Third Committee, 24th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Good morning, colleagues. Please take a seat. Thank you. The 24th meeting of the Third Committee at the 81st session of the General Assembly is called to order. I invite the Committee to continue its consideration of agenda item 70, entitled Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and its sub-items A to D. The documentation under agenda item 70 and its sub-items is listed on iGOV. I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under this agenda item is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 November. I first welcome the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Ms. Maria Angela Simao. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone button within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I thank you for your cooperation. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health to make an introductory statement. Ms. Imao, you have the word.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished colleagues and delegates, it's an honor for me to address the Third Committee of the General Assembly for the first time as the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, or the right to health, which is shorter. And I would like to express my appreciation to Member States, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, communities and rights holders around the world who engage with and support the mandate. Madam Chair, in light of recent developments, I must have a statement before I start on the report. I condemned the US government sanctions against the International Criminal Court, ICC, as well as the sanctions against ICC judges and the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, and the increasing attacks against special procedures more broadly. These actions violate international law and undermine the core integrity of the UN human rights system, including special procedures as a I call on all States to reject and refuse to enforce these sanctions, and I urge the United States to immediately rescind them. And before presenting the report, I wish to recognize the important work undertaken by my predecessor, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, whose dedication and principled advocacy have strengthened the visibility and implementation of the right to health globally. Throughout her tenure, she consistently highlighted how historical and contemporary systems of racism, coloniality, patriarchy, and other forms of structural discrimination intersect to shape unequal health outcomes and access to rights. Her tenure significantly advanced understanding of the right to health as a transformative human right, as well as reinforcing that dignity is not an abstract concept. Dignity is a concrete requirement for the realization of the right to health. Madam Chair, I'm here to present the report entitled, and I apologize because it's difficult for me to say, the justiciability of the right to health for justice and accountability, which was prepared by my predecessor and the staff at the OHCHR. The report highlights a fundamental principle that the right to health is not aspirational, and also the report explores ways in which international, regional, and national normative frameworks enhance or hinder access to effective remedies and examines both the role of judicial and non-judicial remedies. The report stressed that the right to health approach requires the law to account for the multiple intersecting factors that affect health, particularly for the most marginalized groups of the population, by taking into account the underlying determinants of health. It further indicates that any person should have access to an independent public authority, which must have the power to determine whether a violation has occurred and order the cessation of the violation and/or reparation, formal restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, or guarantee of non-repetition. The report also contains global experiences in access to justice and accountability for health, and shows that courts and accountability mechanisms worldwide have become essential tools for enforcing the right to health. They have protected health-related autonomy, confidentiality, and informed consent, which disproportionately affect certain vulnerable groups in society. So it's important to reinforce the redress mechanisms, include preventive measures. such as governmental actions that contribute to mitigating the probability or risk of adverse impacts to health and its determinants. And the report underscores that courts can be an institutional safeguard for compliance with the principle of progressive realization. In this sense, global experience shows that they can ensure that governments do not postpone action on the right to health. Furthermore, in settings where the right to health is not autonomously linked to access to justice, courts have increasingly protected through the adjudication of other rights. Throughout her tenure, my predecessor has stressed the need to address the impact of systemic power structures that perpetuate or exacerbate health inequities. and legal remedies for human rights violations can be a transformative driver for substantive equality. And I'm sure we all understand that systemic inequities demand a shift from a purely formal to a more substantive approach to access to justice and accountability for health. And the report has another part that highlights that governance for health must support dismantling this systemic power asymmetries and that judiciary and other accountability mechanisms should reflect the society they serve. And the good thing is that the report includes good practices based on submissions sent by different stakeholders, which proves it's actionable, it's achievable. The countries are achieving results with this type of actions. And I'm very thankful for those who submitted their contribution. And before concluding on the report, I would like to highlight the importance of its recommendations, because they are aimed at ensuring that legal systems are transformed into tools for equity, including the recognition of the right to health and constitutional frameworks, the removal of barriers to remedies, and the empowerment of communities through participatory governance. The report I'm presenting to you today reminds us that justice is not external to health. Justice is a precondition to health. And when remedies are available, rights become more meaningful. And when accountability exists, obligations become real. And when the individual community can seek redress, health systems become more responsive. equitable and effective. And I look forward to work with you all to advance the realization of the right to health for everyone, everywhere. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health on presented report. I will now open the floor for questions or comments to Ms. Simao. As per practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to 3.5 minutes. I thank you for your kind cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India, to be followed by the representatives of Brazil and Namibia. India, you have the floor.

Madam Chair. We thank the Special Rapporteur for touching upon a timely and relevant theme in the report. We note the concerns it raises, that is, barriers of cost, language, distance and legal awareness impact a citizen's ability to enjoy right to health. The SR also flags corporate power that evades accountability. We particularly appreciate the focus of the report on good practices from across the globe, which helps member states learn from one another. The report's theme particularly resonates with India's own experience. Over the years, the Supreme Court of India has expensively interpreted Article 21 of our constitution, that is right to life to include right to health. As early as 1995, the court held that right to health and medical care are fundamental rights and directed employers to provide health insurance and safe working environment to workers so that industrial growth did not come at the cost of their health. Another progressive judgment transformed emergency healthcare into a fundamental right. compelling governments to improve hospital infrastructure to ensure that no citizen is denied urgent treatment. Our courts have also addressed the determinants of health. They have recognized clean, healthy environment as integral to Article 21. In 2024, the court recognized freedom from adverse effects of climate change as a right under our constitution. Most recently, the court directed the government to provide a clear pathway for front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods. echoing the report's concern about commercial determinants of health. In this context, we thank the Special Rapporteur for referencing Indian Supreme Court's ruling on access to reproductive care. Madam Chair, India has overhauled its healthcare system to ensure accessibility, affordability, and equity. We remain committed to ensure that every citizen has access to affordable and quality healthcare services. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil, to be followed by Namibia and El Salvador.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Brazil welcomes the presentation of the report and congratulates Ms. Mariangela Simao on her recent appointment to this important mandate. Brazil welcomes the report's recognition that health outcomes are shaped by broader socioeconomic and environmental conditions. In this regard, we wish to underscore the importance of addressing socially determined diseases that disproportionately affect populations living in situations of vulnerability, poverty, and social exclusion. The elimination of socially determined diseases, or diseases driven by social determinants of health, to use the terminology adopted by the General Assembly in Resolution 80/265, requires comprehensive and intersectoral responses that go beyond health interventions alone and encompass action on poverty, hunger, housing, sanitation, education, environmental conditions, and social protection policies. Placing social determinants at the center of global health strategies is both necessary and powerful, not only to advance health equity, but also to accelerate progress across the sustainable development goals. This perspective resonates strongly with the Special Rapporteur's mandate's longstanding emphasis on equity, non-discrimination, and the structural factors that shape the enjoyment of the right to health. Madam Chair, the appointment of Ms. Mariangela Simao as Special Rapporteur is a source of pride for Brazil. Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to public health, human rights, community engagement, and international cooperation. Her experience in promoting access to medicines, advancing the global response to HIV/AIDS, and strengthening public health systems gives her a unique perspective from which to advance the mandate. Brazil stands ready to engage constructively with the Special Rapporteur and looks forward to benefiting from her expertise and recommendations in the years ahead. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative for Brazil. Now I give the floor to the representative of Namibia, to be followed by El Salvador, Morocco, and the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The African group congratulates the Special Rapporteur on her appointment and thanks her for her briefing today. The group recognizes the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as a crucial human right that is mutually reinforcing with and key to the enjoyment of other rights, including the right to development. In this regard, the African group is deeply concerned by the prevailing state of global health especially in view of the rise of global pandemics and the continued prevalence of endemic diseases and other health situations of international concern. The challenges posed by Mpox, Andes hantavirus, and the current Ebola Bundibugyo emergency specifically demonstrate the significant gaps that persist in the global health architecture. We continue to reiterate the need to strengthen health systems, particularly in developing countries, while advancing the capacity to detect diseases, share data, and deliver essential care services. The group similarly affirms the need to ensure equitable access to health technologies, especially new, emerging, and other digital technologies. These technologies, together with the benefits from global health research, must be shared equally in a manner that never puts people over profit. Madam Special Rapporteur, As you begin your tenure, the African group wishes to raise the following question: What more can Member States do, including here at the UN, to ensure that international efforts on addressing physical and mental health remain responsive to the needs of those who need it the most, in the spirit of leaving no one behind and reaching those furthest behind first? I thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. El Salvador thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting her report, which highlights the close relationship between the right to health and human dignity, recognizing that access to health services in a timely, accessible and good quality way is a fundamental condition for the comprehensive well-being and development of persons. Our country in particular values the fact that the report has collected various different national experiences as examples of good practices with the aim of strengthening healthcare that is person-focused, that respects their rights and respects their needs. In particular, we highlight efforts to promote the humanization of health services through the training of health personnel in human rights, the implementation of humanized care protocols and decent, dignified treatment, particularly for persons in a vulnerable condition. Moreover, El Salvador continues to advance initiatives to expand access to mental health services by incorporating them into primary healthcare and using technological tools that will help reduce geographical barriers. In the area of prevention and care for HIV, we are promoting strategies aimed at guaranteeing respectful, confidential services that are free of stigmatization, recognizing the importance of the participation of the population involved in the formulation of national responses. These experiences reflect our commitment to the progressive strengthening of the national health system, with an approach that recognizes human dignity as an essential in the provision of health services. Special Rapporteur, based on your experience, what measures do you think are a priority to strengthen the incorporation of the principle of human dignity in primary healthcare services, particularly in countries that are facing resource challenges and challenges of regional territorial accessibility? Thank you very much.

Thank you, distinguished representative of El Salvador. I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco, to be followed by Russian Federation, Israel, and European Union.

Madam Chair, thank you. My delegation welcomes the report and its focus on justiciability of the right to health, particularly the ability of individuals to seek remedies, whether through the courts or other institutional mechanisms, and equally wish to congratulate the newly appointed special rapporteur and wish her success in carrying forward this thematic. Morocco shares this approach. Legal guarantees are essential, but their effectiveness depends on accessible remedies and institutions capable of responding to grievances. In this regard, Morocco particularly appreciates the Special Rapporteur's consideration for its experience among the good practices highlighted in the report. The jurisprudence of Morocco's Court of Cassation, particularly in cases concerning workers exposed to health risks, illustrates the role of judicial decisions in protected health-related rights. Alongside these judicial remedies, the national complaint platform, Shikaya, and the oversight exercised by the National Health Insurance Agency provide additional avenues for addressing grievances and strengthening accountability. Together, these examples illustrate the complementarity of judicial and non-judicial mechanisms in protecting the right to health. Madam Chair, for Morocco, equitable access to health care and access to justice are inseparable. The right to health must be accompanied by the means to defend it. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has undertaken major reforms aligned at generalizing social protection and extending compulsory health insurance coverage, alongside efforts to improve governance and protect beneficiaries' rights, evidently rooted in Morocco's constitutional framework. My delegation takes note with interest the report's invitation to look beyond the rights recognized in law and consider the experiences of those seeking to exercise them. The effectiveness of public commitments do indeed depend on their capacity to translate into tangible improvements in people's lives. Our question to the Special Rapporteur is as follows: While judicial and non-judicial remedies are essential to addressing violations of the right to health, they usually intervene post-harm. How can justiciability of the right to health move beyond individual redress to become an instrument for proactively preventing violations before they happen. Thank you.

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

Madam Chair, we express our appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for drawing attention to such an important issue as the right of each person to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. We are firmly convinced that the long-term effectiveness of a healthcare system depends on the well-being of healthcare and social care professionals and on their having decent working conditions. This issue is one of the state priorities of our country. Within our national project called A Long and Active Life, a comprehensive set of measures aimed at modernizing healthcare infrastructure is being implemented. Particular attention is paid to targeted financial and social support for healthcare professionals, in particular We have the long-term rural doctor and rural paramedic programs that have been operating successfully. They provide substantial one-time relocation payments, the allocation of official housing or plots of land, and also preferential mortgages. These measures have proven their effectiveness, making it possible to attract tens of thousands of qualified professionals to the primary healthcare sector and to improve access to good quality medical care for millions of citizens. investment in healthcare workforce is an investment in the health of the entire state and we reaffirm our readiness to share experience in this area. At the same time, we must underscore that we do not share the view reflected in the report that access to justice, including in matters related to healthcare, should be ensured through the use of quotas. On the contrary, access should be based on the principle of equality before the law without unjustified differentiation, especially on grounds for which no universal international consensus exists. We call on the Special Rapporteur to take this aspect into account in the future. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel, to be followed by the European Union, Cuba, Guatemala, and Iran.

Thank you, Chair. Upholding the right to health means upholding the right to mental health. In fact, Jewish tradition explains the phrase in Deuteronomy 4:15, "V'nishmartem me'od le'nafshotechem," and you shall guard your lives exceedingly, as referring to caring for the body and the soul alike. Israel appreciates the Special Rapporteur's recognition of mental health's centrality to basic well-being as a critical determinant of physical health, quality of life, and the ability to advocate for one's needs. In Israel, there is a game that children have begun to play on the playground over the past few years. It is called "Azaka," siren. When it starts, you scream and run for cover from falling rockets. That is only one manifestation of the constant suspense shouldered by young and old alike that at any moment, one's life might be suddenly and brutally cut short. After decades of random, unprovoked rocket fire and terror attacks, October 7th and its aftermath, onslaughts from Hezbollah and the war with Iran, the psychological toll has been devastating, and the mental health crisis in Israel is at a scale we can only just begin to comprehend. Mental health is not a luxury, but a fundamental need. Accordingly, psychiatric and psychological care have been included in Israel's universal health system for over a decade. The safety net provided by this service makes a lifesaving difference in the lives of countless people, and we are incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of Israeli mental health professionals. As illuminated in this thorough report, the right to health is an integral and inseparable element of human rights. Protecting the right to health and mental health is a tremendous national priority for my country, and we would like to strengthen efforts to prioritize this issue. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union, followed by Cuba, Guatemala, and Iran.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States. We warmly welcome Special Rapporteur Simao and wish you every success in your mandate. You can count on our full support and cooperation. We welcome the focus of this year's report on justice and accountability for violations of the right to health and recognize the important role of legal and institutional frameworks in dismantling systemic barriers to accessing justice for health. The EU reaffirms its commitment to protecting and promoting everyone's rights to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. We strongly support a human rights-based approach that integrates health across policies and addresses its underlying socio-economic determinants with a particular focus on advancing social inclusion and equitable access to medical services and universal health coverage. The EU also contributes to global health efforts through its Global Gateway strategy, mobilizing public and private investment to strengthen health systems and capacities. We share the view that the justiciability of the right to health is inextricably linked to equality and non-discrimination. It is therefore important to ensure access to effective remedies for health rights violations without discrimination or geographic, financial, linguistic or administrative barriers. This also requires accessible legal aid, timely procedures and meaningful participation by affected communities. Likewise, these principles must be reflected in digital health technologies and the activities of private sector in health. We welcome the report's observations and encourage stronger national and international action in this area. Madam Special Rapporteur, could you share good practices in improving access to effective judicial and non-judicial remedies, particularly for marginalized groups? Which measures have proven most effective in strengthening the accountability of private actors and ensuring human rights safeguards in digital health technologies and AI? Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. We welcome the Special Rapporteur and we support her mandate. In Cuba, public health is a constitutional right. Our health system is public, free to access, universal and without any discrimination. Notwithstanding the efforts of the Cuban Government to promote and protect the right to health for Cubans, they are not free from the effects of the US blockade, particularly which has been intensified with the oil siege and the system of complementary sanctions. The impact of these measures on the health sector are alarming. The waiting list for surgery is now 100,000 patients, of which 12,000 are children. The child mortality rate in the country went from 4 per 100,000 live births to 9.9 in 2025, which is an increase of 148%. The lives of thousands of Cuban children. Madam Chair, because of the importance that we attach to this human right and because of the humanist nature of the revolution, since 1973, 605,000 Cuban doctors have contributed to the right to health in countries and territories around the world. More than 17,000 surgical operations have been carried out and more than 5 million births have been organised. More than 24,000 health professionals are currently serving around the world. We reject the virulent campaign undertaken by the United States to try to discredit Cuban medical cooperation and to harass the authorities of the countries that receive it. In vain, they are trying to prevent this cooperation, which in many cases was the only option for access to health services for large groups of populations. This cooperation is based on entirely legitimate bilateral agreements, and it meets international standards in the area of cooperation that are observed by this organization. We reiterate our commitment to all of the countries that we have bilateral health cooperation agreements with, and we express our will to expand it with all partners that want to do so. We will also continue to train doctors around the world in Cuba. We would be very grateful to know the Special Rapporteur's opinion about the impact of South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives on the promotion of the human right to health, and also the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on this human right. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala, to be followed by Islamic Republic of Iran, South Africa, and Sovereign Order of Malta.

Guatemala thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting her report. It highlights the importance of having legal and institutional frameworks that allow us to make the right to health effective through accessible and timely resources, as well as reparation mechanisms that meet the needs of persons and communities. particularly those that are facing greater barriers for the exercise of their rights. In this context, Guatemala highlights the relevance of strengthening protection and accountability mechanisms, as well as promoting equal and non-discriminatory conditions in access to health services and resources that are available in light of possible human rights violations. With regard to the national experiences collected in the report, is a recognition of the constitutional and legal framework which establishes health as a public good, as well as the application of standardized care protocols and intercultural care protocols by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. These elements highlight the importance of coordinating normative frameworks with institutional action in order to promote public health care that takes into account the cultural specificities of the population and makes an effective contribution to the protection of their human rights. In this regard, Guatemala reiterates the importance of continuing to strengthen national and international efforts aimed at achieving the promotion and protection of the right to health on the basis of the principles of equality, non-discrimination, effective access to resources and respect for human dignity. Madam Special Rapporteur, what measures do you believe to be a priority to make sure that people whose rights to physical and mental health have been violated can have access to effective justice mechanisms and obtain appropriate reparation, taking into account economic, administrative and other barriers which may limit the exercise of these rights? Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Islamic Republic of Iran, to be followed by South Africa and Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, my delegation takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Madam Special Rapporteur, Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This right also requires the availability and accessibility of health-related goods and services. Unilateral coercive measures and acts of aggression violate this right and make it impossible for people to access certain healthcare services and essential medicines. Furthermore, These two disruptive factors, imposed by certain States, undermine the practical capacity of targeted States to realize the right to health. Under no circumstances whatsoever, including during armed conflicts, should essential services, access to health care services or the protection of health infrastructure be compromised. Such disruptions undermine the capacity of a state to realize the right to health and impose disproportionate burdens on people in vulnerable situations, including children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Madam Special Rapporteur, during the military aggression launched against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the United States and the Israeli regime back in late February, The aggressors, in violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, destroyed 245 healthcare units, 70 hospitals, 60 emergency service bases, 44 pharmaceutical and specialized medical centers, 69 ambulances and rescue vehicles, and four helicopters. In addition, 26 healthcare workers were killed and 118 were injured. During the war, 52 helicopters and vehicles, including ambulances, 132 sets of emergency response equipment, and 82 buildings belonging to the Iranian Red Crescent Society were destroyed. Moreover, four relief personnel were killed and 103 were injured. Following several waves of attacks, significant damage was inflicted upon the parts of the main building of the Pasteur Institute of Iran. That was Iran's oldest vaccine production center. Some buildings within the complex were completely destroyed, while damage to equipment and materials in other buildings and laboratories has seriously disrupted the continuation of the institute's scientific and public health activities. Madam Special Rapporteur, Given that the right to health requires not only formal recognition but also effective access to essential health care services, what measures do you propose to strengthen accountability mechanisms and ensure access to justice for victims of human rights violations resulting from unilateral coercive measures and acts of aggression by the third states, in particular when economic and security restrictions, attacks on essential healthcare infrastructure, and sanctions impede citizens' access to medicines and healthcare services. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to South Africa. Can we have a mic for South Africa, please? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

South Africa aligns itself with the intervention made by Namibia on behalf of the Africa Group. South Africa congratulates Dr. Semrau on her appointment as a Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. We express our confidence on your merit appointment based on your rich experience of the global public health and public institutional knowledge. South Africa welcomes the report presented today as it reminds us of the universal equal rights that the right to health is legally enforceable human right, not merely a policy objective. It examines how courts, ombudspersons, human rights commissions, and other accountability mechanism can be held can help individuals and communities, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable populations, to obtain remedies when their rights are violated. The question to the Special Rapporteur is how the international community can be held accountable on addressing the existing gaps of health equities between the global North and South that impedes access to most developing countries. Finally, South Africa reassures its commitment to working collaboratively with you, Special Rapporteur, on the promotion of the right to health and the aspiration of advancing the universal health coverage. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I now give the floor to the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Health is a fundamental human right and essential to living a life with dignity. Yet for millions of people affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty, this right remains far from reality. Crises do not only destroy hospitals and disrupt access to essential medicines, they interrupt maternal health care, rehabilitation, and treatment for chronic conditions, while exposing individuals and communities to profound psychological distress. Physical and mental health are inseparable, and both must be protected. The Sovereign Order of Malta, through our international relief agency, Malteser International, and its local partners, witness these challenges every day. In Lebanon, Malteser International, together with the Order of Malta Lebanon, supports a network of primary healthcare centers and mobile clinics, bringing care closer to vulnerable and remote communities. In 2025, this work supported 85,500 people and provided over 205,000 medical consultations. In Gaza, where health facilities and basic services have been severely compromised, the Order of Malta is working to restore access to essential primary healthcare. In June, the Order opened a primary healthcare clinic in Gaza City, coordinated by Malteser International, with the capacity to provide care to up to 100 people each day. This demonstrates the importance of maintaining access to essential services, even in the most challenging circumstances. However, healthcare must extend beyond physical treatment. In Ukraine, years of war have left deep psychological wounds, particularly among children, families, and displaced communities. Since 2022, Malteser International has provided psychosocial support to more than 100,000 people, recognizing that recovery requires more than treating physical injuries. It requires safe spaces, professional support, and the opportunity to rebuild stability and hope. Madam Chair, these experiences highlight three priorities. First, health care must be protected during armed conflict, and essential services must remain accessible to people affected by displacement and crises. Second, mental health and psychosocial support must be an integral part of humanitarian and health responses, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups. Third, we must strengthen local health systems and empower local health care workers and organizations, ensuring that communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future crises. The right to health is not fulfilled simply when a person survives an emergency. It is fulfilled when they can access care, recover from trauma, regain independence, and live with dignity. The Sovereign Order of Malta remains committed to ensuring that no one is left without the physical and psychological care they need, particularly in their moments of greatest vulnerability. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sovereign Order of Malta, who was the last speaker for this dialogue on my list. I now give the floor to a special rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Ms. Maria Angela Simao, for her remarks.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you all for the very constructive comments and also for the questions. And I'm happy to continue the engagement with member, any on this topic with one to one with any member state that wishes to. have a more in-depth discussion, but I will try here to address some of the issues that were raised, right? First of all, we all know that not one-size-fits-all. I think this is a known fact. But the fact is also that the principles that guide the right to health are universal, and they have been agreed internationally, you know. And actually, the report brings some good examples of good practices. But what the report contains actually are the result of what was received in the submissions and also what's in the literature. So if you have an additional good experience, this is what changes the world, right? That showing that things can be done differently. So we welcome that very much. So please inform us. The third point is that the report also highlights that There could be different mechanisms for people or governments to ensure that the mechanisms exist to seek redress, that people who face the right to health violation can seek redress, and the report also brings these examples. And here again, I'd like to thank my predecessor as during her tenure, she strengthened attention to section reproductive health and rights, racism and discrimination, harm reduction, food and nutrition, digital health, and the rights of health and care workers, healthcare workers, healthcare workers and care workers, right? And as I mentioned before, she sought to highlight that dignity is not an abstract concept, but it's a concrete requirement for the realization, the right to health. And then I go back to the recommendations of the report, because when you read the report, sometimes it's long and wordy, right? So you should always read the recommendations, right? And actually, these recommendations, I hope, will help countries make the right decisions to ensure that the right to health is consistent consistently and coherently addressed. And that all systems work for people's health, including the legal system. So all systems work for legal, for health is super important because health follows us from before we are born until after we die, right? So this is super important. And Madam Chair, as I start my mandate, I remain committed to advancing a vision of health grounded in human dignity, substantive equality, and non-discrimination. And several priority areas will guide my work. And here I must make a disclaimer, some of you already mentioned, because I'm a true believer that reducing inequities in access to health services, medicines, diagnostics, biotherapeutics, vaccines, and other health products, as well as addressing the underlying determinants of health are part of the right to health, and that this means we need to move towards a global framework that facilitates that equitable access becomes a reality in all countries. And that said, I will continue to promote and protect sexual and reproductive health and rights as an integral component of the right to health, because universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, information, education, continues to be essential for individual autonomy, bodily integrity, gender equality, and realization of the human rights. And this is very, very dear to many of us, you know, this agenda. I have also a long experience in dealing with HIV and AIDS. So, I will continue to prioritize the health and human rights of people living with and affected by HIV and other infectious diseases because it's not only that disproportionately affect some people more than others, right? And this builds on decades of evidence demonstrating that rights-based approaches are indispensable to effective public health outcomes. And I will continue to defend, as my predecessor did, that access to harm reduction programs are a right to health imperative in human rights and evidence approaches to drug use, saves lives, strengthen communities, and promote public health more effectively than punitive measures. I'm using the time to also to express what I'm planning to do, right? And I'll place equality and non-discrimination at the heart of my work. all my work. And persistent inequalities based on race, gender, disability, age, migration status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity continue to determine now as we are speaking who enjoys the right to health and who's left behind. And the right to health can only be realized when these intersecting forms of discrimination are addressed. Finally, I think this was mentioned by several of you, I will continue to engage with issues related to the protection of health and care workers and the integrity of health systems, including in conflict-related situations, because this is the world we live in. And before concluding, I would like to inform you all that the report that I will be presenting to the Human Rights Council mid-2027 will examine the human rights dimensions of the implementation of the Pandemic Agreement. with particular attention to the pathogen access and benefit sharing annex and its implications for equitable access, accountability, and realization of the right to health. The report will explore how international commitments can be translated into concrete protections for individuals, communities in low and middle income countries, especially those who have historically borne the greatest burden during health emergencies. And let me state that I'm also planning to A report on disinformation and its impact on people's health to present to you next year at the General Assembly, and this is work in progress. And to finalize, health challenges transcend borders, so must the commitment to human rights. We all need to work collectively to strengthen equitable access to health and services and technologies, finance and resilient health systems, and to the underlying determinants of health, which were mentioned by several members, different aspects, the social determinants of health, the commercial determinants of health. And global arrangements must be guided by solidarity, equity, and accountability. And considering the complexity of our times, the times we're living, they are needed more than ever. And I look forward to working with you to the advance the realization of the right to health for everyone, everywhere. But let me end with something that's on a very important note. And for those of you who like rock, rock and roll, right, I'm going to end with a note from Pink Floyd. Okay. It's the music, "Hey You", you know, because it says, it goes like this. Don't tell me there's no hope at all. Together we stand, divided we fall. And this is what we stand for. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. I next welcome the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Mrs. Beatriz Miranda Galarza. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speakers are invited to press the microphone buttons within the next three minutes, after which the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I thank you for your cooperation. I now invite the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members to make an introductory statement. Ms. Miranda Galarza, you have the floor.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished representatives of states, colleagues, and friends, today I present not only my final report as a special rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, but also the final report under this mandate. following the Human Rights Council's recent decision to bring it to a close. This is an important moment, but also a difficult one. The decision not to renew the mandate came as a surprise. To my knowledge, this marks an unprecedented step in the history of the United Nations special procedure system, the discontinuation of a thematic mandate. This decision comes at a time when leprosy-related discrimination remains widespread. Historical injustices remain unresolved, and persons affected by leprosy and their families continue to face serious barriers to the full enjoyment of their human rights. I fully respect the authority of the Human Rights Council. At the same time, I believe that mandate holders and, above all, the people whose rights we are entrusted to protect should be meaningfully heard when decisions of this magnitude are being considered. My concern is not simply the end of one mandate within the system. It is what may be lost with it. the visibility, specialized expertise, and institutional memory built over nine years. The closure of a mandate must never be confused with the resolution of the human rights violations that made it necessary. Over these nine years, the mandate has helped change how leprosy is understood within the United Nations human rights system. It has challenged the idea that leprosy is exclusively a medical issue and demonstrated its connections with discrimination, disability, poverty, gender inequality, historical injustice, and social exclusion. We have documented more than 100 discriminatory legal provisions and drawn attention to the enduring consequences of compulsory segregation and institutionalization. We have highlighted violations of the rights to care and support, and to timely access to treatment and medication, as well as the need for truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of no recurrence. Importantly, the mandate has also helped envision new legal and normative frameworks to better protect the rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. while promoting the implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination against them. Perhaps most importantly, the mandate has worked to ensure that persons affected by leprosy are recognized as right holders, experts and agents of change. Their lived experience is not merely supplementary to the knowledge that informs policy. It is an essential source of that knowledge. Yet, the report is equally clear about what remains unfinished. People continue to face rejection and exclusion, as well as barriers to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment, social protection and justice. The gap between legal guarantees and lived realities remains substantial. Medical treatment is indispensable, but a cure doesn't automatically restore rights, repair historical harm, or eliminate discrimination. This makes the present moment especially concerning. Declining international funding, diminishing technical expertise, and weakened support for organizations of persons affected by leprosy are occurring alongside the discontinuation of the mandate. Together, these developments create a risk that the progress achieved will be diminished or reversed. Decisions made within the United Nations have consequences beyond these walls. They affect people whose experiences are too often overlooked to their governments and societies. This is why I call upon Member States, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council to continue supporting the special procedures and to recognize the importance of meaningful consultations when decisions affecting their mandates are reconsidered. Special rapporteurs undertake this work without a salary and often with limited institutional support and budgets. as was the case with this mandate, sometimes requiring us to invest our own resources. As we have seen with colleagues who have been sanctioned, this work can also come at a very high personal cost, sometimes putting our own safety and even our lives at risk. Throughout my work, I have insisted that compassion and human rights must be brought together. Human rights without compassion can become distant from lived realities, and compassion without human rights can become paternalism. We need compassion that recognizes dignity and suffering, and human rights that transforms the structures producing injustice. These principles should guide the United Nations itself, including the way it listens, works, and makes decisions. This final report is also an invitation to continue with the work. Human Rights Council resolution 62/21 on the human rights dimensions of neglected tropical diseases offers an important opportunity to carry the lessons of this mandate into a broader agenda. I have supported this direction from the beginning of my mandate. because the experience and knowledge gained through the leprosy mandate can contribute to progress across neglected tropical diseases, which affect approximately 1 billion people worldwide. In 2024, around 1.4 billion people require interventions to prevent or treat these diseases, according to the WHO. But mainstreaming mustn't become another form of invisibility. The experience of the mandate should inform the broader agenda without erasing leprosy's particular history, the experiences of affected persons and their families, or the knowledge built over these nine years. States and United Nations entities must ensure that leprosy remains explicitly visible in implementing resolution 62/21 and that its mandates lessons inform relevant special procedures, treaty bodies, and the Universal Periodic Review. Above all, Persons affected by leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases must be able to participate meaningfully in shaping priorities, implementing policies and assessing their impact. Their rights extend beyond diagnosis and treatment to include care and support, social protection, access to justice, remedies for past violations and the possibility of living in the community with dignity and equality. To persons affected by leprosy and to your organizations, I want to say something personal. Thank you for trusting me with your experiences, for teaching me, for challenging me, and for allowing me to learn while serving you. This mandate has changed not only my work, but also my life and the life of my family. I will carry that experience with me. I leave this mandate with the conviction that I have represented with dignity and honored the lives and struggles of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. But I also leave with uncertainty about the future of their protection. Nine years of work cannot be allowed to disappear. The principles and guidelines, the knowledge he generated, the relationships built, and above all, the voices that have gained greater visibility must continue to inform the United Nations human rights systems. My final appeal is this. Let us ensure that the end of this mandate doesn't become the end of international attention. Let us preserve its legacy, support organizations of persons affected by leprosy, and ensure that the broader neglected tropical diseases agenda builds on what has been achieved rather than leaving it behind. The struggle against leprosy has taught us that eliminating a disease is not the same as eliminating discrimination, and that a medical cure doesn't necessarily mean social healing. I hope these lessons will continue to guide our work here within the United Nations and in the world. Thank you for listening.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their families for her presented report and for your work. I will now open the floor for questions or comments to Ms. Miranda Galarza. As per past practice, I would ask delegations to limit their comments to three minutes. I thank you for your cooperation. I now give the floor to a distinguished representative of Brazil, to be followed by Japan, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, it is a great honor to take the floor on behalf of.

Portuguese-speaking countries, CEPAL, and For interpretation purposes, the intervention will be delivered in Portuguese.

Madam Special Rapporteur, Excellencies, it is with great honor to take the floor on behalf of the member states of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries. The CPLP reaffirms its commitment to the elimination of Hansen's disease as a public health, development, and human rights challenge. Madam Special Rapporteur, for the CPLP, health is a fundamental right and an essential condition for human dignity. We, therefore, fully support the World Health Organization Global Leprosy Strategy 2130 and its ambition of achieving zero infections, zero disability, and zero stigma. Although leprosy is a curable disease, it continues to affect thousands of people around the world. Many face not only the physical consequences of the disease, but also discrimination, social exclusion, and the loss of educational and professional opportunities. Experience shows that eliminating leprosy requires an integrated approach. Ensuring access to treatment is not enough. It is equally necessary to address the structural causes that perpetuate vulnerability, including poverty, inequalities, and barriers to accessing healthcare. In this context, the CPLP highlights six key priorities. First, strengthening early detection and ensuring universal access to diagnosis and effective treatment, thereby preventing avoidable disabilities. Second, strengthening primary health care, particularly in rural and remote areas, so that no one is left behind because of geographical distance or economic constraints. Third, investing in the training of health professionals and promoting technical cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation. to enhance. Fourth, combating stigma and discrimination through education, community awareness raising, and the promotion of the human rights of persons affected. Fifth, improving data collection and epidemiological surveillance in order to guide more effective, evidence-based public policies. Guarantee the rehabilitation and social inclusion of persons affected, recognizing that a medical cure does not always mean an end to the social, economic, and emotional consequences of the disease. Madam Special Rapporteur, given that stigma and discrimination remain among the greatest obstacles.

The speaker's microphone has been cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair and Madam Special Rapporteur. Japan appreciates the valuable efforts of the Special Rapporteurs since the establishment of the mandate in 2017 to promote the human rights of persons affected by leprosy and their family members. With regard to NTDs, Japan recognizes that persons affected by NTDs may face various difficulties and human rights issues may arise in such contexts. However, we believe it is problematic to simply carry over WHO or health-based groupings into the human rights framework without sufficient analytical basis. The human rights dimensions of leprosy are unique in many senses, but analysis and discussion are needed. on the commonalities and differences in human rights challenges across different entities, and on whether and to what extent the experience relating to leprosy can be applied to other entities. Japan considers it premature to draw broader conclusions at this stage, and looks forward to further discussion and analysis on these important issues. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria, to be followed by Ethiopia, European Union, and China.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Special Rapporteur for her important report. Leprosy is curable and effective treatment is available, but the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease remain a serious concern. Across communities, individuals and families may continue to face exclusion from education, employment, access to communal facilities and social life. Such experiences remind us that while medical treatment can cure the disease, addressing its social consequences requires sustained commitment, public awareness and respect for human rights. Leprosy is not solely a public health concern. It is also an issue of human dignity, equality and inclusion. We are working to address discriminatory laws and practices, strengthen the inclusion of affected persons in mainstream health services, disability support and social protection, and ensure that their voices inform decisions that affect their lives. Through the implementation of Nigeria's National Zero Leprosy Roadmap and human-centered co-creation workshop across the 10 states, we are supporting community-driven efforts to challenge stigma and promote lasting behavioral change. In collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and partners, including the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, efforts are also being made to advance socioeconomic reintegration through vocational training, assistive mobility devices, livelihood support, and improved access to social protection. There is need to strengthen early detection. access to appropriate healthcare and mental health support, as well as community education and awareness. We further emphasize the importance of economic empowerment and meaningful participation of persons affected by leprosy in policy-making and implementation. There have been significant achievements in eliminating the disease, but ending leprosy-related discrimination requires more than medical progress. It calls for inclusive laws, informed communities, and collective commitment to ensuring that no one is excluded because of health condition of its lasting effect. I thank you.

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

Madam Chair. My delegation would like to extend its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members. We highly value the thematic focus of the report and today's briefing. Ethiopia recognizes the historical practice of segregation and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy worldwide. We support the report's call to address these legacies, not merely as a past public health approach, but as structural injustices that require sustained attention and remedial action. Ethiopia has long-standing commitments to the prevention, treatment, and social inclusion of persons affected by leprosy, including special care and research on neglected tropical diseases to improve clinical outcomes and embed in public health response. In collaboration with World Health Organization and partners, Ethiopia is scaling up its efforts to achieve the elimination of leprosy by 2030, in line with the organization's global leprosy strategy. We have a comprehensive specialized hospital in Addis Ababa that focus only on diagnosing, treating and providing rehabilitation services for leprosy. The Ethiopian National Association of Persons Living with Leprosy also plays an integral part in the country's ongoing fight to eliminate the disease. The fear of being stigmatized can dissuade people from seeking early diagnosis and treatment. Beyond the health response, Ethiopia is also addressing the social dimensions of the disease by working to eliminate stigma and strengthen in the socioeconomic inclusion of persons affected and their families. Ethiopia underscores the importance of human rights-based, person-centered approach that ensures a meaningful participation of persons affected in all relevant processes consistent with the principles of equality and non-discrimination. We emphasize the value of international cooperation and capacity building to address the remaining challenges. Madam Special Rapporteur, I would like to pose a question to you. Given the closure of your mandate, what measures do you recommend to ensure that the gains achieved in combating leprosy-related stigma and discrimination are sustained and that adequate mechanisms remain in place to address the human rights challenges faced by persons affected by leprosy? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union, to be followed by China, Sovereign Order of Malta, and World Health Organization.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The European Union thanks the Special Rapporteur for her report and pays tribute to the work undertaken throughout the mandate to advance the dignity and human rights of persons affected by Hansen's disease and their family members. Madam Special Rapporteur, The report conveys a clear message: cure does not necessarily amount to healing. Even after medical treatment, affected persons may continue to experience chronic health conditions, psychological harm, poverty, stigma and social exclusion. Responses must therefore move beyond a predominantly biomedical model and address the physical, psychological, social and economic dimensions of people's lives. The EU particularly welcomes the recognition of affected persons as rights holders, experts and agents of change. Their full, effective and meaningful participation is indispensable to developing policies that reflect lived realities and reach those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. The conclusion of this mandate must not lead to renewed invisibility. Its standards, knowledge and institutional memory should inform the broader human rights approach to neglected tropical diseases, while preserving specific attention to the rights and needs of persons affected by leprosy. This requires sustained international cooperation, adequate and predictable financing, strengthened technical capacity and rights-sensitive systems for monitoring progress. The EU remains committed to approaches grounded in human dignity, equality, inclusion, participation and accountability. The sustainable elimination of neglected tropical diseases cannot be achieved without simultaneously addressing discrimination, exclusion and the structural inequalities that leave affected persons and their families behind. Madam Special Rapporteur, in light of the recommendation to develop right sensitive and disaggregated indicators, how can states ensure that persons affected by leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases participate meaningfully in designing and monitoring these indicators while fully safeguarding privacy, data protection and self-identification? I thank you.

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

Madam Chair, The Chinese delegation takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of leprosy, and thanks the Special Rapporteur for the enormous work she has put into this report. China attaches great importance to protecting the rights and interests of persons affected by leprosy. China has incorporated the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy into special public health programs, providing free diagnosis and treatment. as well as necessary medical and living assistance to those affected, so as to effectively safeguarding their rights to subsistence and health. The prevalence rate of leprosy in China has dropped from two per thousand in the 1950s to below 0.008 per thousand at present, approaching the elimination threshold. The costs of medical treatment for those affected and rehabilitation for those cured but live with disabilities are covered by the state. The law on basic medical and healthcare and promotion of health explicitly prohibits discrimination based on health status, providing a legal basis for eliminating leprosy-related discrimination. China is currently advancing the implementation of the sustainable development plan for comprehensively eliminating the harms of leprosy 2024 to 2030. striving to ensure that those affected by leprosy share the outcomes of disease prevention and control with Chinese modernization and attain the goal of comprehensively eliminating the harms of leprosy by 2030. Meanwhile, China actively carries out various forms of health education and promotion activities related to leprosy prevention and control, and organizes thematic awareness campaigns on World Leprosy Day to eliminate discrimination and prejudice against persons affected by leprosy, fostering a social atmosphere of respecting and caring for them. China will remain committed to eliminating leprosy and its harms, sharing the latest concepts in prevention and control, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation to make new contribution to global leprosy prevention and control. At the same time, China will further mobilize all sectors of society to facilitate the social reintegration of those cured and foster a positive social environment of care and support for persons affected by leprosy. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Although leprosy is often regarded as a disease of the past, its consequences remain a daily reality for far too many people and communities around the world. Beyond the physical effects of the disease, persons affected by leprosy, as well as their families and those close to them, continue to face stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion. These consequences can deprive individuals of access to education, employment, and essential services, undermine their livelihoods, and perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality. This is particularly concerning given that leprosy is a treatable and curable disease. No person should be denied the opportunity to live a dignified and independent life because of a condition that can be effectively treated. Nor should anyone face discrimination as a consequence of having been affected by it. We must therefore safeguard and strengthen programs that ensure timely diagnosis, accessible treatment, and continued medical care. The progress achieved in the prevention and treatment of leprosy must not be undermined by complacency or declining investment. The goal must not be only to treat the disease, but also to eliminate social barriers that prevent those affected from participating fully in society. Equally important are sustained education and awareness-raising initiatives to challenge misconceptions, combat stigma, and foster greater understanding. The Sovereign Order of Malta remains committed to these efforts. Through Order of Malta France, we support programs addressing leprosy in 15 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, including Madagascar, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, and Vietnam. These initiatives provide screening and medical care, surgical treatment for complications, rehabilitation, and support for social reintegration. reaching approximately 20,000 people each year. By supporting the training of medical personnel and working alongside national and local health authorities, the Order of Malta also contributes to developing the expertise and healthcare systems necessary to ensure that diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation remain accessible over the long term. Madam Chair, the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy requires sustained investment in healthcare, education, rehabilitation and social inclusion, alongside the active involvement of affected persons and communities themselves. It also requires us to challenge the prejudices and misconceptions that continue to deny individuals the dignity, opportunities and rights to which they are entitled. Global efforts must therefore continue with determination. We must ensure that progress is sustained, that preventable suffering is reduced, and that no person is condemned to social exclusion at the hands of a treatable disease. By combining effective health care with compassion, inclusion, and respect for human dignity, we can help break the cycles of poverty and inequality that continue to affect too many. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sovereign Order of Malta. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of World Health Organization.

Thank you, Chair. WHO expresses appreciation to Dr. Beatriz Miranda Galarza for her dedication as Special Rapporteur and for the fruitful collaboration she established with us. While we respect the Human Rights Council's decision, it is unfortunate that the mandate would not be renewed. WHO welcomes her final report and supports its findings, conclusions and recommendations. Over nine years, the mandate broadened significantly. The reports to the General Assembly and Human Rights Council recognised persons affected by leprosy as rights holders and agents of social transformation. Key achievements include raising the visibility of leprosy as a human rights issue, strengthening rights-based frameworks, securing meaningful participation of affected persons and their organisations, and deepening understanding of leprosy-related discrimination. Important lessons emerged. The gap between legal protections and lived reality, the links between leprosy, poverty, and exclusion, the unintended consequences of elimination narratives, the need to move beyond diagnosis and treatment towards comprehensive care and inclusion, and the gradual loss of leprosy expertise. Persistent challenges remain. Discriminatory laws and practices, the gap between biological cure and comprehensive healing, disease-focused rather than person-centered approaches, and inadequate indicators. WHO commends the Special Rapporteur for positioning leprosy's human rights dimensions within the broader neglected tropical disease agenda. Leprosy can serve as a trailblazer for other neglected tropical disease programs, while integrated approaches such as the Skin NTDs Initiative and the proposed Global Action Plan for skin diseases, which are expected to be considered by the World Health Assembly next year, can contribute to strengthening leprosy services. WHO also welcomes the recent adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution on human rights and NTDs. Let me in closing congratulate Dr. Mariangela Simao, a former colleague of mine, for her new assignment. We look forward to working closely with you, Mariangela, in the years ahead. And finally, again, thank Beatriz once more for her stellar work over nine years. WHO affirms its readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders in strengthening action at the intersection of health and human rights. Thank you.

I thank the World Health Organization, who was the last speaker on my list for this dialogue. I now give the floor to a Special Rapporteur of the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy and their Families, Ms. Beatriz Miranda, for her closing statements.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair and distinguished representatives of states, colleagues, and friends. Thank you for the questions and the reflections shared today. I think that they point to a simple conclusion that recognition is essential, but the recognition alone doesn't change people's lives. So rights must be real in the systems, budgets and decisions that shape everyday life. We need to change the way we understand care and support. As I emphasized in my first report to the General Assembly, care cannot remain a matter of charity or the private responsibility of families. It is a question of rights, public responsibility and equality. Persons affected by leprosy may need long-term rehabilitation, assistive devices, mental health support, community services and social protection, even after treatment ends. Yet, care is often fragmented or dependent on household resources, while women and girls carry a disproportionate share of unpaid care work. States must build inclusive systems that support both those receiving care and those providing it, recognizing and redistributing care responsibilities more fairly. Treatment must also be available in practice. Not only on paper. Interruptions in the supply of medicines are not merely technical problems. They can threaten health, dignity and livelihoods and lead to avoidable impairments. A medicine may exist and a treatment may be effective, but neither offers a real guarantee if it doesn't reach a person in time. States and international partners must invest in reliable supply chains. trained health workers, and accessible services. Persons affected by leprosy and their organizations should help monitor whether medicines and services reach communities, particularly those that are remote or marginalized. When preventable failures occur, accountability and access to redress are essential. International cooperation must move beyond charity. It requires sustainable financing, investment in research and technical expertise, and a stronger South-South and triangular cooperation. As I emphasized in my report on international cooperation and solidarity, unpredictable funding and the limited influence of grassroots organizations undermine progress. Additionally, persons affected by leprosy and their organizations must help shape and evaluate programs and policies from the beginning. Their participation is essential to effective and accountable policies. We must also recognize that there is no single experience of leprosy. Women and girls, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous people and people living in poverty may face distinct or overlapping forms of exclusion. Poverty, environmental harm, conflict and displacement can further limit access to treatment, care and social protection. Addressing these inequalities requires accessible services, attention to the experiences of those most likely to be excluded, and coordinated action across health, social protection, disability, gender equality, development, and justice. These recommendations invite States to look beyond the number of people diagnosed or treated. We must also ask, can people access care where they live? Are medicines consistently available? Are caregivers supported? Can persons affected participate in decisions, challenge discrimination, and obtain remedies? Are resources reaching the communities and organizations that understand where the gaps are? These questions should also guide the implementation of the human rights agenda on neglected tropical diseases. Its success will depend not simply on the commitment made, but on whether rights are protected, inequalities are reduced, and persons affected by NTDs have greater control over the decisions that shape their lives. This human rights framework for neglected tropical diseases is one of the most important legacies of the leprosy mandate. It provides an opportunity to ensure that experiences and rights of persons affected by other NTDs remain visible and at the center of social, economic, cultural, and global health policies and programs. One principle runs through the years that this mandate worked. Persons affected by leprosy, and now I include persons affected by any NTD, are not simply beneficiaries of programs. They are knowledge holders and partners in designing solutions. We cannot build effective policies around them while keeping them outside the room where decisions are made. This is where human rights and compassion meet, and the willingness to share power, provide the resources needed to fulfill rights, and transform systems that produce exclusion. To conclude, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who made this work possible. I am especially grateful to the XVII Institute of Critical Studies in Mexico for its unconditional support, to my fellow Special Rapporteurs for their solidarity, and the Special Procedures Branch for its support. I thank the World Health Organization, particularly its Neglected Tropical Diseases and Malaria Program, and its representatives in New York for their engagement and cooperation. My gratitude extends to the communication and research team that supported my work, to researchers, academic colleagues, civil society partners, and colleagues across the United Nations system, as well as to friends and families and institutions whose generosity and commitment sustain the work of this mandate. This collective contribution has been essential to the mandate and deserves to be recognized. My final request to States and the wider international community is therefore concrete. Translate commitments into national policies, budgets, accessible services and meaningful participation. Ensure continuity of treatment and care. Support caregivers and organizations led by persons affected. build cooperation on rights and solidarity, and measures progress by whether people can live with dignity, equality, and freedom from discrimination. Thank you so much.

I thank the Special Rapporteur for her remarks and wish you best of luck for your future endeavors. I now welcome the independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ms. Molokana Miti-Drummond. Participants wishing to make comments and pose questions to the speaker are invited to press their microphone buttons within the next three minutes. After a week, the list will be closed. The time limit for each speaker will be announced before the floor is given to the first intervention. I now give the floor to the independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism to make an introductory statement. Ms. Miti Drummond, you have the floor.

Thank you. Madam President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, it is an honor to address you today to highlight my report on the psychosocial impact of color-based discrimination on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism. In my previous reports, I dealt with wide-ranging thematic issues of concern to persons with albinism. While the reports are not exhaustive, a common theme that anchors them is the centrality of discrimination against persons with albinism, which impacts their full enjoyment of rights. The reports highlight multifaceted and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on the basis of disability, age and gender. My current report highlights another form of discrimination, practically constant in the lives of persons with albinism, colour-based discrimination. It focuses in particular on the psychosocial impact of such discrimination. Color-based discrimination is an old historical stain on social interactions with extreme forms institutionalized in slavery and colonial social settings. The progressive evolution of international human rights law has provided clarity on the scope and prohibition of color-based discrimination. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination defines racial discrimination as any distinction including on the basis of race, color, descent, and national or ethnic origin. Discrimination on the basis of color is therefore a form of racial discrimination prohibited under international human rights law. It is also prohibited at national level through anti-discrimination provisions in constitutions, some of which specifically mention both race and color. Yet in many cases, the distinction between race and color in these provisions is overlooked, and the two are sometimes used interchangeably. It is important to understand that while discrimination on the basis of race occurs between people of different races, discrimination on the basis of colour can occur between people of the same race. It is a form of discrimination that looks at one person in comparison to another and determines their worth or value based on their skin colour or complexion, regardless of whether those people are the same race. Colour-based discrimination is often referred to as colourism. It is often seen as a form of discrimination that favors those of lighter complexion above darker skinned individuals. However, for persons with albinism, their lighter complexion results in disadvantage to them. And because of this, I have chosen to use the term color-based discrimination as opposed to colorism. Due to lack of melanin, persons with albinism are much lighter in complexion than other people of their race, ethnicity, or family who do not have albinism. Their lighter complexion tends to make them hypervisible in society, with their physical differences being more pronounced where others of their race or ethnicity generally have a darker complexion. This is particularly the case in sub-Saharan Africa, where the most extreme manifestations of color-based discrimination are physical abuse and extreme forms of targeted violence, including abductions, mutilations, and killings. However, even in countries where there is slight difference in skin color between persons with albinism and the rest of the population, discrimination still exists in very obvious and subtle iterations as they access services or interact with people. These can range from so-called harmless jokes to sarcastic undertones of conversations and derogatory sense of curiosity of their skin tones and physical appearance, to name calling and verbal abuse, as well as social exclusion. For example, one person from the United Kingdom talked about how while walking the street, a young man leaned out of his car window and hurled insults at her about the color of her skin. The same person talked about being left out of conversations and ignored in social settings by people who deemed her appearance weird. Even statements that may upon first hearing appear to be compliments, such as, "You are actually quite good looking," are laced with color-based discrimination. They indicate surprise that a person with albinism can be attractive and are rooted in low expectations or preconceived ideas about what people with albinism are. They are a manifestation of the unconscious bias that automatically associates persons with albinism with negative ideas based on preconditioning. Name calling, which often equates people with albinism to animals and supernatural beings across the globe or something undesirable, also normalizes the othering of persons with albinism. In parts of Africa, such name-calling has contributed to the violence perpetuated against them, as it dehumanizes them. This color-based discrimination against persons with albinism impacts their full enjoyment of rights. As shown in other reports of the mandate, it impacts their right to education, employment, full participation in society, life, and many other rights. Most importantly, this report highlights the impact of this on their full enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of health, particularly mental health. Many have confided in me that the constant unconscious bias, micro and macroaggressions, othering and social exclusion against them have led to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Many have talked about resorting to self-isolation to avoid constant negative looks and verbal abuse. For example, a respondent from West Asia stated, "Suffocating isolation was the only means I resorted to in order to protect myself from further harm and collapse." Others have internalized the negative stereotypes against them and sought to disguise their albinism to avoid negative comments. In situations where there are more forms of extreme manifestations, persons with albinism have described experiencing chronic fear for their life. Persons with albinism are also known to experience a form of racial trauma which is ubiquitous and omnipresent. The psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination is not limited to persons with albinism, but extends to their close family members, particularly parents, who carry the fear and emotional load of keeping their children safe and free from the mental health impact of colour-based discrimination. My report also highlights the root causes and drivers of colour-based discrimination. This includes the continued influence and perpetuation of myths and superstition, the role of the media in perpetuating negative stereotypes of persons with albinism, and the dearth of publicly available information on albinism to dispel myths and disinformation about the condition. In this digital age, where multimedia platforms shape the lives of many persons with of many. Persons with albinism are particularly vulnerable in both their access to these platforms and the depiction and nature of the characterizations in them. In movies, fictional books, and other forms of literary work, persons with albinism are depicted as evil, mysterious, or possessing supernatural powers or traits that bring havoc and instability in society. These negative and mischaracterized portrayals of albinism have expanded to social media, where some content creators include those with albinism-- including those with albinism see albinism as a source of ridicule and laughter, and in some instances, highlight the monetary value of body parts of persons with albinism. As these portrayals deepen, they entrench stigma and discrimination. Concerned by these media portrayals, I recently engaged with the management of TikTok to highlight the consequences of such characterisation and urge them to intervene appropriately and urgently without inhibiting free speech and creativity. While mostly positive and empowering and enable the possibilities to create communities and support, the abuse and misuse of multimedia outlets can equally drive colour-based discrimination against persons with albinism. Madam President, my report recognises that despite the growing concerns about the implications of colour-based discrimination on persons with albinism, there has been some progress made through the adoption of laws, policies and initiatives formulated and implemented by several governments. to tackle such discrimination, including through raising greater awareness. I would like to specifically highlight initiatives taken following my recent visit to Pakistan to bring children with albinism into the youth advisory of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, as well as convening organized by the Federal Ministry of Human Rights to raise awareness on albinism. Specifically, in relation to psychosocial well-being of persons with albinism, I highlight the amazing work of non-governmental organizations in providing a space for discussing and validating shared experiences and feelings, mutual understanding, and a social context of acceptance. In taking on board the recommendations in my report, I encourage States to consult and coordinate with civil society organizations to help maximize the deployment of resources in an effective and impactful manner. As the independent expert, I stand ready to support countries in the implementation of the key recommendations contained in my report. In conclusion, my tenure as independent expert comes to an end in August next year. This will therefore be my last interactive dialogue before the UN General Assembly. I take this opportunity to thank the members of this committee over the years who accompanied me on this journey with the primary goal of improving the human rights situation of persons with albinism globally. But this journey would have been much more daunting without the support, encouragement and solidarity of the albinism movement and the courageous individuals and communities that constitute it. While the work that remains is far from complete, I hope that the report will add to the growing literature on albinism and provide pointers for further research. Thank you all for your attention.

I thank the independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism for her report. I now like I will now open the floor for questions or comments to Miss Miti Drummond. As per past practice, I would ask delegation to limit their comments to three minutes. I now give the floor to a distinguished representative of Portugal to be followed by Namibia, Nigeria, Italy, Cuba. Portugal, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, Portugal thanks the independent expert for her important work and for her latest report on the psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination on persons with albinism. The report is a stark reminder that discrimination against persons with albinism goes beyond its most visible manifestations. Persistent stigma, prejudice, bullying and social exclusion can have profound and cumulative effects on mental health and well-being, while undermining the enjoyment of rights, including education, employment, health and participation in public life. We take note in particular of the experiences shared with the independent expert by persons with albinism in Portugal, who described self-isolation as a way of coping with stigma and rejection. This illustrates how the psychosocial consequences of discrimination can arise across different social and geographical contexts, and why they must be adequately recognized and addressed. Addressing these consequences also requires tackling the root causes. We therefore welcome the report's emphasis on raising awareness and challenging myths and misconceptions about albinism, while ensuring access to appropriate psychosocial and mental health support. Particular attention should also be paid to children and their families, as well as to the role of representative organizations in developing effective responses. Portugal remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at ensuring the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with albinism. Madam Independent Expert, what good practices have you identified that could help States address the cumulative psychosocial impact of discrimination against persons with albinism, including its less visible forms? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. The African group thanks the independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism for her report and for the continued attention given to the challenges faced by persons with albinism, particularly colour-based discrimination, social stigma and its psychosocial impact. The African group recognises and welcomes efforts undertaken at the regional, sub-regional and national levels to protect and promote the rights of persons with albinism. The Southern African Development Community's Declaration on the Protection of Persons with Albinism acknowledges the psychosocial impact of color-based discrimination. At the continental level, the African Union Plan of Action to End Attacks and Other Human Rights Violations Targeting Persons with Albinism in Africa provides an important framework for prevention, protection, accountability, equality, and non-discrimination. Several African countries have also adopted national action plans on albinism. These efforts demonstrate our country's commitment to addressing discrimination, challenging harmful myths and misconceptions, strengthening accountability for attacks and promoting the participation of persons with albinism in public life, including in leadership and decision-making positions. The African group reiterates that attacks and killings targeting persons with albinism are unacceptable and must be addressed through effective prevention, investigation, and prosecution. We recognize that many African countries have taken serious measures to hold perpetrators accountable. These efforts, alongside sustained public education and measures to combat social stigma, are essential to ensuring that existing regional and national frameworks translate into tangible improvements in the lives of persons with albinism. Madam Independent Expert, in light of the measures already undertaken by African countries, we would welcome your views on what additional and practical measures states can take to address social stigma and its underlying structural causes. Furthermore, how can your mandate ensure that its assessments are grounded in verifiable evidence and objective analysis, taking into account national context and measures undertaken by states, while ensuring that conclusions are based on facts rather than individual opinions.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria, to be followed by Italy, Cuba, United Republic of Tanzania.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the independent experts for a comprehensive report and a continued effort to advance the rights and dignity of persons with albinism. My delegation aligns with the statement just delivered on behalf of the African Group and would like to make these few remarks in our national capacity. Persons with albinism continue to face significant and intersecting challenges in many parts of the world. These include health-related concerns, such as increased vulnerability to skin cancer and visual impairment, as well as stigma, discrimination, and in most egregious cases, violent attacks and killings driven by harmful myths and superstitions. These violations have profound consequences for individuals, families, and communities. No person should have to fear for their safety, be denied an education, or face barriers to employment and health care because of albinism. Access to essential services, including affordable sun protection, eye care, and regular skin examinations, is critical to protecting health, promoting inclusion, and safeguarding human dignity. Nigeria recognizes that protecting the rights of persons with albinism requires a comprehensive approach grounded in equality, inclusion, and accountability. Through our National Policy on Albinism and National Action Plan on Albinism, we are working to address discrimination and improve access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Nigeria is also strengthening community engagement and policing to help prevent attacks, addressing harmful misconceptions through public awareness and pursuing the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for criminal acts against persons with albinism. We know that violence against persons with albinism cannot be justified by tradition, belief or cultural practice. Such acts are violations of fundamental human rights and must be addressed through effective prevention, protection and access to justice. Nigeria therefore calls on Member States to strengthen legal and institutional protections, ensure accountability for attacks and improve access to affordable health care and some protection products. International cooperation and partnership with civil society and organization of persons with albinism remain essential to advancing these objectives. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that persons with albinism can live with safety, equality and dignity and that their rights are fully respected and protected. I thank you.

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

Chair, I address you today as one of the Italian youth delegates to the United Nations. Let me begin by thanking the independent expert for her important work and for her report, which sheds light on the psychosocial impact of color-based discrimination against persons with albinism. Italy has supported the mandate of the independent expert since its establishment in 2015 and is committed to advancing the protection of the human rights of persons with albinism, in line with the broader national commitment to ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by all. We believe that the report's recommendations on education and awareness-raising initiatives are essential to challenge harmful stereotypes, misconceptions and prejudices. Beyond national measures, we must also address the social attitudes that continue to fuel stigma and exclusion around the world. As young people, we are particularly concerned about the impact of such discrimination on the mental health and well-being of people with albinism. Civil society has a vital role to play. In Italy, initiatives such as Nero su Bianco and associations such as Albinit raise awareness, share personal experiences, and foster inclusion and dialogue. We need empathy. We need to recognize ourselves in one another, to look beyond appearances and remember that before our differences, we are all human beings, equally deserving of dignity, respect, and belonging. Madam Independent Expert, how can young people challenge deep-rooted prejudices and become agents of change? I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy. I now give the floor to Cuba, to be followed by the United Republic of Tanzania, European Union, China and India. Cuba, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Cuba supports the mandate of the independent expert. We are grateful for the presentation of her report, which we take due note of. We applaud international efforts to avoid the mistreatment, stigmatization, and discrimination against persons with albinism. Activities for education and awareness raising among public opinion should continue to be promoted at the global level. In Cuba, healthcare is free and universal. It is a right enshrined in our constitution. which our State attaches extremely high priority to. Although albinism is not frequent in Cuba, it represents a rate of 1 in 10,000 births, protecting the rights of these persons is important. Organizations in civil society, organizations, projects are important. Abefron, the result of Cuban biotechnology, improves the quality of life of persons with albinism in our country. This medicine that is provided free of charge to all persons with early diagnosis reduces the spread of carcinomas, cellular clusters, and the most frequent cases of skin cancer. Persons with albinism also receive multidisciplinary care that includes genetics, dermatology, ophthalmology, and psychology, support, among others. All of this has been carried out in spite of the enormous limitations posed by the intensified blockade and the energy siege on the health sector in Cuba. At the same time, Cuba will continue to share with other nations its experience and good practices in the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with albinism, including through altruistic Cuban medical cooperation, which, for decades has contributed to the promotion of health and well-being for millions of people in hundreds of nations, in particular in developing countries. We invite the independent expert to focus more on the positive impact of South-South and triangular cooperation on the full enjoyment of the human rights of persons with albinism. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to United Republic of Tanzania.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered by Namibia on behalf of the African Group, and I wish to make the following remarks in my national capacity. We take note of the report of the Independent Expert on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Madam Chair, Tanzania upholds equality and the well-being of persons with albinism in accordance with the country's constitution, a standalone act on persons with disabilities and international obligation under the convention on the right of persons with disabilities. The government has continued to lead public awareness on the right of persons with albinism with the objective to reducing social stigma, creating strong anti-discrimination policies, enhancing physical and digital accessibility, and inclusion in education and employment. In this regard, the National Action Plan on the Rights and Welfare of Persons with Albinism also targets discrimination and social barriers. One of the core pillars of the plan is public awareness with a nationwide campaign to dismantle dangerous myths, regarding persons with albinism. These efforts have contributed to a decline in reported killings of persons with albinism from 41 cases between 2006 and 2016 to 2 cases between 2017 and 2026. The Government remain committed to ensuring that all persons with albinism can live their lives in safety and dignity, free from fear, stigma and discrimination. Tanzania shall continue to take concerted measures to ensure that persons with albinism enjoy their fundamental rights and freedom without discrimination. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania. I now give the floor to the European Union, to be followed by China and India.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Madam Independent Expert, we thank you for today's presentation of your latest report and welcome your focus on the psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination. The EU remains fully committed to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights for all. We are strongly opposed to all forms of discrimination, including colour-based discrimination, and recognise that persons with albinism can face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, stigmatisation and violence that affect their everyday life and mental well-being. We are concerned by your findings on the psychosocial harm this discrimination causes, including chronic fear, anxiety, depression and racial trauma, and we support your call for culturally sensitive psychosocial support, including for parents and caregivers. The EU is also doing its part. The Titu Kulane project in Malawi and the Maisha Yetu project in Tanzania are tangible examples of how the EU has partnered with local governments, civil society and other stakeholders to promote all rights of persons with albinism and to combat discrimination against them, in particular in the areas of health, justice and social economic development. We will continue to support persons with albinism in their fight for a life free of discrimination, stigma and violence, and to dispel the deep-rooted misconceptions and narratives surrounding albinism. Your report calls for culturally sensitive psychosocial support and highlights peer support groups and parent-focused projects as good practices. Based on your consultations and country visits, which psychosocial support models have proven most effective for persons with albinism, and how can international partners, such as the EU, best support their reach? I thank you.

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

Madam Chair. China takes note of the report by the Independent Expert on Color Discrimination against persons with albinism. Persons with albinism are a distinct group, but they are also equal members of society and deserve greater recognition and care. All their rights, including the rights to life, freedom, employment, Participation in public life and personal security should be protected on an equal basis, without discrimination or prejudice. Respecting and safeguarding the rights of persons with albinism is a matter of social fairness and justice. Since 2018, China has included albinism in its catalogue of rare diseases, supported relevant research, and included rare disease medicines in the national reimbursement drug list. to make medical care more accessible to patients. Health authorities and the China Disabled Persons Federation, working with charities, have raised public awareness to dispel misconceptions about albinism and persons with albinism and eliminate social prejudice. Chinese civil law makes clear that abandoning a minor is unlawful and, in serious cases, constitutes the crime of abandonment, for which criminal liability will be pursued by judicial authorities in accordance with the law. China will continue to provide more support for persons with albinism. We also call on all countries to foster a proper perception of the legitimate rights of persons with albinism and step up efforts to protect them, eliminate discrimination and violations against them. genuinely respect and safeguard their human rights and dignity, promote their equal integration into society, and their right to a better life to enhance their well-being. I thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Madam Chair, India takes note of the report of the Independent Expert on the psychosocial impact of colour-based discrimination against persons with albinism. India recognizes that stigma, violence, misinformation undermine the rights of persons to education, health, work, public participation and dignity. Albinism is a rare, genetically inherited and non-contagious condition. It is not a mark of diminished ability. The appropriate response is accurate public awareness, accessible health services, inclusive education, reasonable accommodation, protection from abuse, and avenues for meaningful participation of persons with albinism. This is precisely the approach being adopted by India. Our approach is grounded in equality, dignity, justice, and full participation. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 accounts for the challenges faced by the persons with albinism. In this context, India wishes to make a clarification regarding the reference to my country in the report before us. The reference to India in paragraph 60 is drawn from an earlier report, A/76/166, which cites a 2019 situational analysis by White Paper Research and Analysis Pvt. Ltd, which was undertaken in the state of Bihar in India. India does not discount the experiences described or doubt the veracity of its findings. However, referring to a 2019 study in 2026 does not behoove of an expert analysis, not to mention the limited territory focused in the research. It does not establish a nationally representative finding or indicate a national prevalence rate. To present it as a comprehensive assessment of Indian society or India's current legal and policy position undermines the credibility of mandate holders' expert analysis. India encourages future reference to Member States to follow direct consultation with the concerned State and representative organizations of persons with albinism, supported by transparent methodology and disaggregated data. Local evidence should not be generalized beyond what it can substantiate. India supports the report's recommendations on public awareness, psychosocial support, research, protection from violence, positive media representation, and stronger organizations of persons with albinism. India reiterates that United Nations human rights work is more effective through dialogue, consultation, cooperation, transparency and non-selectivity, with the aim of strengthening national capacities rather than politicizing country situations. We stand ready to engage constructively with the independent expert, member states, civil society and persons with albinism to advance implementation in a manner that is accurate, inclusive and respectful of the national contexts. I thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of India, who was the last speaker on my list. I now give the floor to the independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Ms. Mulukana Miti-Drummond, for her responses and closing remarks.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and thank you to everyone who has engaged with the report and provided their comments and statements today. I am encouraged to see that the contents of the report have been taken seriously. Colour-based discrimination is not just about words, and when we talk about mental health, we are not just talking about sensitive individuals. As the report shows, this is about lives. We have documented over 700 cases of killings and mutilations in the past 10 years based on colour-based discrimination. It is about enjoyment of rights. Colour-based discrimination has led to people not being able to get a good education, not being able to get employment, and not being able to fully participate in society. As the report clearly indicates, it has resulted in suicidal ideations, race-based trauma, which is seen to be equivalent to post-traumatic stress disorders as well. I'm very grateful to hear of the different good practices that have come out in the discussions that have come up today. I'm very grateful to hear about the commitments to continuing to support the mandate and work with the mandate. As you all know, when in developing reports, we always consult Extensively, we put out for call for inputs. We talk with governments. We also talk with albinism groups. And so we're very grateful for those authorities that have contributed their call for inputs. And I hope that we'll continue to get responses from authorities around call for inputs. The issue of disaggregated data was raised. And I'm glad that that has come from the states and not from me, because I always raise issues of disaggregated data. Persons with albinism continue to be invisible in national policies and statistics, and this invisibility leads to human rights violations. You cannot count if you are not counted, and it is important that persons with albinism are included in census and all statistical data collection. essential that the states take this seriously and that it is seen as a responsibility and duty of the states to ensure that persons with albinism are included in disaggregated data. I can do my part, but I cannot carry out disaggregated data collection in the states. So I'm very glad to hear that this has been raised as something of concern. In relation to good practices, I have been questioned about good practices. Definitely, support to albinism groups is essential. Albinism groups provide support to other individuals. They provide support to family members. And there have been examples such as the Mothering and Albinism Program that provides support to mothers and parents of children with albinism who then ensure that children with albinism are able to be more resilient and are able to progress in society. and so I would like to encourage States to work closely with albinism organizations and most of these organizations are doing this work completely independently without much funding, voluntarily during their spare time whilst carrying out other work. I would therefore encourage governments to provide support to these groups so that they can continue to do the work that they're doing. Other good practices, I have seen human rights commissions, I have seen employment bodies looking at colour-based discrimination. There are cases where colour-based discrimination has been raised, however, it has not been in the context of albinism, so I would recommend that this also be extended to issues of persons with albinism. Online speech is also very critical and a big concern. Sometimes people think it is a joke, but in many cases it perpetuates stigma and discrimination against persons with albinism, dehumanises them and can contribute to violence. I recommend that Governments and other institutions look at how we can tackle online speech while also respecting human rights and freedom of speech, but ensuring that it does not lead to violence and discrimination against individuals. Finally, I'd also like to just emphasize, as I've said, this is my final interactive dialogue, but the mandate is to continue. And I hope that I encourage everyone to continue to cooperate with my successor, whoever that may be. And in conclusion, I just want to remind us of the words of the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which talks about, which states that the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world. And it is essential that persons with albinism continue to be recognized as members of the human family. Thank you so much.

I thank the independent expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, and thank you for your kind reminder. With this, we conclude the interactive dialogue segment for the morning session. The Committee will continue its consideration of agenda item 70, promotion and protection of human rights and its sub-items A to D, 00 p.m. promptly, to hear statements by special procedures mandate holders, chairs of treaty bodies and other experts, and engage with them in interactive dialogues. I wish to remind delegations that the deadline for the submission of draft proposals under agenda item 70 and its sub-items is 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 3rd November. Information on the work of the Committee, including the schedule of meetings, the latest program of work, and the documentation under each agenda item is available on iGov. The meeting is adjourned.