family cannot access sufficient food, safe water, healthcare, education, or adequate housing, fundamental rights become increasingly difficult to exercise. Poverty restricts choices, deepens vulnerability, and can perpetuate deprivation across generations. For this reason, the fight against extreme poverty must be understood not only as an economic challenge, but as a human rights imperative. Mr. Chair, humanitarian assistance plays an essential role in addressing immediate needs. In 2025, the Sovereign Order of Malta's International Relief Agency distributed more than 476,000 relief kits, providing essential food, hygiene, and other supplies to communities affected by crisis. However, assistance must also help lay the foundations for recovery and resilience. In South Sudan, the Order of Malta supported nearly 95,000 people with daily access to safe drinking water. Access to water is fundamental not only to health, but also to dignity and community safety. In Haiti, our international relief agency works with local organizations to support families facing food insecurity through cash assistance, community and family gardens, agricultural training, water storage, and income generating opportunities. These initiatives demonstrate that humanitarian action can do more than address immediate deprivation. It can help people strengthen their livelihoods, reduce vulnerability, and build resilience against future crises. Mr. Chair, dignity cannot be restored by treating people simply as recipients of aid. It is strengthened when people can access essential services, earn a livelihood, participate meaningfully in their communities, and shape their own futures. We therefore encourage Member States to strengthen social protection and universal access to essential services, invest in sustainable food systems and local livelihoods, and ensure that communities meaningfully participate in decisions concerning programs intended to support them. We further call for greater international cooperation to address the structural drivers of extreme poverty, including conflict, climate-related vulnerability, food insecurity, and inequality. Humanitarian financing must remain sufficient, predictable, and accessible, enabling assistance to reach vulnerable communities before crises become catastrophes. The 2030 Agenda commits us to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. Fulfilling this commitment requires more than declarations. It requires sustained investment in the dignity, resilience, and agency of those living in poverty. Our responsibility is therefore not simply to help people survive a crisis, but to create the conditions in which they can recover, build resilience, and thrive. The Sovereign Order of Malta remains committed to this principle, from emergency relief to long-term resilience, and from responding to immediate suffering to restoring dignity and independence. I thank you.

I thank the Sovereign Order of Malta, and we now revert to our two special rapporteurs in the first instance. I give the floor to the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Ms. Diaz Galan. You have the floor.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. First of all, I'd.

Like to thank all the delegates for their comments, their questions, which are extremely important. First of all, I'd like to say that as a continuation of this report, I'll be presenting another document at the June session. of the Human Rights Council in Geneva that will be based on practical solutions and good practices applied in municipalities and cities that could be useful for the member states. With the limited resources that we have, we're doing everything we can to hold meetings with local authorities in cities worldwide. Secondly, I'd like to say that In order for the activities of local authorities to be effective, we really do need cooperation with national stakeholders and also the contribution of people who live in poverty, who have special mechanisms directed to the protection, particular protection of that group, and that strengthens and complements the instruments that we have that are the guiding principles on extreme poverty, from 2012. Indeed, in third place, as some of you said, cooperation must be marked and there must be three main agreements of global nature where poverty is as the main objective of the whole international community. the fight against and eradication of poverty, in particular, we're talking about resolution 70/1 of the GA of 2015 and goals 10, that's inequality reduction, and 11 on sustainable cities and communities. Secondly, as mentioned by some of you, there's the New Urban Agenda of 2017, Habitat III, that also aims to promote compliance with the SDGs. And thirdly, this enhanced commitment in 2024 with Resolution 79/1 of the GA, Impact for the Future, in which, as part of Action Number 6 particularly, 25C, it says guaranteeing access of all to adequate, safe, affordable housing and helping developing countries to plan and realize fair, safe, accessible cities as well as sustainable ones. And so I just wanted to say, to mention a few specific actions. early action and preventive action to guarantee and also guaranteeing basic needs, promoting urban development to avoid gentrification and to that end, affordable housing and control over speculation and evaluation of the social effect and the proximity of services. In terms of two challenges that we think are essential to this, for me, it's perpetuating poverty and the second matter is making poverty invisible in cities. It's essential to say as well that all of this can be framed in the effective protection of human rights because I wouldn't like to not to say that poverty is a question of fighting poverty, it's a question of human rights. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Special Representative. Diaz Galan. I now pass the floor to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Mr. Soares, you have the floor.

Thank you, Ms. Chair. Thank you to all of you for your questions, comments, reflections. I think they've really been very interesting and enrich our debate and confirm the usefulness of the priorities of my work. and that you all have in your own countries. I want to start by addressing one of the comments that was made by one delegation regarding the condition of our work as rapporteurs and the importance of preserving our integrity and avoiding avoiding challenges or attacks against our work. And here I want to express my condemnation regarding the sanctions that the government of the United States issued against the International Criminal Court, that is, in addition to the sanctions against the judges of this court, as well as against the UN Special Rapporteur against the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as threats of sanctions against other holders of mandates, our colleagues. special procedures. These actions violate international law and erode the integrity, fundamental integrity of the UN human rights system as a whole. This is why I make an appeal to all states to preserve the integrity of the International Criminal Court and the human rights system and do not comply with these sanctions and that we should continue to cooperate with the International Criminal Court. It's very important to make this statement because, as you saw in my report, the use of hunger as a weapon of war is a crime of war, and we need accountability to put an end to the impunity in the face of such crimes. On the other topics that were... mentioned, particularly was touched on by the topic regarding gender equality, and in particular gender equality in transforming food production systems. I will dedicate a specific report on the fact that those who are invisible in agricultural work, but that are the very, very backbone of the work. And that is the care, particularly the role of women in the work of care, the care economy, caring for children and caring for the sick. This is very important, in particular, in conditions of conflict. And so their recognition and the need for public services and public infrastructure to ease the burden that women have in often alone to do this work is really very urgent. Among some of the other topics that were touched upon is the issue of how to improve early warning to avoid famine, prevent it, and here I think it's very important to maintain the existing monitoring systems, in particular the IPC system. The agencies of the UN have the SOFI report that is also very important. The UN human rights system has its own monitoring mechanisms, and it would be very important to make these mechanisms kind of dialogue with each other. For example, this will make it possible for us to have a more regular monitoring and more more collective monitoring in dealing in in connecting these very systems and mechanisms. Also was mentioned is the topic of the strengthening the resiliency of of food systems and responding to the pressures that are they're facing today. And here I think what's very important is strengthening, for example, local systems of sowing seeds. These are very important way of strengthening local initiatives, both as an emergency, but also in terms of community food systems, such as community kitchens, bakeries, and other forms of response. Also very important is to ensure participation for these organizations and in designing programs, both in terms of humanitarian assistance and programs of agriculture, fisheries, production of foodstuffs. The topic of volatility of prices was also mentioned. There's a recommendation that dates back to 2011, 2012, that was in the international agenda, the importance of creating food reserves at the local level, at the national level, at the regional level, and also at the international level. This obviously would allow us to have more balance in prices And I know there are discussions within the FAO, but I also want to recall that in the framework of the G20 in South Africa also suggested a system of regional food reserves and international ones. I think those were some of the topics that were brought up that I wanted to comment on. I think I'll stop there. Once again, I want to thank you for your support and ready to work to contribute to the resiliency of systems and to provide and ensure resilience in these difficult times. Thank you.

Let me thank the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. very much appreciate your contribution. With that, we conclude the presentations by the two and responses by the two special rapporteurs. Let me say quickly in response to the question raised by Cuba regarding the combination of these two items in this session, that was a practical decision made by the Bureau simply as part of our rationalization process and doesn't reflect any particular weighting one way or the other. As it turns out, I think there was a good amount of time and it was a successful approach, but obviously a future Bureau could very easily take a different approach. But thank you for raising that concern. I now move to welcome the independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Mr. Graham Reid, whom I presume is the gentleman at the end of the podium. You're very welcome. Thank you for being here. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions are invited to press the microphone button within the next three minutes, and they will be allocated an intervention opportunity in the usual way. The time limit for interventions will be dependent on the number of interventions requested. Now I invite Mr. Reid to make some introductory remarks. You're very welcome. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Distinguished delegates, it's an honor to present this report to the Third Committee as independent expert. I thank the member states, civil society organizations, experts, and United Nations entities who contributed to the report, and my host institutions, the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria for their continued support. The humanitarian system is under acute strain. At the start of 2025, an estimated 305 million people needed assistance and protection amid armed conflict and climate-related disasters. Yet international humanitarian assistance fell by around 20% that year, the largest annual decline on record, severely constraining the capacity to respond. My report examines barriers to humanitarian assistance and protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other gender diverse persons, including institutional assumptions and practices. It covers armed conflict, disasters, public health emergencies and other humanitarian settings. Effective responses must recognize that LGBT persons' circumstances and needs differ within and across crises. Equality and non-discrimination are enshrined in international human rights instruments. The Yogyakarta Principles elaborate how existing obligations apply to sexual orientation and gender identity. International humanitarian law, refugee law, and frameworks protecting internally displaced persons provide complementary protections. The challenge is to translate these guarantees into practice. The barriers are structural. Exclusion from education, employment, housing, health care, and family life can leave LGBT persons with fewer resources and support networks. Crises may deepen these disadvantages, further restricting access to assistance and protection. Criminalization, discriminatory laws and restrictions on civil society create further barriers. In some contexts, political actors manufacture so-called moral emergencies, portraying LGBT persons as threats to national security, religion, or the family. Such rhetoric can legitimize exclusion and violence. This political hostility must be recognized as a humanitarian risk factor. Funding cuts, political conditions on aid, and shrinking civic space constrain humanitarian agencies and have a disproportionate impact on smaller community organizations providing essential services to LGBT persons. Protection and inclusion risk being treated as discretionary, even where vital to safety and survival. My report identifies three interconnected forms of exclusion. First, self-exclusion. Experiences of violence, discrimination, and rejection can lead LGBT persons to anticipate hostility and avoid seeking essential assistance. Second, programmatic exclusion. Narrow household and family definitions can exclude people whose relationships lack legal recognition or who are estranged from their families. Documentation requirements and binary gender categories create further barriers. LGBT persons' needs are often addressed only in protection, rather than across health, shelter, food, water, and sanitation. Third, institutional exclusion. LGBT persons describe being turned away, overlooked, or denied essential services. Organizations may avoid engagement because of perceived legal, operational or safety risks to themselves or to LGBT persons. This reinforces other forms of exclusion, leaving those at heightened risk less likely to receive assistance. Needs assessments can mistake people who do not come forward for people without needs. Yet, collecting sexual orientation or gender identity data can expose individuals to harm. Collection must be necessary for protection with strict confidentiality safeguards and meaningful participation. Assistance must not depend on disclosure. The report identifies practical ways to reduce exclusion by adapting existing systems to recognize diverse families, gender identities, and protection risks with targeted measures where necessary. Even under financial and operational strains, Humanitarian actors can improve LGBT inclusion through relatively modest, low-cost adjustments to existing systems. Meaningful community participation, continuity of essential services, staff training, and institutional accountability are central. I call on States to repeal discriminatory laws, prevent violence and arbitrary detention, uphold privacy and family life, and remove barriers to assistance. States and humanitarian actors should integrate LGBT persons' needs across preparedness, response and recovery, safeguard essential health care and support community organizations. Donors should protect humanitarian funding and provide sustained, flexible support to these organizations. Thank you.

I thank the independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for your remarks. I now open the floor. We have a good range of speakers. The time limit for each intervention will be two minutes. I have the following speakers listed initially: the Special Envoy for LGBTI+ Rights from the United Kingdom, the Permanent Representative of Uruguay and the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, followed by Cyprus. United Kingdom, you have the floor.

The United Kingdom thanks the UN Independent Expert for his latest report. The measure of humanitarian response is not who it reaches first, but whether it reaches everyone who needs it. The report highlights that all too often, LGBT+ people face heightened risks of violence and discrimination and challenges accessing protection, assistance and essential services. The United Kingdom supports principled humanitarian action guided by humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. Effective humanitarian action requires meaningful engagement with affected communities so that responses are informed by their own experiences, needs and priorities. Can the independent expert share examples of practical steps humanitarian actors can take to engage and support LGBT+ people safely, particularly where local organizations are limited or where visibility may expose individuals to further risk.

I thank the United Kingdom's Special Envoy for LGBT+ rights. I pass the floor to the Permanent Representative of Uruguay. You have the floor. Microphone.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the members and observers of the UN LGBTI Core Group. We welcome the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Mr. Graham Reid, to New York, and we reiterate our unwavering support for the work carried out by you and by all mandate holders since establishment of this special procedure in 2016. The LGBTI Core Group welcomes the IE latest report, which makes an important contribution to our understanding of how humanitarian crises compound existing patterns of exclusion. Humanitarian crises do not affect everyone in the same way. Pre-existing bias, stigmatization, violence and discrimination The breakdown of support networks and barriers embedded in humanitarian procedures can expose LGBTI+ persons to heightened risk and increased vulnerabilities precisely when protection is most urgently needed. We take note of the report's finding that the principal challenge is often not the absence of general protective norms, but the failure to translate those norms consistently into operational practice. As the report illustrates, exclusion may occur through seemingly routine practices. registration procedures, documentation requirements, household-based eligibility criteria, or shelters and water and sanitation facilities, as well as basic health tools and services that do not adequately account for the circumstances of all affected persons, especially LGBTI persons. Humanitarian assistance must be guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Impartiality requires that assistance be provided according to needs and that barriers preventing people from accessing it are identified and addressed. Safety and inclusion is therefore integral to effective humanitarian action and should not be treated as an optional or secondary consideration.

I thank the permanent representative of Uruguay. I pass the floor to the permanent representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Thank you, Chair. The Kingdom of the Netherlands would like to thank the independent expert, Mr. Reed, for presenting his report on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in humanitarian contexts. The Kingdom of the Netherlands remains firmly committed to promoting and protecting the equal enjoyment of human rights by all. regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Independent Expert, your report highlights how pre-existing discrimination can be compounded during humanitarian crises. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons may face additional barriers to accessing essential assistance and protection, including shelter, food and health care, especially in contexts of criminalization. We are particularly concerned by your findings that the humanitarian procedures and practices can themselves create barriers to assistance, also unintentionally. Humanitarian assistance must be guided by the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. As your report highlights, providing assistance without discrimination requires identifying those most at risk and addressing the barriers they face. We recognize the crucial role of local civil society organizations, including LGBT-focused organizations and community networks, in reaching people who may otherwise be overlooked by humanitarian responses. With violence, discrimination against LGBTI persons, and criminalization of same-sex relationships and anti-rights movements globally on the rise, the Kingdom of the Netherlands remains a staunch supporter of the importance of your mandate. Independent expert. What steps can states and humanitarian actors take to ensure that LGBTI persons are fully included in humanitarian responses, particularly in contexts where resources are limited and discrimination remains widespread? I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands. I pass the floor to Cyprus, to be followed by Israel and then Belgium. Cyprus, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Cyprus aligns with the statements by the European Union and by Uruguay on behalf of the LGBTI Core Group. We would like to thank independent expert Reed for his presentation before us today. Over the recent years, Cyprus has taken important legislative and institutional steps towards strengthening the protection and promotion of the rights of the LGBTIQ+ persons. A significant development was a decision of the Council of Ministers in October 2024 to approve the preparation of the first national strategy for the protection and promotion of the rights of the LGBTIQ+ persons under the coordination of the Commissioner for the Citizen. Further progress has also been made through measures aimed at strengthening the prevention of discrimination and hate crime, including enhanced training and awareness raising among law enforcement authorities, prosecutors and judges. The Cyprus Police has also continued to strengthen the capacity of its members to identify, investigate and appropriately respond to hate-motivated incidents, including those targeting LGBTIQ+ persons. The legal framework on incitement to violence or hatred on grounds including sexual orientation and gender identity was also strengthened in 2024, reflecting continuing efforts to reinforce the protection of LGBTIQ+ persons against hate-motivated offenses. Cyprus remains committed to building a society where everyone can enjoy their rights freely and equally. And we recognize the important work of LGBTIQ focus and community-based organization in this regard. Mr. Independent Expert, how can disaster management, humanitarian response, recovery and resilience policies better address the needs of LGBTIQ+ persons across all phases of a crisis in line with best practices on inclusion, meaningful participation, data protection, non-discrimination and accountability? I thank you.

Thank you, Representative Cyprus. Israel, followed by Belgium. Israel, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

Israel reaffirms its commitment to combating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTI persons exist in all of our countries and across every region and culture.

They are vital agents of change.

Yet, despite their contributions, LGBTI persons continue to face alarming rates of discrimination.

Violence, exclusion, hate speech, and stigma, challenges that are severely compounded in times of crisis and humanitarian emergency.

Violence and discrimination exist in all of our societies, no matter how far down the road of inclusion we believe we are. In humanitarian settings, these structural barriers leave LGBTI individuals particularly vulnerable to severe protection gaps, self-exclusion, and systematic marginalization. In this context, Israel highlights the indispensable role played by LGBTI civil society and community-led organizations. These organizations demonstrate extraordinary resilience. They serve as critical lifelines, often providing emergency shelter, healthcare, trusted referral pathways, and essential protection to marginalized populations when they need it most. We have seen firsthand the value of community organizations in identifying and responding to needs that broader emergency systems may not always detect. Mr. Independent Expert, your report asks how local LGBTI organizations can be better incorporated into humanitarian planning while respecting their autonomy. Based on the experiences you examined, what forms of cooperation can best support such integration before a crisis begins?

I thank you.

Thank you, Israel. Belgium, followed by Australia. Belgium, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Belgium aligns itself with the EU statement as well as the UN LGBTI Core Group statement. We thank the independent expert for the insightful report and recommendations. My country reiterates its full support for your mandate and for the protection and promotion of the human rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, across the world. As you have emphasized, International humanitarian law prohibits discrimination. This principle is translated into human practice through the application of the humanitarian principle of impartiality, ensuring assistance reaches all those in need without distinction. The international community should continue its efforts to address the three dimensions of exclusion identified in your report, namely, separate exclusion, programmatic exclusion, and institutional exclusion. In its 2026 humanitarian aid strategy, Belgium reaffirmed its commitment to principled and inclusive humanitarian action. Consistent with its national gender legislation and its commitments under women, peace and security agenda, Belgium is working towards a more equitable, representative and inclusive humanitarian system. This includes promoting gender equality and ensuring that the specific needs, priorities, and vulnerabilities of affected populations are systematically taken into account throughout humanitarian responses. Inclusion should not be regarded as an additional burden in an already constrained humanitarian environment. Rather, it is a prerequisite for effective, principled, and accountable humanitarian action, ensuring that those most at risk of exclusion can access assistance assistance safely, meaningfully and on an equal basis with others is central to a principled humanitarian action. I thank you.

Thank you, Belgium. I pass to Australia and then Cuba and Brazil. Australia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Australia thanks the independent expert for his report. Australia is gravely concerned by the extent of humanitarian need globally and is dismayed that humanitarian assistance fell by over 20% in 2025, despite the growing need. Australia is committed to not leaving anyone behind, including LGBTQIA+ persons who are more likely to experience violence and exploitation in times of crisis. We know that disasters affect groups that may be vulnerable to a much greater degree, so protection of those communities must inform how we respond. The human rights of LGBTQIA+ persons in humanitarian settings must be protected. We reiterate the simple truth that human rights apply to everyone equally, no matter who they are or who they love. Inclusive approaches that consider the particular needs of LGBTQIA+ persons, as well as other groups that may be vulnerable, benefit everyone. This is the case in humanitarian contexts and beyond. As such, we ask, how can we uplift movement-led local organizations in delivering lifesaving services safely? Thank you.

Thank you, Australia. I pass to Cuba, then Brazil. Cuba, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. We welcome the independent expert and reiterate our support for his mandate. Cuba has a modern normative framework, a comprehensive one that guarantees that all persons are equal before the law, they receive the same protection and treatment from the authorities, enjoy the same freedoms, opportunities, without any discrimination based on sex, gender, or gender orientation, or any other circumstances that implies any kind of undermining of human dignity. The constitution of Cuba and the family code and the children code specifically expands the rights and protections for LGBT+ persons. The blockade of the US against Cuba, which is a policy that violates the UN Charter, affects the well-being of our people and enjoyment of their rights, including the LGBT+. And the consequences are visible. We agree with the findings of the independent expert as stated in his report. With this in mind, we invite the expert to address in his next report the impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights and quality of life and the well-being of LGBTQIA+ people in the countries where they are applied. Thank you.

Thank you, Cuba. I pass to Brazil and Japan.

Mr. Chair, the full content of this statement will be available on UN Journal. As an active member of the UN LGBTI Core Group, Brazil aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our support for the mandate of the Independent Expert and to thank Mr. Reed for his timely report, which helps shed light on how humanitarian crises can exacerbate existing patterns of exclusion. It provides valuable insights into ways to promote more inclusive humanitarian responses that uphold the rights and dignity of LGBT+ persons. It is deeply concerning that LGBT+ persons continue to face violence and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including disturbingly in context of heightened vulnerability, such as humanitarian crisis. As mentioned in Mr. Reed's report, Brazil has developed a range of measures to address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in humanitarian settings. The 2014 Brazil Declaration is mentioned as an example of regional framework recognizing the need to protect LGBT persons in situations of displacement and migration contexts. Among the good practices identified, the report highlights Brazil's waiver of in-person interviews for LGBT+ persons seeking asylum and coming from countries where they face criminalization. As pointed out in the report, Member States must ensure that the formal universality of humanitarian protection translates into its equal enjoyment in practice. We underscored independent experts' recommendation to uphold obligations under human rights and humanitarian law. Mr. Independent Expert, how can Member States ensure that LGBT+ persons are not rendered invisible, neglected, or portrayed as a threat in humanitarian contexts?

Thank you, Brazil. I pass to Japan, to be followed by Mexico. Japan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On behalf of Japan, I would like to express its sincere appreciation to Mr. Reed for his insightful report, which sheds light on the significant challenges faced by LGBT persons in humanitarian settings, including discrimination, exclusion, and institutional barriers that hinder their access to essential services. such as shelter, food, health care, and protection. Japan attaches great importance to ensuring protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including in humanitarian settings. As a founding member of the LGBTI Core Group, Japan remains firmly committed to supporting the mandate of the Independent Expert. We welcome the report's identification of promising practices in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Kenya and Fiji aimed at enhancing access to essential services, strengthening protection and promoting community-based support for LGBTI persons in humanitarian and displacement settings. In this regard, we would appreciate your view on which of these initiatives have proven particularly effective and could be replicated or scaled up, especially in resource-constrained settings, to ensure safe, equitable, and non-discriminatory access to humanitarian assistance. I thank you.

Thank you, Japan. I pass the floor to Mexico, then Montenegro. Mexico, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mexico aligns itself with the statement of the core group and as it's in its national capacity, I'd like to thank Mr. Reed for his report and reiterate its support for his mandate. The humanitarian crises exacerbate discrimination and face LGBTQI+ people with threats to their humanitarian protection, which means that we need to translate equality and non-discrimination into actions. We recognize the good practices of Mexico. Our authorities have mechanisms to identify specific protection risks, and they channel people to specialized services and they support them throughout their administrative procedures. We also have health protocols to ensure essential services in displacement contexts, as well as special clinics that are specialised to the needs of transgender people. commitment to a humanitarian response that is inclusive and people-centred, that overcomes institutional barriers and administrative barriers to effective access, in which financial constraints do not relegate the protection of those who face the greatest risks. Mr. Reed, what measures do you think should be taken to ensure that, given the current financial constraints, humanitarian bodies can respond to the specific needs, the protection needs of LGBTQI+ persons. Thank you.

Thank you, Mexico. I pass to Montenegro, followed by Austria and then Ireland. Montenegro, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Montenegro aligns with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of UN LGBTI Core Group.

Mr. Reed, We thank you for your insightful report and reaffirm our strong support for your mandate. At a time when the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons are increasingly challenged worldwide, your independent work remains essential in confronting discrimination, challenging harmful narratives and promoting accountability. Montenegro firmly believes that violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity have no place in any society. Protecting the rights and dignity of all persons without.

Distinction is not a matter of choice, but a fundamental human rights obligation.

This principle is reflected in our national efforts. In 2026, Montenegro adopted a new anti-discrimination law that explicitly protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This marks an important milestone, and our focus now is on ensuring its implementation, that makes meaningful difference in the that its implementation makes meaningful difference in people's lives. Your report also reminds us the humanitarian crisis can further expose those already facing discrimination to serious protection risks. Humanitarian assistance must reach everyone in need without exclusion and respect for human dignity has to remain at the center of every response. Mr. Reed, in light of your findings, What do you see as most pressing challenge to ensuring that the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons are fully protected in humanitarian responses and how can states best address it? Thank you.

Thank you, Montenegro. I pass to Austria, then Ireland and Malta. Austria, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Austria aligns itself with the EU statement. Independent Expert, we thank you for your comprehensive report. All persons in need, regardless of their gender and sexual orientation, must be granted access to humanitarian assistance. Austria is committed to that through our National Strategy on Humanitarian Assistance that recognizes the challenges LGBTIQ people face in accessing basic humanitarian services and stresses the importance of responding to the specific needs of LGBTIQ communities. Austria welcomes the good examples of the work of humanitarian and public institutions you provided in your report. However, we are deeply concerned about the decline in funding and the gradual limitation of civic space, making it increasingly difficult for LGBTIQ persons to access the vital assistance they need. We agree with you that local LGBTIQ community networks are often best placed to render support to those community members affected by crises. However, in contexts where same-sex relations and gender nonconformity are criminalized, engaging with these communities poses a potential risk to both beneficiaries and staff members. independent expert. Similar to some of our colleagues, we therefore ask how we can better support local LGBTIQ organizations in reaching people whose needs may not be adequately addressed by the formal humanitarian system without exposing them and their communities to additional risks. I thank you.

Thank you, Austria. I have Ireland, Malta, China, and Canada. Ireland, you have the floor.

Ireland aligns with the statements delivered by the EU and by Uruguay on behalf of the LGBTI Core Group. We thank the Independent Expert for his report. The report provides valuable recommendations to States, international humanitarian actors and donors. These include repealing anti-LGBTIQ+ laws and policies, upholding obligations under international refugee, human rights and humanitarian law, ensuring that humanitarian assistance is provided without discrimination, removing unnecessary legal and administrative barriers to accessing assistance, integrating the needs and experiences of LGBTIQ+ persons into humanitarian, development and disaster risk reduction actions, and recognising community-led and LGBTIQ+ focused organisations as essential humanitarian partners. The promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons is a domestic and foreign policy priority for Ireland, including as a newly elected member of the Human Rights Council. We are firmly opposed to any attempts to undermine existing international commitments and standards on these issues. Through our development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, Ireland supports human rights defenders in all their diversity and civil society organisations, including women's rights, youth-led and LGBTIQ+ organisations, who work to advance the human rights, inclusion and protection of LGBTIQ+ persons, including in humanitarian settings. Independent Expert Reed, can you please share examples of how international humanitarian actors are engaging with your recommendations? And how can marginalized groups who are experiencing barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance work together to strengthen their collective voice and resilience? Thank you.

Thank you, Ireland. Malta, then China. Malta, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Malta aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union and that already delivered by the UN LGBTI Core Group. Mr. Reed, welcome back to 3C. Malta reiterates its unwavering support for our important mandate and thanks you for your latest report, which examines the extent to which the humanitarian needs of LGBTQ+ persons are addressed within the global humanitarian system. As conflicts and humanitarian crises intensify, we must remain mindful of the disproportionate impact on persons who are already vulnerable. No one should face violence, discrimination or exclusion on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, least of all in times of crisis. when needs are greatest and access to assistance is most constrained. In this context, multiple for safe, timely, and unimpeded humanitarian access in all conflict settings, and to echo the independent experts report, we stress the need for inclusive humanitarian assistance that upholds the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ persons. We also wish to commend the valuable contribution of the LGBTQ+ led civil society and community-based organizations which are often well placed to reach those at risk, complement the work of formal humanitarian actors and identify protection gaps. Malta agrees as well that the main challenge lies in implementation. In this regard, we welcome the independent expert's views on what safeguards can be put in place to ensure that inclusion is not treated as optional when humanitarian resources are shrinking. Thank you.

Thank you, Malta. I pass to China, then Canada and European Union. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Chinese delegation takes note of the report of the Independent Expert on Protection against Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and has listened carefully to the statement by the Independent Expert. China opposes all forms of discrimination and violence, including discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation. China has consistently maintained that the international community should respect the historical, religious, and cultural traditions of all countries, as well as differences in their social systems and levels of development. We believe that the paths for human rights development independently chosen by all countries should be respected, and no country should impose their own values on others. The international community should strengthen dialogue and cooperation on human rights based on equality and mutual respect, enhance mutual understanding, and properly address differences. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, China. I pass the floor to Canada, then European Union. Canada, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Canada aligns with the statement from Uruguay on behalf of the LGBTQI Core Group. We welcome the independent expert's report and thank him for his presentation. Canada is a committed humanitarian donor. We support a principled and timely humanitarian response that is focused on saving lives, alleviating suffering, and maintaining dignity in crisis contexts. We strive to provide assistance to the most vulnerable and where it's needed most, and we are concerned that humanitarian and national response systems are failing to meet LGBTQI+ people's needs. The report reveals the urgent need for states and other actors to do more before and during humanitarian crises to protect LGBTQI human rights. Patterns of discrimination and attacks on civic space compromise LGBTQI+ persons' resilience long before a crisis begins. Canada agrees that LGBTQI+ organizations and informal mutual networks are indispensable to effective, efficient, inclusive humanitarian response. This important report reminds us of the need to mobilize existing international humanitarian law and norms to offer real protections to LGBTQI+ persons affected by humanitarian crises. I'll end with two questions for Mr. Reed. What are the most effective ways to ensure that LGBTQI+ organizations and informal mutual support network can work alongside mainstream humanitarian actors as equal partners? And do you see value in more fully integrating LGBTQI+ considerations in the UN Women Peace and Security Agenda, perhaps building on the approach used by the Interagency Standing Committee in humanitarian coordination? Thank you.

Thank you, Canada. I pass the European Union, then Germany, European Union, have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. We thank you for your important work. Addressing and documenting violence, discrimination, stigmatization, harassment, and exclusion in humanitarian settings on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is critical to ensure that assistance and protection are afforded equally to all who need it. The EU reaffirms its strong support for your mandate and calls on all Member States to cooperate with it. You highlight how LGBTI persons face heightened and specific risks in humanitarian crises because of pre-existing discrimination and the way the humanitarian aid system is organized. You conclude that this excludes them from life-saving assistance and protection. The report shows that LGBTI persons often avoid engaging with aid mechanisms because they anticipate hostility or are affected by political restrictions which undermine access to essential services. We agree with your recommendations and would highlight good practice such as adapting systems to remove barriers and better recognize LGBTI persons, establishing confidential referral and complaint mechanisms, and working with LGBTI-led organizations as key partners in humanitarian response. The EU reaffirms its strong commitment to respect, protect and fulfill the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by LGBTI persons, including in humanitarian contexts. The EU remains committed to advancing humanitarian responses which are inclusive, impartial and firmly grounded in human rights. Independent expert, which accountability mechanisms and forms of engagement with local partners do you consider most effective to ensure that LGBTI persons can safely access protection and assistance, especially in contexts where laws or social attitudes are hostile to them?

I thank the European Union. I pass the floor to Germany, then France, Switzerland, Iceland, and Portugal. Germany, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Germany aligns itself with the EU statement and the statement by the UN LGBTI Core Group. We extend our gratitude to the independent expert for his comprehensive report on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in humanitarian contexts. We are deeply concerned by the report's findings of the prevalent programmatic, institutional and self-execution of LGBTI persons from humanitarian assistance. The report outlines how pre-existing discrimination intensifies during humanitarian crises and how criminalization of same-sex relations and harmful political narratives further endanger LGBTI persons. We therefore join the independent experts in calling for the universal decriminalization of consensual same-sex conduct. Germany underscores the universality of humanitarian protection and reconfirms its commitment to creating a safer and more accessible humanitarian system for all, including persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. We strongly agree that this inclusion is a fundamental human right. We acknowledge the importance of the work carried out by LGBTI organizations on the ground, as highlighted in the report, and thank the independent expert for sharing his recommendations and examples of best practices. Mr. Independent Expert, how can we ensure that the do no harm principle is applied but not misinterpreted and identify safe ways of engagement? Thank you.

Thank you, Germany. I give the floor to France, to be followed by Switzerland. France, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, France reaffirms its staunch commitment to the principles of universality and the indivisibility of human rights, to the equality of all without distinction. The right to life, to security, to dignity and to protection against violence and discrimination cannot be subject to any exception, particularly in crisis situations. Mr. Reed, your report underlines correctly that the universality of human aid is unfortunately not a guarantee in itself of the actual accessibility of that aid to everybody who needs it. LGBTI+ people are particularly exposed to that reality. In crisis situations, they undergo worsened violence and pre-existing discrimination and that also obstacles even within humanitarian bodies. whose registration procedures or facilities may not be right for their needs and might deprive them of vital assistance. We are concerned by the criminalization, persistent criminalization of consensual relationships between same-sex persons in 55 UN member states, which increases the stigmatization and violence towards them, and it may dissuade them from seeking humanitarian aid because they might be victim of reprisals or arrested. No one should have to choose between their security and the possibility of living freely. Therefore, France, with Albania, has recently brought to the Human Rights Council a joint declaration calling for the universal decriminalization of consensual relationships between same-sex persons. This declaration has been endorsed by 24 members of the Council. That means an absolute majority. Mr. Reed, in the context of rejection in humanitarian financing, how can we guarantee services specific to the needs of LGBT+, including confidentiality and not exposing them to the risks of further reprisals. Thank you.

Thank you, France. I pass the floor to Switzerland, to be followed by Iceland and finally Portugal. Switzerland, you have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Switzerland thanks the independent expert for his report and reiterates its full support for his mandate. The report rightly highlights the many obstacles that LGBT persons face in accessing humanitarian assistance. It is also noted in the report that in contexts where consensual same-sex relations are criminalized, such access is even more difficult or even impossible, and may expose LGBT persons to risks of violence, discrimination or arrest. Mr. Reed, How can we better ensure safe and non-discriminatory access to humanitarian assistance in such contexts? Switzerland is also concerned about the global rise in an anti-LGBTQI rhetoric, which fuels stigma, hostility and exclusion in our societies. To face up to that, Switzerland this year adopted its first national action plan against hate crimes against LGBTQI persons. focusing on support and protection, prevention and monitoring, it aims to reduce hate crimes, violence and discrimination. In accordance with the principles of equality and non-discrimination, we call upon all States to take the measures necessary to prevent and counter such discourses and to eliminate laws and policies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. I thank you.

Thank you, Switzerland. I pass to Iceland. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic states. We express our appreciation for the mandate and thank the independent expert for this important report. Violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics remain widespread and systematic. The report makes clear that humanitarian crises do not erase pre-existing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, they often amplify it. Those already marginalized can become even more invisible when systems designed to provide protection fail to recognize their specific needs. We are particularly concerned by the use of narratives invoking so-called morality or public order to justify discrimination and exclusion. Such rhetoric can fuel stigma and violence and contribute to the persecution of LGBTIQ+ persons. International human rights law and international humanitarian law provide protection for all without exception. Humanitarian assistance must be provided without discrimination and protection responses must ensure that no one is excluded because of who they are. The UN system has a responsibility to ensure that LGBTIQ+ persons are not an afterthought in the humanitarian preparedness and response. Protection must be meaningful, inclusive and grounded in the universality of human rights. Independent experts, how can states and the UN system better integrate the specific protection needs and lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ persons into humanitarian planning, financing and response, and what concrete steps should states and UN actors take to ensure that no one is left invisible or unprotected? Thank you.

Thank you, Iceland. I pass to Portugal, and I do have an additional speaker, Spain. Portugal, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Portugal thanks the independent expert for this timely and comprehensive report. We align with the statements of the UN LGBTI Core Group and the EU. Portugal firmly believes that humanitarian assistance must reach every person based on need without discrimination. Yet, as the report demonstrates, LGBT+ persons may be excluded from shelter, food assistance, healthcare, and protection because humanitarian systems do not adequately recognize diverse identities, family structures, and protection risks. We are particularly concerned by the report's finding that such exclusion can be self-imposed through fear embedded in program design or reinforced by institutional practices. Genuine impartiality requires identifying those who face barriers in accessing humanitarian assistance and ensuring these persons are assisted. Portugal also underlines the importance of safe and responsible data practices. Access to assistance should never depend on disclosing sexual orientation or gender identity, particularly in environments where such disclosure may expose individuals to violence, arrest or persecution. Inclusive humanitarian action does not necessarily require parallel structures. It requires adapting existing systems, protecting confidentiality, maintaining essential health care, and establishing safe referral and complaint mechanisms. Local and LGBTI-focused organizations must also be recognized as essential humanitarian partners. Mr. Independent Expert, what practical steps should states and humanitarian actors prioritize to identify and remove barriers in registration, eligibility, and household-based assistance systems? Thank you.

Thank you, Portugal. And finally, Spain, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Spain aligns itself with the declaration of the European Union and by Uruguay on behalf of the LGBTI Core Group. The fight against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is one of the priorities of our foreign policy. Spain supports the mandate of the independent expert and participates actively in the Core Group and in the Coalition for Equal Rights. We've been the co-chair of that group. We, on this is that commitment, we've adopted a special matter for the LGBTQI+ persons. Unfortunately, the abuses against such persons are increasing in many places, including in countries that traditionally have led the defence of those rights. In some countries, laws have been promoted against LGBTQI+ persons, threatening them on the basis of cultural values. and in some countries even consensual relationships between same-sex persons remain punished with the death penalty even today. That's why we support the work of the Independent Expert and as co-chair of the Coalition for Equality Rights and member of the Core Group, we condemn any violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Spain. That concludes the interventions from Member State delegations. It's my pleasure to pass the floor to Mr. Reid for any response or remarks in reaction to those comments. Thank you. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. And I thank the distinguished delegates for their questions and their expressions of support for the mandate. I've clustered the set of questions into a series of themes. One is around how to provide support for LGBT persons safely and ensuring confidentiality. The other is around inclusivity of the humanitarian system and especially in resource poor settings where there are significant financial constraints. The other is about how to better incorporate LGBT civil society groups and local organizations, especially in a context of criminalization, negative social attitudes, highlighting the importance of context. How to address the invisibility of LGBT persons, whereas at the same time protecting confidentiality. What are some of the most pressing challenges? How does the do no harm principle avoid becoming a barrier? How can data be collected appropriately and again ensuring confidentiality? And what might be some of the specific better practices identified in the report? And so in my concluding remarks, I will address these questions as well as elaborate on some of the key themes of the report. So the first point I'd like to make is that the assumption that assistance available to everyone is equally accessible to everyone. And so impartiality is sometimes invoked to justify an identity blind approach, as though protecting particular barriers would conflict with non-discrimination. Yet impartiality prohibits adverse distinction and requires assistance to be prioritized according to need. So fulfilling that obligation requires understanding who is most at risk and what prevents them from accessing assistance. Failure to reach marginalized populations is itself a failure of impartiality. And a second concern is that attention to LGBT persons' needs would diverse scarce resources from others. The report does not suggest that LGBT persons are invariably the most marginalized population in every crisis, or that their needs should compete with those of other groups. Risk is always context-specific. Identifying exclusion improves the accuracy of needs assessments and targeting. Many measures involve adapting ordinary procedures, while services that appear specialized, such as safe accommodation or essential health care, may be vital to survival. And resource constraints make careful assessment more necessary. They do not remove the obligation to provide assistance without discrimination. And a third concern is that engagement could expose LGBT persons and humanitarian staff to legal or physical risk. And these risks are genuine, and do no harm, as was addressed in the question, is non-negotiable. Context-specific caution must guide safe engagement. However, concerns about invisibility can become a blanket justification for avoidance. A practitioner study cited in my report found that organizations often lack the tools, training, and partnerships needed to engage safely. Confidential referrals, private channels for participation, and partnerships with trusted community organizations can reduce exposure. And legal constraints also require examination. As has been mentioned in the questions, criminalization should not automatically be assumed to prohibit humanitarian assistance. Where laws restricting so-called promotion or propaganda create additional risks, organizations should seek expert legal and protection advice grounded in that particular context. This can help distinguish actual restrictions from assumptions that lead to unnecessary withdrawal. And states that have decriminalized consensual same-sex conduct can support further progress through sustained diplomatic engagement, technical cooperation on legal reform, and support for locally-led efforts guided by the safety and priorities of affected communities. Concerns about neutrality can further reinforce inaction, particularly where support for LGBT persons is portrayed as promoting so-called foreign values. LGBT persons are members of the affected communities. Protection from violence and access to essential assistance respond to their humanitarian needs. Neutrality requires humanitarian actors to refrain from taking sides in hostilities It does not require them to disregard discrimination or unmet needs because they are politically sensitive. Now, where donor conditions create uncertainty, agencies should seek precise clarification and provide management-level guidance to prevent unnecessary withdrawal or over-compliance. The UN system can support local organizations through accessible funding arrangements, shared referral networks and coordination, accompanied by training and security support. The report also offers examples of how institutions can respond, and here I give some specific examples. In Mexico, migration authorities provide designated channels for identifying protection risks and referral to specialized services. Brazil, as mentioned, waives eligibility interviews for certain LGBT asylum applicants from countries where they face imprisonment or even the death penalty. These practices illustrate how administrative procedures can be adapted to remove barriers. Reduced humanitarian presence does not diminish states' responsibility to maintain accessible asylum procedures and uphold the principle of non-refoulement. Simplified documentation requirements, confidential referrals, and clear staff guidance may require relatively modest resources. Peer learning and technical cooperation can help states adapt these measures to their circumstances. Other examples concern safe access. Organizations in Kenya have established private reporting channels and safe accommodation for LGBT refugees. Bosnia and Herzegovina has supported dedicated LGBT shelters in vulnerable areas. Brazil has developed procedures for responding to imminent violence against LGBT persons. These approaches require trained staff, confidentiality safeguards, and accessible complaint mechanisms. Actors can identify barriers through anonymized assessments, confidential feedback, and consultation with trusted community organizations without requiring disclosure of sexual orientation or gender identity. This comes to the data collection question. Any identity data collection must be necessary, voluntary, and protected by strict confidentiality and risk safeguards. Assistance must never depend on disclosure. Now, the importance of community-led LGBT organisations and informal networks can't be underestimated. They provide essential shelter, food, psychosocial support, and trusted referrals, reaching people who may avoid formal systems. Yet, they often remain outside coordination and decision-making, and lack the resources available to larger organisations. Meaningful localization requires equitable partnerships, funding, training, and security support to enable organizations assisting LGBT persons on the front line of humanitarian crises to fulfill their responsibilities safely. Community participation is equally important. In Fiji, LGBT communities have participated in disaster planning and response, while informal networks provided information, solidarity and safe accommodation following a major cyclone. Such experience can inform preparedness and strengthen the continuity of support during emergencies. Evidence of the effectiveness of the practices reviewed remains uneven, but they offer concrete approaches that others can assess and adapt to their circumstances. Funding decisions should assess disproportionate effects on excluded populations and protect continuity of essential services, including HIV treatment and medically necessary gender-affirming care. States and humanitarian actors should plan for treatment continuity and safe referrals with safeguards against inappropriate sharing of patient information with law enforcement. Implementation depends on institutional capacity and accountability. Training should be accompanied by clear operational guidance, changes to procedures, and sustained engagement with affected communities. Inclusion should be embedded across sectors and levels of an organization, including among staff who are the first point of contact for people seeking assistance. Monitoring jointly with affected communities can establish whether assistance is reaching those at risk and where further adjustments are needed. States bear responsibility for protecting rights before, during and after crises. Humanitarian actors and donors must support that protection through their own policies, partnerships and funding decisions. The practical test is whether people can safely obtain the assistance they need. This is the standard against which commitments to inclusion should be assessed. Thank you.

I thank the independent expert, and can I thank both special rapporteurs as well as the independent expert for their contribution to today's proceedings. Let me also thank each of you for being so superbly on time. So we appreciate that in terms of your interventions and in terms of your comments and then responses. So thank you very much indeed, and I will now make some concluding organizational statements. Let me remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under this item is Tuesday 3 November at 1pm. There are no formal meetings scheduled for this coming Monday, 19 October. The committee will continue its consideration of agenda item 70, promotion and protection of human rights and its sub-items A to D on Tuesday 20 October at 10am sharp to hear statements by the special procedures mandate holders, chairs of treaty bodies and other experts and engage with them in an interactive dialogue pursuant to the programme of work. Thank you very much for your engagement today. The meeting is adjourned.