23rd Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council

Dear colleagues, we will now continue with the list of speakers from the observer countries. I will now give the floor to Finland, please.

President, Finland aligns itself with the EU statement and highlights global situations needing this Council's attention. Russia is systematically repressing freedoms, confining political prisoners into psychiatric institutions, and expanding surveillance. We urge Russia to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur and release all political prisoners. Ukraine faces grave human rights violations due to Russia's war of aggression, including torture, sexual violence, and forced deportations, including children. Russia must end its unlawful invasion and comply with international law. The war and the unbearable civilian suffering in Gaza must end. A permanent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza are needed immediately, along with the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Afghanistan institutionalizes gender oppression, for example, by removing women from the justice system and dismantling child protections. We call on the de facto authorities to uphold international obligations. In Sudan, we urge all parties to ensure safe humanitarian access and support the independent fact-finding mission's efforts to promote accountability and peace. We call on China to cooperate in implementing the OHCHR's and treaty bodies' recommendations. The restrictions on civic space in Hong Kong and the situation of ethnic and religious communities, including in Xinjiang and Tibet, continues to be a concern. Finland urges all states to fully cooperate with UN human rights mechanisms and reaffirms its own commitment, including our standing invitation to special procedures. Thank you.

I thank you. The Russian Federation.

Thank you, Vice-President. A sign of today's Ukraine is aggressive nationalism. At the state level, we are seeing the glorification of Nazism and the whitewashing of Nazi crimes. And this in relation to the Nuremberg Tribunal's rulings, we are seeing memorials and tablets being restored, and we are seeing the killing of thousands of civilians, which is being ignored or presented as a fight for freedom, including the killing of Russians, Ukrainians, and others. and we are seeing radical national groups that organize torch marches. The radical national Ukrainians who died in the Second World War are being glorified and there is a growth of anti-Semitism within society. Around 1/3 of the population holds anti-Semitic views. We are also seeing misanthropic propaganda against ethnic Russians. We are seeing the indoctrination of minors. Children from an early age are taught to hate Russia and to laud the Nazi collaborators of Ukraine. We are also seeing how international human rights mechanisms are failing to condemn this, and we call on this to change. Thank you.

Thank you. Ireland, please.

President, Ireland aligns with the EU statement, but we've already highlighted our concern, our concerns in relation to situations in Belarus, DPRK and Venezuela in the respective dialogues. Vice President, Ireland is gravely concerned by the reported violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law as part of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which contributes to an overall worsening of the human rights situation. Ireland calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The horrifying man-made famine cannot be allowed to continue. Israel must comply with international humanitarian law and allow unimpeded access to increased humanitarian aid. We also strongly condemn the ongoing violations of international law, including international human rights law in the wider occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland calls for accountability for violations and abuses of human rights in Afghanistan. We condemn the abhorrent systematic repression of the rights of women and girls. the relentless silencing of dissent and the victimization of marginalized communities. Ireland reiterates its concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief in China. We remain particularly concerned by the treatment of Tibetans and the repression of Uyghur people in Xinjiang. We also call for the right to freedom of assembly and association to be respected in Hong Kong. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. Azerbaijan. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Landmine and explosive remnants of war contamination is one of the significant challenges faced by Azerbaijan as a result of nearly three decades of military occupation of its territories. More than 1 million landmines and unknown number of ERWs continue to pose severe risks to civilians, hinder reconstruction and rehabilitation works, and return of former IDPs. The end of war in 2020 marked the beginning of an extensive humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan. Foreign assistance has accounted for less than 5% of the resources dedicated to demining, which is notably low given the scale and gravity of the problem. We call on the international community to step up its support to humanitarian mine action in Azerbaijan in a number of priority areas, such as direct financial support for demining efforts, mine victim assistance, including psychological support for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, and explosive ordnance risk education. The need to clarify the fate and whereabouts of close to 4,000 disappeared and missing Azerbaijani citizens also remains a pressing humanitarian issue. Azerbaijan continues to take all possible measures to bring clarity to the fate of the missing persons. Sharing information on the location of mass graves and mines planted in the formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan would significantly facilitate the search for the missing persons. We call on the relevant human rights mechanisms to pay close attention to these issues. Thank you. Thank you. Sierra Leone. Mr. President, we align with the statement of the African Group, and we hold the Charter of the United Nations lays down the principles of sovereignty, independence, universality, and impartiality. These principles are not simply aspirations. They are binding commitments that shape the responsibilities of the international community and guarantee peace. Guided by these principles, states must continue to realize human rights, paying equal attention to economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the rights to development. We believe that human rights are promoted and protected only through dialogue, cooperation, mutual respect, and adherence to the rule of law, including international law. Every state and people, therefore, must have the freedom to enjoy their sovereign rights to choose their own path to development. and to decide without interference in the political, social, and economic systems. CGLU will continue to promote and support regional and international cohesion grounded in dialogue, cooperation, mutual respect, and respect for the rule of law and constitutional governance. We remind all states and regional bodies of all of our collective responsibility to uphold these principles and reverse the course of the current global order. Mr. President, We recognize with serious concern that human rights challenges persist across the world, yet in addressing them, it is essential that the international community stand firm on the principles of multilateralism and cooperation. Only by upholding these principles can we truly promote and protect human rights of all people. Thank you. Thank you. Austria, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Austria aligns with the EU statement. We firmly reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia's illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, including the ongoing Russian attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and call upon Russia to immediately, fully, and unconditionally cease its aggression and withdraw from Ukraine's entire territory. Austria continues to be deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in the Middle East. We call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages as essential steps toward a lasting end to hostilities and a Gaza without Hamas. We are alarmed by the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, the widespread levels of starvation, and acts of terrorism. We call on Israel to fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. This includes ensuring immediate, unimpeded, and sustained access to humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza and the discontinuation of illegal settlement activities in the West Bank. Austria is alarmed by escalating atrocities in Sudan, where clashes between SAF and RSF devastate civilians with mass displacement, starvation, and reports of sexual violence. In eastern DRC, M23 and other armed groups commit grave abuses, including massacres, forced displacement, and recruitment of children. We call for the protection of civilians, sustained humanitarian access, and accountability for these violations. I thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. United Kingdom. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Taliban continues their assault on the rights of the Afghan people. Women and girls are barred from education and most employment and face severe restrictions on nearly all aspects of their lives. Religious minorities are persecuted, journalists and activists face intimidation, and arbitrary detention, torture, and public executions continue. We urge the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans. In Iran, the arrest of over 20,000 people since the 12-day war in June is of serious concern. Many of these arrests are a means to scapegoat and target already marginalized groups, including members of the Baluchi and Kurdish ethnic minorities and Bahai, Christian, and Jewish religious minorities. The continued use of the death penalty as a political tool is appalling, and we reiterate that we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. In China, we remain deeply concerned about religious and cultural restrictions in Tibet, unjust detention of activists like Sophia Huang, and widespread censorship and surveillance. China must honor its human rights commitments and restore fundamental freedoms. In Hong Kong, we take reports about Jimmy Lai's health conditions very seriously. We continue to press for an independent assessment. Jimmy Lai's prosecution is politically motivated. He should be released. Thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. Canada. Mr. Vice President, in Gaza, the loss of civilian life, destruction of civilian infrastructure, widespread displacement, and famine is intolerable. We reiterate that all parties must uphold international law. Investigations into all reported violations must be prompt and transparent, and perpetrators held accountable. Canada condemns Hamas' terrorist attacks and is deeply concerned about the conditions of the hostages in Gaza. We call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and an increase in UN-led humanitarian assistance to Gaza. As part of a coordinated international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, Canada recognizes the state of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the state of Palestine and the state of Israel. In Syria, the humanitarian crisis is dire and sectarian violence ongoing. The human rights of all Syrian people must be respected. Canada urges an inclusive political transition that prioritizes human rights, accountability, and justice. The sharp rise in Iran's use of the death penalty, including to silence dissent and target minorities, must end. Finally, Canada is deeply disturbed by transnational repression by China, the DPRK, Russia, Belarus, Iran, and others. All forms of coercion, including international bounties, undermines sovereignty, security, and human rights. Canada condemns all such tactics. Thank you. Thank you. Ambassador Belarus, please. Thank you, Vice President. consideration of agenda item 4 of the HRC reflects an acute crisis affecting the principle of the sovereign equality of states enshrined in the UN Charter. Instead of constructive intergovernmental dialogue, we are seeing discussions and decisions being pushed through in a selective and biased way against states who do not agree with the West's attempt to keep its dominating position in international politics. In EU statements, we are hearing lots of biased statements against Belarus, Russia, China, Iran and others who have been branded offenders for EU geopolitical purposes. Yet the Western club does not have a critical view of its own problems, despite the very high level of xenophobia and racism which is encouraged at the political level. We are deeply concerned that the Office of the High Commissioner is not countering such an imbalance, and in its reports, it encourages restrictions on humanitarian aid and investments for developing countries, which in essence boil down to unilateral coercive measures which undermine the exercise of all human rights, especially economic, social rights, and the right to development. Thank you. Thank you. Ukraine. Mr. President, with deep regret, we acknowledge that recent report by UN Special Procedures on Human Rights Situations regarding the Council's special attention show no evidence in progress to the countries concerned. When civil and political rights are violated within a state, the likelihood of international law being disregarded only increases. Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine stems from years of systematic suppression of fundamental freedoms, silencing of civil society and media voices, and the promotion of state propaganda and disinformation, actually, as we have heard just now. This oppression extends far beyond Russia's own citizens. The world continues to witness Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians subjected to torture and inhuman treatment in Russian detention. Ukrainian children are being forcibly deported, indoctrinated, and placed within with Russian families. This week's discussion have also confirmed a stark reality. Governments that commit violence against their own people and disregard human rights are more likely to enable or support aggression against others. Belarus provides a clear example, serving as a launchpad for Russia's deadly attacks that extend far beyond Ukraine and threaten the security of other peaceful European nations. Together, we must uphold and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person everywhere. I thank you. Thank you. Slovenia, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Slovenia has raised its concerns over the human rights situations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Myanmar, Afghanistan, DRC, Sudan, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, DPRK, and Central African Republic. Additionally, Slovenia reiterates its urgent call on Russia and Belarus to ensure immediately the safe return of all Ukrainian children forcibly transferred by Russia within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or unlawfully deported to Russia and Belarus. Slovenia is alarmed by the situation of journalists and media workers in Gaza who are exposing grave atrocities and ensuring the world bears witness to the truth. We strongly condemn targeted killings of Palestinian journalists, humanitarian and medical workers. This must stop. All attacks against them must be investigated and those responsible held accountable. Finally, Slovenia urgently calls for an immediate end to violence across Syria and calls for independent investigations to ensure accountability in line with international norms and standards. We urgently call for full, regular, and unrestricted access for all aid organizations, including international, to help those in need. We also urge all external actors to refrain from any actions that could undermine the Syrian transition. I thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. Australia. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Iran and Afghanistan display contempt for human rights through the persecution of women and girls, detention of activists, and oppression of minorities. We have seen no progress since the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights determined in 2014 that the DPRK committed systematic and widespread human rights violations amounting to crimes against humanity. We remain concerned about reports of increasing human rights violations in Myanmar, including airstrikes targeting political activists. Israel's illegal settlements severely impact the human rights of Palestinians and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable. We again call on all parties to comply with international law. Australia remains deeply concerned by ongoing violence against innocent civilians in Syria. We urge all parties to prioritise dialogue and to protect all Syrians. We remain gravely concerned by ongoing human rights violations against Uyghurs and Tibetans. Consistent with international law and norms, governments should not interfere in the selection of religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama. We remain deeply concerned by the consequences of the national security law in Hong Kong on rights and freedoms, including to target democracy advocates extraterritorially. I thank you. Thank you. Ambassador, Estonia, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Estonia aligns with the EU statement. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues in full force and has turned more deadly with daily attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Russia continues actions of forcible abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children, systematically erasing their cultural identity and subjecting them to indoctrination, constitute flagrant violation of international law and amount to crimes against humanity. Estonia also reiterates its resolute condemnation of human rights violations committed in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In addition to Ukraine, Russia is dangerously escalating in the wider region. The recent violations of Estonian, but also Polish and Romanian airspace are the examples of Russia's complete disregard of international norms and fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter. Within Russia, dissent is silenced through arbitrary detention, torture, and politically motivated persecutions. These actions constitute a clear violation of Russia's international human rights obligations. In Palestine, and especially in Gaza, the ongoing hostilities and the restriction of life-saving humanitarian aid continue to cause famine, disease, and death. Israel has an obligation to respect international law. War will not bring lasting peace. We call for a return to negotiations to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza. I thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. Armenia, please. Mr. Vice President, the agreement on the establishment of peace and interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, initialed in Washington in August this year, establishes a new framework of peace and stability in our region, achieved through Armenia's sustained diplomatic efforts and proactive engagement. It reflects our enduring commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue, mutual respect, and in line with norms principles of international law. At the same time, a number of important humanitarian issues remain outstanding. We are hopeful that the determination of the parties to strengthen peace in the region will contribute to their resolution. Resolving humanitarian issues, including the release of prisoners of war and other detainees, as well as the cases of missing persons and enforced disappearances, will be essential for paving the way towards reconciliation. Progress in these areas will further reinforce peace, foster trust, and contribute to lasting stability in the region. I thank you. Thank you. Eritrea. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. This Council was founded with a clear mandate, and it should not be manipulated to serve narrow geopolitical interests or used as a pretext for unjustified interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states. We wonder what reaction would follow if similar country-specific mandates were directed at those who currently lead them, countries whose restrictions on freedom of expression are widely known and visible these days. The notion that the instigators of these mandates are the champions of human rights and some of our countries continuously portrayed as violators of the worst crimes is absurd, and we believe that this practice must be put to an end. We reiterate our consistent call for this Council to uphold its mandate of promoting universal respect for all human rights in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. This politization has neither contributed nor will it contribute to the advancement of human rights. Instead, it will continue to create division and polarization, which we hope to overcome in the near future. I thank you. I thank you. Pakistan. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. While reaffirming our commitment to the universality, interrelatedness, and indivisibility of all human rights, we remain concerned at the selectivity that overshadows the work of the Council. A balanced and impartial approach to all human rights remains the cornerstone to advance the work of the Council in an effective manner. The continued proliferation and extension of country-specific mandates focused primarily on countries from the developing world raises questions about the constructive spirit needed to build bridges and reduce polarization, especially at a time of such liquidity crisis. People living under foreign occupation continue to face some of the worst human rights violations. Their plight and sufferings must not be ignored. Political experience and selectivity are counterproductive. We reiterate that the continued denial of all human rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to self-determination, has resulted in the current heinous situation. Mr. Vice President, the Council must also pay more attention to the situation in the IIJ and K, as the continued gross violations and denial of the Kashmiris' rights, including right to self-determination, carry broader risks for the region. I thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thank you. Venezuela, please. Thank you very much, Chair. Once again, we would like to address this Council to express our rejection of interference in human rights with political ends. We have heard from a number of Western countries trying to call on human rights at the same time as they support or supported Israel with weapons and funding to bombard the Palestinian people before deploying their diplomatic denial of genocide. Various of these countries have recently recognized their recognition for the Palestinian state. This recognition should not, nonetheless, provide a justification creating a fig leaf for their responsibility before, during, or after genocide. They also should provide accountability. In the same way, it is the Western countries who are imposing unilateral coercive measures, violating human rights and international law. These illegal measures should be lifted, the same as the genocidal economic blockade against Cuba. Chair. Today, Venezuela, along with its region, are confronting unprecedented threats following military deployment of land, sea, and air forces by the U.S. in the Caribbean. These actions are threatening international peace and security, and they must be condemned by the international community with the aim of preserving Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace free of nuclear weapons. Finally, we reiterate our support for the principle of one single China. Thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. Democratic People's Republic of Korea, please. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Targeting of certain countries for political purposes has become rampant, and some use this Council to pursue the political purposes while silencing their grave violations to undermine the Council's credibility. We draw the Council's attention to ongoing human rights abuses in the United States and many countries, Western countries like Lithuania, Norway, Ireland, Canada, Slovenia, Australia, violence, discrimination, mass incarceration, torture, exploitation, yet arrogantly claim to uphold human rights, thereby making a mockery of the very principles they profess to defend. Japan refuses to apologize or compensate for the abduction of millions of Koreans and military sexual slavery, while discharging the nuclear-contaminated water and perpetrating discrimination against Koreans residing in Japan. systematically violates human rights using the national security law to silence dissent, abducting DPRK citizens abroad, and ignoring international call for reform, creating widespread social suffering and alarmingly high rates of suicide. We urge the Council to investigate these crimes and ensure accountability. Ignoring them while selectively targeting sovereign states like China on Xinjiang, Hong Kong matter, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Belarus, Iran, Eritrea, and Nicaragua constitutes an intolerable double standards. The DPRK will continue safeguarding the rights and well-being of its people against hostile violations. I thank you. Thank you, Ambassador. Afghanistan. Mr. Vice President. In Afghanistan, fundamental rights are being stripped away, and dismantled on every front. Women and girls are excluded from schools and workplaces, silenced in public life, while human rights defenders and journalists face detention and intimidation. Executions, corporal punishment, hunger, and mass displacement leave millions without dignity or security. These abuses show that every category of rights is under attack. The Council's role is, therefore, critical. Afghanistan is not only a human rights emergency, but a test of this body's credibility on protecting human, women and girls, safeguarding children in conflict and confronting impunity. In this context, we welcome the European Union's draft resolution to establish an independent international accountability mechanism for Afghanistan. Such a mechanism can provide justice for victims, deter future violations, and demonstrate that this Council stands with the people of Afghanistan, rather than those who seek to arrest them. We must signal to victims that the international community has not forgotten them. Mr. Vice President, Afghanistan is a test case for this Council. If the Human Rights Council cannot stand firm in the face of gender apartheid, systemic repression, mass atrocities, then its promise to protect the most vulnerable rings hollow. We urge all member states to remain engaged, and we hope that the establishment of a robust mechanism could be reached via consensus among all member states of this Council. I thank you. Thank you, sir. You certainly have the voice, but please observe the time. Jordan, please. Mr. President, this agenda item is grounded in the centrality of human rights and the importance of ensuring that relevant discussions uphold their implementation at all times and situations. We thank the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria for its ongoing efforts. We affirm the following: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan firmly and unequivocally stands with the Syrian Arab Republic in the reconstruction efforts. and to safeguard Syria's security, unity, and stability, and safety of all its citizens. We reaffirm its sovereignty over its territory and the inadmissibility of any aggression or violation thereof. We therefore reiterate our condemnation of the Israeli attacks on the Syrian territory, particularly the south, and reject any action that undermines Syria's security and destabilizes the region. Syria's unity and stability are fundamental for the regional peace and security. The roadmap to address the crisis in agreed upon in a Syrian-Jordanian-American meeting outlines practical confidence-building steps that seek to restore trust and ensure security in southern Syria. The safety, rights, and dignity of the Syrian people remain a priority. At the forefront of these efforts stands the International Commission of Inquiry, whose mandate, established by U.S. team council, reflects our collective commitment to ensuring that human rights remain at the heart of all efforts to restore security in Syria and the region. Thank you. Denmark. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We align with the EU statement. We thank the High Commissioner and reiterate our full support to the OHCHR. We strongly condemn the atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine in the context of Russia's illegal war of aggression and the unabated severe human rights restrictions in Russia and Belarus. We are deeply concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. We need a ceasefire, release of all hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access. We condemn the illegal settlements and increasing settler violence in the West Bank. We remain deeply worried about the human rights situation in eastern DRC. We reiterate our serious concern over the human rights situation in China, in particular in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. In Afghanistan, we strongly condemn the Taliban's severe restrictions on women and girls that silence and exclude them from public life. The escalating conflict in Myanmar causes grave civilian harm, including killings, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced recruitment. The situation in DPRK, including the persistence of gross and systematic human rights violations, continues to cause grave concern. We remain deeply concerned by the dire human rights situation in Iran and call on Iran to put an end to all human rights violations. Finally, and as a follow-up to Bahrain's decision lately to pardon a number of prisoners, we reiterate the call for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons in Bahrain, including Mr. Al-Khawaja, without further delay. Thank you. Thank you. India, please. India reaffirms that the Council must remain universal, objective, and nonselective in its approach. Our collective efforts should foster unity and constructive engagement, not division. We are concerned by the continued proliferation of country-specific mandates. Far from advancing the Council's core mandate, they reinforce perceptions of bias and selectivity. Focusing narrowly on the human rights situation in a few countries distracts us from the urgent and shared challenges the world faces. We firmly believe that lasting progress can only be achieved through dialogue, cooperation, and capacity building, always with the consent of the state concerned. At a time when the world is struggling with multiple crises, the Council's work should be channelized into forging consensus through a non-politicized and forward-looking approach. Mr. Vice President, A delegation that epitomizes the antithesis of this approach continues to abuse this forum with baseless and provocative statements against India. Instead of coveting our territory, they would do well to vacate the Indian territory under the illegal occupation and focus on rescuing an economy on life support, a polity muzzled by military dominance. and a human rights record stained by persecution, perhaps once they find time away from exporting terrorism, harboring UN-prescribed terrorists, and bombing their own people. I thank you. I thank you, Central African Republic. Central African Republic. Thank you, Vice President. The Central African Republic would like to reaffirm its commitment to a single China, bearing in mind that we feel Hong Kong and others are integral part of China. These are matters that relate to national sovereignty and should not be the subject of external interference. We object to attempts to politicize the debates of the Human Rights Council through unilateral accusations that often have nothing to do with local realities. Such an approach undermines efforts at dialogue and cooperation, which we ought collectively to encourage. We commend China's efforts to protect fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion, and its will to ensure social stability and inter-ethnic cohesion in the Xinjiang and other regions. We commend the one country, two systems in Hong Kong initiative and believe that the national security law has helped strengthen an environment for human rights. We commend China's active participation within the UPR and its cooperation with the Council's mechanisms. We recognize the importance of a human rights approach that is based on national realities in respect of multilateralism and dialogue. Thank you. I thank you. That was our last speaker for the list of the observers, and we will now go to the move to the list of national human rights institutions and nongovernmental organizations. The first, I will give the floor to the Global Alliance, the representative of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. Please. Thank you. In 1945, world leaders pledged to protect future generations from war by working together in line with international law and universal human rights. Yet as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, we face global conflict and the erosion of these very norms in a climate of impunity. The High Commissioner in his opening reminded us that international law protects us all and that human rights mechanisms, including this Council, serve as shields against unrestrained powers. We must heed their warnings. When states commit crimes under international law, it is important that others step in through the principle of universal jurisdiction exercised in accordance with international law. The situation in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels of violence and suffering, including famine. This Council has received alarming reports of mass killings of civilians, obstruction of lifesaving aid, war crimes, and attacks on journalists, UN experts, and NGO workers. At national level, the Independent Commission for Human Rights of Palestine continues to carry out its human rights work despite extraordinary challenges and at great personal risk. In January, Director Rafat Saleh and his family were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Others have lost relatives. We stand in solidarity with the Independent Commission on Human Rights of Palestine and renew our calls on all parties to ensure their protection. As NHRI's working in cooperation with the UN for the respect of international law, we call on all states to ensure respect for international humanitarian and human rights law and the protection of civilians. end the war against wars and guarantee that life-saving assistance reaches the people of Gaza without obstruction or delay. Anything less makes us complicit in these grave violations. Thank you. Thank you. A reminder, the time is one minute, 30 seconds. So now we have a video message from Physicians for Human Rights. Mr. President, Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa express our grave concern regarding ongoing violence in Ethiopia and continued impunity for conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence. New research by PHR and OJA drawing on hundreds of medical records and interviews with healthcare workers shows that combatants in Ethiopia perpetrated widespread and systematic and deliberate acts of conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence, including rape, forced pregnancy, and forced witnessing of sexual violence. These crimes demand accountability. Perpetrators, specifically the Ethiopian and Eritrean militaries, raped women and held them captive until giving birth. engaged in multiple perpetrator rape by an average of three perpetrators at a time, and inserted foreign objects into survivors' vaginas, including stones, nails, and letters, targeting Tigrayan women. Our research shows that ongoing impunity for years of conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence in Tigray has contributed to conflict-related sexual violence spreading to other regions of the country, including Afar and Amhara. When perpetrators face no consequences, violence is normalized, survivors are silenced, and peace remains fragile. The Human Rights Council must do more to ensure credible human rights monitoring and independent documentation of crimes in Ethiopia. Thank you. Okay, now we have another video message from Humanists International. Thank you, Mr. President. I make this statement on behalf of Humanist Malaysia and Humanist International to urge Malaysia to fully embrace the holistic and accepted understanding of the right to freedom of religion or belief. It is long established that this right, enshrined in Article 18 of the ICCPR, includes the right to choose one's religion or belief, or to have no religion or belief. With Malaysia's continued resistance in ratifying the ICCPR, we see a chasm between its constitutional aspirations and international consensus. This gap perpetuates the marginalization of non-believers, apostates, and religious minorities, including humanists and atheists who face criminalization under laws that equate doubt with deviance. Article 11 of the Malaysian Constitution proclaims the right of everyone to profess and practice their religion, yet restrictions in law undermine this, especially those against apostasy and which target the non-religious. In contravention of international instruments like the Vienna and Durban Declarations, Malaysia fails to adequately protect diversity, counter hatred, and uphold the universality of human rights. We remind Malaysia of these international commitments and implore its leaders to ratify the ICCPR without reservations that dilute its essence, harmonize Article 11 with international standards by decriminalizing apostasy and protecting non-believers, and explicitly recognize the right to freedom of religion or belief as a universal right for all, believers and non-believers alike. Thank you. Okay, another video message from Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity to present the grave situation faced by the 7 million Tibetans inside Tibet. Let us be precise. The human rights violations inflicted by the People's Republic of China on the Tibetan people are not a stagnant status quo awaiting progress. They are increasingly severe and systematic, designed to erase Tibet's civilization. This comprehensive assault on rights guaranteed by international law mandates a firm and transparent commitment by the OHCHR, the HRC, and member states to activate concrete action. Chinese authorities' disappearances, torture, obliteration of language rights, forced separation of families, interference in Tibetan Buddhism, including the Dalai Lama's succession, as recently raised by five UN experts, and surveillance of the Tibetan people are irrefutable. Each are a human rights violation. Combined, they instill pervasive fear that prevents self-determination, freedom of assembly, and religious expression. Additionally, so-called development projects like massive hydropower construction lack free, informed, and prior consent, drive displacement of communities, and lead to the destruction of religious sites. It is encouraging that China's human rights violations are being raised. This is not enough. The PRC's accelerating violations must be met by equally clear definitions for what and how the UN will hold it accountable. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Alliance Defending Freedom. The heinous murder of Charlie Kirk in the United States was not only an abhorrent act of political violence, but also a chilling warning of the free speech crisis our world is sliding into. Free societies rest on the principle that ideas, even controversial ones, must be challenged with reason and debate, not censorship or violence. But when common sense views are branded hateful and met with retribution instead of disagreement, freedom is replaced with coercion. And as we've seen, a culture that tolerates and even glorifies silencing dissent ends up justifying the unjustifiable. Mr. Vice President, the space for free speech is shrinking globally. Laws allegedly enacted to combat hate or maintain public order are often weaponized against peaceful expression. In Finland, parliamentarian Paivi Raasainen is entering her seventh year of criminal prosecution for hate speech simply for quoting a Bible verse in a social media post. In Nigeria, musician Yahaya Sharif Aminu remains imprisoned under the threat of execution for sharing song lyrics deemed blasphemous. In Brazil, activist Isabella Sepa was forced into exile and granted refugee status after being persecuted for using biologically and factually accurate language about a local politician. At the same time, new regimes such as the EU Digital Services Act require online platforms all over the world to police, censor, and suppress lawful speech, including outside of Europe. Mr. Vice President, the time has come for a turning point in defense of free speech. ADF International urges all states to ensure that every person can peacefully express their convictions without fear of censorship, punishment, or retaliation. Thank you. Now, you're the representative of the public institution Human Rights Protection. Please. Thank you, distinguished participants of the meeting. I am the bishop of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, and on behalf of our faithful, I would like to tell you that we are deeply concerned by the position of the Moldovan authorities regarding our denomination. Recently, the president of Moldova, without any reason, called our church an instrument of influence of the Russian Federation. Moreover, our faithful are often undergo lengthy searches at border crossings, and they are prevented from leaving our country, and this violates their freedom of movement. I myself was three times denied authorization to leave Moldova. In Moldova, there are cases of violent attempts to transfer our parishes to other religious jurisdictions. There are judicial proceedings ongoing to confiscate more than 800 monasteries and temple buildings. from our church. I would like to remind the Moldovan authorities that religious organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church are openly operating and that no one restricts the rights of believers for the organizational canonical ties with the Russian Church, I would like to call on the UN mandate holders to consider the situation of the faithful of the Orthodox Church of Moldova in the context of the complaint we submitted to the UN special procedures and also to ensure international diplomatic attention is played in order to change Moldova's policy vis-a-vis our church in accordance with international human rights standards. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Sheikh Tahir Azawi Charity Organization. Thank you, Vice President. Recurring conflicts since the Second World War have laid around 20 million anti-personnel mines, claiming thousands of innocent lives in Libya and polluting around or contaminating around 40% of the Libyan territory. This is a gross violation of human rights, and it also violates security. This danger is still there, and it cost the life of Ahmed Vanuatu on the 24th of November 2024. This was the latest victim. He was a father. Mines are not a legacy from the past. They are an open wound, and it is essential to recall that we need maps for mine clearance because that is the main obstacle. It's as though we were trying to chart a path through the dark. And this is a legal and moral obligation imposed on us by international agreements. So that is why we call on the United Nations and the international community to bring pressure to bear on all relevant stakeholders so that we can have the maps about the contaminated areas. Thank you. Hold on, hold on, please. Let me introduce you. Now I'll give the floor to the Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges. Please, madam. Ladies and gentlemen, currently, global poverty and human rights in rural areas cannot be ignored. The problems, scarce educational resources, poor medical conditions, and scarce employment opportunities have long existed. At the end of 2020, China completely eliminated absolute poverty and achieved the goal of 2030 agenda, 10 years of schedule. China's poverty reduction population accounted more than 70 percent of the global poverty reduction poverty Beijing actively carried out poverty alleviation support, helping 73 counties in Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia. Two million poor people emerged from poverty. In Lhasa, Xinjiang, we helped promote the drinking water safety project. In Hotan, Xinjiang, we helped Beijing Pinggu peach and Daxin watermelon bloom and bear fruit on the Gobi Desert. high level medical assistance has been provided for treatment of children with heart disease. Our organization is one of the Chinese initiators for NGO network of poverty reduction cooperation. We hope all countries can increase exchange of opinion, work together to jointly promote international NGO cooperation for poverty reduction and progress of human rights in poverty-stricken areas in the world. Thank you. Thank you. Now we invite the representative of the Christian Solidarity International to have a joint statement. They're absent. They're absent. They're absent. They're absent. They are absent. Sorry. Now I invite the representative of the Conscience and Peace Tax International. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. In August, Sina Kocieri Dogan, was ordered to report to serve his five-month imprisonment service for refusing military service on grounds of conscientious objection, the first such sentence to be implemented in a decade in Turkey. Was it any coincidence that in May, Turkey had come through the Universal Periodic Review without a single recommendation on the subject of conscientious objection to military service? By avoiding imprisonment, Turkey had tried to pretend that its non-recognition of conscientious objection was no longer an issue. Not so. At least 150 declared conscientious objectors are currently in the situation which the European Court has called "civil death", without access to higher education or employment with social security benefits. and condemned to a semi-clandestine life, because any occasion in which they need to show ID, and random checks are common, will automatically lead to a fresh prosecution for their refusal of military service. Contrary to the principle ne bis in idem, there is no limit to the number of cases which can be opened against an individual or the number of punishments, including imprisonment. We call on the international community to keep pressure on for Turkey to recognize the right of conscientious objection and to cease this uniquely barbaric, lifelong punishment of conscientious objectors. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of International Committee for the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. On October 7, 2021, this body approved of Resolution 48/7, the negative legacy of colonialism. In order to give deeper meaning and action to that resolution and to begin the decline of the negative legacy of colonialism, indigenous nations who have international treaties, agreements, or constructive arrangements with colonizing governments. must be listed with the UN Decolonization Committee. I am the spokesperson for an ancient indigenous nation located in the middle of North America in the United States. We have an international treaty with the United States which set aside a specific territory for our undisturbed use and occupation. However, the United States occupies and dominates our entire treaty territory without our consent. We need the opportunity for decolonization as our ancient nation is rapidly disappearing. Now is the time to recognize the ancient indigenous nations with whom colonizing governments gained their identity. Now is the time to free indigenous nations from the colonizing dominance of colonizing governments. We want to thank Incomendios for having the courage to sponsor us under agenda item four, as indigenous nations are not allowed to speak under this agenda item. My name is Charmaine Whiteface. I am the spokesperson of the 1894 Sioux Nation Treaty Council. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Coup de Pouce, Chaine de l'Espoir Nord-Sud. He's absent. Thank you. Then we have a video message from Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l'amitie entre les peuples. Mr. President, the bloody events in southern Syria last July remind us that human rights situation in that country remains a source of deep concern. The massacres committed against the Druze minority, following those committed against the Alawite minority, and the lack of substantial progress in negotiations with the Kurdish minority make it regrettable that it was not possible to include in resolution 58/25 any explicit reference to the protection of minorities in Syria. Beyond the promising declarations of intent by the transitional government, The actions taken to date in terms of politics and institutional reform have not lived up to the expectations of the Syrian people as a whole and do not seem to provide adequate responses to the protection and promotion of Syrians' rights, while allowing continuing territorial occupation and foreign interference. The construction of a unified and peaceful Syria requires the establishment of truly inclusive transitional political structures and an inclusive and transparent transitional justice process that can address all crimes committed in the past on Syrian territory. I thank you for your attention. Okay, now I invite representative of the Frontline, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. Thank you, Vice-President. I am Paola Constante from the Guaicui Institute, which acts in defence of the rights of persons affected by dams and environmental disasters or crimes. In Brazil, there are still challenges to grapple with in order to fully guarantee the rights of traditional communities and peoples and of persons affected by disasters in contexts that are marked by environmental racism and systematic violations of their lifestyles. An example of these challenges is the lack of regulation of our national policy on the rights of populations affected by dams. which recognizes entire communities as being affected and not only for sees material losses, but also psychological, cultural and environmental harm. This loophole is harmful and we need it to be For instance, there's the case of Brumadinho and the people who live in the river basin of the Rio Paraopeba, where thousands of people are still waiting for collective, individual, comprehensive reparation. The international community must guarantee compliance with human rights over and beyond the interests and economic models that sacrifice lives and territories. Thank you. Now we have a video message from the Association for Protection of Refugee and Internally Displaced Women and Children. Ms. President, the growing strain on the hosting capacities of neighboring countries, together with the limited access to resources and insufficient international support, has weakened the ability of the host communities to sustain millions of displaced Afghans. At the same time, the relative improvement of security in Afghanistan has prompted these countries to encourage Afghans, notably those admitted under temporary humanitarian protection after the Taliban takeover, to return home. These trends of returns require an urgent and coordinated response from the international community to reinforce essential infrastructure, especially in education, health care, and employment. It is also vital that the Taliban authorities recognize the right of return and settlement as a natural settlement and take measures to enable reintegration. These measures must include reform that ensure women's participation in public life and guarantee access to education for girls. Such reforms are crucial to give people confidence that their return will be sustainable. In addition, Afghanistan's neighbors are expected to provide support, both material and digital, to promote reintegration, expanding opportunities for virtual education for girl inside Afghanistan is a key step to a strengthening resilience and midline term stability. I thank you. Okay, now I invite the representative of the Sound Riza Group, Le Droit de l'Homme. Mr. President, We express our deep concern over the deterioration of human rights in Iran between January and September 2025. Thousands of political prisoners remain detained under inhumane conditions, and a new wave of arbitrary arrests followed the events of June, with more than 20,000 people arrested under the pretext of national security. The use of the death penalty has reached an alarming level. More than 840 executions were recorded by the end of the year. of August. Among them, several involved dissidents and political prisoners accused of espionage for Israel after unfair trials. This vague and instrumentalized charge are used to legitimize the elimination of critical voice and reinforce a climate of fear and repression. We recommend that the Council maintain a high priority focus on the situation in Iran, urge the authorities to immediately release all political prisoners, and call for the establishment of a moratorium on executions as a first step toward the abolition of the death penalty. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Baha'i International Community. Mr. President, imagine receiving a text message that your home is being confiscated only because of your beliefs, that your property, your farmland, or your family's inheritance is no longer yours, that it now belongs to the state simply because of your faith. This is the reality facing Baha'i families in Iran today. For over four decades, Iran has carried out a campaign of economic strangulation against the Baha'is, its largest non-Muslim religious minority, through the completely unjustified invocation of Article 49 of its constitution, designed to confiscate the proceeds of criminal activities. And without any legal due process, authorities arbitrarily confiscate Baha'i homes, properties, and other assets, and give them to the state under the direct authority of Iran's Supreme Leader. In truth, these seizures are not about law. They are about persecution. They are designed to leave an entire community impoverished, excluded, and erased. It is state-sponsored theft. Hold on, please. I'm sorry. Please, please, please, please. There is a point of order. Please. Thank you, Mr. President. Unfortunately, the language used by the NGO currently taking the floor does not align with the standard terminology of the Human Rights Council. Targeting officials in another country is neither appropriate nor acceptable. We respectfully request that you, secure NGOs delivering statements in this chamber, do respect the very rules of this Council. Thank you. I thank the representative of Iran. Dear all, I would like to call on everyone to adhere to language that is commensurate with the dignity inherent to the discussion on human rights issue, and we should keep that in our minds. Please, now you can continue your intervention under this mention, please. In truth, these seizures are not about law. They are about persecution. They are designed to leave an entire community impoverished, excluded, and erased. It is state-sponsored theft motivated by religious prejudice and systematically enforced. We call on this Council and its member states to press Iran to end the economic apartheid against the Baha'is, to immediately end the misuse of Article 49, return confiscated properties, and guarantee that no person is dispossessed simply because of their belief. The Baha'is of Iran ask for nothing more than what every human being is promised: the right to live, to work, and to be treated as full citizens in their own land. Thank you. Now, we have a video message from Tumuku Development and Cultural Union. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, respected representatives of governments, international organizations, and civil society. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my perspective regarding the current freedom of the press and the persecution of journalists in Bangladesh. Like many countries, Bangladesh has been fighting for free journalism for a long time. However, freedom of the press and free journalism remained elusive till today. What is happening now is unprecedented. Many eminent journalists like Farjana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed and prominent editors like Shyamal Dutta, Mojammel Haque Babu are in prison. They are accused of killing people on the street, which is politically motivated. More than 300 journalists were also accused of murder. 167 journalists' press cards were revoked. Women journalists are being intimidated by the mob, which is often linked to the incumbents and some political parties. The sheer number of persecutions and harassment of journalists because of their secular liberal views and political preferences tells us it is the biggest purge against free journalism and journalists in the history of Bangladesh. In the last year, at least five media houses are under attack, and many other media houses are under constant threat. All these incidents are happening under the caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. We condemn it and expect the United Nations should take note. Therefore, we implore the world to become vehemently against the mass persecution and harassment of journalists and demand the immediate release of all the imprisoned journalists and drop all the fabricated and harassing charges against all the accused journalists. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Peace Brigades International. Vice President, my name is Aleida Quintana, and I am the coordinator of the National Network of Human Rights Defenders in Mexico. In my country today, there are at least 133,469 disappeared persons. This crisis is directly connected to another equally serious crisis, the risk confronted by those looking for their loved ones, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives. organizing themselves to find their disappeared loved ones. According to our register of attacks, between 2020 and June 2025, we had 16 murders of those looking for loved ones in Mexico. It makes them at the greatest risk of lethal violence in Mexico, particularly in states such as Jalisco and Guanajuato. In this period, we also documented 15 attempts at murder against those looking for loved ones. The enforced disappearance of 37 of them, and four of them continue to be disappeared. We'd like to call the Council's attention to this situation. It's essential that the Mexican state recognize the work of human rights defenders and those looking for those who have disappeared, as well as the violence meted out against those, including the importance of truth, justice, and reparation. Finally, we'd like to sound the alarm concerning the disappearances of Jose Gabriel Pelayo, Antonia Diez, and Ricardo Lagunas in Machalan, and urge the Mexican state and the international community to strengthen the search for them. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of GIZOR Youth Organization. I hope I spelled it correctly. Thank you very much, Vice President, ladies and gentlemen. What is happening today in Gaza cannot be simply boiled down to an ordinary blockade. It is systematic famine which has been imposed, depriving millions of people of water, food, and medicine, in flagrant violation of all human values. Nonetheless, behind figures there are faces. Behind tragedy there are names. Imagine a young person of 23 years of age who was dreaming of being an engineer to build his country, for example. He went out to find food for his famished family, but he was murdered as he went out. He wasn't murdered because he was a military soldier. He went out because he was looking for bread. What level of brutality can we accept once we have witnessed young people being targeted simply for looking for food. This is not an isolated case. This is why we are calling, alongside the Humanitarian Association for Development Across Borders, we call on the international community to immediately act to lift the siege and coordinate with the relevant states to completely open up the border points and to ensure that hunger is no longer used as a weapon against civilians. We call for an end to the famine in Gaza and we call for a return of sense to humanity. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Indian Council of South America. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Alaska and Hawaii diplomatically protest General Assembly Resolution 1469, granting the free colonization, foreign occupation, and violations of international humanitarian law and apartheid, granting solely to the white race in Alaska under U.S. law and policy. I give you an example of the grave violations. Our chief elder of our movement, Adolf Rose, stood in line having a heart attack. It wasn't until I happened to call him, then called the administration of Alaska Native Medical Center, that they pulled him out of line and then treated him for his heart attack. That is what they do to us in Alaska. And the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly, doesn't take seriously the death threats, the attacks against us, or recognition of our diplomatic status. Alaska calls on Switzerland, the host of the Human Rights Council, and several international organizations to facilitate with the Human Rights Council member states of the United Nations, OHCHR, and UN entities to give a level of diplomatic recognition to appointed ambassador of Alaska in Switzerland. The appointed ambassador is not a simple migrant, nor should he be treated as one, nor should any indigenous representative be treated as a simple migrant. We are not. Some of us are under threat. I thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Now we have a video message from the Article 19 International Center Against Censorship. According to Article 19's Global Expression Report, Bangladesh remains in crisis for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. The July 2024 uprising and resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prompted a political reset and major reforms in the digital regulatory framework. While some developments are welcome, including the repeal of the Cyber Security Law, an array of new draft laws risks severely restricting the rights to freedom of expression and information, privacy and other related rights online, including through the criminalisation of protected speech, overbroad content takedowns, intrusive surveillance, weak transparency and due process gaps. There is an appalling and pervasive climate of impunity for egregious human rights violations against journalists and media workers in the country, from killings to physical attacks and harassment. In 2025, two journalists have been killed. Women journalists in Bangladesh face uniquely gendered risks, from workplace harassment to online rape threats and physical attacks, especially those that face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. We call on the interim government to reform draft legislation and the wider legal framework to ensure it is fully compliant with international human rights standards for the right to freedom of expression. We also call on the interim government to ensure accountability for all attacks against journalists through the conduct of impartial, prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations, including through taking a gendered and intersectional approach. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of International Service for Human Rights. For decades, the Palestinian people have endured a system of institutionalized racial domination and oppression. Today in Gaza, entire families are wiped out in a matter of seconds. Civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and water networks, schools are not collateral damage. They are intentionally targeted. What we are witnessing is the destruction of a society carried out with full impunity. The Standing Commission of Inquiry, founded in 2021, found that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. Mavi Pillay, chair of the commission, said that it is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention. In my region, the Nakba Israel continues its policy of dispossession against Palestinian Bedouin citizens. Entire villages have been uprooted and displaced over the past year, homes were demolished and families were expelled to build new Jewish settlements on the ruins of the destroyed villages. This is colonial apartheid. We call on the Council to recognize and take effective actions to put an end to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people on both sides of the Green Line with the intention of replacing Palestinian indigenous people with Israeli settlers. Thank you. Video message from Women and Sea Committee for CSW. Thank you, Chair. The widespread and serious violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the alarming increase in executions in 2025, require urgent and decisive action by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 1,100 people have been executed, the highest recorded number in the past three decades. This high number of executions reflects a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of state intimidation. Over 50 political prisoners are currently facing death sentences on various charges. Many of their lawyers have repeatedly stated that their clients were sentenced to death in unfair judicial proceedings that failed to meet fair trial standards. We are particularly concerned about the fate of six political activists sentenced to death for supporting the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran: Mr. Abdolhassan Montazer, Pouya Ghorbadi, Vahid Bani-Amiryan, Babak Alipour, Ali Akbar Doonishvar-Kar, and Mohammad Taghavi, as well as the civil activist, Mrs. Sharifeh Mohammadi. Thank you. Now I give the floor to the representative of the International Commission of Jurists. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The ICJ is gravely concerned at the Tunisian authorities' continued attacks on lawyers, judges, and civil society actors. As two of this Council's human rights experts recently warned, lawyers' situation in Tunisia has seriously deteriorated over the past year, with several being arbitrarily arrested, detained, and prosecuted solely for fulfilling their professional duties or for exercising their freedom of expression. This year, in violation of judicial immunity, at least two judges were convicted and sentenced in proceedings marked by fair trial violations. These attacks not only violate the human rights of the judges and lawyers concerned, but also contribute to further eroding the independence of judges and of the legal profession and the fair administration of justice in Tunisia. The ICJ is also concerned at the Tunisian authorities' increasing abuse of legal and administrative procedures to hinder civil society organizations' operations, including through the ongoing arbitrary detention and prosecution of several staff members and leaders, increasing restrictions on their ability to receive foreign funding and access banking services, rampant investigations of associations by administrative and financial authorities, and at least two judicial orders to temporarily suspend two association's activities. This Council must act to address these and other attacks against lawyers, judges and civil society actors in Tunisia. I thank you. Thank you. Now we have a video message from Ingenieur du Monde. Swaida is deprived of basic necessities of life, and it is used as a bargaining chip. Casualties exceed 2,000. Civilian abductees are more than 700 abductees. Women are raped. 德 鲁 students are attacked on their identity, leading them the universities, Syrian universities, are now completely devoid from Druze students. All these crimes and violations were not individual, rather systematic policies to subjugate a whole community and break its willpower. Despite all these attempts, we will not remain silent. We will not be muzzled. We will raise our voice on a daily basis for the accountability of the perpetrators. We say it out loud that the Julani Authority does not represent us, nor the Swayada's community. This regime is built on terror and crimes. that does not represent any free person. We call for the accountability of this regime and all their complices from the Suweida. We call it, we say it out loud to the whole world that we want to live in dignity and justice. We do not accept any bargaining on our dignity. We call for peace and dignified living. Thank you. Okay, my mistake. Now I give the floor to the representative of Franciscans International. Mr. President, we wish to bring to the attention of the Council the worsening human rights situation in Cabo Delgado and Nambula, Mozambique. More than half a million are internally displaced and continue to face widespread human rights violations, including a lack of access to food, water, land, education, and livelihoods, compounded by the impacts of extreme weather events. International funding cuts for humanitarian aid is worsening the situation. Meanwhile, insurgent attacks flared up in Chire, causing 40,000 persons to flee, and reports of killings near Afungi, which hosts a Mozambique LNG project site, emerged. Prioritization of securing economic sites over civilian protection and unpredictability of insurgent attacks create an untenable situation for civilians, particularly for women and children in a conflict area with limited access and reporting. The decision to resume the Mozambique LNG project is worrying due to the lack of proper assessment of the project's harms in connection with human rights violations. Extractive projects like Mozambique LNG and the Panakua mega dam pose social and environmental risks, lack proper consultation, inadequate compensation and resettlement plans, and are leaving communities without land and livelihoods. While reiterating recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on IDPs, we call on the Council to monitor and provide updates on the human rights situation in Mozambique and on the government of Mozambique to ensure humanitarian aid in Cabo Delgado and Nampula and civilian protection in accordance with international law, including by regulating transnational corporations operating in conflict areas. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Association Internationale pour la Legalité des Femmes. Thank you, Chair. The situation in Iran's prisons demonstrates that medical deprivation is neither accidental nor the result of a lack of resources. Rather, it is a deliberate tool used to exert pressure, inflict torture, and ultimately physically eliminate prisoners, especially political prisoners. Judicial and security officials, instead of doctors, decide whether prisoners may be transferred to hospitals, and this deliberate interference has turned treatable illnesses into painful death. In recent months, several prisoners have lost their lives due to denial and obstruction of medical care. The recent death in Fardis and Ratchak prison, as well as the critical conditions of sick prisoners in Fasha Fuye, Shiban, and Rezel Hes clearly show that this practice is part of a deliberate and systematic policy. We call on the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on torture and on the right to health, the Special Rapporteur on Iran, and the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran to investigate the suspicious deaths inside Iranian prisons, as well as the serious problems faced by prisoners, in particular political prisoners in Iran's detention facilities. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite for a joint statement the representative of the International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and Other Minorities, please. Mr. President, Western Sahara remains the last unresolved case of decolonization in Africa. For almost 50 years, the Sahrawi people have been denied their right to self-determination while facing repression under the Moroccan occupation. This situation is aggravated by the illegal exploitation of natural resources, phosphate, fisheries, and increasingly renewable energy and critical minerals. These activities proceed without the consent of the Sahrawi people, in violation of international law and the principle of permanent over natural resources. Morocco deprives the Saharawi people of their economical, social, and cultural rights while enriching its occupation. The global transition to renewable energy must not come at the expense of fundamental right. Yet in Western Sahara, large-scale wind and solar projects are being used to power the Moroccan settlement expansions and resource extractions. At the same time, the Sahrawi people, many of whom remain displaced in refugee camps, are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change, facing water scarcity, desertification, and extreme heat. We call upon this Council to reject the exploitation of resources and renewable project carried out without the Sahrawi consent, and to urge states and corporations not to seek benefits from the Moroccan occupations. There can be no climate justice without decolonization, and no sustainable future where the Sahrawi people are denied sovereignty over land and resources. I thank you. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Vivat International. Mr. White, President, Vivat International continues to raise alarm in the aftermath of the June gruesome massacre of over 200 Christians in IDP camp in Elwata, Benue State, Nigeria. In spite of the visit of Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu to Benue State and his assurance of stemming the violence, the terrorists emboldened with greater impunity had slaughtered additional 50 Christian residents and 10 security operatives across four communities in Guma LGA on June 29, July 7, and July 8, 2025. The communities in Elwata and neighboring of Uday, Ukhhol and Daudu were also attacked shortly after the visit. The impunity with which this perennial and systematic bloodletting is being orchestrated by the terrorists clearly shows an ethnic cleansing of rapid proportions is being accomplished. How much more blood needs to be spilled before the world pays attention? We urgently call on Nigeria government and the global community to show strength and transparent resolve in safeguarding the last remnants of a community in danger of extinction. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Shivi Development Society for a joint statement. Freedom of religion and belief is a fundamental human right, essential for individual dignity and social harmony. In Bangladesh, however, this freedom is increasingly under threat for religious minorities. Since the political turmoil in August 2024, following the resignation of PM Sheikh Hasina, there has been a significant surge in violence against religious minorities. The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council reported over 2,000 incidences of communal violence between August 4 and 20, including attacks on 69 temples. Tragically, at least five Hindus lost their lives during this period. These incidences are not isolated. In the immediate aftermath of PM Hasina's forced ouster, hundreds of Hindu homes, businesses, and temples were vandalized across the country. The Hindu community, which comprises about 8% of Bangladesh's population, has been disproportionately affected by the targeted violence, leading to homes and businesses vandalized and temples damaged. The interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has acknowledged the violence but attributed it to political motives, downplaying the religious intolerance driving these attacks. This overlooks the lived realities of the victims and does not address the root cause of the violence. The situation in Bangladesh needs urgent attention of this Council. to encourage the Bangladesh government to ensure safety of religious minorities and protect religious freedoms through unbiased investigations and accountability. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Now we have a video message from Lawyers Rights Watch Canada. Mr. President, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute are alarmed by the Islamic Republic of Iran's unprecedented crackdown on human rights since the June 2025 ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Since June, thousands have been detained without fair trials on suspicion of collaboration or espionage with Israel. Iran has executed over 860 people this year without fair trials, 110 in July alone. Minorities such as Kurds, Baha'is, Baluchis, Afghani Arabs are overrepresented among them. Defenders are among 600,000 Afghan refugees forcibly deported, despite risks of refoulement. Iran continues to weaponize the legal system against human rights defenders and lawyers. More than 60 lawyers are imprisoned in Iran for political reasons. Others face disbarment or exile. At least 20 lawyers have reportedly been killed or died under state pressure. Since the ceasefire, 15 lawyers have been falsely charged with propaganda against the state for social media posts on corruption and rights violations. Women's rights defenders face particular risks in light of Iran's severe new hijab law, which prescribes extremely harsh punishments, including execution. Iran silences lawyers and defenders in exile through threats to families, surveillance, and smear campaigns. We urge the Council to increase its attention to these grave violations and insist that Iran fulfill its international law obligations. Thank you. Okay, now I invite the representative of Human Rights Research League. La Human Rights Research League. Human Rights Research League in partnership with Montreal University has just published a research paper entitled The Influence of a Chronically Failing Political and Security Environments on the Mental Health of Lebanese People Living or Having Lived in Lebanon, the Explosion of the 4th of August 2020, a Collective Cumulative Trauma. This was carried out in the field. up until 2023, and it involved 1,345 participants. The results of this research demonstrate that the mental health of Lebanese people has been profoundly impacted because of their permanent exposure to cumulative or simultaneous traumatic events such as civil war, the Syrian and Israeli occupation, political murders, conflict explosion in the after war period as well as the explosion at Beirut port. The cumulative effect of these trauma has triggered an increase in psychological and psychiatric trauma. The explosion of the 4th of August 2020 triggered old traumas as well, increasing a feeling of insecurity which already existed, and a sentiment of division with the Lebanese state, which is perceived as not reliable, failing, corrupt, and not upholding human rights and civil and political rights. We'd like to call on the member states of this council to ensure that the restoration of the rule of law in Lebanon is a priority, and that compensation to all victims of state violence is ensured with a national policy to support mental health, incorporating the management of past trauma connected to social violence and state violence. Thank you. Thank you very much. I now recognize the representative of the National Human Rights Network and the Rule of Law. Mr. Vice President, I draw your attention to communication ALIND 10/2024, issued jointly by several special procedure mandate holders of this Council. and to the Government of India in regards to, and I quote, "information received concerning the alleged killing of a Canadian citizen, Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada on 18 June 2023. In apparent advocacy for the Sikh minority in India, Mr. Nijjar was a political activist and human rights defender who promoted claims for Sikh self-determination, sovereignty, and the establishment of an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan," end quote. The communication then goes on to draw attention to, quote, "other credible threats to life, measures of intimidation, and harassment against Sikh activists outside of India," end quote. Mr. Vice President, for decades, Indian security agencies have been documented in suppressing the civil, political, and cultural rights of the Sikh people. The 1984 Sikh genocide, in which thousands of Sikhs were massacred, will forever be a stain on India's history, with victims still seeking justice. Those who seek accountability for these crimes are harassed, labeled as extremists, and arbitrarily detained, such as the case of Sikh activist and British national Jiktar Singh Johal, who was kidnapped by Indian state agencies, arbitrarily detained, and tortured, according to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Mr. Johal has been imprisoned for nearly eight years. Mr. Vice President, these rights that Sikh activists are being assassinated and arbitrarily detained for exercising. These are fundamental human rights. We urge this Council to hold India accountable for its documented ongoing repression of the Sikh identity and political expression for Khalistan. Thank you. Thank you. I invite the representative of Instituto Brasileiro de Direitos Humanos. Senhor Vice-Presidente. Air fumigation with pesticides in Brazil is a practice that poses a threat not only to forests, but indeed to our lives. In 2023, the National Congress of Brazil approved the new Pesticides Act, which violates several rights enshrined in our Constitution. Recent data show that in the state of Maranhao, over the last 12 months, 325 rural communities were victims of air fumigation of pesticides. This is directly linked to the expansion of agricultural trade in Brazil, and many of these pesticides are prohibited in the EU and Switzerland. Indeed, the Kirimbola indigenous communities and activists who live in deep connection with the forest are the first to suffer. Their bodies, their food, and their water sources are being poisoned. This is jeopardizing their health and their ancestral cultures. In some cases, pesticides are being used as a tool to drive families off their land. We are living a true chemical war with devastating consequences on human health, nature and the production of healthy food. Enough pesticides. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Amnesty International. Mr. Vice President, Amnesty International remains concerned by the human rights situation in a number of countries, including in Ethiopia, where proposed legislative change severely threaten, threatens civil society space, even as the arbitrary detention of journalists increase. Meaningful avenues to address accountability for serious violations and abuses remain absent, while the transitional justice process has stalled. The human rights situation continues to deteriorate further alongside escalating conflict across the country. We call on this Council to urgently resume its scrutiny on the human rights situation in Ethiopia. Mr. Vice President, Russia is structurally removing the possibility of lawful human rights-related civic activity. We join with other civil society organizations in calling for the renewal of the Special Rapporteur on Russia at this session. There is an ongoing crisis in Iran. Thousands of Execution crisis in Iran. Thousands of people are at risk of execution after being sentenced to death, including for drug-related offenses or overly broad and vaguely worded charges following grossly unfair trials, or are facing investigations or prosecution on capital charges. Since 2022 since the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom uprising, the authorities have weaponized the death penalty as a tool of oppression, with over 800 people executed thus far in 2025 alone. Nepal finds itself at a turning point as an interim government takes charge following deadly violence. It must abide by and uphold international human rights law and standards. The authorities must conduct independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into excessive use of force by the police and security forces. Thank you. I thank you. Now I have the representative of Observatoire du Crime Organise. His Excellency, I speak today on behalf of the Baloch people who continue to face grave human rights violations in Balochistan. Even our most basic right, the right to speak and the right to freedom, are denied. Those who demand justice are abducted, tortured, or killed without a trial. Almost every day, on average, three people are forcibly disappeared. Families often receive the mutilated bodies of their loved ones, victims of extrajudicial killing and forced disappearances. appearances have become routine. Entire community live in a fear, knowing that student, teacher, activist, anyone can be taken at any time. I am a victim also. My home was bulldozed by Pakistani army as a punishment. Many others have lost their families, their homes, their livelihoods, and their dignity. Villages are burned and families are left displaced and suffering. We appeal to this council and to the international community to Stop and force disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Demand the immediate release of all Baloch missing person. Ensure independent investigation and accountability. Protect the voices and right of the Baloch people. Silence only bring more suffering. We argue this council to stand with Baloch people and their struggle for justice, freedom and human dignity. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Human Rights Now. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Human Rights Now condemns the continuing grave violations of international law by Israel's military in Gaza. The recent Commission of Inquiry report concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. And the military's current assault on Gaza City, which witnesses say is destroying entire blocks and burying families under residential buildings deliberately targeted for destruction, marks a further escalation in its campaign of annihilation against the Palestinian people. The man-made famine was also reported last week to have killed at least 441 persons. We call on states to take urgent action to respect their obligations under international law to prevent genocide and to end Israel's other violations, including its illegal occupation. Such actions should be effective and commensurate with the severe gravity of the violations and include a complete arms embargo and broad economic sanctions on Israel, as well as supporting a General Assembly resolution recommending such actions and a multinational UN protection force to protect Palestinians in Gaza, like the 1956 UN emergency force. We also call on states to provide greater support for the ICC's accountability efforts and to consider suspending Israel's UN credentials until it respects its UN Charter obligations, as was done for apartheid South Africa beginning in 1974. States should also require companies in their jurisdiction to conduct heightened due diligence and to end any business supporting violations by Israel's government, including genocide and its illegal occupation. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Universal Peace Federation. Mr. Vice President, we would like to draw the attention of this body to the ongoing elimination of an entire faith community of 600,000 members in Japan. After media hype and stereotyping of the followers with the government's support for years and ensuing repressive laws, the Japanese authorities have openly endeavored to deconvert the children of the Unification Church against their parents' will. The state has launched in January last year a plan for reeducating the second or third generations believers of the Unification Church within the public school system. in so-called human rights classes, where the Unification Church members are depicted as criminals and, consequently, their children are subject to stigmatization, violence, and isolation. After being unsettled by these alarming accusations, children are encouraged to go against their parents. In extreme cases, when parents refuse to drop their children's religious education, they can be deprived of their custody and replaced by state-appointed guardians. All this constitutes a direct violation of the right of parents to educate their children in accordance with their own convictions, which is protected under the treaties that Japan has ratified. What the Japanese authorities are actually doing is real religious cleansing to abide with what they call social norms. These insidious actions of the Japanese authorities must stop immediately. I thank you, Mr. President. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Bamro. Is absent, then I invite the representative of the human rights organization, Rights and Freedoms of Citizens of Turkmenistan. President, I urge your urgent attention to the ongoing human rights violation in Turkmenistan and its refusal to comply with binding UN Human Rights Committee decision. Turkmenistan presents itself as a neutral state recognized by the UN 30 years ago, but neutrality cannot serve as a shield for impunity. On the contrary, it creates a higher obligation to respect international law and fully implement UN decisions. It is deeply ironic that Turkmenistan recently accused Israel of violating international law, while itself blatantly disregarding the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a treaty it has signed, and ignoring the Council's own mechanism. On July 9, 2024, the Committee ruled in the case of Mr. Geldi Karisov, confirming violation of his rights, including confiscation of his property. Instead of compliance, the authorities responded with threats. Following the publication of this ruling, Mr. Kerimov and his family received death threats, a clear act of reprisal that undermines international protection. Another case is Ms. Zhamil Bazarova, a single mother raped by investigators during a detention to force a false confession. Even more alarming is Turkmenistan's practice to abducting its citizens from Turkey, who are then tortured and killed back in Turkmenistan. And today, others face the threat of imminent Therefore, I call upon this Council and the international community to press Turkmenistan to implement the Kerisov ruling and others, condemn sexual violence by state agents, including in Ms. Bazarova's case, condemn cross-border abductions, and prevent further deportation. Thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative for a joint statement, the representative of Centre Europe, Thierry Monds. Mr. Vice President, we take the floor today to express our concerns regarding the intensification of violations of international law and human rights by the United States of America. Recently, the U.S. administration has escalated its attacks on the multilateral system, withdrawals from UN bodies and agencies, refusal to meet financial obligations, imposition of unlawful sanction on UN mandate holders, and continued support for the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Most recently, the refusal to issue visas to representatives of the State of Palestine, preventing them from participating in the General Assembly in New York, constitutes a flagrant breach of international law and of US responsibilities as the host country of UN headquarters. No state should place itself above international law. In light of repeated violations of the UN headquarters agreement, we propose that the organization consider relocating its headquarters elsewhere, and at least on a temporary basis, to Geneva. Such a step would help safeguard transparency, accessibility, and independence in the work of the UN. We call on all UN member states, social movements, civil society organizations to assume the responsibility to defend and strengthen the multilateral system rooted in the principles of the UN Charter and in the respect of the sovereignty of states and peoples. Thank you for your attention. I thank you. Now we have a video message from the International Council supporting fair trial and human rights. President, Article 4 of the Declaration of Human Rights states that there can be no slavery. This is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which takes the side of human dignity. What is going on in Saudi Arabia today amounts to a gross violation of that principle, because There are summary executions that take place on the basis of spurious accusations, and this runs counter to the principles and standards of justice. We call for respect of commitments. Executions are... becoming a weapon with which to terrorize the world and with which to violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a gross fashion. This authority, which claims to promote reform, is the authorities that are imposing these executions and silencing Remaining silent and merely expressing concerns is not enough given the gravity of the situation. It is essential to take the side of justice today, and we hope that speeches will not remain words on paper and not settle for a mere accusation. Action is needed within the Council now. Thank you. Okay, now I invite the representative of Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. President, the recent attacks in Sweida have left tens of thousands displaced and civilians subjected to unspeakable violence, including sexual violence against women and girls, some raped before execution. Survivors and families of victims continue to endure trauma, and many cannot speak today, fearing reprisals. These atrocities demand the urgent attention of this Council. Survivors, affected communities, and civil society must be at the center of any transitional process. Their voices should guide decisions on protection, humanitarian responses, and reconciliation to ensure further abuses are prevented. While initiatives like the Transitional Justice Commission are welcome, it is not mandated to look into the action of non-state actors. Victims of abuse continue to be marginalized, and their meaningful participation is limited. To be effective, transitional justice must be victim-centered, transparent, inclusive, and comprehensive. Mr. President, this Council must call on authorities to protect civilians and take action to ensure that the massacres in Sweida are thoroughly investigated in order to hold perpetrators accountable. Despite the absence of a resolution this session, this Council still needs to maintain the focus on Syria to ensure that the rights, safety, and dignity of all Syrians, especially survivors and family of victims, are upheld. Thank you. Thank you. Now I have a video from the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain. Mr. President, since October 7, 2023, Israel's genocide in Gaza has been ongoing. No meaningful action to halt it has been taken. 700 days into the war has led to the death of 73,731 Palestinians, including 20,000 children and 12,500 women, while 2,700 families have been completely erased from civil records. 90% of the strip has been destroyed. Two million Palestinians were displaced. Famine has already taken 428 lives, with 650,000 children at risk of starvation. No one was spared. 1,700, 670 medical workers and over 250 journalists have been killed. The random mass killings, bombardment of homes, hospitals, and schools, denial of food and medicine are acts of genocide. Both the United Nations Fact-Finding Commission and the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights in Palestine have affirmed this, warning that inaction amounts to complicity. We therefore demand an immediate end to the aggression, the lifting of the blockade, unrestricted delivery of aid, and the protection of the Palestinian people. Every day of inaction costs more lives and undermines the effectiveness of international institutions' mechanisms. And thank you. Now I invite the representative of Rajasthan, Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan, please. India is a country with a long history of pluralism. Our constitution provides freedom of thought and belief, and our society is home to many religions and cultures. This has allowed people from different backgrounds to live and work together. The principle of unity in diversity is not just a phrase for us, it is a lived reality. We believe that this is the basis of a strong and stable society. It is a matter of record that certain forces seek to create division and conflict. These forces use cross-border terrorism to harm our people and disrupt our way of life. They target peaceful communities and economic activities like tourism to create instability. These actions are a direct challenge to the principles of peaceful and world and the UN Charter. The horrific Mumbai attacks in 2008 and the recent terror incident in Pahalgam are stark reminders of this constant threat and tragic human cost of such hatred. The people of India have shown that they have not been deterred by such actions. Our nation remains committed to its core values of peace, tolerance and human rights. We have always supported peaceful resolution of conflict and have worked with other nations to build a more secure world. Mr. Vice President, we call upon the international community to recognize the threat that such actions pose global stability. A unified approach is needed to counter forces that promote hatred and violence. India will continue to do its part, and we encourage all nations to join in promoting a world based on mutual respect and cooperation. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Now, I invite the representative of International Career Support Association. Mr. President, distinguished council member, the abduction of Japanese and South Korean citizens of DPRK is grave human rights violation and an urgent global issue. From the 1970s to 1980s, DPRK authorities abducted 17 recognized Japanese victim directly from Japanese soil, which DPRK admitted, but 12 of whom still haven't returned. In addition, there are 871 specific missing person whose possible abduction can't be ruled out. They remain unaccounted for. These victims and their families have suffered unimaginable pain for decades. The families waiting for their loved ones are aging, and some of them have passed away without seeing their children. We have no more time to waste. This Council and other UN human rights bodies have issued related recommendations numerous times, but nothing has been achieved. Japanese Government has been demanding the immediate return of victims. However, DPRK shamelessly refused to cooperate on returning the abductees and claims the issue has been settled. Mr. President, we urge this Council to take effective action to resolve this grave human rights violation. Through international cooperation and pressure, we must bring the victims home and uncover the truth. Our effort will not stop until every abductee is reunited with their family. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you. Now we have a video from the European Center for Law and Justice. Thank you, Mr. President. In 2025, Nigeria was ranked as the seventh worst country for Christians due to violence by Islamic militants. The atrocities carried out are barbaric and know no bounds. Every week, there are new reports of Christians being slaughtered in their villages. In addition to the senseless killings, villages have been burned down and destroyed, and untold numbers have been kidnapped and/or beaten, all because they believe in Jesus. In fact, over 7,000 Christians have been killed and approximately 8,000 abducted during the first 220 days of this year. That's an average of 32 murders and 35 abductions a day. Shockingly, more Christians are killed in Nigeria than the rest of the world combined. The ongoing violence has also created a massive humanitarian crisis, as many people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. The violence has displaced at least 12 million Christians since 2009. Despite the shocking level of senseless violence occurring in Nigeria, the government has been unwilling and unable to take action to protect Christians and stop the attacks. In some cases, security forces are nearby, yet fail to intervene. Clearly, Nigeria has taken no action to stop Christians from being murdered because of their faith. It has been demonstrated over the years that continued inaction only leads to more and more innocent Christians being attacked and killed. Immediate and meaningful Action must be taken now to put a stop to the senseless violence. Thank you. OK, now I have another video from the Coordination des Associations des et des Particuliers pour la Liberte de Conscience. We and Human Rights Without Frontiers are deeply concerned about the fact that the chaplaincy activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in a number of Belgian prisons are in practice not allowed anymore. Since 2019, Jehovah's Witnesses have written six times to the Minister of Justice and have initiated legal proceedings due to this discrimination experienced in four Belgian prisons: Nivelles, Leuze, Dinant and Leuven Central. In August 2023, the general director of the penitentiary administration issued a circular to stop tolerating that religions not being recognized by the state provide spiritual assistance on request of their people in prison. In April 2022, a ruling of the European Court considered that the system of state recognition of religions in Belgium was flawed and discriminatory, not compatible with the European Convention and should be revised. These are still not happened three years later. Until it happens, we recommend that the Belgian state be tolerant and allow Jehovah's Witnesses in prison to be provided spiritual assistance every time they require it. I thank you. Okay, now I invite the representative of Human Rights House Foundation. Okay, now I'm missing. I invite the representative of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project. Thank you, Vice President. We would like to reiterate the need for this Council to correct the mistake it made by ending the mandate of the International Commission on Ethiopia. Ethiopia not being on the Council's agenda is an anomaly. We are alarmed by the volatile situation in South Sudan, and the Council should stand ready to respond. President, we are deeply concerned by the situation in Tunisia, where Sharifa Riahi and other human rights and migrants' rights defenders are arbitrarily detained or harassed. At this point, we're not even talking about backsliding anymore. We're seeing the country's full regression into authoritarianism. Tunisia's diplomatic partners should urgently reprioritize human rights in their bilateral relations. We urge the Council and regional mechanisms to pay closer attention to human rights in the Sahel region, especially Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In the first two, civilians are caught in a spiral of violence and instability, and they can legitimately expect that authorities uphold their human rights obligations instead of blaming all issues on terrorism or foreign powers and enabling abuses by Russian mercenaries. We also condemn the disproportionate use of force, including lethal force, against protesters in Mozambique in relation to the 2024 election results and in Togo in relation to the constitutional changes. We urge independent, impartial, effective investigations into all those suspected. Thank you. Now I have a video message from the Network of Women, Women's Non-Governmental Organizations in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thalassemia patients in Iran are experiencing critical life-threatening situations. This chronic disorder requires constant blood transfusion and vital medicines such as deferasirox and desferoxamine. Without them, patients face organ failure and premature death. Today, two major factors have converged to deepen their suffering: broad economic sanctions and the recent 20-day armed conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel. These have disrupted impact and supply chain, leaving many patients without essential treatment. Families are forced to rely on black market and unreliable costs, risking counterfeit drug and further harm. The crisis not only medical, but a human right issue, denying access to essential medicine, violating the right to health under Article 12 of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Moreover, restriction on medical supply during sanction and conflict many amount to collect punishment prohibited under the Geneva Convention. We therefore urge the international community to act, exempt medicine from sanctions, secure humanitarian canals for drug delivery, and protect healthcare supply chains in time. Now I invite the representative for a joint statement, representative of the World Evangelical Alliance. Mr. Vice President, the World Evangelical Alliance and Christian Solidarity International wishes to draw the Council's attention to the escalation of violence in Nigeria. More than 3.5 million people remain displaced, many without adequate food, water, sanitation, or shelter. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with women and children particularly at risk. In the Middle Belt and Northern region, reoccurring cycle of deadly violence have devastated entire communities. Homes, farms, and places of worship have been destroyed, leaving thousands displaced and without livelihood. Despite the skills of this attack, civilians are often left unprotected and accountability for grave abuses remain rare. We are concerned that the Nigerian authority have not been able to prevent such violence or ensure the protection of affected population. We therefore urge the government of Nigeria to take immediate and concrete measures to safeguard vulnerable communities, including by adequately training, equipping, and deploying security forces in line with human rights standards, while also addressing the root causes of conflict. We further call on Nigeria, with support from the international community, to guarantee displaced persons access to adequate food, shelter, and essential services in accordance with its human rights obligations. I thank you. I think you now have a video from the ARK. on sustainable development goals, the population in Iran, including the Azerbaijani provinces and other minority nations, can expect a harsh imminent future. The complete desiccation of Lake Urmia in recent years exemplifies the disproportionate hardship to which Azerbaijanis are exposed. Now, across Azerbaijani provinces, degradation thresholds are being crossed. Desertification and land degradation have severely accelerated. Water scarcity is a living reality. Agriculture is impacted by aerosol contamination from the salt pan of the lake, and public health is seeing an increase in cancer and other diseases. Tourism in the area has disappeared. The socio-economic impacts of all these factors are already incalculable, resulting in a forced migration from the area. The impacts of the loss of ecosystem and biodiversity are unknown. The Iranian authorities recently called for international expertise to restore Lake Urmia. This appears a delaying tactic to avoid taking responsibility for action. Climate change cannot be an excuse for inaction. However, action plans and good governance remain neglected in Iran. The 30 million Azerbaijanis in Iran are not protected by the Iranian authorities. We call on the United Nations to document the issues pertaining to the at-risk population in Azerbaijani provinces arising from the desiccation of Lake Urmia. Thank you. Okay, now I invite the representative of the Society for Threatened Peoples. Mr. Vice President. The Tibetan continues to endure severe human rights abuses under the Chinese authorities. Notable cases include the custodial death of Tulku Pandey Wangge, head lama of Chogre Monastery in Gonjo, following alleged torture, the ongoing arbitrary imprisonment of Dorji Tashi, for whom his sister Gombokki has rapidly sought redress, and the auspicious death of Tulku Hunga Rinpoche in Vietnam while in custody. We are further concerned about alleged arbitrary arrests of singer Palchun and Sukde for celebrating the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, and the detention of senior in protesting a hydro power project. These cases reflect border of repression and due progress violation. We ask the Council, the Commissions, and the Special Rapporteur to investigate the rampant human rights violation in the Tibetan regions. carry out by the China with impunity and submit the detailed report. Three years after the OSCHR assessment, there has been no credible follow-up. Uyghur are still suffering in silence. Recent reports show more imprisoned under broad terrorism charges with long sentences, unfair trials. Investigation also reverse forced labor linked to the global supply chains, including footwear, which take control of workers. We ask the High Commissioner to keep the reporting and give regular, meaningful update to this Council. I thank you. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Shambali Trust. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. In May 2025, a volleyball match between friends in Wana, Pakistan, became a scene of macabre and mindless violence when a drone strike by government forces left 22 civilians, including children as young as 13 years old, injured, traumatized, and scared for life. This came within a fortnight of another gruesome drone attack in which four children of the same family were killed and five others, including a woman, injured. 30 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed in airstrikes in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province this Monday. We speak on behalf of countless grieving families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, devastated by a surge drone strikes since March 2025. For these families, daily existence has become a nightmare. Drones rain fire from the skies, and the ground forces push them away from their homes. As per reports, more than 60,000 people have been forced to flee from their homes. running away from an army that has turned against its own citizens. Despite this tragedy, authorities have often denied accountability or failed to launch transparent investigations, leaving victims without justice, compensation, or hope for redress. These attacks are in violation of Geneva Conventions, the UN Charter, and core principles of international humanitarian law. We urgently implore this Council to condemn these unlawful attacks, demand impartial investigations, and compel Pakistan and relevant actors to provide effective remedies and accountability. The civilian suffering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must end, and justice, dignity, and peace must be restored. Thank you. Thank you. Now we have a video from the Iranian Thalassemia Society. Mr. President, considering the aggression of Israel and the U.S. against Iran in June 2025, we would like to raise some points. The attacks violated Article 2.4 of the UN Charter and the human rights of the Iranian people, including the rights to life, health, adequate housing, information, food, clean environment, cultural rights, rights of vulnerable groups, and the right to self-determination. The aggression caused the loss of about 1,100 human lives, including women and children, and enforced disappearances of several individuals. The unilateralism of Israel and the US is putting a dangerous precedence in the world and is highly undermining the role of negotiation and dialogue in conflict resolution. The echoed statement of the UN experts, who unequivocally condemned the attacks, emphasized that the timing of the attacks sabotaged peaceful resolutions and reinforced a might-makes-right approach. In addition, the experts announced that the responsible US political and military leaders may also be liable for the international crime of aggression. Mr. President, we call on the Human Rights Council to recognize the cases of mass killings in June military aggression against Iran as war crimes and crime of aggression to bring the perpetrators to justice. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of ECHO phone. Mr. Vice President, we draw this Council's attention to Jammu and Kashmir, India, where a gruesome terror attack in April 2025 was a blatant assault on human rights of the people in the region. These attacks are clearly violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. Civilians were targeted simply for exercising their right to travel, their freedom to movement, and the freedom of religion. These are not isolated events. They are part of a pattern of targeted violence meant to destabilize peace, divide communities, and suppress basic freedom. We urge international communities to act against the infrastructure that supports terrorism, cross-border financing of armed groups, foreign training camps, and safe sanctuaries, the ideological and logical supports that keeps them alive. The network must be dismantled completely. No terror group should have safe havens, media platforms, or political coverage. Human rights cannot exist side by side With the organized terror, the council must stand strong. We call upon all members of state to work together, investigate, expose, and sanction both attackers and those who support them. Remaining silent or indifferent will only embolden further violence. The society of Jammu and Kashmir has always been secular, inclusive. These attacks are meant to break the spirit of spreading fear in a region that is moving forward on a path of transformation. The people of India deserve to live without fear, free from extreme violence. The right to peace, dignity, and security must be protected. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thank you. Now we have a video from Medical Support Association for Underprivileged to Iranian patients. Mr. President, on 13 June 2025, Israel launched an unprovoked wave of drone and missile strikes against Iran. In 12 days, cities across our country were hit. Homes, schools, hospitals and rescue centers reduced to rubble. Water systems and a pharmaceutical plant were struck. Ambulances and the Iranian Red Crescent were hit. The peaceful nuclear facilities placed under IAEA safeguards were bombed, a prison was targeted, and 80 civilians died. The human toll is huge, over 1,000 people killed, thousands more injured and displaced. This was not self-defense, it was an unlawful use of force, in clear breach of Article 2 of the UN Charter. Israel violated core rules of IHL, including the principles of distinction and proportionality. and the special protection of medical units under Geneva Conventions. Mr. President, behind each casualty figure is a shattered family and a grieving nation. We call for a principled response and urge the UN Member States to condemn this act of aggression and mandate an independent investigation to identify those responsible and to ensure accountability and reparations, and take urgent measures to prevent recurrence and protect civilians. Thank you. Here another video from the Organization for Defending Victims of Violence. Mr. President, today I address this Council in the shadow of the region's rapid descent into conflict and Israel's 12-day aggression against Iran. This conflict left wounds in our infrastructure and above all in the lives of civilians. It was launched in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law, and its human cost cannot be ignored. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the injured, families displaced, schools reduced to rubble and neighborhoods targeted. These are not marks of self-defense but of collective punishment. IHL demands distinction and proportionality, yet in those 12 days, Iran witnessed indiscriminate strikes that deprived civilians of medical basic security, leaving lasting trauma. This aggression was not born in isolation. It was fueled by years of global silence in the face of Israeli violations in Palestine. When the international community failed to stand firmly against starvation in Gaza, Israel grew emboldened, expanding its attacks into Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, striking Iran in the 12-day war, and most recently targeting Qatar during a ceasefire meeting. We urge this Council and the international community to act, hold Israeli officials accountable, support ICC in this regard, and mandate independent investigations into the 12-day war. Ending the cycle of impunity is necessary. Thank you. I'm sorry, another video from the Global Institute for Water, Environment, and Health. Thank you, Mr. President. We cannot remain silent in the face of the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. Day after day, children, women, and the elderly are being deprived of the most basic rights to food, to water, to safety, and to life itself. What we are witnessing is not only a humanitarian catastrophe, it is a grave violation of the right to development and the collective failure of our human conscience. The continued blockades and bombardments have reduced entire communities to despair, leaving families with no access to clean water, food, or medical care. This Council must move beyond words. We call on the United Nations and all Member States to take urgent, concrete action to guarantee immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, protect civilians, and stop the ongoing tragedy and genocide. The right to development is meaningless if an entire population is left to starve and suffer. Gaza's people deserve dignity, security, and a future free from war and deprivation. The world is watching. History will judge us by whether we acted or whether we only spoke. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development. Mr. Vice President, in Nepal, we are alarmed by the killing of more than 70 people and the injury to more than 2,000 during the youth-led protests against corruption and inequality triggered by a social media ban. Security forces used unlawful and excessive force, including with live ammunition. Sixteen years after the armed conflict, the failure to deliver justice has entrenched impunity, enabling further abuses and deepening public mistrust. We urge Nepali authorities to ensure prompt and independent investigations with international support. In Pakistan, we call on authorities to end the systematic repression in Balochistan, where peaceful protesters face arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and excessive force. Rather than addressing long-standing grievances, the recently amended Anti-Terrorism Act further erodes judicial independence and fair trial guarantees and enables arbitrary action against human rights defenders. This danger is real. WHRDS like Dr. Maharang Baloch, faced terrorism charges and remain behind bars for their peaceful activism. In Indian-administered Kashmir, we call on authorities to uphold their international human rights obligations. Civic space in Kashmir has been dismantled. Books challenging official narratives are banned. Human rights defenders like Khurram Parvez and Irfan Maharaj remain unjustly detained. This repression is compounded by attempts to whitewash well-documented findings on mass graves, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. erasing the work of Kashmiri civil society, and shielding perpetrators from accountability. We urge this Council to monitor these situations closely and take decisive action to prevent further deterioration. Thank you. Now, we have a video message from the Traditional Medicine and Health Developers Society of the Iranians. The escalating conflicts in the Middle East reveal a disturbing pattern of persistent aggression that undermines regional peace and security. For Israel, aggression has become routine. The worn-out excuse of preemptive self-defense has dragged the region beyond the point of return, unleashing wars on civilians in Gaza, Yemen, and Iran, and now threatening to spread across the Middle East to advance exceptionist ambitions. While the genocide in Gaza had already sounded the alarm that no civilian in that region would ever be safe again, nearly two years later, 1,100 people lost their lives in just 12 days in Iran. The attacks on Iran not only violated the promptory norm prohibiting the use of force, but as evidenced by the number and identify of the casualties, also constitute serious breaches of the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law. Israeli streets on civilian area killed at least 126 women and 45 children, including Yasin Mahya and Sarvi. It is time for the world to act decisively and put an end to the impunity that continues to claim innocent lives. Inaction will let injustice overflow from the Middle East, endangering humanity everywhere. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Institute for Human Rights. Vice President, we note with great concern the rapid deterioration of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. which has already led to arrests and deepening repressions on both sides. In Yekaterinburg, during mass detentions, two brothers, Hussein and Ziyadin Safarov, were brutally tortured to death, their bodies bearing broken bones, severe injuries, and mutilation, while Russian authorities cynically claimed they died of heart problems. After this event in Russia, the Azerbaijan authorities backfired with the mirror arrests of Russian citizens. One such case is that of Anton Dratchev, a 41-year-old entrepreneur, father of two young children, and co-founder of Tech Company. He was among of eight Russian citizens arrested in Azerbaijan in July of this year on politically fabricated charges of drug smuggling. While the charges are clearly groundless and absurd, he remained under arrest in Baku until today. Credible reports and publicly available photo and video evidences indicate that Mr. Drachev, like others, was subjected to physical and psychological tortures at the time of detentions, forced to sign confessions under threats against his relatives, and humiliated in state-linked media outlets. We call on Azerbaijan to end this politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Anton Drachev and other arbitrary detained. Russian citizens, including political prisoners, among its own citizens. I think so. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Center for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy. Mr. President, we draw the Council's urgent attention to the alarming situation in Sindh, Pakistan, where enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrests have become a systematic tool of repression. State security forces routinely abduct, torture, and detain Sindhi political workers, human rights defenders, and journalists to silence dissent. These acts flagrantly violate Pakistan's obligation under the ICCPR, the Convention Against Torture, and Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Earlier this year, peaceful protests erupted against construction of new canals on the Indus River. In the village of Bijrani Leghari, police violence resulted in the killing of two activists, Afan Leghari and Zahid Leghari, injuring many and bulldozing of homes, shops, and schools. Following these protests, around 150 activists were abducted or arbitrarily detained, with many facing unfair trials in anti-terrorism courts, criminalizing dissent and denying due process. Tragically, the mother of one disappeared activist Activist Iftah Zai passed away this July after eight years of waiting for her son, without ever learning his fate. We urge this Council to call upon Pakistan to end enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, abolish the misuse of anti-terrorism courts against peaceful protests, facilitate international monitoring of human rights in Sindh. I thank you. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Association Haste O Ir. President, the President, I'm talking to my group of citizens, and go to the Shuar, the Shuar, the Shuar, the Shuar, the Shwar, the Shwar, the Shwar, the Shwar, the معناها أن تتماهى الأفكار مع الواقع، واليوم تغيرت الأيديولوجية، فأصبحت أصبح الواقع متماهي مع الأفكار، عندما يحدث ذلك يحرم المواطنون من خيارهم الحقيقي، وتصبح الديمقراطية خواء، هذا ما شاهدناه مع الاتحاد الأوروبي، فبمجرد أن يظهر مشروع التعاون. Systeme, where the decisions are made far away from the people, and it leads to the loss of the principle of the democratic direct democracy, which is the basis of the Swiss political culture. St. Jean. Video from the Democratic Party. Nelft, the attention, see the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, from their jobs after arrest, denied employment upon release, repeatedly rearrested and summoned, and subjected to travel restrictions and retaliation through their sons. Authorities denied them certificates of good conduct, preventing access to these basic rights while imposing arbitrary travel bans. Human rights defender Naji Fattil was arbitrarily dismissed just four months after being hired following government pressure. He was also denied a housing loan and summoned twice in one month as an intimidation tactic. Despite UN experts' calls to restore his rights, these violations persist. Another defender, Ali Al-Haji, remains under security surveillance and has been repeatedly arrested for demanding his rights and exposing violations in Bahraini prisons. Most recently, he faced new charges of unlawful assembly for documenting a pro-Palestine protest in Bahrain. We urge the Council to take immediate action to end reprisals against released prisoners in Bahrain and to hold the authorities accountable for these violations. Thank you. Association of Iranian Short Statured Adults. The attacks violated Article 2 of the UN Charter and the human rights of the Iranian people, including the rights to life, health, adequate housing, information, food, clean environment, cultural rights, rights of vulnerable groups, and the right to self-determination. The aggression caused the loss of about 1,100 human lives, including women and children, and enforced disappearances of several individuals. The unilateralism of Israel and the U.S. is putting a dangerous precedence in the world and is highly undermining the rule of negotiation and dialogue in conflict resolution. This echoes the statements of the UN experts who clearly condemned the attack, emphasizing that the timing of the attack destroyed peaceful resolution and reinforced the idea that power decides what is right. In addition, the experts announced that the responsible U.S. political and military leaders may also be liable for the international crime of aggression. Mr. President, we call on Human Rights Council to recognize the case of mass killing in June military aggression against Iran as a war crime and crime of aggression to bring the perpetrators to justice. Thank you. Now I give the floor to the representative of Edmund Rice International Limited. President, Edmund Rice International would like to express its thanks to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People for its annual report and for the study on Indigenous Peoples. and its data, in particular in terms of its disaggregated data. We'd like to welcome the information which illustrates the disproportionately high rates of suicide in this group. These alarming trends illustrate an urgent trend to deal with culturally sensitive areas. In this context, we'd like to emphasize the central role of data. When data are collected in respect of indigenous identity and disaggregated by indigeneity and age and involve young indigenous people in the process, they can be it into a tool to understand the profound causes of these realities. These participatory practices allow those who are responsible for policies can go beyond the figures, recognizing the experience and voices of indigenous people to design effective public policy. We believe that data shouldn't only take into account indigenous realities, it should empower them. Data should reflect their voices, experiences and perspectives, recognizing them as rights holders and confirming their participation, the basic cornerstone of the rights of the child. For this reason, we urge Member States to guarantee the full implication, involvement of indigenous children in all data collection procedures relating to them. Only by doing this, we can go beyond mere survival, ensuring the right to well-being and full participation in society. Thank you. I think I'm the representative of the Association pour les victimes du monde. Thank you, Chair. This month, Tamil farmers in Mylathumandu, particularly, marked 730 days of continuous protest this week as their peaceful struggle demanding the return of traditional grassing lands entered in third year at a rally held at Siddandi Junction. farmers, cattle herders, civil society organizations, parliamentarians, and members of the public gathered to demand the 3,025 hectares of land to be allocated back to local Tamils. Protest leaders stressed that the appeal was not only to the Sri Lankan government, but also to the international community, as Sri Lankan authorities have repeatedly ignored their calls. The farmers condemned Colombo's failure to deliver justice, despite two years of sustained non-violent struggle. In this contest, as our struggle completes two full years, we believe it will serve as a pressure upon the Sri Lankan government. We humbly appeal to you to provide us with a just solution, they said in a statement. The Tamil pastoral communities in Maitamandu, Matavani have faced decades of systematic land grabs where grazing grounds traditionally upon the farmers were seized and relocated under state book colonization schemes. Despite premises, the allocation of the pastoral lands remains stalled, leaving farmers struggling to sustain their livelihoods. We urge the Council members to condemn Sri Lankan state policy to occupation of Eelam Tamil lands, to refer Sri Lankans to the International Criminal Court, to propose a robust resolution under agenda 2. Thank you. Now we have a video from the Family Health Association of Iran. President, following Israel's unlawful act of aggression against Iran in June 2025, the economic and humanitarian pressures on the Iranian people have severely intensified. This act not only targeted vital infrastructure such as refineries, oil facilities, and nuclear centers but also reduced Iran's oil exports by 94%, causing nearly $120 million in daily losses. In addition to this aggression, sanctions against Iran were intensified with new major especially on the energy sector, which further increased pressure on the health system and restricted access to essential medicines. Not only was no aid provided by Western countries to rebuild infrastructure and assist the victims, but also new sanctions were imposed by the US. The sanctions deliberately targeted the most vulnerable, particularly patients and children. We have requested the HRCS monitoring mechanism to examine the sanctions following 12-day aggression against Iran as well as the country's inability to rebuild damaged infrastructures. We further call on the HRC and the international community to condemn the intensification of sanctions and demand that financial resources be allocated to help rebuild damage caused by war-related sanctions. Thank you. Okay, now I invite the representative of Civicus, World Alliance for Citizen Participation. Mr. Vice President, Civicus believes that the Council should play a more assertive role in preventing rather than reacting to human rights crises. In Indonesia, the civic space has sharply deteriorated amid the brutal crackdown on protests with impunity, arbitrary arrests, and ill treatment of peaceful protesters and unlawful use of force by both the police and the military. We are also concerned about the revisions to the military law and the proposed criminal procedure code revisions, which, if approved, will grant excessive powers to the police without adequate oversight mechanisms. Over 100 HRDs have faced arrest, intimidation, and physical attacks since the beginning of the year. In Kenya, a chilling crackdown on civil freedoms has continued unabated. State sanctions, abductions, and repression of protesters have continued, while authorities are severely restricting and criminalizing free speech online and offline. Reportedly, At least 1,500 people have been arbitrarily arrested since the protests began in June under trumped-up charges, including terrorism charges. While HRDs and CSOs face harassment, deportation, and disruption, in Turkey, civic space faces existential threats amid escalating censorship, arrests, and intimidation. Since March, nearly 2,000 people, including peaceful protesters, journalists, and lawyers, have been arbitrarily detained and face rushed mass trials. As a legal crackdown on the main opposition party continues to spark mobilization, authorities have met recent protests in Istanbul with bans, excessive force, social media throttling, and arrests. Civil calls on the Council to ensure responsive action on this country's situations in order to prevent further deterioration. We thank you. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation. Absent. Absent, okay. I invite the representative of Al-Barim Association for Charitable Work. Mr. President, members of the August Council, Palestine has been seeing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in terms of internal displacement. 1.9 million persons, that is 80% of Gaza population, is in internal displacement. Gaza Strip is going through a genocide in plain sight, leading that 1.9 million persons to leave their homes, 1.4 internally displaced persons are seeking shelter in UNRWA in inhumane conditions with one half of square meters allocated for each. Hospitals, schools, and humanitarian facilities have been targeted in a clear breach of the principle of the protection of civil objects. We call on you to stop the hostilities immediately, to lift the siege on Gaza Strip, and to allow humanitarian aid to access, to stop the Judaization of the West Bank and Jerusalem. Protecting the Palestinian people internationally and protecting its inalienable rights to life, dignity, and freedom are also sought. Thank you, Mr. President. I thank you. Now I have a video from Women's Network for Change. Dear President. Afsaneh Nadipour has been party to covering up the egregious human rights atrocities committed by the Islamic Republic of Iran for the better part of three decades. Her appointment to the advisory committee serves to soften the face of a government whose human rights violations are breaking disturbing records globally. Iran has the highest per capita use of the death penalty. Officials carried out 975 executions in 2024, a figure that disproportionately comprises Kurdish and Baluch ethnic minorities executed on bogus and trumped-up drug charges, and further includes people charged as minors. Executions are also accelerating at a record-setting pace, and the executions of women are at their highest rates in a decade. Over 841 people have been executed in the first eight months of 2025. Women are currently facing the death penalty for their peaceful social work and activism, and among the religiously persecuted Baha'i community, nearly two-thirds of those imprisoned in 2024 were women. Since January 2024, prisoners across the country have engaged in weekly hunger strikes, calling for an end to the spiraling execution campaign undertaken by the state. Human rights advocates have also revealed the government's systematic use of lethal violence, torture, and rape against prisoners and peaceful protesters detained in a network of black sites across the country. With state impunity for domestic and sexual violence, as well as forced child marriages, state policies have also fueled growing rates of preventable femicide. In 2024, 179 femicides were recorded in Iran, and keeping pace with this horrific trend, 74 femicides have been recorded in the first eight months of 2025. Thank you. OK, now I invite the representative of Association Culture Femme. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. 16 years after the war ended in Sri Lanka, militarization still shapes civilian life in Tamil homelands. significant amount of private land that was seized to establish military camps remains under military control, preventing displaced families from returning to their homes and livelihoods, which seems as a form of structural genocide. Uniformed and ex-uniformed officers continue to influence local administration. Previously, Major General Chandrasiri was appointed governor of the Northern Province. Rear Admiral Mohan Vijay Vikrama served as a governor of the Eastern Province for years. This pattern is compounded by rewarding alleged perpetrators with senior state and diplomatic roles. Accused war criminal Sampathu Yakonta, a former wing commander who publicly boasted of causing chaos during the Muli Vaikal assaults, was appointed as Secretary of Defense by President Anurakumara Disanayaka. Earlier military personnel As we earlier, military personnel credibility implicated in abuses were dispatched abroad as diplomats. Such postings launder reputation and obstruct accountability. We urge this Council and member states require full demilitarization of civil administration in Tamil homelands, insist Sri Lanka not appoint ex-military personnel as governors, secretaries, and ambassadors, pursue targeted sanctions and universal jurisdiction cases on alleged war criminals, and demilitarize the Tamil homelands and release land back to the owners. Thank you, Vice President. Thank you. Now I invite the representative for a joint statement of the Union of Arab Jurists. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. As we sit here, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Those who have not been killed are forcibly displaced with no safe place to flee. The Palestinian population has been subject to horrendous acts. A few days ago, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry made it clear in its report, "Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip." The commission's evidence clearly shows acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention. Since the start of the attacks, Palestinian people have suffered and died in great numbers, which grow as we speak. From the outset, the intent behind these attacks has been unmistakable. The killing of civilians, the infliction of serious harm, and the creation of conditions of life intended to destroy the population are acts of genocide. We welcome the commission's acknowledgment of genocide, long overdue. Such findings impose a legally binding obligation upon all states to prevent genocide, to ensure accountability, and to refrain from any actions that would contribute to these crimes. We recall that this Commission was established by the Council itself, and therefore its findings merit the Council's full implementation. We call upon the Human Rights Council and all UN member states to implement the Commission's recommendations without delay, to ensure the protection of civilians, and to work toward accountability for those responsible. Justice and humanity demand nothing less. The world is watching you. Thank you. I thank you. Now we have a video from Payam Avaran Hamyari. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, during the recent unlawful military aggression against the territory of Iran, it was not only hospitals but also community-based treatment and harm reduction centers, many run by NGOs, that continued their work under fire. Despite the tragic loss of health workers and missiles striking medical facilities, civil society organizations and their staff refused to leave the people behind. Services for those most vulnerable, people in recovery, the homeless, the marginalized groups were never interrupted. For individuals in recovery from substance abuse, the war brought more than the fear of missiles. It reopened deep psychological wounds, anxiety, fear of survival, and relapse risk. Many faced renewed vulnerability, not because care was absent, but because war magnifies human fragility. This resilience is not the achievement of institutions alone, but dedicated health workers, social workers, and volunteers who stood side by side with their communities. Their courage demonstrates the essential role of NGOs in safeguarding the right to health during conflict. We therefore urge this Council to recognize that accountability for war crimes must include violations of the right to health, particularly mental health, and to guarantee special protection for health facilities, health workers, and NGOs operating in conflict zones. I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Youth Parliament for SDG. Thank you, Vice President. May the peace of God be with you. I am here today to bear the voice of Sudanese women who are suffering from the bitter cruelty of war, and I am here to break the silence. The image of the Kismar girl who was killed at the hands and in the presence of a militia have shaken the world. The additional crime which concerned a girl of six-year-old of six years as well. Such threats are affecting the lives of around 4 million people, and there are crimes on the basis of discrimination against women, and civilians are taken as targets. and there is sexual violence against them. We invite this Council to condemn in a clear-cut fashion crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces militia, and we call for a swift investigation under the aegis of the Council in order to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Thirdly... We urge you to condemn the practices of the United Arab Emirates as they are the main sponsors behind these acts. Ladies and gentlemen, the President interrupts the development. Mr. President, what is unfolding in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is not a distant crisis. It is the lived reality of millions. They face killings without accountability, disappearances without answers, and detentions without justice. Since the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th August 2019, militarization of civilian spaces has only deepened. Demographic engineering continues in direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and binding UN resolutions. Thousands of political prisoners, including political leaders, Masood Alam Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Yasin Malik, Naeem Khan, as well as minors, remain in overcrowded prisons without due process. Human rights defenders such as Khurram Parvez and Irfan Meheraj are unlawfully detained. On 5th August 2025, books were banned in Jammu and Kashmir, the very date marking the abrogation of Article 370. This act was not coincidental. It symbolized cultural erasure, an attempt to suppress memory and identity of Kashmiri people. The recent custodial killing of Firdous Ahmed Mir, a father of three from Bandipora, underscores the brutality of Indian occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Since the Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025, Indian forces have martyred 44 Kashmiris, arrested over 3,000 people and demolished 80 plus homes. We urge this council to hold India accountable, demand the release of all prisoners, and safeguard Kashmir's fundamental rights and identity. I thank you, Mr. President. Okay, now we have a video from the Youth in Technology and Arts Network. Thank you, Mr. President. We draw attention to the ongoing suffering of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, especially those in India, and the persistent human rights violations that continue to haunt them decades after fleeing their homeland. Over 100,000 Tamil refugees remain in India, with 70,000 in 103 camps across Tamil Nadu. Many faced violence in the '80s and '90s, and recent reports of mass graves have re-traumatized survivors, reigniting fears about the fate of their loved ones. Mr. President, in Sri Lanka, two generations have grown up in exile, Attempts to return have proven dangerous. Recent cases include a 70-year-old arrested upon arrival in Sri Lanka and another returnee detained months later. These incidents underscore the Sri Lankan government's failure to ensure their safe repatriation. We respect and recognize the current government's commitment to reform. Despite their effort of reform, the serious issues such as corruption, but not the root cause of the ethnic Tamil issues, hasn't been addressed yet. Meanwhile, the families of the forcibly disappeared continue to protest, demanding truth and justice. Repeal of PTA, militarization, and intimidation persist, making safe, dignified return of impossible. We therefore urgently call of the appointment of country-specific special rapporteur for Sri Lanka to investigate ongoing violation, mass graves and enforced disappearances, facilitate the safe, voluntary return of refugees, ensure justice and accountability for victims of terrorism, families. Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Étudiant pour une société durable, Paris. Absent. Then I invite the representative of Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety. Mr. President. wish to draw your attention to the worsening situation of the fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan. Today, there are an unlawful ban of freedom of assembly and association. Civil group, opposition, and ordinary citizens are denied the right to hold peaceful demonstrations to defend their social and economic rights. Independent NGOs are refused registration and blocked from international funding. The restrictions have destroyed the foundations of the civil society. The same pressure is used against the independent press. In the last two and a half years, more than 40 journalists have been arrested on false, politically motivated charges. Their only crime has been to expose corruption and report on violation of social and economic rights. The crackdown also targeted political opposition. Tofik Yagublu, a veteran opposition leader, remains in prison on fabricated charges. Ali Karimli, head of the Popular Front Party, leading opposition party, is arbitrarily denied a passport, stopping him from traveling abroad and speaking with international partners. Yesterday, the Government of Azerbaijan extended the so-called quarantine regime of COVID-19 until January 2026, keeping borders closed and mismanaging the pandemic. misusing it as a tool to restrict the freedom of movement for the millions of Azerbaijanis. We urge the Council to closely monitor the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and ensure the country respects its international obligations. I thank you. Thank you. Now we have a video from the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. Mr. President, today we stand at a crossroads in history, where girls' mental health is a crisis unfolding before our eyes. The principles set by UN's Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness insist that mental health is not a privilege, it is a right. Yet, for millions of girls across the globe, this right is being trampled on. The statistics are undeniable and heartbreaking. According to WHO, one in seven adolescents experiences a mental disorder. A quarter of girls have self-harmed. Suicide is the third most common reason for girls to contact Childline. A UCLA health study revealed that girls are at far more risk than boys. They face greater risks of depression, anxiety, and self-harm, exacerbated by societal pressures, gender inequality, and harassment, both online and in person. Yet, mental health services remain severely underfunded, especially in low-income areas, marginalized, and indigenous communities. It is not enough to acknowledge the problem. We must act with resolve. This is why the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd urges Member States to invest in structured support systems that include accessible, gender-sensitive health care for girls at school and safe spaces. Behind every statistic is a girl, her voice, her future, and her dreams. We cannot let societal apathy, outdated policies, and bureaucracy stand in the way of her potential. The time to act is now. OK, another video from the Centre du Commerce International pour le Développement. Mr. President, military operations have displaced more than 8 million people internally and externally since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, according to the United Nations report. However, what occurred in West Darfur in particular cannot merely be described as wartime displacement, rather it amounts to systematic ethnic cleansing, especially given the targeted nature of the attacks against specific ethnic groups and the forcible eviction of communities. to make way for army-aligned groups. Today, the human rights defenders, activists, and journalists face systematic campaigns of arrest and forced disappearance and physical by security agencies affiliated by the army. Headquarters of humanitarian organizations have been raided, their assets confiscated, and communication and internet services have been cut off in conflict zones to hinder documentation efforts and suppress freedom of expression. For the organization, there is no military solution of the Sudanese crisis. We demand First, the extension, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan to include an independent investigative mechanism into crime committed since 2023. Two, accelerate the activation of the international accountability mechanism, including referral to the International Criminal Court, particularly for crime committed in Darfur and Al-Jazira. Three, call for an immediate ceasefire and ensure the safety of journalists and activists and lift the ban on independent media, and of course, unrestricted Now we have a video from the Association Droit et Talents de Femmes. This is Kaushalya Naren from Sri Lanka, attorney at law. Today there has been neither justice nor accountability for our crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by Sri Lanka 16 years ago against the Tamil Eelam people during the final stage of the war. As the Committee on Enforced Disappearances reviews Sri Lanka this week, we take the opportunity to share the following recommendations to the State and the Committee members. First one, urging the establishment of the team and international expert to mandate under the International Burgham, the protocol on North Bay protection with investigation to the overseas, the perfection and investigation of the ongoing mass grave and exhibition in the Chamanis and other mass grave in Northern East Sri Lanka. Second, fully complete with the international standard including the MIMOSTA protocol in investigation the Chamanis mass grave and other mass grave in Northern East Sri Lanka. Third, engage independent international forensic experts and human rights observers to ensure the independence and quality credibility of the investigation. Fourth, support Tamil families to preserve their records and document all evidence to support future efforts towards criminal accountability. Fifth, establish an independent special office to investigate and prosecute serious crimes by the state, including enforced disappearances, with adequate resources, expertise, and international support. Finally, publish notes of findings from all past and present ongoing investigations promoting transparency and the truth. We urge the Council member to refer the Sri Lanka to the ICC and appoint a country-specific special rapporteur for Sri Lanka and Agenda 4. These steps are crucial at least the root cause of the conflict. Thank you. Now we have a video from the Association pour la Prevention et la Solidarite Internationale. which are today there has been neither justice nor accountability for nor crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal committee committed by Sri Lanka six years ago against the we invite the United Nations special advisor on the prevention of genocide, professor Virginia Gamba and on RTP, MME, Mobliker. Issue a public statement done unequally equally recognizes the genocidal nature of Sri Lanka's actions in one and calls on all UN member states to fulfill the legal obligations under the genocidal convention and broader international law by taking immediate and concrete steps to prevent further acts of genocide. briefed the UN Secretary General and the Security Council on the situation in the occupied Tamil Eelam in the north and east of Sri Lanka, the nature of the acts being committed, and the international community's legal obligations to prevent further atrocity crimes. actively engage with UN member states particularly those with influence to urge the use of all available diplomatic legal and economic measures to ensure respect from international law compel Sri Lanka to halt ongoing militarization violations and to prevent further escalations of atrocity crimes against the Eelam Tamils advocate for and support independent international investigations into atrocity crimes committed against the Eelam Tamils including by acknowledging the findings of the different report of OHCHR inquiries that Sri Lankan authorities have committed genocidal acts against the Eelam Tamils we kindly urge the recognized to the failure of United Nations to prevent the Tamils from genocide and now take the responsibility to propose appropriate measures in order to protect Eelam Tamils for ongoing genocide. We urge the Council members to refer Sri Lanka to ICC and appoint a country-specific special rapporteur from Sri Lanka under the agenda 4. Thank you. We have a video now from the Institute for Protection of Women's Rights. of Women's Rights, as a member of Iran's civil society, draws the attention of the members of the Council to the war crime committed by the occupying power of Israel in its attack on Evin Prison in Tehran. On June 23, the occupying power of Israel, in a criminal act, carried out a direct military attack on Evin Prison in Tehran during the family visitation hour. This military airstrike not only resulted in the killing of countless prisoners, their families, social workers, and prison staff, but also severely damaged vital infrastructure, including the prison's medical and health facilities. This military action constitutes a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and peremptory norms of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles enshrined in the four Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols. The attack on Evin Prison disregards these principles and directly contradicts the rule of distinction between military and civilian targets in armed conflict. Therefore, recalling the report of Amnesty International, this attack may be examined under international criminal law as a war crime, and the criminal responsibility of its commanders and perpetrators can be brought before international bodies such as the International Criminal Court. We urge the members of the Human Rights Council to explicitly condemn the attacks by the occupying power of Israel against the people of Iran and to utilize human rights mechanisms to address the dimensions of human rights and humanitarian law violations resulting from this aggressive assault. Okay, now I invite the representative of Comité international de coordination humanitaire. Absent. Then we have a video with a joint statement from Association des jeunes du village. Sri Lanka remains repressed under the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite the president campaign promise to dismantle draconian laws and expand democratic rights. Wickremesinghe and his National People's Power coalition came to power in late 2024, vowing to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act, roll back abusive provisions of the Online Safety Act, and establish an independent prosecution body. Yet one year into his presidency, watchdogs warn the repression has only deepened. Despite constitutionally guaranteed peaceful assembly, Sri Lankan police have repeatedly cracked down on demonstrations. Tamil organisations of protest face ongoing judicial harassment, with more than 3,000 people still tied up in unresolved cases. Sri Lankan police banned and blocked Tamil memorialisation. Even protests were beaten back off the streets and threatened with long-term restrictions. Tamil journalists have also faced attacks and intimidation. Tamil journalist Selvakumar Nillanthan was arrested in Batticaloa, while Ennatha Murugaiya, a Tamil journalist, was violently attacked in Kulunochchi. In August, photojournalist Kanavelapillai Kumaran was summoned the case of reporting on the Chamanee Mass Grave. Despite overwhelming evidence of mass destruction committed during the genocide war, Colombo continues to resist meaningful accountability. Instead, the government maintains institutions such as the Office of Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations, which victims' families have dismissed as cosmetic. We urge the Council members to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court, to propose a rebust resolution under Agenda 2, appointing a country-specific rapporteur for Sri Lanka under Agenda 4. Now I invite the representative of Association Esporte de Société pour le Développement Durable. Thank you, President Vanakam. We invite EU countries to stop being complicit in the ongoing genocide against Eelam Tamils and suspend all aid and benefit such as the GSP granted to Sri Lanka. Provide support and assistance to activities in Tamil human rights defenders, Tamil victim, and the Tamil survivors. Ensure that all economic and development assistance to Sri Lanka complies with the rigorous conflict sensitivity and human rights guidelines, including by ensuring that disadvantage of Eelam Tamils. We urge the members state of to the Council to support international forensic investigation to all suspect massacre sites in Tamil homeland with the participation of UN-accorded forensic expert and official of the OLSP with the extended mandate to include genocide; recommend the the UN General Assembly through the Fourth Committee that the Tamil homeland recognize as a non-self-governing territory, recognize the right self-determination of Tamil Eelam Tamils and the United Nation monitored independent referendum to the Tamil homeland. Recommend the establishment of a special tribunal for Sri Lanka through the UN Security Council with the mandate of investigating and prosecuting international crime committed against the Tamil people since 1974. Thank you, Nandri. Thank you. I missed. Now we have a video message with a joint statement from Medici to IN, a development concert. We would like to draw your attention to the deeply discriminatory treatment given by the Swiss Embassy to Sri Lanka and India in order to facilitate access for Tamil human rights defenders coming from Sri Lanka and India to human rights mechanisms. We are several organizations who have ECOSOC status and in partnership with the network of eight associations of the families of victims of enforced disappearance. But many visa requests have been denied in the past, and they continue to be treated in an arbitrary fashion when it comes to requests for visas in order to attend Human Rights Council sessions. President, we'd like to have the contacts for a focal point for human rights within the Swiss embassy to Colombo and Chennai, because the people who we invite, the victims we invite, do not have the possibility to make preliminary procedures via internet. and to set an appointment through that in Jaffna or Colombo. And often our partner associations register via the Indico system of the United Nations, and we get UNOG letters and badges within 20 days. But normally participants for Human Rights Council sessions should receive visas within 48 hours, but unfortunately that process is not being applied to Tamil human rights defenders. And some activists have in fact been told not to come to the Council and to come with different civil society. Thank you. Okay. Dear colleagues, dear participants, this brings us to the end of this meeting. We will reconvene after a very short technical break to continue with this general debate under agenda item 4, to be followed by the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People and the closed meeting on the complaint procedure. So therefore, I close the 23rd meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.