Third Committee, 22nd plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

The 22nd 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 morning, we will hear a combined briefing by the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, followed by a combined interactive dialogue with both presenters. The Committee will then hear a briefing by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, also followed by an interactive dialogue. I now would like to welcome the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. Jihad Mahdi, the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam was unable to join us and has provided a pre-recorded statement. Questions and comments to the Chair of the Committee will be transmitted in writing. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to one or both speakers 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 intervention. Thank you for your cooperation. I first invite the committee to view a pre-recorded introductory video statement by the chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam. Please play the video.

Delegates, in recent times, right-based approach to migration process as defined by core UN human rights treaties, in particular UN Convention on Migrant Workers, has come under ever-increasing strain. And framing migration as a security issue with externalization arrangements, securitized border control, detention, and returns have exposed migrant workers to heightened risk of re-ployment, arbitrary detention, family separation, and other human rights violations. These trends have been accompanied by stigmatizing narratives that fuel xenophobia and social exclusion, as well as growing efforts to limit established human rights protection in the migration context. Therefore, in its engagement with state parties, the Committee has consistently stressed that migration governance must remain firmly anchored on human rights, non-discrimination, accountability, and rule of law in line with the Convention provisions. Unfortunately, the Committee continues to work predominantly with states of origin and transit, as fewer states of destination are parties to this Convention. This has severely limited the Convention's ability to address several key protection concerns of migrant workers, thus creating gaps in their protection. In this context, advocacy for broader ratification of the Convention remains an essential objective of the Committee. Financial constraints affecting United Nations system continue to impact the work of the Committee. As a result of reduced financial resources, Committee's meeting time was significantly curtailed into an unprecedented single session in 2026. At a time when migrant workers face increasing vulnerabilities, and protection challenges, these constraints limit the Committee's ability to monitor implementation of the Convention and provide timely guidance in support of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. Despite the challenges faced, the Committee continued to carry out its mandate with dedication and resolve for the benefit of all stakeholders. The annual report provides a detailed account of our work in support of the implementation of the Convention by state parties. The major milestone in the Committee's work during the reporting period was the adoption on 5 December 2025, together with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the joint General Comment No. 7 and 8, General Recommendation No. 38/39 on eradicating xenophobia towards migrants and persons perceived as migrants. The documents were developed in response to a growing prevalence of xenophobia and its harmful impact on the enjoyment of human rights by all migrants, in particular migrant workers and members of their families. The General Comments recognize that xenophobia is often rooted in structural racism and fueled by inflammatory political discourse misinformation and harmful narratives disseminated through traditional and digital media. The official launch of the joint text took place during the committee's 41st session held in December 2025 and brought together representatives of member states, UN entities, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations. Committee appreciates the contribution by all stakeholders for the development of the General Comments and was encouraged by the close and fruitful collaboration with the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Committee calls upon States and all relevant stakeholders to make full use of the Joint General Comments in their efforts to combat xenophobia, promote social inclusion, strengthen protection of migrant workers. The Committee remains convinced that the implementation can contribute to more inclusive societies and to the full realization of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families. During its 41st and 42nd sessions held in December 2025 and May/June 2026, respectively. The committee continued its work through review of state parties reports, adoption of concluding observations and list of issues and assessment of follow up to select a priority recommendations. The committee also adopted. Under the simplified reporting procedure, list of issues prior to reporting for the periodic reports and assess the follow up reports on the implementation of the prior to recommendations and adopted the evaluation report under under its follow up procedures. I wish to thank state parties that engaged in this dialogue with the Committee during the reporting period, as well as national human rights institutions, UN entities, civil society organizations and other stakeholders whose contribution enriched the Committee's work and its assessment of the implementation of the Convention. Timely reporting and effective engagement with the Committee are fundamental to the effective functioning of the Convention's monitoring framework. I underscore the importance of timely reporting by State Parties, since delays in the submission of reports, combined with the ongoing acute resource challenges, severely affect the predictability of our reviews and limit our ability to fulfill our mandate efficiently. The Committee therefore requests all States Parties to promptly meet their reporting obligations and engage with the review process, which remains the cornerstone of the Convention's implementation framework. The Committee relies on the cooperation of States Parties to discharge its mandate effectively. Identify challenges. good practices in implementation and work towards full realization of the rights of migrant workers and members of their families. And we stand ready to expand our robust engagement with all State Parties in the fulfilment of these shared objectives. Thank you.

I thank the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. I next invite the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. Jihad Mahdi, to deliver an introductory statement. Mr. Mahdi, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Vice-Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it is my pleasure to present my report on children's rights to family life. and family unity in the context of migration and asylum policies. Before entering into the subject of my report, allow me to share some highlights of my work since October last year. In May 2026, I participated in the second International Migration Review Forum. In June 2026, I presented my report to the Human Rights Council on new trends in externalizations, warning that shifting border control, asylum processing, and returns to third countries creates serious risk of human rights violations for migrants and asylum seekers. I urged states to ensure migration cooperation respects international human rights obligations, uphold non-refoulement, and prioritize fair rights-based migration system, access to protection, and genuine responsibility sharing. In addition, I have continued to document and address violations of human rights in situation on third country removals, bilateral agreement on migration, as well as to provide technical assistance to bring legislation and return regulations into line with international human rights law and standards. Distinguished delegates, I now return to my report, which examines the widening gap between states, human rights obligations, and migration policies that undermine family unity for migrant children and their families. Family is the fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to a widest possible protection and assistance. International human rights law is clear. Every child has the right to preserve family relations, to be protected against arbitrary separation from parents, and to have family reunification applications dealt with in a positive, humane and expeditious manner. These rights apply to all children without discrimination, regardless of nationality or migration status. The right to family life is not an isolated entitlement. It is deeply interconnected with children's right to identity, development, education, health, housing, social protection, and protection from violence, exploitation, and abuse. When family unity is protected, children are better able to enjoy the full spectrum of their rights. When families are separated, the consequences can be severe, immediate, and long-lasting. Throughout my consultations, I was alarmed by the extent to which migration governance continued to rely on policies and practices that separate children from parents and caregivers. Family unity saves life and serves as an essential protective factor for children in situations of migration. Yet family separation remains a recurring consequence of detention, deportation, restrictive migration controls, and barriers to family reunification. Immigration detention of children is never, ever in their best interests. Yet many states continue to detain children, families, or parents causing serious harm to children's mental health, development and well. Family unity cannot justify detention. States must prioritize non-custodial rights based on alternatives. Deportation and return measures that separate families can deprive children of care, housing and economic security. Before any decision that may separate a family, states must rigorously assess the child's best interest, hear the child and provide effective safeguards and remedies. I'm also concerned by migration externalizations, transferring children and families to third countries with which they have little or no connection heightens the risk of separation, uncertainty, and the protection failure. Outsourcing migration governance does not diminish states' obligations. Children and families must be explicitly exempted from measures that undermine family unity and child rights. The report also identifies pathways forward. First, states must strengthen family reunification. Income thresholds, documentation requirements, narrow family definition, delays and administrative discretion often prevent children from reuniting with parents, siblings, and other caregivers. Family reunification is a human rights obligation, not a discretionary benefit. Cases involving children must be handled promptly, humanely, and with their best interests as a primary consideration. Second, states should expand safe, regular and accessible migration pathways. Restrictive policies often leave families without realistic options to reunite, forcing them onto dangerous routes. Rights-based pathways for family migration, labor mobility, humanitarian admission and family accompaniment can reduce separation and protect children. Third, states should advance child-sensitive regularization measures. Family life and children's best interests should be grounds for residence, reducing insecurity, and improving access to education, health care, and protection services. The report identifies seven priority areas for actions. Protecting children from arbitrary family separation, ending migration detention of children and families, safeguarding rights in the context of externalization policies, ensuring family reunification, expanding safe and regular migration pathways, advancing regularization measures, and guaranteeing gender responsive and international implementation across all these areas. The guiding principle is simple. Migration status must never determine whether a child can enjoy family life. Children are rights holders, and their best interest must be a primary consideration in every migration and asylum decision affecting them. I urge states to prohibit immigration detention of children and families, prevent separation caused by migration enforcement, strengthening reunification procedures, expand safe and regular pathways, enhance cross-border child protection cooperation, and support the family unit initiatives under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. I will now open the floor for questions or comments to both presentations. As per past practice, I would like to ask delegations to limit their comments to three and a half minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, to be followed by the representatives of Cameroon and Egypt. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and my thanks to the two presenters for their briefings. Cuba is fully committed to the promotion of regular, safe and orderly migration. We are alarmed by the official racist, discriminatory and xenophobic policy promoted by the government of the United States. And it is a shame that they're not in the room to listen to our concerns. Migrants are not criminals. Their human rights must be respected and protected. families should not be separated. We agree with the relevant findings contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur regarding the worrying treatment by the United States of migrants and their families. The economic, financial and commercial blockade against Cuba, which has been strengthened to unprecedented levels with the oil siege and additional supplementary measures, has caused serious harm to the Cuban economy and the lives of the population. which is stimulating the potential of migration. This is leading to irregular migration with political purposes and the differentiated treatment of Cuban migrants that arrive or that intend to arrive on the borders of the United States. This affects not only Cuba migrants and the United States itself, it also has consequences for various transit countries in our region. Irregular migration and persecution policies applied by the North American administration have generated alarming situations as is covered in the report on the human rights of migrants particularly we are concerned by the reference in the report to Cuban citizens being sent to Mexico following a separation from their children and other relatives that they were living with Cuba has repeatedly raised the alarm about the risks associated with the illegal trafficking in migrants and the transnational smuggling of persons. These are closely linked to irregular migration, which puts migrant persons in a situation of vulnerability and turns migrants into victims of organized crime, extortion, and other illicit acts associated with this phenomenon. It is important to clarify that Cuban migrants and travelers leave the country through legal and irregular routes. Cuba will continue to work and cooperate with countries in the region to promote to combat dangerous departures that jeopardize human lives and to combat related crimes such as human trafficking and illegal migrant smuggling, while also protecting the human rights of victims. We kindly invite the Special Rapporteur to pay attention in his subsequent reports to the impact of unilateral coercive measures on indices of irregular migration and the consequences of that on the full enjoyment of human rights. Thank you very much.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. My delegation aligns itself to the statement to be delivered by the African group and thanks Special Rapporteur Mahdi for his comprehensive briefing. The complex challenge of mixed flows required a balanced approach that pairs immediate humanitarian and with long-term development funding. As a major host and transit country for mixed migration flows in Central Africa, Cameroon firmly believes that migration governance must prioritize human dignity over criminalization. My delegation is deeply alarmed by the resurgence of systemic racism, xenophobia, and political scapegoating directed at migrants in numerous destination countries. These dangerous narratives strip migrants of their inherent dignity and fuel arbitrary detention and unlawful pushbacks. We must collectively ensure that international human rights treaties protect all individuals, regardless of their migratory status. Madame la President, On its territory, Cameroon maintains an open-door policy, welcoming hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.

While also working in close cooperation with the International Organization for Migration in order to facilitate returns in safe and dignified conditions of our own nationals in a situation of distress abroad. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what concrete indicators or follow-up tools would you recommend to help member states ensure that destination countries are accountable for systematic violations of human rights and xenophobic acts perpetrated on their borders? How can we better encourage regional partnerships to protect migrants that are taking dangerous transit routes? Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Thank you very much, Madam Chairperson. Egypt wishes to align itself with the statements to be delivered on behalf of the African group as a GCM champions. We extend a warm welcome to the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrants, Mr. Mahdi. and the chairperson of the Committee of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, Mr. Kari Wasama. Egypt hosts millions of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They live within the Egyptian communities, and the Egyptian government, notwithstanding any economic challenges, continue to uphold its strongest commitment to safeguarding their human rights, including through ensuring adequate access to services. Egypt is a country of origin, transit, and destination to migrants. We once again highlight the paramount importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to safe, orderly, and regular migration governance, including through addressing socioeconomic drivers, regional and international cooperation, and respect for human rights. Egypt remains deeply concerned with the consistent increase in acts of violence, discrimination and incitement to hatred against migrants, including on the basis of their race, ethnicity and religion and belief, such as manifestations of Islamophobia. Last April, the ministerial meeting of African champion countries for the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration, GCM, was held in Cairo in collaboration with IOM. and it served as a high-level platform to align African priorities and reinforce the continent's leadership in advancing evidence-based, development-focused migration policies and practices. We thank the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants for his report. And Egypt, as a co-founder of the Group of Friends of the Family, would like to reiterate the importance of its subject matter on the interdependence between the right to family life and family unity and other child rights. In this regard, with new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, how can Member States better incorporate and maximize the benefits of these technologies in assessing reunification applications and re-asylum claims, while ensuring the decision do not overlook the relevant humanitarian aspects and the principle of the best interest of the child? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation, followed by Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

Madam Chair, we have carefully reviewed the thematic report of Mr. Gerhard Mahdy. The issues raised by the Special Rapporteur undoubtedly deserve the closest attention from States. We are convinced that the practice of detaining and placing unaccompanied migrant children in temporary holding facilities does not comply with the principle of the best interests of the child. We share concerns regarding cases of the pushback of children at borders and the use of restrictive measures to hinder their access to asylum procedures. We agree that measures to externalize migration processes have a negative impact on migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and could lead to unlawful or arbitrary interference in family life, including the separation of children from their parents. We would like to note that the UNHCR has repeatedly pointed out that the practice of placing asylum seekers and migrants in deportation centers located in third countries is inconsistent with international refugee law. We agree with the Special Rapporteur that in the absence of safe and legal pathways, children face serious risks during transit and at borders. We would like to draw particular attention to the situation in the Mediterranean, where people, including children, continue to die while trying to reach the European continent. The Mediterranean migration route remains the deadliest in terms of mortality rates. According to UNICEF data, over the past decade, at least 3,500 children have died or gone missing while trying to cross the central part of the Mediterranean. Madam Chair, we are convinced that the most effective way to address the problem of forced migration, including among children, is to address the root causes that compel people to leave their homelands. In this context, we also note the importance of coordinating international cooperation in order to enhance the positive impact of efforts to combat human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire.

Madame Chair, Cote d'Ivoire thanks the Special Rapporteur for his enlightening presentation that highlights the growing divide that exists between the international obligations that fall to states and migration policies that undermine family unity. My delegation takes note of the report and of the relevant recommendations. My delegation welcomes the efforts made by some States to protect the family life of children in situations of migration, especially measures aimed at prohibiting the detention of migrant children. However, we are concerned about the serious gaps that we have noticed in the effective implementation of the child's right to family life, despite the universal legal obligation to protect the family as the basic unit of society without discrimination. For my country, the governance of migration and asylum should be guided by the best interest of the child, by the right to family life and by the principle of family unity. This is why my delegation pays special attention to the Special Rapporteur's recommendations, where he calls on States to end the detention of migrant children and their families It also calls for family separation to be prevented and for family reunification procedures to be strengthened. It calls for an improvement of cross-border cooperation on child protection and for the combating of xenophobia against migrant families. Cote d'Ivoire wishes to emphasize the need for a human rights-based approach to make it possible to reconcile the orderly management of migration with the effective protection of children and their families. In this regard, we would like to know your assessment of the mechanisms for family reunification and cooperation between States, especially as regards ensuring the continuity of care and the protection of migrant children. What concrete measures do you recommend to States to prevent family separation as part of migration and asylum procedures while ensuring respect for international obligations in relation to the rights of the child? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria, followed by Mexico and the European Union.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Nigeria aligns with the statement to be delivered by Africa Group and the GCM countries. Nigeria thanks the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants for their respective reports and continued effort to advance the protection of migrants' human rights. As a country of origin, transit, and destination, Nigeria recognizes that migration when safe, orderly, and regular can contribute significantly to sustainable development. However, migrants continue to face serious challenges, including discrimination, trafficking in persons, exploitation, unsafe migration routes, and limited access to justice and essential services. As a champion country of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, Nigeria remains committed to a people-centered approach to migration governance, grounded in respect for human rights, national sovereignty, and international cooperation. In this regard, Nigeria is concerned about the externalization of migration management, particularly arrangements that shift migration control responsibilities to third countries without adequate safeguards for migrants' human rights. Such approaches risk transferring responsibilities rather than addressing the underlying challenges of migration through genuine international cooperation. Nigeria emphasizes that migration governance must uphold the Global Compact principles and objectives, including protecting migrants regardless of status, expanding regular migration pathways, and fostering international cooperation based on shared responsibility. We further stress the need to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking, promote ethical recruitment, and ensure that all return and readmission processes are safe, dignified, and consistent with international human rights obligations. In this regard, we welcome the Special Rapporteur's views on how the international community can address the human rights implications of externalized migration policies and strengthen accountability for violations affecting migrants along migration routes. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. We are grateful for the presentation of the reports and we're grateful also for this opportunity to engage in dialogue. For Mexico, the family represents the natural environment in which children should develop, and this is why the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which we are a signatory, establishes the obligation of states to avoid arbitrary separations and to promote family reunification. We agree with Rapporteur Madi's report, where he says this should be addressed in an intersectional way. Child migrants include those who migrate together with their families, those who travel in separation, or those who require international protection when their environment is broken down, the risks that children face get worse. In order to ensure their protection, we should have the best interests of the child as the principle guiding any action and place children at the heart of policies and programs. This is why Mexico is taking measures to ensure that in the face of the challenges that we are dealing with, we should have migration policies that better incorporate in a cross-cutting way the rights of children approach, prioritizing environments of care, protection and support. And so we highlight the following: our reform to harmonize the general law on the rights of children and adolescents with the migration law, consolidating a legal framework with a rights-based approach. Secondly, the adoption of our First, national strategy for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents on the move, ENAM, as it's known. And this was presented at the International Migration Review Forum to comprehensively align institutional, normative, and operational capacities across different levels. Thirdly, we highlight our mechanisms for the effective protection of children on the move, such as the OPINA exercise of rights without borders and the mechanism I mentioned earlier. Madam Chair, as highlighted in both reports, the restriction of regular and safe pathways for migration is one factor that contributes to irregular flows. This exacerbates multiple vulnerabilities in forms of discrimination and risks that those who are forced to migrate face. And in many cases, this leads to family separation. Migrant children are particularly affected. And this is why collective action to move forward with effective solutions is absolutely critical. And so I'd like to ask what role regular migration pathways and regularization policies can play as a means of prioritizing and ensuring that the best interests of the child prevail and also could you highlight some successful cases of intersectoral and international cooperation? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, followed by Namibia and Canada.

Chair, Mr. Special Rapporteur, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. I would like to thank you, Excellencies, for your work and for the presentation of the reports. On the report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights of migrants, the EU welcomes its focus on children's right to family life and family unity in the context of migration and asylum policies. The best interest of children must remain central to migration governance. The EU recognizes the importance of opportunities for legal pathways to migration in line with national competences, effective cooperation, and implementing international law, including human rights obligations. The EU also recalls that migrants must never be used as a political instrument. On the report of the Committee on Migrant Workers, the EU welcomes its continued efforts to address xenophobia and racial discrimination against migrants and their families, and to promote the protection of migrant workers' human rights, the EU recognizes the importance of the international cooperation, ethical recruitment, and effective safeguards against discrimination and exploitation, as well as the need to strengthen the implementation of the relevant international human rights framework. In this context, the EU wishes to ask, Mr. Special Rapporteur, How can states better uphold the human rights of children in the context of migration where the risk of abuse on migratory routes remains high? And to the Chair of the Committee, our question would be: What good practices has the Committee identified to combat xenophobia and discrimination against migrant workers and their families, and how can states best replicate these practices? I thank you, Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. The African Group thanks the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Gerhard Madi, and the Chair, Mr. Prasad Karayawasa, for their reports. For Africa, migration is above all a story of mobility, opportunity, and shared prosperity. Most African migrants move within our continent. Guided by Agenda 2063 and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Africa treats mobility as a driver of development. The Global Compact on Migrations adopted on African soil remains our common reference. Madam Chair, the group shares the Special Rapporteur's conviction that the family is the fundamental unit of society. a value deeply rooted in African traditions, and that the best interests of the child must guide every decision on migrant children. We note with concern the challenges faced by migrants and their families, including those from Africa. We emphasize that effective migration management requires shared responsibility, international cooperation, and constructive partnerships among states, grounded in respect for human rights international obligations and the dignity and well-being of all migrants. We value the report's attention to regular pathways, family reunification and regularization, and its recognition of the extended family, which reflects African realities. Madam Chair, nearly half of all States Parties to the Conventions are African. The group shares the Committee's hope that more countries particularly major countries of destination, will ratify it. The group welcomes the joint general comments number 7 and number 8 on xenophobia, which address discrimination affecting persons of African descent. We are concerned that the liquidity crisis has postponed the Committee's 43rd session to 2027. The group has two questions to the special rapporteur. How can cross-border child protection cooperation and consular assistance be strengthened to enable family reunification where civil documentation is lacking? To the Chair, how will the Committee preserve its review capacity despite reduced meeting time? I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia on behalf of the African Group. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada, followed by Guatemala and Bangladesh.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Canada aligns itself with the statement on behalf of the GCM Champions Group by Azerbaijan. Canada welcomed the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights of Migrants report, and we agree that migration and asylum policies should be designed and implemented with careful attention to their impacts on children and families. Canada supports a human rights-based approach to migration that seeks to protect children's rights, keep families together wherever possible, and prevent unnecessary family separation. Discussions on family unity should also be accompanied by a recognition of the risks faced by children when their specific vulnerabilities are not considered and systems to protect them fail. Beyond the harms associated with family separation, children have heightened exposure to trafficking, exploitations, violence, and abuse. A holistic child-centered approach requires that the child's safety, rights, and best interests remain paramount in every circumstance. Family reunification is a cornerstone of Canada's immigration system. We maintain family reunification pathways for citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and protected persons because family unity contributes to children's safety, well-being, development, and successful integration. The best interests of the child should remain a primary consideration in decisions that affect children, including migration and asylum decisions. In Canada's immigration decision system, decision makers are required to consider the best interests of a child when making decisions that directly affect them. This includes examining the impacts of family separation, the child's relationships with parents or caregivers, and the child's individual circumstances and needs. We look forward to learning from other states and stakeholders on practical approaches that protect children's rights while responding to migration challenges. And would have two questions for the special rapporteur. What practical measures have proven most effective in reducing barriers and delays to family reunification for migrant and displaced children and their families? And how can states strengthen cooperation across borders to support family tracing, reunification, and other measures that uphold children's rights to family life? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Guatemala thanks the Chair of the Committee and the Special Rapporteur for their reports and for their work on upholding the rights of migrants. For Guatemala, this item is of particular importance. We recognize that migration is a driver of development of societies, not only through economic contributions, but also through socio-cultural contributions in host communities. Especially, we recognize family unity as a guiding principle of migration management. Our migration policy 2023 through 2032 covers measures to ensure the care and protection of children and adolescent migrants, especially those who are unaccompanied or who have been separated from their families. Under this framework, the state of Guatemala promotes inter-institutional coordination and regional cooperation to strengthen consular protection, to facilitate family reunification, to support the reintegration of returnee children and adolescents, always guided by the principle of the best interests of the child. Guatemala will undergo its next review by the Committee under the simplified reporting procedure, providing an opportunity to continue constructive dialogue and to advance in implementation of the Convention. Against this backdrop, Guatemala wishes to ask what measures you consider to be priorities for strengthening cooperation with a view to protecting the rights of migrant workers and their families, including the protection of children and adolescents in the context of human mobility. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, followed by Azerbaijan and Malaysia.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We thank the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants for their insightful briefings. We appreciate the Special Rapporteur for his report's focus on children's right to family life and family unity, and also for highlighting that children's right to family life is directly connected to their rights to survival, health, education, identity, social protection, and safety from violence or exploitation. We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered by Azerbaijan on behalf of the 45 champion countries of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. Madam Chair, we are deeply concerned by the separation of migrant families through restrictive migration policies. As highlighted by the Special Rapporteur, this practice has serious and negative consequences for children's well-being, development, and their fundamental right to family life and unity. In the second IMRF progress declaration, we reaffirmed our commitments to protecting the rights of the child and upholding the principle of the best interest of the child at all times as a primary consideration. We also underscored the need to uphold and protect the human rights and safety of all migrants, including women and children, who account for the majority of identified victims of trafficking, and to ensure that trafficked persons are not punished for unlawful acts. Madam Chair, Bangladesh was among the original advocates for a global migration framework. As a champion country of GCM, we are committed to implementing its objective, which recognized child sensitivity as one of the 10 guiding principles through a whole of government and whole of society approach. Bangladesh remains firmly committed to protecting the rights and welfare of migrant workers and their families. As a state party to the Convention since 2011, Bangladesh promotes ethical recruitment, fair wages, reduced migration cost, and safe and regular migration pathways. Bangladesh has also adopted the returning migrant workers' reintegration policy in 2025 to support returning migrant workers in rebuilding their livelihoods. Madam Chair, we emphasize the importance of robust cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination to ensure the protection of migrant workers and their families throughout the migration cycle. Bangladesh remains committed to working with all member states to improve the lives of migrant workers and members of their families. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, excellencies, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 45 champion countries of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcome its focus on children's rights to family life and family unity in the context of migration. The report highlights the importance of ensuring that the rights and best interests of children remain central to migration policies and practices. The Global Compact provides an important framework for advancing these efforts, with child sensitivity as one of its 10 guiding principles. At the second International Migration Review Forum, member states recognized that all migrants, regardless of their migration status, are human rights holders. This must include migrant children. We also reaffirmed the need to protect their safety and dignity and the overarching obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights and fundamental freedoms for all migrants, regardless of their migration status, without any kind of discrimination. Madam Chair, as G7 champion countries, we remain particularly concerned about migrant children, especially those who are unaccompanied or separated from their parents or primary caregivers. We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the rights of the child and to upholding the best interests of the child at all times as a primary consideration. The 2026 IMF progress declaration provides a clear basis for advancing this commitment in practice. This includes strengthening efforts to enhance and diversify pathways for safe, orderly and regular migration, including for family reunification, humanitarian purposes and regularization in ways that promote the realization of the right to family life and family unity and uphold the best interests of the child. It also means prioritizing non-custodial alternatives to detention in line with obligations under international law and striving to end the practice of child immigration detention. In this regard, we look forward to receiving the Secretary General's practical recommendations together with an assessment of progress and challenges regarding child sensitive alternatives to immigration detention. Madam Chair, moreover, return and readmission processes must be conducted in full respect with the human rights of returnees and the best interest of the child must be a primary consideration in all decisions affecting them, including appropriate safeguards to ensure safe and dignified returns, due process, individual assessment and effective remedy. In the Global Compact, we reaffirmed that no state can address migration alone. Protecting the rights of migrant children and preserving family unity require the same spirit of international cooperation and dialogue that lies at the heart of the GCM. The GCM Champion countries remain committed to working with all member states, the Special Rapporteur, the United Nations Network on Migration, and other stakeholders to turn the commitments of the 2026 IMRF into tangible improvements in the lives of migrants, their families, and communities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan on behalf of the GCM Champion countries. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia, followed by Ethiopia and El Salvador.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Malaysia thanks the BIFR for their comprehensive presentation to the Committee and acknowledges the importance of the issues raised in the Special Rapporteur's reports on children's right to family life and family unity in the context of migrations and asylum policies. Malaysia recognizes the importance of protecting the rights and well-being of children, particularly those in vulnerable situation. In this regard, due consideration should be given to their best interests, including in the context of migration management. For destination countries such as Malaysia, managing irregular migrant while ensuring their safety and well-being of children present complex challenges. These require practical, sustainable, and child-sensitive approaches that take into account national circumstances and capacities. In this regard, Malaysia has undertaken measures to strengthen the protection of migrant and refugee children. In September 2023, Malaysia introduced the Baitul Mahabah initiative, which provides more suitable temporary accommodation for migrant and refugee children, primarily those aged 12 and below, together with their guardians. The initiative seeks to provide a safer and more conducive environment for children, including access to basic necessities, healthcare, informal education, and recreational activities. As of August 2026, seven Baitu Mahabbah centres were operational nationwide, accommodating 400 children and their mothers. Building on these efforts, Malaysia continues to work towards developing a more comprehensive framework for alternatives to detention for children, through cooperation among relevant government agencies and other stakeholders. Mr. Special Rapporteur, drawing from your report, what practical measures and forms of international cooperation would you recommend to support destination countries in developing sustainable child-sensitive alternatives to immigration detention, particularly in addressing resource constraints and strengthening institutional capacities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

Madam Chair, my delegation aligns itself with the statements of the Africa Group and GCM champion countries. Ethiopia thanks the briefers for their reports and briefing today. Ethiopia is an origin, transit and destination country for migration. As a member of the group of champion countries to the GCM, we attach great importance to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, Regular Migration adopted in Marrakesh, and we strive to its successful implementation. We are of the view that Increased human mobility has become a defining feature of today's world. The advancing technology and demand for skills is creating conducive environment for people to move freely beyond the borders. Nonetheless, narrow legal pathways and economic inequalities are forcing people to fall to prey to human traffickers and smugglers to take perilous journey. We recognize that children in migration contexts are particularly vulnerable and that protecting their best interest and preserving family unity require shared responsibility. Respective of their migratory status, migrants in many countries of destination continue to face discrimination, various human rights violation. Ethiopia underscores that human rights are universal and must be protected for everyone at all times and in all places. Migration policies should protect children from exploitation, trafficking and other forms of abuse while ensuring that best interest of the child, including family unity, shall be upheld and respected. Madam Chair, I would like to underscore on two major points. First, sovereignty shall not be used as a pretext to be selectively invoked on migration while rejecting in other human rights discussions. Nor should systematic denial of basic services from language interpretation and healthcare to employment be used to discriminate migrants. Second, migration shall also be viewed from developmental perspective and not as an impediment. Migration is best addressed through enhanced international cooperation, not by putting restrictive immigration policies in place. Migration should be managed in a manner that responds to the labor needs of destination countries through such programs as global skills partnership, including labor agreements. We would like to ask the Special Rapporteur that we are witnessing regressive steps with regard to children and family immigration detention and externalization, as well as you have indicated in your report, what viable and alternative practical measures can states adopt to prevent this challenge. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador, followed by Brazil and Costa Rica.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thanks to the rapporteur and the chair of the committee for their presentations and the reports that were introduced. My delegation would like to align itself with the statement by Azerbaijan on behalf of the champion countries of the Global Compact on Migration. We thank Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam for presenting the report, and we recognize the work of the Committee on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and their Families. We reaffirm our commitment to safe, orderly and regular migration and to the protection of the rights of all migrant persons, regardless of their migration status. We agree on the importance of combating xenophobia and discrimination. in order to expand regular pathways and to strengthen cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination. In that regard, El Salvador adopted the Special Law on Benefits and Protection for Diaspora and Persons in Human Mobility, which recognizes rights relating to free mobility, identification and international protection. Moreover, our labor mobility programs have since 2021 facilitated more than 20,000 circular employment opportunities towards the United States and have benefited more than 11,000 families with opportunities in Canada, Costa Rica, and Spain. These programs promote equitable and ethical hiring together with training and follow-up when workers are in destination countries to contribute to the fulfillment of their labor rights and to prevent fraud and scams linked to labor migration. As a destination country between 2022 and 2025, El Salvador regularized more than 6,000 foreign persons and granted more than 2,000 residence permits. It also promoted regularization initiatives for transitory workers, temporary workers, and cross-border workers, facilitating their access to job opportunities and services. Chair of the committee, in light of the gaps in protection identified in your report, what cooperation mechanisms between countries of origin and destination do you think are most effective to guarantee ethical and transparent hiring processes to prevent deceitful recruitment practices that could expose migrant workers to situations of exploitation, coercion, or risks to their integrity and safety, and also to ensure their effective access to complaints mechanisms, consular assistance, and voluntary return, as well as the protection of the rights of their family members. We reiterate our readiness to have a constructive dialogue with the Committee and to share experiences that can contribute to the protection of migrants and their families. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Madam Chair, dear colleagues. Brazil thanks the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants for his timely report on children's right to family life and unity in the context of migration and asylum. His findings are especially relevant amid the increasingly restrictive migration policies that currently gain traction in various countries and regions. Family life is a fundamental human right which should be protected and ensured without discrimination on any grounds, including country of origin, nationality, or migration status. It is deeply alarming that many states have been systematically adopting deportation, detention, and externalization practices that result in family separation and ultimately violate this human right. Many of these measures blatantly disregard obligations of international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These practices can have lasting impact on children's mental health, education, and socioeconomic inclusion, while increasing their vulnerability to violence and exploitation. Brazil firmly supports a human rights-based approach to migration. Our legal framework safeguards family unity and the rights of children, ensuring access to essential services and protection while combating discrimination and xenophobia. We will continue to strengthen inter-institutional coordination, improve documentation and regularization procedures, as well as enhance capacity building. I take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Mandy, for your visit to Brazil last March, which provided a valuable opportunity to share our experience in migration governance. We welcome your recommendations, which we are closely taking into consideration to reinforce national strategies for the promotion of the human rights of migrants. Colleagues, in an international context of growing violations in anti-migration narratives, it is a legal and moral imperative that we work together to promote family unit and children's best interests, as well as responses grounded in solidarity, inclusion, and human dignity. We are deeply committed to this goal. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica, followed by Morocco and Panama.

Very good morning, Madam Chair, rapporteurs. Costa Rica thanks you for your work. Costa Rica is grateful for and takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants relating to the externalization of migration governance. presented under item 2 of the agenda. In this regard, my delegation would like to reaffirm that Costa Rica's international cooperation on the subject of migration is carried out in line with the national legal order and the international obligations of the state, always including human rights and the principle of non-refoulement. The history of Costa Rica is and will continue to be one of human rights. Costa Rica's robust democratic institutions, the independence of its judiciary and national protection mechanisms for fundamental rights always constitute essential safeguards for human dignity, for due process and for respect for the rule of law. Costa Rica aligns itself with the statement by Azerbaijan on behalf of the member countries of the Global Compact on Migration. As always, Costa Rica reiterates its commitment to responsible, humanitarian, and respectful humanitarian migration management that respects the human rights of all persons regardless of their migration status. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Costa Rica. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation would like to align itself with the statement by the GCM champions and the African group, and would like to thank the Special Rapporteur and the Chair of the Committee for the presentation of their respective reports. The report before us quite rightly puts protecting family unity and the best interests of the child at the heart of migration governance. For Morocco, a country of origin, of transit and of destination, my country is directly faced with these challenges, both on its territory and with regard to its nationals that are minors abroad. At the national level, our national immigration and asylum strategy and our regularization campaigns follow this approach by combining migration management, the mainstreaming and the protection of migrants' rights and those of their families at the regional and international levels. The migration cooperation model presupposes reciprocity and shared responsibility. It cannot be considered to unilaterally transfer to countries of origin and transit the burden of policy decided elsewhere. Morocco calls for a renewed partnership based on shared development and regional stability. Morocco ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families in 1993 and fully shoulders the attendant responsibilities. As the report notes, it nevertheless is the least ratified fundamental human rights treaty. We also commend the work of the Committee against xenophobia and disappearances in the migration context, as well as work done on complementarity between the Convention and the GCM. To conclude, my delegation would like to ask the following question. How do the Special Rapporteur and the Chair of the Committee assess the gap between commitments made under the Global Compact and the actual practices of states of destination when it comes to family reunification and the return of unaccompanied minors? What recommendations would you make to improve this synergy on the ground? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Panama, followed by India and Kenya.

Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished panelists and delegates. Panama thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting his report and appreciates this opportunity for dialogue. It is an opportunity to continue promoting the protection of the human rights of migrants. For our country, managing migration is a particularly important responsibility given our geographical location and the migration trends that characterize the region. In this context, and in line with the commitments reaffirmed by Panama at the International Migration Review Forum this year, we have continued to strengthen our institutional capacities, regional cooperation, and actions aimed at achieving safe, orderly, and regular migration management. Among the progress achieved, we would highlight the reduction by more than 99% of irregular migration flows through the Darien, as a result of the efforts of the national government, the strengthening of border security and international cooperation. Panama reaffirms its commitment to keep moving forward through joint efforts and strengthened international cooperation, always on the basis of respect for human rights and the dignity of all persons. Moreover, we reiterate our readiness to maintain an open and constructive dialogue with international human rights mechanisms, promoting migration management that combines security, cooperation, and the protection of persons. Thank you very much for your attention.

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

Madam Chair, India fully recognizes that children must be protected from abuse, exploitation, trafficking, arbitrary detention, and unlawful separation from their parents. The best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in every decision affecting children. Family unity is important for the safety, dignity, and development of children, including children in migration situations. At the same time, India must place on record a serious concern about the report's treatment of law, evidence, and state responsibility. A thematic report must not convert broad policy preferences, unverified allegations, or advocacy submissions into settled findings of the UN. I will begin with the report's apparent reference to India. In paragraph 27, footnote 32, the report states, "For instance, in Assam and northern India." This is the complete reference. It does not identify a case, a proceeding, an authority, a date, a law, or a source. Assam is not the name of an Indian state or a recognized jurisdiction. If the intended reference is Assam, the report should say so accurately. northern India is not a legal or administrative jurisdiction. A country-specific allegation cannot be made through a typographical error and an unidentified geographical expression. India, therefore, rejects this reference as imprecise and unsupported in its present form. If the Special Rapporteur intended to refer to the citizenship-related processes in Assam, the report should have identified the precise process and distinguished an allegation, an expert concern, an administrative decision, and a judicial finding. These are not interchangeable categories. India also expects that any country-specific assertion will be properly sourced and will respect the concerned state's opportunity to respond. India is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We support Articles 3, 9 and 10 in their proper context. Article 3 requires the child's best interests to be the primary consideration. It does not say that this consideration is the only consideration in every case, or that it automatically overrides lawful decisions concerning public order, border management, criminal conduct, nationality or immigration status. India cannot accept the report's categorical propositions as though they were universally binding legal treaty rules. India supports humane and lawful migration governance, but does not accept that irregular migration be treated only as vulnerability and never as a breach of immigration law. India therefore calls for three corrections in this approach before us. First, country references must be accurate, specific, and verifiable. Second, recommendations must be clearly distinguished from binding treaty obligations and from the independent mandate holders policy reference. Third, the protection of child must be advanced through due process, family sensitive procedures, cooperation between states and child protection authorities and safe and regular pathways, not through the denial of legitimate state functions or the use of generalized allegations. India remains committed to the dignity, safety, and development of every child. We will continue to engage constructively with the United Nations and with all states on these objectives. But cooperation is strengthened by accuracy, and human rights advocacy is strengthened, not weakened, when it is grounded in verifiable facts, applicable law, and respect for the sovereign equality of states. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya, followed by China and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Madam Chair, Kenya aligns with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group and the G7 Champions. We thank the Chair and the Special Rapporteur for their respective reports and briefings. Kenya underscores the importance of migration governance that upholds human dignity and is consistent with states' obligation under international human rights law. Our Children's Act 2022 recognizes every child's right to parental care and protection. It further provides for maintaining contact with parents following separation, as well as facilitating tracing and reunification where children have been separated without parental consent. As the report underscores, migration implications extend beyond those who move to include children who remain behind. Safeguarding the child's well-being requires adequate caregiving arrangements, sustained communication with parents, and access to appropriate psychosocial support. Similarly, Kenya's National Policy on Migration 2023 prioritizes protection of migrant workers and the welfare of their families. Our efforts include bilateral labor agreements, pre-departure preparedness, and consular support for Kenyan migrant workers abroad. These measures aim to promote safer migration and strengthen protection while acknowledging the need for sustained efforts to address implementation challenges. Madam Chair, Kenya therefore calls for enhanced cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination to prevent arbitrary family separation, facilitate family reunification, and expand safe, regular migration pathways. In this regard, labor migration arrangements should give due consideration to family responsibilities and the needs to best interest of the child. Our collective commitment must be to advance migration governance that upholds human dignity, support families, and ensures that children's rights are considered in decisions affecting them. I thank you.

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

Madam Vice-Chair, China takes note of and commends the report by Special Rapporteur Mahdi. Throughout human history and in our present-day world, migration flows have helped to stimulate innovation, promote economic development and inclusive global growth, foster mutual understanding and cultural integration among nations. At present, The protection of migrants' rights is currently facing real threats of racism, xenophobia, unilateralism, and hegemony, among others. Some countries are practicing externalization of immigration governance, directly threatening the physical and mental health of relevant children and their basic human rights. China believes that immigration is a global challenge. We must uphold true multilateralism and support IOM's coordinating role. We must focus on development and help countries of origin, develop their economies and improve livelihoods. We must be inclusive and fair in safeguarding migrants, especially relevant children's legitimate rights and interests, and promoting their social integration. China will work with all parties to effectively implement the global governance initiative, jointly advance global migration governance, and make active efforts to better protect migrant.

Well-being, especially that of children, and achieve orderly.

Global population mobility. Thank you, Madam Vice Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, followed by Sovereign Order of.

Malta.

Madam Chair. Venezuela thanks the Chair of the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants for the presentation of their reports and for their openness to constructive dialogue on matters of particular relevance for our country. In the context of the new political moment in Venezuela, the Venezuelan state reaffirms its commitment to the comprehensive protection, institutional support, and full social reintegration, economic and family reintegration as well, of Venezuelans that wish to return to the homeland, guaranteeing the full exercise of their rights and the necessary support for their reincorporation into national life. This policy is particularly relevant following the earthquakes of the 24th of June. Despite the damage caused to airport infrastructure, the Venezuelan state did manage in just a few weeks and with international solidarity to resume return flights. These efforts have become part of the country's reconstruction efforts, reaffirming the commitment of the state to the protection of returning Venezuelans as part of the country's recovery. In this context, we must point out that the imposition of unilateral coercive measures restricts the economic opportunities of the population. It undermines the productive capabilities of the country and hinders the efforts of the Venezuelan state to develop and maintain public policies aimed at social protection. These measures worsen economic difficulties, generate uncertainty and exacerbate conditions that could lead to forced migration flows, with serious consequences for the exercise and protection of the human rights of migrants. We reaffirm that it is only through dialogue, international cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of States that it will be possible to move towards lasting, comprehensive and effective solutions. Venezuela reiterates its historic solidarity and welcome towards migrants and reaffirms that migration must be addressed with a humanitarian, comprehensive, respect-focused approach, as well as one focused on protection and guaranteeing human rights. should move away from a securitization policy as well as any manifestations of xenophobia, discrimination or rejection of persons in a situation of poverty that would stigmatize migrants and unfairly blame them for economic and social policies which are structural in nature. Venezuela is pleased that the reports presented by the Special Rapporteurs address questions of particular relevance for our country, the preservation of family unity in the context of migration and asylum policies, and the process of creating environments for populations affected by mass devastation. This is particularly relevant for the Venezuelan state for national recovery and reconstruction following the earthquakes. Thank you very much, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The International Organization for Migration estimates that by mid-2024, there were 304 million international migrants across the globe. Of these, 120 million were displaced, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. In 2024, 46 million of those who were internally displaced were forced to flee due to disasters, and a further 20 million were uprooted due to conflict and violence. The UN Human Rights Council recognizes that migration has been, and will continue to be, a feature of the global human experience, and affirms that all migrants have human rights and should have their safety and dignity protected. Yet, despite the frequency of migration across the globe, migrants continue to be treated with suspicion. There is currently no agreed legal definition of the word migrant, and so this adds to the confusion around their legal rights and status. Whether refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, or those simply seeking a better life for their families, the Order of Malta affirms the inherent value and dignity of all migrants. Since 2008, the Order's Italian Relief Corps has collaborated with the Coast Guard to provide medical assistance during search and rescue operations for migrants near Lampedusa. In addition, natural disasters, including those caused by climate change, continue to grow in severity. In response to the wildfires across Europe this summer, the Order of Malta deployed rescuers and volunteers to provide relief, shelter and psychosocial support to populations who have been evacuated in France and Spain. In Bordeaux, our teams managed a shelter that supported over 5,000 people. In Venezuela, our response to the earthquakes in June included providing healthcare services, essential goods and food, as well as family reunification services to 28,000 people. The Order of Malta will continue to offer our support, particularly through strengthening local health services. We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding human dignity for all people, irrespective of their immigration status, and call on the international community to do the same. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta. I now give the floor to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. Chihab Marri, to respond to the comments and questions from the floor.

Thank you, Madam Vice-Chair. Distinguished delegates, with regard to the restriction of time, I'll be very brief in my responses. First to Cameroon. African countries now, in fact, among other issues, are facing double jeopardy with regard to migration. First, the United States have already engaged in agreement with some African countries with regard to transfer of migrant. Here I'm talking about migrant to African countries, not to their countries of origin, but even the transfer of some migrants, of some Latin American migrants, some Asian, as well as African, to African country. African countries in this respect were subjected to some economic, diplomatic, and political pressure. On the other hand, the European Union countries are now considering of establishing return hubs in African countries. It is the same approach as for the deportation. They are going to also to deport some African countries to third so-called safe country, safe third countries. I wonder safe to whom in this respect. This is a question which ought to be asked. in a blunt way. I hope, and this is maybe in response to the EU question, I hope the EU would reconsider its approach of the return hub. Instead of that, I hope the EU countries would follow the current Spanish initiative for the regularization of migrants in Spain. Europe, now, European states are aging society. There is a need for migration. And the issue of regularization is becoming an important approach in this respect. For Namibia, on behalf of the African countries, you are talking about the issue of lacking of documentation. This is a very important issue because lacking of documentation would lead to statelessness and some issues. So the most important aspect is the cooperation, consular cooperation among states in order to establish appropriate documents. And there are several procedures in this respect for the implementation of such consular cooperation. The same as the question from Canada also. Consular cooperation is very important when we become in migration governance, as well as for the family unification. And it's most importantly for the facilitating of visa regulation for family unification. Malaysia and Ethiopia, they are talking about immigration detention. In fact, the issue of immigration detention is becoming one of the most serious issue to the extent now devoting my next report to the Human Rights Council on immigration detention. The call for input will be issued very soon and I hope to receive any input that may help in the preparation of my report. To Egypt, I think Egypt was also considering or asking about the impact of AI on migration governance. In fact, this is the subject of my next report to the Third Committee next year, and I hope to be able to receive any information with regard to the impact of AI on migration governance to help in preparing my report. Well, Madam Chairperson, at the end, I would like to announce that I unequivocally condemn the US government's sanctions against the International Criminal Court, as well as the prolonged sanctions against ICC judges and the Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, and the increasing attack against special procedures More broadly, these sanctions violate international law and undermine the core integrity of the UN human rights system, including special procedures at the whole. I call on all states to decisively reject and refuse to enforce these sanctions, and I urge the United States to re-sign them. Thank you very much for your kind attention.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. As mentioned at the start of the combined dialogue, questions and comments to the Chair of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families will be transmitted in writing. I now welcome the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Ms. Paula Gaveria-Bentocor. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first speaker. Thank you for your cooperation. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons to make an introductory statement. Ms. Kaveria Benticor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. It is an honor to present my report on the human rights of internally displaced persons to the General Assembly. My report examines how reconstruction in context of mass devastation shapes prospects for durable solutions and identifies pathways that align reconstruction with human rights protection and sustainable peace. Imagine returning home only to find that home no longer exists. No roads, no clinics, no school for your children, no proof that the land beneath the rubble was ever yours. For millions of internally displaced persons, this is not only imagination. It is the reality awaiting them if they can return at all. More than 82 million people are internally displaced worldwide by conflict, violence, and disasters, the second highest number ever recorded. The stakes could not be higher. Reconstruction needs have reached an unprecedented scale. More than $71 billion in Gaza, $11 billion in Lebanon, $216 billion in the Syrian Arab Republic, and some 588 billion in Ukraine. Immense needs also exist in Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and in all disaster-affected contexts worldwide. Reconstruction is not a neutral process. The decisions taken about what is rebuilt, by whom, and for whom will shape societies for generations. My report shows that reconstruction can either help resolve displacement or deepen it. It can reward those who profited from destruction, lead to forced evictions, unresolved land disputes, and create cities to which displaced people simply cannot return. Reconstruction itself can become a source of injustice. Yet, reconstruction also offers a rare opportunity to address the causes of displacement and break the cycles of exclusion. People who have lost everything need more than new buildings. They need recognition. They need justice. They need trust that institutions will protect their rights, and they need a voice in shaping their own future. Excellencies, let me highlight five priorities. First, Durable solutions must be an explicit objective of every reconstruction strategy, guided by voluntariness, safety, and dignity. Safety meaning confidence that the causes of displacement will not return. Dignity meaning more than shelter. It means belonging and purpose. No one should be pressured to return because assistance has been withdrawn. No camp should be closed before durable solutions are generally available. And trauma does not vanish when the rubble is cleared. Mental health and psychosocial support are essential to reconstruction, not an afterthought. Second, meaningful participation. Internally displaced persons are right holders and agents of recovery. They must help decide what is rebuilt, how and where resources go. Women, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and minorities must be able to take part safely and effectively. Participation is not a courtesy. It is the foundation of legitimate and sustainable reconstruction. Third, housing, land, and property rights. Too often, records are destroyed, ownership is contested, documents are lost, and women face added barriers. Reconstruction cannot succeed while these claims remain unresolved. States must ensure accessible mechanisms for restitution, compensation, and legal assistance, and must prevent new displacement under the banner of reconstruction. Fourth, livelihoods and safe environments. People cannot rebuild their lives without earning a living. Reconstruction must restore agriculture, markets, and social protection, and create decent work without discrimination or exclusion. Land contaminated by mines, explosive remnants, and hazardous materials must also be safe from the outset. Fifth, peace and justice. Reconstruction must reckon with what cannot be rebuilt with bricks and mortar. The missing whose fate remains unknown. The process of mourning, the places of memory, the social bonds that held communities together, reparations, truth seeking, clarification of the fate of the missing, and guarantees of non-recurrence are not separate from reconstruction. They are part of it. So too are the safeguarding of cultural heritage and places of worship. Madam Chair, none of this is possible without evidence, accountability, and political commitment. Reconstruction must be guided by the displacement sensitive data and by accessible mechanisms to address grievances and provide remedies for the harm caused. National authorities must lead, but humanitarian development, peace building, disaster risk reduction, and financing actors must work together with funding that is predictable, transparent, and grounded in human rights, strengthening national ownership rather than replacing it. Few decisions are more consequential after mass devastation than those about reconstruction. Done right, reconstruction can prevent future displacement and lay the foundations for lasting solutions. Our ambition must be greater than rebuilding what was destroyed. We must address the inequalities, the injustices, and the failures that contributed to displacement. while respecting people's rights and choices. This requires placing human rights at the center, recognizing internally displaced persons as partners and agents of recovery, and ensuring that reconstruction contributes to peace, accountability, and durable solutions. Ultimately, the success of reconstruction cannot be measured by the buildings restored or the infrastructure completed, but by whether people can rebuild their lives and futures in safety and dignity. That must be the true measure of reconstruction. And before concluding, I join my colleague here at my D and fellow special procedures mandate holders in unequivocally condemning the United States sanctions against the International Criminal Court, its judges, and special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, as well as broader attacks on special procedures. These actions violate international law and undermine the integrity of the UN human rights system. I urge all states to reject and refuse to enforce the sanctions, and to the United States to immediately rescind them. Thank you for listening to me.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons. I will now give the floor for any questions or comments to Ms. Gofaria Bettencourt. As per past practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to two minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Namibia, to be followed by the representatives of Georgia and Nigeria.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. The African Group thanks the Special Rapporteur for her report on reconstruction and internally displaced persons, and recalls that it will again table its resolution on assistance to refugees, returnees, and displaced persons in Africa. The report records 82.2 million people in internal displacement at the end of 2025. over 68.6 million due to conflict and violence, with protracted displacement being the norm. Our continent carries over a quarter of displacements recorded last year. The group welcomes the report's recognition of the Kampala Convention as the most comprehensive binding regional instrument, and of its Article 11, which obliges States Parties to create the conditions for durable solutions and to give displaced persons a free and informed choice amongst them. Three findings speak to our situation. First, where camp closures or return targets outpace the preconditions for return, reconstruction entrenches displacement. Second, humanitarian funding contracts before development financing is in place, leaving a gap neither in resource to fill. Third, reconstruction fails collective customary and informal tenure, goes unrecognized as on most land to which our displaced return. The group looks forward to the Special Rapporteur's continued engagement with the African group and the States Parties to the Kampala Convention. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia on behalf of the African group. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Georgia.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and let me thank the Special Rapporteur for her presentation. Hundreds of thousands of Georgians expelled from the Russia-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia continue to be deprived of their fundamental right to return to their homes in a safe and dignified manner. Regrettably, no meaningful progress has been achieved towards their return, while the humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied regions continues to deteriorate. These have been confirmed by multiple international documents, including UN resolutions and reports. The Government of Georgia continues to improve the living conditions of up to 300,000 IDPs registered in the country by providing durable housing, access to healthcare and education, sustainable social services, and livelihood opportunities. These efforts go hand in hand with the safeguarding their fundamental right to return to their homes voluntarily. The Geneva International Discussions remain indispensable as the only format mandated to address the implementation of Russia's international obligations under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008. Georgia remains steadfast in this commitment to this process, undeterred by the Russian Federation's persistent attempts to undermine key aspects of the format, particularly the fundamental right of IDPs and refugees to return to their homes. Adam, Special Reporter, in your report, you examine reconstruction in the context of armed conflict and prolonged occupation. In addition to the national efforts, how can the international community, including the UN system, support durable solutions for internally displaced persons in Georgia, where the continued occupation of its territories impede the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of IDPs to their homes? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Georgia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria, followed by the Russian Federation and Yemen.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Nigeria thanks the Special Rapporteur for the report. We recognize that internal displacement remains a significant humanitarian and development challenge, particularly in contexts affected by conflict, violence, and disasters. We emphasize state primary responsibility to protect and assist internally displaced persons with international cooperation, providing appropriate support in line with national priorities and circumstance. We further underscore that durable solutions must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, whether through return, local integration, or settlement elsewhere. We welcome the Special Rapporteur's emphasis on national ownership, predictable financing, and stronger coordination among humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. Madam Special Rapporteur, what practical measures will you recommend to help countries facing protracted internal displacement mobilize sustainable financing and strengthen national institutions so that reconstruction delivers lasting solutions rather than renewed displacement? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. Madam

Chair, we have carefully reviewed the thematic report of Ms Paula Gaveria-Betancourt. We are convinced that the restoration and reconstruction of housing and basic infrastructure are among the necessary conditions for the safe and dignified return of refugees and IDPs to their places of residence. At the same time, any interference from outside is unacceptable. International assistance can only be provided at the request of and with the consent of the authorities of the countries concerned, and financial support for reconstruction cannot be used as an instrument of political pressure. We know that one of the serious obstacles to the return of refugees and IDPs to their homes is the financial and economic restrictions that are unlawfully imposed on their countries of return. Unilateral coercive measures, the application of which is contrary to the UN Charter, has a negative impact on entire populations and hinders humanitarian needs. In this regard, we regret that the issue of the impact of unilateral coercive measures was not properly reflected in the report and was reduced to a single recommendation regarding the need to ensure that sanctions regimes contain exemptions for humanitarian and reconstruction activities. We also noted the reference in the report, but as an innovative method for documenting the destruction, the so-called register of damage. established in Strasburg we emphasize that Russia does not recognize the legitimacy of such anti-russian registers of damage and compensation mechanisms which are intended to facilitate the unlawful confiscation of Russian State assets or the use of revenues derived from them we see these initiatives as legally null and void in that regard we call upon the special rapporteur to refrain from referring in future reports to such politicized initiatives which have nothing to do with reconstruction and recovery processes thank you very much for attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Yemen, followed by the European Union and Norway.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, we have taken note of the Special Rapporteur's report, and we applaud her continued efforts to highlight this important issue and working to promote the rights of IDPs and to the work towards sustainable solutions. Madam Chair, internal displacement in Yemen is one of the gravest implications of the continued crisis that resulted from the violations of the terrorist Houthi militias. The militias have forced millions to be displaced from their homes. In addition, there are increased waves of migrants from the Horn of Africa, adding to our national burdens. In this context, a number

of the governance in Yemen, including Taiz and Ma'rib and the West Coast, have witnessed military escalation.

that has targeted residential areas with missiles and drones, leading to new waves of displacement and forcing households to displace for the second and third times. The number of IDPs have exceeded 217,000 since September, and the migrants from the Horn of Africa have exceeded 134,000 at the end of September.

The Yemeni government continues through the dedicated

executive unit for the management of displacement camps and through cooperation with the United Nations and international partners, continue the efforts to provide protection and assistance to IDPs. How can the principle of addressing the root causes of the displacement crisis be translated into an integrated framework that includes protection, recovery, development, peacebuilding, and guarantees non-recurrence? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

We thank you, Madam Special Rapporteur, for your report.

In a

world facing a growing number of crises, the protection of internally displaced persons remains not only a humanitarian obligation, but also a political responsibility and a reflection of our collective commitment to human rights. The EU member states and the EU itself are the leading international donors to address situations of forced displacement with a particular focus on women and those most vulnerable, including children and persons with disabilities. As your report highlights, challenges faced by internally displaced persons in armed conflicts persist, particularly the lack of respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians from forced displacement, and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance. We share your concern that violations of international law and limited accountability contribute to repeated and protracted displacement. We also share your view that displacement cannot be addressed through humanitarian assistance alone. Durable solutions must enable internally displaced persons to rebuild their lives in safety, dignity, and with full respect for their rights. Their achievement is a responsibility also of the affected states, supported through international collaboration as needed. Madam Special Rapporteur, in your view, what concrete measures should States and the international community prioritize to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law, ensure accountability for violations, and create the conditions for durable solutions to internal displacement?

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway, followed by Malaysia and Israel.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Norway thanks the Special Rapporteur for her important and timely report. As the report makes clear, reconstruction is not only about rebuilding infrastructure. It can be enable durable solutions for IDPs, but, if poorly designed, it can also prolong displacement and contribute to new displacement. Reconstruction must therefore be right-based and inclusive. Housing, land and property rights must be protected. An internally displaced person must be able to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their future. Madam Chair, at the same time, durable solutions require more than humanitarian assistance. They depend on strong national and local ownership and should be integrated into a broader recovery and development efforts. We must also prevent displacement in the first place. Respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law remains fundamental. Allow me, Special Rapporteur, to end this with a question. How can international partners best support reconstruction that advances durable solutions while ensuring that internally displaced persons themselves have a meaningful role in shaping these efforts? Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Malaysia thanks Ms. Betancur for her report, particularly its focus on reconstruction as an essential component of achieving durable solutions for internally displaced persons. Malaysia remains deeply concerned over the plight of displaced Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza. where continued Israeli violations, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, and repeated displacement have deprived countless families of their homes, livelihoods, and access to essential services. The report recalls that an occupying power must administer the territory for the benefit of the protected populations and may not obstruct reconstructions. Yet Israel continues to restrict rebuilding materials, equipments and finance, prolonging Palestinian displacement and suffering. Malaysia shares the Special Rapporteur assessment that reconstruction must go beyond rebuilding physical infrastructure. It must enable voluntarily safe and dignified return of the Palestinian while safeguarding their rights to housing, land and property. We also share the report concern regarding the lack of meaningful Palestinian participation in decision concerning Gaza reconstructions. Malaysia will continue to insist that the reconstruction and future of Gaza must be determined by the Palestinian people themselves, consistent with their inelible right to the self-determination. Reconstruction must not perpetuate displacement, alter the demographic composition of the territory, or undermine Palestinian rights. Madam Special Rapporteur, how can the international community ensure that decision on Gaza reconstruction rests with Palestinians and the occupying power does not continue to obstruct it? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel, followed by Switzerland and Myanmar.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In recent weeks, Israel has repeatedly drawn attention to the systematic bias and lack of impartiality among Special Rapporteurs. Regrettably, this report before us is no exception. While focusing on reconstruction is indeed essential, attempting to address its professionalism while entirely ignoring the central factor in the equation, is irresponsible and detached from reality. That factor is the deliberate use of civilians as human shields by terrorist organizations. Instead, the report frames all devastation in Gaza exclusively as an Israeli failing, turning a completely blind eye to the facts. There is zero mention of the use of residential neighborhoods, schools, and hospitals as terrorist strongholds. Zero mention as the systematic looting of humanitarian aid by Hamas terrorists. And a dismissive reference to sensitive materials as a mere so-called dual use items. These are the exact materials that Hamas has diverted from the civilian populations for years to excavate hundreds of kilometers of terror tunnels. the very dungeons where our hostages were held and from which terrorists emerged to carry out the October 7th massacre. Calling our security measures an obstruction is a moral failure. Alongside all this, there is a deafening silence. There is not a single word in this report about the tens of thousands of displaced Israelis citizens from the south and the north, uprooted from their homes by the atrocities of Hamas, the relentless rockets fired from Hezbollah, and Iran's direct attacks on our civilian population. Many remain displaced to this day. Madam Chair, in the face of these gaps, I have one question to the rapporteur. Is this also because of budget cuts and words limits? Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Madame

Chair, Madame Special Rapporteur, Switzerland would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on reconstruction and internal displacement. Special Rapporteur, Although at a time when reconstruction is increasingly relying on national systems and development financing, how can we make sure that the rights of and participation by displaced persons truly guide investments? And how can we make sure that success is measured in terms of durable solutions and not just physical reconstruction or returns? Reconstruction isn't just about rebuilding housing and infrastructure. It has to allow displaced persons to rebuild their lives, to exercise their rights and to recover their livelihoods. It must remain firmly rooted in international law and human rights. Solutions must be voluntary. secure and dignified, and displaced persons must be able to meaningfully participate in decisions determining their future. The scale of the needs also requires the mobilization of national systems and development financing, while making sure that investments contribute to durable solutions and avoid further displacements. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Myanmar, followed by Iraq and Azerbaijan.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Myanmar thanks, Madam Special Rapporteur, for her report and briefing. Since the illegal coup in Myanmar, the military junta has continued to wage a widespread war against its own people, perpetuating war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Junta's relentless violence and deliberating targeting of IDP camps, schools, and hospitals ensure that the safety, security, and freedom of movement required for durable solutions cannot be realized. For the IDPs in Myanmar, basic survival is already a daily struggle under the Junta's increasing use of indiscriminate airstrikes, let alone the prospect of returning home. Millions in Myanmar, over 4 millions are being displaced. Millions of our people have been forced into makeshift shelters and deliberately denied life-saving humanitarian assistance, which the junta blocks a method of collective punishment. In Myanmar, the root cause of this mass devastation and displacement is the military junta itself. True reconstruction must be accompanied by accountability, transitional justice, and the meaningful participation of affected communities. None of this is possible under the current military junta. We therefore ask the international community to take collective decisive measures to protect the lives and the rights of IDPs in Myanmar. Our democratic forces have been making their utmost effort to deliver the humanitarian assistance needed on the ground, but our effort alone is not sufficient. We appeal to the international community to allocate flexible funding and resources directly to the local actors active in our community. We request that you remain seized of the matter and closely monitor the situation of IDP in Myanmar so that their urgent humanitarian needs can be fulfilled. Meanwhile, the military dictatorship in Myanmar must end once and for all, so that a future reconstruction becomes a reality in our country.

I thank the distinguished representative of Myanmar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq.

Thank you, Chair. Iraq thanks the Special Rapporteur for her presentation and report. Iraq remains committed to addressing internal displacement and conflict, particularly the atrocities committed by ISIS, and to facilitating voluntary, safe, and dignified returns and sustainable reintegration. Regarding paragraph 69 of the report, which refers to Iraq in connection with camp closures and secondary displacement, my delegation wishes to highlight more recent developments. According to the joint IOM-UNHCR update published in August 26, The large-scale government-supported camp departure procedure has remained suspended since July 24, while 18 camps continue to accommodate more than 97,000 displaced persons. The update also documents continued returns and efforts by Iraq's Ministry of Migration and Displacement to improve registration and facilitate assistance. While acknowledging remaining challenges, Iraq believes that country-specific assessments should distinguish past circumstances from current developments and adequately recognize national efforts towards durable solutions. Could the Special Rapporteur clarify the specific period and circumstances underlying the reference to Iraq and how these recent developments could be reflected in her assessment. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Iraq. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan, followed by Cyprus and Sudan.

Madam Chair, internal displacement driven primarily by conflicts and violence, as well as by disasters and the impacts of climate change, has increased steadily over the years. This situation, compounded by economic hurdles, further exacerbates the vulnerability of internally displaced persons. Having caused one of the world's largest per capita populations of internally displaced persons as a result of the former conflict, Azerbaijan has gained considerable experience in accommodating and assisting IDPs throughout the almost 30 years of occupation, as well as in restoring their violated rights and addressing the consequences of their prolonged displacement in the post-conflict period. Madam Chair, the report of the Special Rapporteur submitted to this session is highly relevant to Azerbaijan. Reconstruction following armed conflict and occupation during which mass devastation was inflicted remains a key national priority. Azerbaijan has made significant progress in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, allocating more than 16 billion USD to rebuild cities, towns, and villages destroyed during the conflict. Throughout the implementation of the Great Return Program, nearly 100,000 people are now living, working, and studying in newly constructed communities across 48 residential areas. However, these efforts continue to be seriously hindered by widespread presence of landmines and other explosive remnants of war contaminating over 13% of the territory of my country. Madam Chair, as emphasized by the Special Rapporteur's report, the clearance of landmines, other explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices is a prerequisite for restoring livelihoods, achieving economic recovery, and securing durable solutions. In conclusion, Azerbaijan reaffirms its commitment to create.

I thank the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We welcome the presence of the Special Rapporteur before our committee today, and we thank her for the report. Cyprus aligns with the EU statement. Madam Chair, since 1974, approximately 170,000 Greek Cypriots have been forcibly expelled from their ancestral homes by the Turkish armed forces. The continued today Turkish occupation of the 36.2% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus results in the continued violation of numerous human rights of internally displaced persons in Cyprus, including their basic rights and fundamental freedoms. The displaced Greek Cypriots are prevented from returning to their homes and peacefully enjoy their properties, witnessing the systematic and unlawful exploitation, development, and use of their properties by others. This is part of a deliberate and expanding plan of the occupying power, which is inconsistent with international law and aims at preempting a solution of the Cyprus question that would envisage the return of the displaced to their homes and properties and secure the full restoration of their human rights in accordance with international law. Madam Chair, Cyprus welcomes in particular the report's emphasis on the fact that all displaced persons have the right to have restored any property of which they have arbitrarily or unlawfully deprived, calling on the occupying powers to preserve land records, respect housing, land and property rights, and refrain from their lawful destruction. or appropriation of civilian property, the forcible transfer of protected persons and the transfer of their own civilian population into occupied territory. Madam Special Rapporteur, how can the international community strengthen accountability and ensure respect of the rights of internally displaced persons to home and property, including in situations of protracted displacement due to occupation? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan, followed by the Syrian Arab Republic and China.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation. We have a complex humanitarian situation as a result of conflict. and violations perpetrated by militias, including the displacement, sexual violence, expropriation, and so on. This has triggered lengthy waves of internal displacement, exacerbating suffering. and putting pressure on basic services. I have a question for the Special Rapporteur. What are the practical means that you could provide to Sudan to protect internally displaced persons and to strengthen coordination with the Sudanese Government and to ensure that there is international support for the safe, dignified, voluntary return to their homes? Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sudan I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, we thank Ms. Paula for her briefing and reaffirm our full support to her mandate.

In July 2026, we welcomed Ms. Paula in Syria.

She met with ministers, governors, and other senior officials and had the opportunity to experience firsthand the scale of destruction and challenges that the new Syria faces in the IDB's file. During the Syrian revolution, the brutal Assad regime systematically used displacement as a collective punishment.

It resulted in millions of IDPs.

Since the liberation, the new Syrian government adopted measures and policies that contributed to the return of more than 2 million IDPs to their places of origin. We launched our vision of zero camps, which aims to close all the camps in the country by creating the conditions for safe, dignified, and sustainable return of IDPs.

This vision includes reconstruction, repairing damaged buildings, creating work opportunities, and secure basic services, including health and education.

We are resolved to transform this vision into reality, but it requires the support of the United Nations and Member States. Funding should be channeled towards places of origin, towards rebuilding and sustainable return, rather than to camp support. In conclusion, we express our appreciation for the visit of the Special Rapporteur and we look forward for his report. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Madam Vice-Chair, China takes note of the Special Rapporteur's focus on the issue of IDPs. current complex and turbulent international situation with frequent regional conflicts has led to a surge in the number of refugees and displaced persons, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. It is saddening that a vast number of displaced persons are suffering from hunger and displacement. War and conflicts are among the primary drivers for displacement. The international community must actively strive for cessation of hostilities among parties to the conflicts and politically resolve relevant issues to prevent greater humanitarian disasters. States bear the primary duty and responsibility to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to IDPs under their jurisdiction. The international community should provide financial and technical support for reconstruction while respecting the will of the countries concerned. For many consecutive years, the Chinese government and businesses have made substantial donations to the UNHCR Through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, China has partnered with the UNHCR on multiple livelihood projects. China stands ready to continue providing assistance to refugees and IDPs and to play a greater role in addressing the global refugee crisis. China calls on developed countries to earnestly demonstrate a sense of responsibility, honor their aid commitments, and provide greater support to relevant countries and multilateral institutions. Thank you, Madam Vice-Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, followed by Turkey and Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My delegation exercises its right of reply in response to the factually inverted statement delivered by the representative of the Israeli regime. The Israeli regime seeks to obscure the primary source of mass displacement in the region, which is the systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians and civilian objects by the Israeli occupation forces. For decades, the Israeli regime has pursued forced displacement, home demolitions, settlement expansion, and military operations that have uprooted millions of Palestinians and produced the largest protracted refugee population in the world. The Islamic Republic of Iran rejects any allegation that it targets civilians. Iran's positions remain consistent with the Charter, the right of peoples to self-determination, and the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force. By contrast, on the first day of the war against Iran in late February, the United States and the Israeli regime targeted a school full of children, killing 168 children and their teachers. The Israeli regime has also repeatedly targeted residential and civilian areas in Iran. The Israeli regime has no standing to present itself as a victim of displacement. This committee should reject selective narratives and focus on ending the occupation and ensuring accountability for attacks on civilians in accordance with international law. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am taking the floor in reply to one delegation who brought up baseless allegations against my country. Turkish Cypriot people, co-founders of the 1960 partnership state, were forced out of the government institutions and legislative and judiciary organs of Cyprus in 1963.

Turkish Cypriot people throughout the island had to flee their homes, out of fear for their lives.

In the face of Greek Cypriot onslaught, which lasted 11 years. The Turkish Cypriot people were forced to live in enclaves, compromising mere 3% of the whole island. Madam Chair, atrocities between 1963 and 1974 that amount to ethnic cleansing against Turkish Cypriots.

Are well documented in the UN archives.

Consequently, UN nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus were deployed on the island back in 1964 following the events I just explained. In this respect, I have to remind that the 1974 peace operation saved the Turkish Cypriot from total annihilation. So distorting historical facts will serve no one. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta, followed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The International Organization for Migration estimates that by the end of 2024, more than 83 million people were internally displaced, and the numbers are only set to rise in the coming years. The Order of Malta is committed to responding to the needs of internally displaced peoples across the world through our humanitarian mission. Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, we have supported approximately 4 million people with more than 10,000 tons of aid. Our support ranges from our Warmth for Ukraine scheme, which supported those affected by the attacks on Kyiv's energy infrastructure last winter, to providing prosthetics in Lviv to the victims of mine explosions, to providing psychosocial support to children. In Lebanon, where families have been displaced multiple times, our order has worked across 60 projects providing health services and serving tens of thousands of hot meals through our mobile units. Additionally, this year, we provided livestock feed alongside 340,000 vegetable seedlings to help strengthen local food production in southern Lebanon. In addition, we have responded to the earthquakes in Myanmar and Venezuela, providing health care assistance, emergency shelters, and hot meals to those displaced by these natural disasters. Meanwhile, we supported health facilities in northwest Syria, alongside providing water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities and cash support at five camps for IDPs. We call for the international community to uphold the dignity and protection of all those who are internally displaced by conflict and disaster. I thank you.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

I'm delivering this statement on behalf of IOM, UNHCR, and UNDP as the three solutions champions agencies on internal displacement. We welcome your timely report and its finding on how reconstruction following conflict, violence and disasters can contribute to durable solutions. As you rightly emphasize, reconstruction must go beyond rebuilding infrastructure to restore livelihoods, essential.

Services, institutions and social cohesion while safeguarding the rights of displaced communities.

We particularly welcome your emphasis government leadership, national ownership, and meaningful participation of displaced communities, including the protection of their housing, land, and property rights.

Reconstruction must also be integrated into national development plans and budgets, supported by predictable, longer-term.

International financing, including through development plan. Reconstruction These priorities are central to the Secretary-General's Action Agenda on Internal Displacement. Through Resident Coordinators and UN country teams, we remain committed to supporting nationally-led solutions.

That bring together humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. Your independent human rights perspective as an integral member of the UN Solutions Champions Group remains essential to this collective effort. Madam Special.

Rapporteur, how can governments and international partners ensure that reconstruction planning and investments advance durable solutions from the outset, particularly.

In context of ongoing displacement and repeated crisis.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. I now give the floor to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Ms. Paula Goveia Betancourt.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all delegations for their engagement and to the thoughtful questions and comments that have been raised. I took note of all of them, and I will try to address as much as I can. all of them. On prevention, I thank the EU and others for the question regarding measures that states and international community should prioritize to ensure compliance with IHL. This was the topic of my report presented to the Human Rights Council. And as I mentioned in that report, the international community should support efforts to strengthen accountability, monitoring, and compliance with IHL, as prevention violation is essential to preventing displacement in the first place and creating conditions for durable solutions. We shouldn't be talking about reconstructing because we shouldn't be destroying. So the goal of reconstruction should also be ambitious. It must be ensured that devastation does not recur and that future generations are not displaced by the same failures, the same justice and the same violence. I thank also Norway, Switzerland, others that raised the point on the role of international community in supporting durable solutions and ensuring that internally displaced persons have a meaningful role in the shaping the reconstruction efforts. This is the only way forward. And this can entail supporting governments to meaningful consult and engage IDPs in the planning, in the implementing, in the monitoring process, and international cooperation should also support national ownership, local ownership, never replace it. This is very, very important as a major emphasis. And this leads to the question of the solutions champion, the UNHCR, IOM, UNDP. Governments and international partners should embed durable solutions into reconstruction from the outset by using right space, displacement sensitive planning, grounded in comprehensive needs assessment, the interagency Standing Committee has the criteria for this, and this also should be supported by -- they should support all the solutions pathway, not only the returns. the local integration or settlement elsewhere. On financing, thank you for those questions as well. Financing should move from the short-term humanitarian assistance to the long-term investments in the housing, in the livelihoods, in the economic opportunity services, as well as in justice, in peace building and social cohesion. And obviously, integrating this reconstruction planning into the national planning and development planning can help also countries access development financing and IFIs. Questions around the true measure of successful reconstruction, thank you for that. And I think at the core of this report is the idea that reconstruction should not be measured by the number of structures that are rebuilt or roads or the number of people that can return, but by whether IDPs are able to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity and have a safe future and can live without fear of a renewed displacement. Thank you for the questions around the housing, land, and property. These are at the core of a safe reconstruction and solutions, and states should just establish accessible mechanisms for restitution, compensation, dispute resolution, because they are major causes of new conflicts. Practical measures, Sudan, rights-based reconstruction requires participation. Critical that reconstruction is accompanied by accountability. I'm inspired by the many good practices we heard today. Others are mentioned in the report. So finally, I just repeat what I have said. Reconstruction is not only about rebuilding what was lost. It is about deciding what kind of societies emerge from devastation. So let us ensure that this opportunity is seized and that internally displaced persons can rebuild their lives again in safety and dignity without the fear of renewed displacement. Thank you.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons. Before we adjourn, I would like to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under this item is Tuesday, 3 November at 1:00 pm. The Committee will continue its consideration of agenda item 70, Promotion and protection of human rights, and its sub-items A to D, this afternoon at 3:00 pm sharp, to hear statements by the special procedures mandate holders and other experts and engage with them in an interactive dialogue. Information on the work of the Committee, including the schedule of meetings, is available on iGov. Your remarks will be reflected in the record of this meeting. I also appeal to members to conform to the practice of the United Nations whereby discussions are conducted in a respectful manner. I thank you for your cooperation, and I ask the representative of Cyprus to take the floor on a point of order.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On a point of order, just to ask a clarification from the Secretariat if I am allowed for a right of reply due to the unacceptable remarks by Turkey. Thank you.

I'll give the floor to the Secretariat. I've been advised by the Secretariat that there are no rights of reply during the interactive dialogue. On that note, the meeting is adjourned.