24th Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council Human Rights Council Date: 23 September 2025 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/hrc/60/24 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- HRC · Vice-President [0:01]: Muy buenas tardes. Very good afternoon. I hereby declare open the 24th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. Excellencies, distinguished participants, we will now move to the list of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. I give the floor to... Association de Solidarité des Étudiants de Bordeaux. Please go ahead. Association de Solidarité des Étudiants de Bordeaux [0:34]: Thank you, Chair. Tamil activists in the Northeast continues to face harassment, surveillance, and legal intimidations. Tamil human rights defenders such as Tambirasa Silvarani, who campaigns for justice for the disappeared in Ambare, and women's rights organizer Vasuki Vallipuram in Kulinachi, were summoned and interrogated by counterterrorism police. Civil society organizations are subjected to heavy scrutiny by intelligence services, particularly over funding, and must secure security clearance from the Ministry of Defense in order to operate. This militarized oversight risks repression of dissenting voices and is a direct violation of international obligations under the ICCPR. In May 2020, police banned and blocked memorialization events. Reports note protesters were beaten, dragged off the streets, and threatened with long-term restrictions. Eelam Tamils continue to face criminalization for remembrance. In Jaffna, Manoharan Gajendran Ruban was arrested under the PTA for posting a photo of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Facebook during Maviranal. Others were charged simply for sharing old videos of commemoration online. We urge the council members. To refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court to propose a robust resolution under Agenda Two, appoint a country-specific special rapporteur for Sri Lanka under Agenda Four. HRC · Vice-President [2:05]: Thank you. Thank you. Next, Savon Centre for Human Rights and International Relations. In absence. I continue with Society for Development and Community Empowerment. Society for Development and Community Empowerment [2:44]: Thank you, Vice President. Panchamali and also known as a depression class lands, approximately 1.2 million acres were allocated toward the marginalized community people, especially scheduled caste people by the British government in 19th century to improve these people's socioeconomic condition, which are also propagated, sold to anyone outside of this community people. Unfortunately, most of the lands were sold and utilized illegally by the government, illegally outside of the There was a huge scam happened in a land conversion from DC land to common land in the past few years by the ruling all governments. Governments utilized the scam and misused the lands by selling some part of the lands or leasing the land to corporate companies, individuals, industry works and more by canvassing the public as it was state development process. Multiple authorities such as a registrar, VAO and surveyor were involved in the scam and record of the land are not available in online for the verification procedure. In order to return those panchami lands... and hand over the rightful distribution land to landless, scheduled caste communities to government take some necessary steps, cancel all the lease done in the past. Mr. Vice President, approximately 16 million scheduled caste people life will be developed if the land use in approximately. Mr. President, we would like to bring the attention of the council that Hey Kalavan, Ravana Media, your senior journalist from Tamil Nadu and many other media outlets have been continuously receiving the threat from the state government. Mr. President, we urge the United Nations Human Rights Commission to direct the Tamil Nadu State Government and Union of Central Government to make immediate action against and hand over those lands to rightful people who are struggling to live their normal life. HRC · Vice-President [4:19]: Thank you. I'd just like to take this opportunity to ask you to please speak slowly, to go easy on our poor interpreters. Thank you very much. Next, International Institute for Rights and Development. IRDG [4:39]: Thank you for the floor. I speak on behalf of IRDG and Euromed Human Rights Monitor, a voice for Gaza, long silenced. I speak of the genocide you refuse to name. If this is not genocide, then what is? Or must international law be rewritten only to absorb Israel, yet again? In this genocide, Israel erases truth and evidence, dismantles accountability structures, blocks smears and defunds civil society, kills journalists and UN staff. But nothing said here will matter. No words can equal the horrors in Gaza you watched, yet you chose to ignore. And you have known. You knew your arms fell on the defenseless in the name of self-defense. You knew your trade, diplomacy, and silence, invoked as security and civilization, wrapped in historic guilt for the past, but blind to the present. Your territory became a channel of the crime, not a barrier to it as international law demands. A few may sit here sincerely debating human rights, but to all others I ask, was normalizing genocide really worth it? Now to the people of conscience in your countries, thank you for your moral courage. Keep questioning, marching, demanding arms embargoes, boycotts, divestment and accountability. Cast your votes for justice at every opportunity, for every vote is a stand that matters. HRC · Vice-President [6:08]: Thank you very much. Next, Fundación ABBA Colombia. Fundación ABBA Colombia [6:16]: La Fundación Aba Colombia asks the Human Rights Council to pay particular attention in the current situation facing different communities in Colombia, including indigenous communities, people of African descent, victims of armed conflict, the displaced, and migrants, and how their human rights are being violated. in the quest for justice and remedy. Abacal reiterates that the most marginalized communities must be given priority, and there should be a rejection of any kind of attack against civil society which is striving to establish peace in Colombia. On the current situation internationally in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abacalumbia calls the Council to focus on and reject the attack that occurred on the 13th of June 2025 with direct aggression civilians in various areas of Iran. Avocall appeals for respect for human life and reiterates that a war of aggression is a crime against international peace. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [7:31]: Thank you. We'll continue with Abshar Atefeha Charity Institute. Abshar Atefeha Charity Institute [7:38]: Mr. President, we are greatly concerned by the Israel's aggression against Iran in June, a military action that we believe constitutes a serious violation of international law and humanitarian principles. Firstly, the attack directly contravenes the principle of distinction in international humanitarian law. Reports suggest that this principle was disregarded, leading to the targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Secondly, this aggression violates the principle of proportionality. This principle prohibits attacks that cause disproportionate incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, or damage to civilian. Evidence points to extensive civilian harm that cannot be justified by any alleged military gain. Finally, the aggression is an assault on fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life and security of person. The indiscriminate nature of the attack, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives, represents a severe breach of these inalienable rights. The establishment of an independent commission of inquiry is therefore essential to document these violations, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable. These crucial steps is necessary to uphold justice, prevent impunity, and reaffirm our collective commitment to a world governed by law. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [9:07]: Thank you very much. Next, MHR. MHR [9:16]: The tragic Pahalgam attack of 22 April is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address. Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Such acts of violence not only claim innocent lives, but also undermine efforts to build peace, stability and trust in our region. The presence of groups that radicalize and exploit vulnerable youth remain a serious challenge. These networks thrive on safe environments and resources that enable to plan, recruit, and carry out attacks. The international community has recognized some of these entities as global terrorist organizations, underscoring the need for collective vigilance. The Pahalgam attack, which cruelly targeted pilgrims and tourists, reveals the devastating human cost of extremism. To honor the memory of the victims, we must strengthen our joint resolve. Lasting peace and security will only be possible when the global community works together to dismantle terror infrastructures, hold their enablers accountable, and promote dialogue, reconciliation, and cooperation across the region. HRC · Vice-President [10:46]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. We continue with United Villages. United Villages [10:52]: Madam Vice-President. Madam Vice-Chair, the world is facing a worrying aggravation of humanitarian crises led by armed conflict, climate catastrophe and food insecurity. The report on global humanitarian perspectives of 2025, published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, confirms that over 305 million people in the world need assistance and protection. And yet the challenges connected to channeling aid and assistance are multiplying and the number of civilian victims rising. The politicization of humanitarian action remains one of the major crises that compromises the efficiency of the response and harms human dignity. And it means that it is indispensable to preserve independence and neutrality of the UN in keeping with fundamental principles. Against this backdrop, several countries, including the UAE, have stepped in as models to combine humanitarian aid and sustainable development whilst maintaining A commitment to separate humanitarian assistance from political agenda. Since 1971, the Emirates have provided $100 billion to support 200 countries, including a billion for people who have benefited from support in the healthcare sector, education, infrastructure and clean energy. Madam Vice-President, we recommend the Council to strengthen coordination across UN agencies in order to guarantee a neutral response in the face of human rights violations. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [12:19]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. We continue with Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights. Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights [12:26]: Madam Vice President, mental health is a fundamental pillar for safeguarding human dignity and well-being. With more than 1 billion people worldwide suffering from mental disorders, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive human rights-based strategy that promotes prevention and empowerment and provides supportive, non-discriminatory environments in workplaces and educational institutions. United Nations reports emphasize the importance of integrating mental health into occupational safety and health standards, as well as ensuring a balance between professional and personal life. In this context, United Arab Emirates has placed strong emphasis on mental health through Federal Law No. 10 of 2023, which guarantees the dignity and rights of mental health patients, National Strategy for Quality of Life 2031, and National Policy for the Promotion of Mental Health. The UAE has integrated psychosocial support services into primary healthcare, education, and the workplace, launched smart platforms and 24/7 support hotlines, hosted international events in partnership with World Health Organization, and topped global indicators on psychological well-being, while strengthening international partnerships to ensure mentally healthy work environments. Accordingly, we'll call upon this esteemed council to place mental health at the forefront of its agenda, to develop international legislation protecting privacy in this field, to issue a United declaration in this regard and to enhance international cooperation to develop psychological and community support programs for vulnerable groups. Thank you, Madam Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [13:58]: Thank you very much. Then I'll continue with Egypt, Peace for Development and Human Rights. Egypt Peace for Development and Human Rights [14:10]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. Sudan is seeing a dangerous escalation of violence and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, notably Darfur and central areas. These are violations with war crimes and crimes against humanity, with more than 440 civilians, including 337 who were killed during a massacre in Kumbotaba, as well as hundreds of injured. and displaced. The Sudanese army is oppressing human rights defenders and journalists by resorting to arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance and restricting freedom of expression, creating obstacles in the path of communication and restricting accountability. Madam Vice-President, we call on the Council to condemn these violations And regarding the independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan, we would like to see reporting on the crimes that have taken place since 2023 and referring this case to the International Criminal Court in order to protect journalists and engage in accountability. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [15:39]: Thank you. I turn to Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism. Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism [15:46]: Mr. President, Israel imposed an inhuman war on 13th June 2025 against Iran. This act was a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the fundamental principles of the international law, which led to the beginning of a 12-day armed conflict. During the war, residential areas, Hospitals, infrastructure, schools, kindergartens, emergency personnel, nuclear facilities, and prisons were deliberately targeted. According to official statistics, more than 1,000 civilians were killed, including 126 women and 47 children, and about 6,000 were wounded. In accordance with the universal principles of human rights, any attack on civilians during the armed conflict is inhuman and a gross violation of international humanitarian law that cannot be defensible under any circumstances. So we call upon the Human Rights Council to, one, establish an independent international fact-finding mission to document and collect evidence regarding these crimes. Two, ask the Special Rapporteur on Iran and other relevant thematic mandate holders to independently report on the war in their forthcoming reports. Three, deploy all efforts to prevent the recurrence of the blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions and committing crimes against humanity by Israel. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [17:16]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. And I give the floor to United for Human Rights. En ausencia, absent, will continue with international support for human rights. Ausente, also absent. Africa, Culture International. Speaker 22 [17:42]: Africa. Africa Culture International [17:43]: Madam Vice President, Africa Culture International would like to report to this Council the serious violations of human rights committed as part of the Peace Holidays program. This is presented as humanitarian initiative, but it's instrumentalized by the armed group of the Polisario Front for political and ideological ends. Under the pretext of a temporary stay with families in Europe, notably in Spain, these children are forcibly taken from Tindouf camps and exposed to forms of indoctrination. And this is a flagrant violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and is an intolerable exploitation of their innocence and vulnerability. These children are hostages of propaganda used by the Polisario and supported to legitimate their illegitimate political aims. and flouting the fundamental rights of these children, the right to education, right to identity, right to protection against all forms of traffic and exploitation. We call on the Council to investigate into these violations and to halt this instrumentalization of children and call on the Polisario Front to be held to account before the international community for these practices. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [19:05]: Gracias. Thank you. We continue with Global Appreciation Skills Training Network. In ausencia, absent. Next, Alliance Creative Community Project. Alliance Creative Community Project [19:21]: President, distinguished delegates, I speak on behalf of the Tamil Rights Group in solidarity with Tamil survivors of atrocity crimes in Sri Lanka. 15 years after the war, justice remains elusive, despite credible evidence of war crimes crimes against humanity, and mounting evidence of genocide. The recent discovery of the Chamaney mass grave with 240 skeletons, including children, is a stark reminder of the crimes Sri Lanka has concealed for decades. Linked to enforced disappearances, Chamaney is not just a site of atrocity, but a testament of the genocide of Tamils. Survivors and families of the disappeared still suffer, while impunity remains absolute. We urge the Council to strengthen and extend the mandate of the Sri Lanka Accountability Project, enabling it to preserve evidence from Chamanee and other sites and produce prosecution-ready case files. OSLAP must operate with the same independence as the IIIM for Syria and the IIWM for Myanmar. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [20:32]: Thank you very much. Next, Syrid, please. Absent. World Muslim Congress. World Muslim Congress [20:45]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. The World Muslim Congress brings to this Council's urgent attention the systematic dismantling of human rights and identity in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Since the events of August 2019, the situation has deteriorated dramatically. Disturbingly, thousands of Kashmiris lie in unmarked graves, as documented by the Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, with mass grave sites continuing to grow. Over 5,000 Kashmiris Some as young as 16 are detained under draconian laws like the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Prominent political leaders, including Yasin Malik, Asia Andrabi, Ayaz Akbar, Shabir Shah, Masarat Alam, Naeem Ahmad Khan, and many others are held in Tihar Jail under harsh conditions. Concurrently, a rapid demographic change is underway. The Indian government has issued over 4.2 million domicile certificates to non-Kashmiris since 2020. For three decades, a culture of impunity has prevailed, leading to an estimated 100,000 deaths, 8,000 enforced disappearances, and widespread sexual violence. Gracias. Speaker 28 [22:22]: Denim, OK. More than a decade and a half after the end of war in Sri Lanka, hundreds of Tamil political prisoners remain incarcerated under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act. According to recent reports by People's Dispatch and Counter Currents, over 200 Tamil detainees are held in prisons and detention centers across the country, many for decades. Some have never been charged. Others are held without trial or conviction. At the same time, Tamil journalists and human defenders face escalating harassment. In August 2025, Kanabadi Pulay Kumanan, a respected photojournalist and president of the Mulethivu Press Club, was summoned by the Counterterrorism Investigation Division, widely seen as intimidation for his reporting on the Chemmanai mass graves excavation in the Northern Province. His work, documenting the recovery of over 240 skeletal remains, has been vital for truth and accountability. Yet, he's targeted instead of protected. These incidents take place with a broader context in which Tamil journalists and activists are frequently subjected to intimidation, questioning, surveillance, and at times, legal action for publicizing remembrance events on social media. We urge this Council to press Sri Lanka to immediately release long-term political prisoners held without conviction, repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and reprisals. Gracias. HRC · Vice-President [24:06]: Thank you. We will move to the next speaker. Next, we have Réveil Communautaire d'Assistance aux Victimes. Ausencia. Absent. We'll continue with Zéro Pauvre Afrique. Zéro Pauvre Afrique [24:24]: Mr. President, there is growing documented evidence of Sudanese army and allied militia using chemical and internationally prohibited weapons. According to eyewitness testimonies, medical personnel, and human rights organizations, civilian areas were targeted in 2024 and early 2025 with bombs and shells emitting suffocating gases with pungent odors, causing symptoms of and horrible burns, acts that amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute. Mr. President, in addition to the chemical weapons deployed by the Sudanese army, the army has used cluster munition and internationally banned incendiary weapons. More than 129 bombs have been documented, accompanied by unusual phenomena, such as victims being burned, disfigured, and swollen. These attacks triggered mass displacements and inflicted severe psychological and physical trauma, compounding and suffering and depriving them from essential care. Such acts constitute a flagrant violation of Chemical Weapons Convention and international humanitarian law. Mr. President, we urge this esteemed Council to condemn these crimes and to launch an independent international investigation that includes field visits and forensic evidence analysis, and to refer the Sudanese case to the International Criminal Court. We must further call for imposition of international sanctions on those responsible, the provision of Medical and psychological support for survivors and adaptation of the size of many. HRC · Vice-President [25:58]: Thank you very much. We're going to move on to the next speaker. The next speaker is. Rezo, unité pour le développement de Mauritanie. Réseau Unité pour le Développement de Mauritanie [26:20]: The Tindouf refugee camps, located in southwestern Algeria, are administered and controlled entirely by the Polisario, an armed military group. We want an immediate intervention with regard to the extrajudicial execution by the Algeria-supported Polisario. This includes extrajudicial killings by the Algerian army against Sahrawi civilians in the Tindouf camps. And our organization has registered above 21 cases of extrajudicial killings since 2014, with the Sahrawi youth have been among the largest segment that is targeted. This is beyond any kind of adherence to the law and a targeting of vulnerable populations without any investigation or judicial prosecution. These are grave violations, the murder of 21 people, because these are grave violations of human rights in the camps and require immediate action by the HRC to get Algeria to work with the treaty bodies and other human rights mechanisms to investigate these crimes perpetrated by the police, or the Algerian army, and to conduct clear, independent investigations. HRC · Vice-President [27:43]: Thank you. I have to stop you there. Next speaker, Juventum EV, please. Juventum EV [27:51]: Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Educational NGO for sustainability, Juventum, is honored to participate. History repeats itself. Over and over again, self-serving leaders appear and bring other people's lives into misery, such as wars, genocides, and famines. We hear the arguments justifying the use of nuclear weapons, landmines, cluster munitions, and so on. We are walking history backward. Meanwhile, the environment is degraded faster than the efforts to protect it. Our food is getting more radioactive and chemically toxic. Children witness that justice is defeated by greed. Where are empathy and compassion? We must restore justice and common sense to build a better world. We must keep confirming that the human rights-based approach is the best way to peace, development, and sustainability. We propose that all UN member states should be mandated to integrate the human rights education into their school curricula. The outcomes should be assessed through international rankings. Compliance should also be a prerequisite for candidacy to the Human Rights Council. We need a clear and decisive resolution to guide the UN membership toward a more humane and compassionate future. Thank you very much for your attention. HRC · Vice-President [29:19]: Thank you very much. Next speaker, Center for Inquiry. Center for Inquiry [29:26]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. What is the crime of Ibtissam Lashgar? Did she loot public funds? Did she conduct any aggression against anybody? No, her crime is to challenge religious authority with a simple expressive gesture, trying to express her opinion differently. But Morocco has arrested her and sentenced her to two years and a half in prison on a blasphemy charge. And in the neighborhood in Algeria, the situation is even darker. Boualem Sansal, a globally known writer at the age of above 70 years who is fighting cancer, he has been sentenced to five years. These are not isolated cases. These are systematic attacks on freedom of expression. Both Morocco and Algeria criminalize what they consider a denigration of Islam. even if denigration, as is known by linguists and philosophers and jurists, is vague and very hard to pin down. When it comes to Algeria, it adds new laws about national security in order to muzzle dissent. The HRC today is before an important question: Are we here to defend human rights as universal rights, or to justify religious and cultural exceptions that violate these rights? We call for the cancellation of all blasphemy laws because they are not legitimate and are used simply to muzzle dissenting. HRC · Vice-President [30:58]: -- Thank you very much. We'll continue with the next speaker. is PDES. PDES [31:05]: President, our organization expresses its deep concern over the persistence of enforced disappearances in Algeria, including in the Tindouf camps. For more than two decades, Algeria has consistently refused to authorize visits by the Working Group, despite repeated requests since 2000. According to the reports presented at the 60th session, over 3,300 cases have been transmitted concerning Algeria since 1980, the majority of which remain pending, confirming the serious and persistence of this phenomenon. Furthermore, Algeria has yet to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Unforced Disappearances. In the Tindouf camps under the control of the Polisario Front, many families continue to demand truth and justice for their disappeared relatives. The situation has worsened with the implementation of the so-called Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation. which penalize anyone seeking truth and justice, exposing families to threats and even new evaluations. We call on the Human Rights Council and the Working Group to intensify pressure on Algeria to finally allow an official visit, demand the immediate ratification of the International Convention against Enforced Disappearances, ensure independent and impartial investigations into all disappearances, including those in the Tindouf camps, guarantee the protection of families and defenders who Muchas gracias. HRC · Vice-President [32:32]: Thank you very much. Next, Fondation Secours Humanitaire. Fondation Secours Humanitaire [32:40]: Madame Vice President, the challenges faced by civilians in armed conflicts extend far beyond the immediate loss of life. They encompass the destruction of basic life necessities, from education to health care, and fundamentally, the right to human dignity. We at the Humanitarian Relief Foundation Geneva affirm that this ongoing suffering is not just numbers, but faces and stories of families and children deprived of their most basic rights. Protecting civilians is not only a legal obligation, but a moral duty that falls upon the international community as a whole. Our humanitarian teams operate on the ground under extremely difficult conditions to provide support and relief, yet challenges remain immense due to access restrictions and limited resources. In Sudan and in Ukraine, civilians face sustained attacks on healthcare and essential services, illustrating the urgent need for protection and unhindered humanitarian access. We call upon this Council to take urgent steps to ensure the following: safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those affected; the protection of civilian and humanitarian workers in accordance with international law; and the strengthening of international solidarity to support an effective and sustainable humanitarian response. Vice President, civilians rely on the international community for immediate intervention and protection, and any delay puts millions of lives at risk. Saving lives and preserving human dignity must be everyone's top priority. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [34:09]: Thank you. Next speaker, joint statement, Association Culturelle des Tamouls en France. Absence. Next speaker then is OCA Prose International. OCA Prose International [34:27]: Thank you. the world, especially in conflict zones. Despite all the achievements made when it comes to promoting and protecting human rights, many people in conflict zones continue to suffer denial of the most fundamental rights. Vice-President Okapros. condemns the fact that the Sahrawi population in the Tindouf camp in Algeria has spent 50 years subjected to extreme poverty, subjected to an interminable conflict by the Polisario Front leaders. They face great, huge life challenges, like scarcity of water, lack of food, even though that population lives off humanitarian aid that is diverted for the personal ends of those very same Polisario Front leaders. All this has provoked great problems of malnutrition and high rates of infant mortality. The vulnerable population have spent five decades living in resignation, living in privation and total impunity, discrimination, lack of any social security and denial of the most fundamental rights, lack of job opportunities. all for the sake of the leaders of the Polisario Front. We urge this honorable council that now it's time to put an end to impunity for the leaders of Polisario in complicity with Algeria and reach a solution which is the autonomy solution proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco, which will guarantee all the social, economic rights for the Sahrawi people. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [36:03]: That was the last speaker we could accommodate. With that last intervention, we've concluded the general debate on item 4. Distinguished colleagues, I understand a number of delegations have requested to exercise the right of reply. I give the floor, therefore, to the distinguished representative of China. You have three minutes. China [36:32]: Madam Vice-President. Certain countries, including the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Australia, the Czechia, and Japan, as well as anti-China NGOs, abuse the Human Rights Council to fabricate false information and attack and smear sovereign states, which China strongly opposes and categorically rejects. The rights of all regions and ethnic groups in China, including Xinjiang and Tibet, are fully protected. China has repeatedly stated its solemn position on the so-called assessment report on Xinjiang. The so-called report is wholly illegal and invalid, and the notion of implementing its recommendations is utterly absurd. The Human Rights Council has already firmly rejected the draft resolution on Xinjiang pushed by a very small number of countries. No further comment is required. Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law riots have been quelled, society has returned to stability. and the rights of citizens are fully protected. The courts of the SAR are handling cases involving Jimmy Lai and others impartially and in accordance with the law, resolutely company acts that endanger national security and uphold national security and the dignity of the law. Chinese judicial organs handle cases strictly in accordance with the law, ensuring that violations are prosecuted. China firmly opposes instrumentalization of human rights issues to exonerate one's own spokesperson, interfere in internal judicial sovereignty. Individuals who enter China through illegal means are not refugees. China consistently handles such cases based on the principle approach of combining domestic law, international, and humanitarian concerns. Certain countries constantly criticize developing countries while remaining silent on their own and their allies' human rights violations. They make no mention of the U.S. withdrawals and divestitures or refusing to participate in the UPR. They turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinian people and are accustomed to domestic issues such as excessive use of force by law enforcement, rampant drug abuse, racial discrimination, large-scale violations of refugee and migrant rights, trafficking in women, and religious hatred. They try to cover or distort their crime of aggression. Under the guise of human rights, they arbitrarily interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, arbitrarily impose UCMs, gravely violate the human rights of countless people in developing countries. China urges these countries to engage in self-reflection, stop acting as self-appointed human rights teachers above others, and take concrete actions to genuinely promote and protect human rights. Thank you, Madam Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [39:04]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I give the floor to the Ambassador of Cuba. Go ahead. Cuba [39:15]: Madam Vice-President, distinguished Ambassador, once more the Czech Republic has sought to anoint itself as the supreme lecturer on human rights in this debate. They have tried to hand out lectures to other countries, including to Cuba, on how they should behave. What a disgrace. Nobody asked anyone, nor is anyone interested in the opinions of the Czech Republic on the human rights in other countries. We don't recognize them as having any moral authority to pass judgment on anyone. How dare the Czech representatives to judge others when they are well known for their disgraceful policies of discrimination and intolerance pursued by the Czech Republic in its own territory against minorities, including against Roma, whose children suffer from segregation, institutionalized segregation in schools. The European Committee on Social Rights has repeatedly condemned the fact that the Czech Republic denies access to housing and to social provision for vulnerable groups. In the Czech Republic, there is proliferation of impunity with racial, homophobic, discriminatory discourse, intolerance, and hate. This is consistent with the unacceptable treatment given in this country to migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and foreigners. who are there legally. In the Czech Republic, there's a gender gap of 18% between men and women, which perpetuates economic inequities and gender inequality, and this in the middle of the 21st century. Don't forget also the massacred Palestinian people forget ever that Czech Republic was the country which last March asked in this council for a vote and voted against the three resolutions on Palestine seeking to offer shelter and impunity for Israel's atrocities in Gaza and in the other occupied territories. That's the same country which in this Council effectively stands sort of alone in opposing the right to the Palestinian people to self-determination. determination to monitor the illegal building of illegal Israeli settlements or recognize the grave humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people. We know fine well that the Czech delegation is taking its orders from Washington, having now that it's done, performed the instructions given by the U.S. State Department to attack Cuba, coming to this room to give lectures to others trying to overlook the grave human rights violations that are being committed in their own country. Thank you very much, Madam Ambassador. HRC · Vice-President [42:18]: Thank you, Ambassador. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [42:28]: Madam President, forced to exercise right of reply following the statement by a number of delegations, we regret the ongoing attempts of certain countries who consider themselves to be epitomes of democracy to impede the work of the Council and deliberately use the theme of humanitarian issues for politically motivated attacks on sovereign states who don't wish to live by their instructions or implement, and who wish to implement their own national policy. This negative practice undermines the Human Rights Council. The whole world has been a witness to how the enlightened Europe lectures others in international forum, and yet they're willing and they're happy to give up their own ideals for their own short-sighted political interests in the EU, which always talks about how committed it is to freedom of speech in the media. The media, they block alternative points of view, alternative media, and a number of big European countries, certain political parties are closed just because they want to reflect the opposition to following the political mainstream. In a number of Eastern European countries, they are openly annulling results of elections by their own citizens or refuse the registration of clear favorites for election races under clearly falsified pretext. In Moldova, we've heard accusations against the Dagaus purely again for the internal political value. This practice has obviously the support of the self-anointed epitomes of democracy from the EU. In the Baltic countries, we see there's bare-faced Russophobia and discrimination against Russian speakers, against whom there's a consistent policy of repression, and effectively, which has, their goal is to expel all Russians, denying our fellow countrymen to learn in their native Russian language, denying them access to basic services, denying veterans access to social services, all with a view to creating a monoethnic state. There's a major deterioration of the human rights situation in Ukraine, as we've said repeatedly. Flouting basic fundamental rights and freedoms is systematic. Moreover, it's the only country in the world in violation of its own constitution, which has prohibited the majority of the citizens of its country to speak in their own native language. What's more, the Kyiv regime continues to demonstrate inhumane relations to its own citizens in clear violation of international law, shelling cities and villages using weapons given to them by the West. We call on you to refrain from double standards, and HRC · Vice-President [45:33]: I apologize, I have to stop you there. Next speaker. Japan [45:39]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. My delegation exercises its right of reply in response to the statement made by North Korea in the general debate under item 4. With regard to the historical issues raised, we believe that all nations and regions must approach their own history with humility and sincerity. Japan has consistently done so. And our postwar path as a peaceful nation stands as testament to this commitment. For the past 80 years since the end of World War II, Japan has upheld the principles of democracy and respect for human rights, contributing to the peace and prosperity of the Asia Pacific region and the international community as a whole. The claims cited by North Korea in relation to Japan are baseless and factually incorrect. In particular, referring to comfort women as sexual slavery does not reflect the facts, and therefore this expression should not be used. Regarding discharging treated water into the sea, the water being discharged into the sea is not contaminated water. It is discharged after sufficient purification and dilution, it will have no impact on people and the environment. Japan will continue to share information based on scientific evidence in highly transparent manner and in good faith. Madam Vice President, regarding Korean residents in Japan, Japan has been firmly committed to the elimination of racial discrimination. There are no policies or regulation in Japan that tolerate discrimination against Korean residents of other foreign nationals. I thank you. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [47:30]: I'd like to remind everyone that it's important to, when speaking, when referring to countries, to abide by UN standards. With that, I give the floor to Pakistan. Pakistan [47:49]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. We are exercising a right of reply to address Indian delegation's misleading and unfounded remarks directed against our country. My delegation's statement emphasized the universality of human rights, focusing on the inalienable right to self-determination that underpins the very legitimacy of the international order. But And surprisingly, that was enough to draw a perplexing and bizarre diatribe from India. India's record, inscribed in the language of force, fraud, and falsehood, bears all the hallmarks of a state that sponsors terrorism, including in my country. It carries out targeted assassinations abroad and boasts of weaponizing the basic human necessity, water. These actions continue to undermine the entire human rights architecture and, therefore, call for serious international scrutiny and accountability. Unfortunately, India hands... are stained with the darkest hues of terrorism in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and against its neighbors. On the other hand, deplorably, it also continues to systematically target, attack, and marginalize its own minorities, especially Muslims, driven by its divisive and extremist Hindutva ideology. India, though unsuccessfully, tries to distract the world's attention to its own dark and criminal acts by masquerading as a victim. However, propaganda can never whitewash India's criminal acts. These Indian gross violations of human rights have been widely reported by the rights organizations. At a time when the world requires justice and respect for international norms and human rights more than ever, it is deeply concerning that India persists in treating UN resolutions with derision and the right of peoples to self-determination with disdain, failing to recognize that the greater the brutal force it employs to sustain this illegality, the deeper it entangles itself in an inescapable quagmire. I thank you, Madam Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [50:17]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I give the floor to Bangladesh. Bangladesh [50:26]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. Madam Vice President, I take the floor in the exercise of our right to reply in response to the misleading statements made by a few NGOs in the general debate of item 4. which appear to be propagating misinformation and disinformation about Bangladesh. We categorically reject the false narratives being advanced to undermine the genuine effort of the present government of Bangladesh towards promotion and protection of human rights. Madam Vice President, we reaffirm that every Bangladeshi, regardless of religious or ethnic identity, has the right to practice respective religion or express views freely. Ensuring safety and security of every citizen, including from the minority community, remains the cornerstone of the present interim government of Bangladesh. This has been repeatedly reassured by our leadership and proved time and again in the last one year of the government. The post 5th August 2024 violence in Bangladesh was rooted in political and personal factors, not sectarian. There was no systematic, nationwide, or politically induced attack on minorities. This fact has further been solidified by the OSCHR report on Bangladesh as published in February 2025. On the issue of false allegations vis-a-vis journalistic works, Bangladesh can unequivocally express that no one has been arrested or harassed by any means for undertaking their journalistic works ever since the forming of the government following the mass uprising back in August 2024. Persons who have been referred have not done any journalistic work under the incumbent government, hence no reason to be imprisoned for freely expressing their opinion against the incumbent government. They are imprisoned for their actions committed under the previous government after being sued by the individuals, not by the government. In this regard, Bangladesh reiterates its unwavering commitment to its obligations under the Constitution and the nine core international human rights treaties, including the ICCPR. The arrest and detention of the individuals referred to stem from the private complaints alleging grave offense under national law. The matters now lie sub judice, and any decision regarding bail or ultimate release does not fall within the executive remit of the government, rather it resides exclusively with the competent courts where they are being represented by their lawyers. The government is aware of its obligation under Article 14 of the ICCPR and committed to ensuring the right to a fair trial and guarantees the right to defense, and the government will continue its endeavor to facilitate a fair, expeditious, and transparent trial in this regard. I thank you, Madam Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [53:02]: Thank you very much. All right. On the list of speakers, distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan [53:13]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. We exercise our right of reply to the statement made by the delegation of Norway. We rejected allegations as false and baseless. We remain seriously concerned over the conditions and treatment experienced by vulnerable people in prisons in Norway, such as use of reinforced security cells as a coercive measure, including for people at risk of suicide. The situation of women in Norwegian prisons is also alarming. Furthermore, we share concerns expressed by UN experts over high levels of hostility and discrimination against people of African descent in Norway. We call on Norway to ensure the human rights of people of African descent who continue to face racial profiling, hatred, and discrimination in employment, and to end impunity for violations of their rights. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [54:00]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Republic of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran (Islamic Republic of) [54:11]: Madam Vice President, my delegation delivers this statement in response to those false and politically motivated accusation level against my country by some Western countries concentrating on execution in Iran. Being located in a very different geographical situation comparing with European countries, Iran is transit path for most of the drug produced in Afghanistan. It is well-proved in Iran that how addiction to this drug dismantle the very foundation of families and put the future of society in peril. Iran has taken multiple and different steps to prevent drug smuggling and its distribution. However, the reality is that of sanction, terrorism, mercenaries, and other factor has strengthened the power of smuggler mafia. In this regard, we wish to underline that the issue of capital punishment falls within the domestic jurisdiction of states. As recognized in Charter of the United Nations, each state has the sovereign right to determine its own criminal justice system in accordance with its legal tradition, cultural values, and social needs. We stress that imposing a uniform approach toward the abolition of the death penalty disregards the diversity of legal system and undermines the principle of sovereignty equality. for many societies that death penalty continue to serve as an important deterrent against the most serious crimes, including drug trafficking and terrorism, which gravely endanger the life and security of our peoples. Finally, we request the country like Denmark, Australia, Canada, Lithuania, Norway, and other Western country to first seriously consider huge deprivation of life in Palestinian by occupiers right. Second, pay further attention to the situation of human rights in their countries, especially about freedom of speech and assembly by those pro-Palestine NGOs. Third, prioritize negotiation and cooperation as the best way of overcoming the dispute and quarrel instead of using coercive action like sanction and creation of mechanism. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [56:52]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I'm going to continue with the delegation of the Republic of Korea. Republic of Korea [57:02]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. My delegation would like to exercise the right of reply to the statements made by the delegation of the DPRK. With regard to the North Korean defectors referred to by the DPRK, they voluntarily chose to come to the Republic of Korea, where they have since settled and are living as Korean citizens. In contrast, grave human rights violations faced by North Korean escapees who were forcibly repatriated have been well documented, including in the 2014 COI reports and through numerous testimonies of escapees. We urge the DPRK to respect the human rights of those subjected to forcible repatriation. We also call on all member states to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and to cooperate to ensure that North Korean escapees residing in third countries are not forcibly returned, but are able to move swiftly and safely to a destination of their choice. The Republic of Korea remains firmly committed to working with the international community to achieve substantial and tangible improvements in the human rights situation of North Korean people. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [58:15]: Thank you. We continue with the delegation of Sudan. Sudan [58:22]: Thank you, Madam Vice-President. We are exercising our right to reply following false, politicised and unfounded information wielded by the Egyptian Organisation for Peace and Security and other NGOs which have used this Council to undermine Sudan and its armed forces and be silent on the crimes committed by the Rapid Response Forces. There's been a proliferation of accusations. We're party to the Convention on Chemical Weapons, and we honor our commitments by virtue of all instruments to which we are party, and we refute and we reject any such allegations. Our history and our culture, and indeed our administration, mean that we cannot discriminate On the basis of ethnicity, this narrative is used by militia to cover their actions and the crimes perpetrated at Darfur and the actors for Al Jazeera. And the Attorney General of Sudan has attested to what I've just said. We are committed to promote human rights and combat all criminal factions. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:00:19]: Thank you very much. And I turn to the delegation of Algeria, please. Algeria [1:00:29]: It is regrettable that a number of organizations, notably affiliated to what we call the Mamounia diplomacy, are using the discussions in this Council to spread fallacious information that is unfounded as to what's happening in the Sahrawi camps. These recurring attempts harm Algeria's image and they also undermine the mandate of UN agencies and the exemplary work that is fulfilled by these agencies alongside many credible NGOs who are active in these camps and have been for decades. We should remind that Algeria has been hosting the Sahari refugees for over half a century and have never restricted access to camps for NGOs or donors or journalists or observers. They are regularly welcomed. Madam Vice President, in the face of these misinformation campaigns, we should focus on the real issues rather than looking at undermining Algeria's commitment vis-a-vis Sahrawi refugees. It's legitimate and urgent to look at the real issues here. Why are Sahrawis... in Algeria for over 50 years? And what is the real situation of Sahrawis living under Moroccan occupation? Why is Morocco, since 2015, refusing to give access to the OHCHR, despite repeated calls from the Secretary-General of the United Nations? These are the real issues that need to be answered, the real questions that we should ask here in the Council. This is the reality that a number try to avoid addressing by unfounded accusations. And these are the real responsibilities that people are trying to elude. We would call for remaining resolute and focusing the discussion on the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people, including their inalienable right to self-determination. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:02:26]: Thank you very much. We'll now turn to the DPRK. Democratic People's Republic of Korea [1:02:33]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. The DPRK delegation exercises its right of reply to the baseless allegations made by Japan, ROK, and certain Western countries, including Lithuania, Norway, Ireland, Canada, Slovenia, Australia, and Denmark. Their allegations are groundless and politically motivated and aimed at confrontation. We categorically reject them. The countries concerned would do well to address their own grave human rights problems, such as entrenched racism, gun violence, hate crimes, and human trafficking before attempting to interfere in the affairs of others. History attests that Japan remains a war criminal state with the worst record, having forcibly drafted more than 8.4 million Koreans and forced 200,000 Korean women into sexual slavery for its imperial army. Yet, Japan has consistently refuses to acknowledge these crimes for or provide sincere apology and legal reparations. We urge Japan to take genuine responsibility through remorse, apology, and compensation. The ROK, for its part, continues to disregard international demands to remedy its systematic and widespread human rights violations. These include maintaining the draconian national security law and other repressive measures contrary to international standards, allowing the spread of grave social evils such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced labor, abducting DPRK citizens abroad, and bearing the shameful reputation of being the world's leading suicide kingdom. We strongly urge the ROK to focus on remedying its dire domestic human rights situation in line with international recommendations. The allegations by ROK rights during the ID with the working group on arbitrary detention are nothing but politicized sophistry undeserving of serious consideration. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:04:35]: Thank you very much. I understand that the delegation of Japan is requesting a second right of reply. Please go ahead, and you have two minutes. Japan [1:04:50]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. My delegation would like to exercise a second right of reply to the statement made by North Korea. While I will not repeat the details regarding history issue here, but we have to say again that the claims and figures that North Korea mentioned regarding Japan are groundless and based on factual errors. In particular, the term "sexual slavery" in reference to comfort women is factually incorrect and therefore should not be used. Japan has humbly accepted the historical facts and has sincerely addressed various issues over the 80 years since the end of World War II. Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's accession to the United Nations. Over the decades, Japan has made consistent and proactive contributions to international peace and security. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:05:42]: Thank you very much. I understand that the Republic of Korea is also going to request a second right of reply. You have two minutes. Please go ahead. Republic of Korea [1:05:54]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. While recognizing that we are all facing time constraints, my delegation regrets that we are compelled to respond again to the DPRK statement. The Republic of Korea, as a member of Human Rights Council, firmly upholds the values of human rights and democracy and continues its efforts to advance them. We sincerely hope that the DPRK will, through cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms, pursue in good faith policy and institutional reforms aimed at bringing about meaningful improvements in the and rights situation of its people. My government once again reaffirms its consistent openness to dialogue for the resolution of humanitarian issues between the two Koreas, including separated families, abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war. We earnestly call on the DPRK to respond positively to this call without delay. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:06:49]: Thank you very much. I understand that the DPRK would like to exercise its second right of reply of two minutes. Please go ahead. Democratic People's Republic of Korea [1:06:59]: Thank you, Madam Vice President. My delegation exercises its second right of reply to the allegations made by Japan and ROK. In the history of war, Japan stands out as the only state that systematically violated the dignity and fundamental rights of hundreds of thousands of women, including teenage girls, by forcing them into sexual slavery on battlefields. For over 80 years, Japan has evaded investigation, accountability, and punishment, persisting in the denial of these crimes against humanity. If Japan has even a fragment of conscience, it must hear the voices of survivors, extend a sincere apology, and provide just reparations before it is too late. We also strongly urge Japan to immediately cease the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the ocean, which gravely endangers the lives and safety of humanity and future generations. As for the ROK, it should abandon its extreme confrontational posture, repeal draconian laws such as the National Security Law, and address the rampant social ills within its border in line with the demands of the international community. It is absurd that ROK, which has tolerated decades of humiliation and human rights abuses under the foreign military occupation at home and abroad, dares to level fabricated allegations against others. No matter how recklessly the hostile forces spread their groundless human rights campaign, such propaganda garners no credibility. The DPRK will continue to faithfully fulfill its mission of firmly safeguarding the well-being, prosperity, and genuine right to life of its people. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:08:40]: Thank you very much. I'd like to ask if... Any other delegation wishes to exercise the right to reply in connection with the statements under item 4? I see no requests. Thank you very much. Distinguished participants, with this final statement, we conclude our review of item 4. We will now take a very short break, very short indeed, before returning on the topic of Indigenous peoples. Excellencies, distinguished participants, I declare open agenda item 5, entitled Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms. We will now begin the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I welcome the mandate holder, Mr. Albert Kwaku Barume, for his first interactive dialogue with the Council. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. You now have the floor. UN · Special Rapporteur [1:12:17]: Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, Indigenous people representative, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honor for me to address the Human Rights Council and present my first thematic report to you today. Since assuming the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from January this year, I've been actively engaged with various states and indigenous peoples through bilateral meetings, academic visits, and official communications to try and identify, as well as addressing, the main issue affecting Indigenous peoples across the globe. This year marks the 18th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples as a set of minimum standard for protecting Indigenous peoples' rights. As a remedial and reconciliation instrument, it has influenced laws, policies, and practices in many countries where states and indigenous people have established new partnerships based on rights, respect, and trust. The declaration has not, however, produced the same positive outcome across all regions. Many states, particularly in Africa and Asia, still struggle to grasp the concept Indigenous peoples and their internationally recognized rights. Some mistakenly think that recognizing Indigenous peoples' rights would divide nations or give preferential treatment to certain groups within the national populations. These misunderstandings have hindered the states from fulfilling their international obligation to Indigenous peoples. After all, a state is unable to fulfill its obligation regarding rights if it does not clearly recognize and identify the beneficiary of such rights. For this reason, I dedicated my initial report to the recognition of indigenous people in order to assist states and other stakeholders in understanding the concept of indigenous peoples, particularly given the current global context in which the term Indigenous Peoples and local communities are frequently used interchangeably. In this report, I highlight three essential steps that a state should take to recognize Indigenous Peoples. First, a state should acknowledge the specific characteristics of historical injustices experienced or still experienced by communities that self-identify as Indigenous peoples. To that end, in post-colonial Asian and African contexts, it is important to distinguish between The dictionary definition of indigenous and the human right concept indigenous peoples as provided by the declaration. Technically speaking, all native of a country can legitimately call themselves indigenous to that country in accordance with the literal meaning of the word. But this is not the meaning referred to in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The term indigenous peoples, as used in international law, has become a contemporary human right concept. When communities self-identify as Indigenous peoples, it is in fact a call for justice. It demands a redress for particular historical injustices that led to loss of, that led to loss or existential threat to their ancestral land and distinct cultures. These Particular injustices amount to high-grade racial discriminations that dehumanizes and demean their victims as racially and culturally inferior and backward, and therefore unable to govern themselves, to bring up their own children, or to enjoy property rights over their ancestral land, territory, and resources. These pernicious injustices and racial discrimination have led to acts of mass killing and displacement in many countries. And they affect not only the bodies, but also the mind of peoples through intergenerational trauma. They alter the victim's self-esteem, making them feel worthless, and in many cases, pushing them into mental illness, addiction, high rate of suicide, high rate of school dropout for children, and homelessness. Indigenous people should not be categorized as simple minorities, local communities, or poor people, because they experienced something very particular. As stated in my report, and I quote, in post-colonial Africa and Asia, Some people remained attached to their ancestral land, way of life, livelihoods, and cultures. But given their political marginalization, did not partake in the shaping of the modern states. Their traditional land use practices were stereotyped as backward and uncivilized, and their customary rights over their ancestral land were not considered or protected in national legislations. Many post-colonial governments have attempted, and some still attempt, to force those people to abandon their traditional lifestyle, including by transforming ownership of ancestral lands, territory, and resources to third parties. However, those peoples and community have resisted and continue to do so to preserve their cultural identity, which are profoundly connected to their ancestral land, end of quote. The human rights concept, Indigenous peoples, ensures equality, reinforces national unity and strengthen social cohesion within states. It is devised to address historical wrong and reconcile states with indigenous peoples. Refusal by state to recognize indigenous peoples or denial by state of their existence does not take away this right, that does negatively affect state ability to protect them. Secondly, once a state has recognized the particular historical injustice suffered by Indigenous people, it should then align its domestic legal and policy framework with international standards as provided by numerous international instruments. Most countries achieve this through constitutional reform, act of parliament, and as a relevant framework. States should recognize indigenous people as specific right holder under international law, as clearly distinguished from other groups. The recent tendency of Conflicting indigenous people with local community has contributed to misunderstanding and poses serious risk to the rights of indigenous people. The conflation could lead to misinterpretation that indigenous peoples and local communities enjoy the same rights under international law, or that indigenous peoples' rights are reduced to the limited rights of local community under multilateral environmental agreement. Third, finally, a state should identify community that self-define as Indigenous people on its territory. This would enable a state to deliver effectively targeted and tailored public services and comply with international obligations. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that recognizing Indigenous peoples' rights, it's an international obligation. It is a matter of justice and crucial for building cohesive nation. I have made several recommendations to address the challenges associated with recognizing Indigenous peoples as right holders. I strongly urge states and relevant stakeholders to consider the implementation of these recommendations. I take this opportunity to reaffirm my intention to continue contributing to the easing of understanding of Indigenous peoples' rights by state. Mr. President, I would not like to end this presentation without mentioning that I have just concluded my first country visit as mandate holder to Botswana last week. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the government of Botswana for their kind invitation and collaboration during my mission. The new government of Botswana is taking important step, and I call on the international community to assist and accompany this government. I thank you, Mr. Chair. HRC · Vice-President [1:25:47]: I'd like to thank the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for his statements. I also inform you that the list of speakers is now closed. I now invite interested delegations to ask questions to the Special Rapporteur and to make comments on his reports. The speaking time, as you know, is one minute 30 seconds for all. I give the floor first to the delegation of Ukraine on behalf of a group of countries. Ukraine · Lublin Triangle [1:26:21]: Madam President, I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of states of Lublin Triangle, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. The recognition of indigenous people as distinct right holders under international law is crucial. The refusal of state to acknowledge them or even to deny their very existence cannot extinguish inherent rights, yet such actions weaken the ability of states to fulfill their obligations. It speaks volumes that today the indigenous peoples of Ukraine must defend their existence in their homeland. The ongoing occupation of Crimea by Russia has resulted in grave violations threatening their cultural identity, community life, and even survival. Since 2014, the indigenous people of Ukraine have faced continuous abuses, the prohibition of Ukrainian language education, forced conscription into the occupying army, and severe restrictions of cultural and religious expression. The militarization of Crimea has further devastated indigenous communities, disproportionately harming women and children. It is imperative that the international community remains steadfast in upholding the rule of law and protecting the right of indigenous peoples. We call to ensure accountability for ongoing abuses in Crimea, safeguard the cultural identity of the Crimean Tatars, Karaims, and Krimchaks, and to reaffirm that no occupational or denial can erase inherent rights. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:27:55]: Thank you, Ambassador. And I give the floor to the European Union. EU [1:28:04]: Vice President, we thank the Special Rapporteur for his report. The EU will continue promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples as set out in the UNDRIP and international human rights law. Your work is critical and we fully support the renewal of your mandate. Your report importantly points out that state recognition neither creates Indigenous Peoples nor grants them their rights, and we hope that the report will help states to close the gap in recognition. We also hope that the report will contribute towards the full, effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples in relevant UN bodies, including in the Human Rights Council, on all issues affecting them. Progress has been made, but challenges such as accreditation and language barriers still hinder full participation. It is critical for states to collaborate meaningfully with Indigenous peoples who have the right, as set out in the UNDRIP, to be involved from the start in shaping policies that affect them. Mr. Special Rapporteur, you recommend that the international community help to ensure that engagement mechanisms reflect the distinct status and rights of Indigenous peoples. How can this be best done? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:29:33]: Thank you. I give the floor to Denmark on behalf of a group of countries. Denmark · Nordic-Baltic states [1:29:41]: Thank you, Madam President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic states, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Denmark, together with Greenland. We welcome the Special Rapporteur's report on the recognition of indigenous peoples as fundamental rights holders, legal recognitions Legal recognition rooted in self-identification and respect for cultural uniqueness is vital for addressing historical injustices and advancing equality. And we share your concerns about the frequent conflation of Indigenous Peoples with other groups, such as local communities, unduly linking of Indigenous Peoples with local communities and other terms contains the risk, intentionally or not, of diluting the specific rights and status of indigenous peoples as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international human rights instruments. Special Rapporteur, what are the main obstacles to overcoming this conflation, and how can states improve clarity to better uphold the distinct rights of indigenous peoples? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:30:53]: Thank you. The floor to Canada. Canada [1:31:01]: Madam Vice President, Mr. Special Rapporteur, Canada welcomes the Special Rapporteur's report addressing state denial of indigenous peoples' rights and the manipulation of terms like "local communities" to maintain control. We appreciate the attention given to this issue in both the report and in this dialogue. We support the Special Rapporteur's recommendations for a legal pathway to recognition grounded in self-determination and self-identification as affirmed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We echo the Special Rapporteur's concern about conflating "indigenous peoples" with other terms. This approach undermines their distinct rights and obscures the injustices they continue to face. Canada recognizes its own colonial past, which continues to impact generations of Indigenous peoples today. While there is more work to be done, several provisions explicitly recognizing Indigenous peoples as rights holders have been passed under Canadian law. Canada calls on all States to join in affirming UNDRIP as a binding framework for justice, dignity, and partnership with Indigenous peoples worldwide. Mr. Special Rapporteur. How can the UN system ensure not only recognition, restitution, remedy, and reparation, but also mobilize member states to implement concrete actions to make the participation of indigenous peoples effective in multilateral fora? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:32:33]: Thank you. I give the floor to Dominica. Dominica [1:32:38]: Mr. President. Dominica welcomes the reports of the Special Rapporteur, which underscores the importance of acknowledging indigenous peoples as specific rights holders and the need to translate this recognition into tangible measures for their protection, well-being, and empowerment. As the home of the last remaining Kalinago people in the Caribbean, Dominica is deeply invested in the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. This is reflected in national legislation, such as the Kalinago Territory Act, and in ongoing programs and initiatives which support cultural preservation, economic opportunity, and resilience building. Dominica fully supports the Special Rapporteur's recommendations affirming the rights of Indigenous peoples to participate in decisions affecting them. In our view, this is especially important in advancing climate resilience, where the traditional knowledge and perspectives of the Kalinago people are vital to ensuring sustainable and culturally appropriate outcomes. A concrete example is the Kalnago Multi-Purpose Center and Emergency Shelter Project, which, further to consultation with the Kalnago people, incorporates eco-friendly features and designs inspired by their knowledge and practices. Dominique Currie affirms its unwavering commitment to uphold the rights of indigenous peoples and remains dedicated to engaging the Kalnago people meaningfully as equal partners in shaping policies and programs that impact their livelihoods and well-being. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:34:05]: Thank you. I give the floor to Guatemala. Guatemala [1:34:12]: Thank you, Vice-President. Guatemala is grateful to the Special Rapporteur for presenting report on recognition of indigenous peoples and we welcome the clear approach in addressing the persisting challenges in that field. My delegation takes this opportunity, we're pleased to take part in this interactive dialogue, especially because with Mexico during this session. we have facilitated draft resolution renewing his mandate. That mandate is a cornerstone for accountability, and therefore we very much value it because through his country visits and his thematic reforms, it helps states to comply with their international obligations due to persistent inequalities and emerging challenges facing Indigenous peoples, which requires specifically period, which requires reliable oversight. We'd also highlight the importance of differentiating Indigenous peoples from local communities. This amalgam introduces confusion and undermines the confusion into the recognition of the UNDRIP and ILO 169, which recognize Indigenous peoples. At national level, Guatemala maintains high-level dialogue with the indigenous authorities, as well as promoting measures with a view to bolster their political participation of those peoples. In that framework, we've extended to the Special Rapporteur an invitation to make a visit to Guatemala to support and bolster those processes based on the experience gathered. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:35:48]: Thank you, Ambassador. I give the floor to Ecuador. Ecuador [1:35:57]: Vice-President, my delegation is grateful to the Special Rapporteur for the report, and we agree with the importance of the UN system and the international community fostering meaningful participation of indigenous peoples through mechanisms that promote their specific rights. Ecuador reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting recognition of indigenous peoples and facilitating their effective access to mechanisms which guarantee their participation in the context of the UN and its subsidiary bodies. At the same time, Ecuador has taken important steps towards recognition and participation of indigenous peoples, starting from constitutional formalization of the existence of different nationalities, indigenous nationalities and peoples, and the consolidation of a normative framework based on a plurinational intercultural state. We also have a secretariat for the development and management of peoples and nationalities. tasked with promoting public policies with an intercultural approach and in the framework of a national agenda that includes actions to guarantee access to health, intercultural education and political participation for indigenous peoples. Finally, When it comes to public policy, we would highlight the REDD+ programme, which supports agroforestry and forest conservation projects led by indigenous peoples themselves, thus enhancing their role as key actors in protecting the environment. HRC · Vice-President [1:37:22]: Thank you. Thank you. Next is Algeria. Algeria [1:37:34]: Thank you. My delegation is grateful to the Special Rapporteur for introducing the report, and we take due note thereof. Algeria is an autochthonous nation, marked by a historical cycle of colonization, decolonization, and recolonization over more than 2,000 years, considers its linguistic cultural diversity not as a source of division, but as a powerful lever to bolster social cohesion and a feeling of national belonging. Under the indigenous code that was imposed by the French colonists, Algeria has worked since independence in 1962 to restore the full status of citizenship for all its inhabitants. The Algerian choice was to embrace diversity as an identity foundation, recognizing Arab and Islam as different pillars, columns of the same pillar. None of those elements should be undermined or... denigrated, they form the very heart of Algerian identity. Our country has identified and invested in a capacity to leverage our cultural, linguistic and religious heritage faced with the challenges of globalization, social change and political instrumentalization of diversity, which often runs contrary to the spirit of the to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Finally, my delegation reiterates its full support to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and commends, in particular, his openness to dialogue. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:39:06]: Thank you. The delegation of Chile has the floor. Chile [1:39:11]: Thank you. We welcome the Special Rapporteur, and we want to thank him for his report and recognition of Indigenous peoples. In Chile, there is specific legislation in tackling the rights of indigenous people. Its constitutional recognition has been pending for a number of decades, though. However, major milestones recently make us hope that we will achieve this step soon. A few months ago, the Presidential Commission for Peace and Understanding, charged with establishing new relationships between the state and indigenous Mapuche people, recommended furthering this constitutional recognition. Following that recommendation, on 1st July 2025, there was presentation of this draft reform recognizing all indigenous peoples that exist in national territory and their individual and collective rights, in addition to formalizing interculturality as a principle. In the context of the current session of the Council, On 25th September, we'll be meeting in Concordia One with members of that commission and other like-minded countries, the reporter himself and other stakeholders in this theme to discuss the scope of those recommendations. Based on this and other activities, we hope to be able to have the support and backing of the international community to guarantee that measure of recognition is converted into a Chilean state policy, independent of which government is in power. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:40:44]: Moving on, I give the floor to the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [1:40:48]: Madam President, we studied with interest the report. Despite the overall balanced nature of the document, its author periodically makes sweeping accusations against all states for violating the rights of indigenous peoples and victimizing that category of the population. Russia has many centuries of... experience in recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples. This was legislative recognized back in the first third of the 19th century. Following that experience has allowed us to significantly maintain the number way of life, population and support system and self-governance of Indigenous peoples, guarantees of whose rights are enshrined in the Constitution. When the GAS adopted the Our country already had relevant provisions in the national legal norms. Today, policymakers are guided by the need to ensure the sustainable development of indigenous peoples based on strengthening their socioeconomic capacities while maintaining their ancestral homelands, way of life and cultural values, as well as improving the level of their adaptation to contemporary economic conditions. We see improvement in law enforcement practice. We're improving prosecutorial oversight of implementation of the law. In May 2025, we approved a new wording of the concept for sustainable development of small-numbered indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East of the Russian Federation. For our part, we're ready to share our existing rich experience of work in this field with our foreign partners. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:42:14]: Thank you. I give the floor to Indonesia. Indonesia [1:42:18]: Thank you, Madam Vice-President. Indonesia knows the Special Rapporteur's report and wishes to underline that the term "indigenous people" cannot be applied in a one-size-fits-all manner. First, we are concerned by the report's attempt to decouple the term "indigenous people" from its colonial context. Such an approach risks diluting the concept. If any community that has suffered human rights violations could claim the label, the meaning could be lost. The very recognition of Indigenous people's rights in international law was born from the realities of conquest, colonization, and dispossession, as reflected in UNDRIP. Ignoring this foundation erases the injustice the concept was created to address. Second, to overgeneralize the experiences of modern states in Asia and Africa is deeply misguided. For some, including Indonesia, our statehood was forged through the struggle against colonization. All citizens of Indonesia suffer the consequences of that history. It is therefore, in our national context, the remedy for these historical injustices is rooted in Pancasila and our constitutions, which enshrine equalities and justice for all. Our national motto, unity in diversity, reconciles thousands of ethnicities and tribes into one unified nation. Within this framework, we protect our distinct traditional communities through the framework of or customary law communities. This system safeguards our culture, our identity, and Muchas gracias. HRC · Vice-President [1:43:58]: Thank you. Continuing with the next speaker, Ambassador of Brazil has the floor. Brazil [1:44:05]: Thank you very much, Madam Vice President. Brazil thanks the Special Rapporteur for the report on the recognition of indigenous peoples. As noted in the report, the 1988 Constitution of Brazil recognizes indigenous people's social organization, customs, languages, beliefs, and traditions, and their original rights to the lands they traditionally occupy. This milestone broke with the past assimilationist approaches. It affirms territorial rights beyond physical possession. encompassing historical, cultural, and spiritual ties consistent with ILO Convention 169 and later reflected in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Brazil advances a renewed commitment to the realization of indigenous rights. The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples was created, and national bodies such as the ministry itself, the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples, FUNAI, and the Secretary for Indigenous Health, SESAI, are under Indigenous leadership. Decisions that affect communities reflect their agendas, challenges, and experience. Priorities include the regularization and protection of Indigenous lands, the removal of illegal invaders, and the implementation of territorial management plans. Since early 2023, more Indigenous lands have been demarcated than in the previous decade, underscoring Brazil's determination to advance in this crucial area. I thank you. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:45:34]: I give the floor to. The United Republic of Tanzania. United Republic of Tanzania [1:45:42]: Thank you, Madam Vice-President. The United Republic of Tanzania has taken note of the report and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur. The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977 recognizes that all human beings are born free and are all equal. Among the rights and principles recognized in the Constitution are the principles of non-discrimination, the right to participate in government affairs, the duty to uphold the laws of the state, the obligation to respect the rights and dignities of others, and to prevent the exploitation of one human being by the other. The people of Tanzania from all over 120 ethnic groups are united by culture, common heritage, values, and customs, as well as the globally celebrated Kiswahili language. The government has already designated communities with specific and different needs and livelihood in Nuvuwa to ensure that they benefit from their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. We have also established policies and programs to assist those communities within the Tanzanian context, for example, the Tanzania Social Action Fund, TASAF. The government will continue to promote and protect the human rights based on the fundamental human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:47:09]: Thank you. Give the floor to Peru. Peru [1:47:16]: Thank you, Vice-President. Peru is grateful for the presentation of the report by the Special Rapporteur, and we recognize the importance of this constructive dialogue space. We reaffirm our firm commitment to promoting, protecting, and guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples, convinced that there can be no sustainable development or consolidated democracy without full guarantees for those rights. Peru has officially identified 58 indigenous or autonomous people in our country, of whom 51 belong to the Amazonia region and four to the Andes. I'd also inform you that the Ministry of Culture has been promoting an epic process, developing a policy for indigenous peoples with a view to ensuring that its formulation is based on informed consent. That policy is geared towards improving quality of life, of the close to 6 million citizens self-identified as one of the 58 indigenous peoples of the country. We recognize the pending challenges as a country in this field. Therefore, we're grateful for the presentation of the report, which will be shared with the relevant national entities. Thank you, Vice-President. HRC · Vice-President [1:48:29]: Thank you. I give the floor now to UN Women. UN Women [1:48:35]: Thank you, Madam Chair. UN Women stands firm in advancing the rights and leadership of indigenous women and girls. We pursue a dual approach, supporting member states to fulfill human rights obligations through inclusive, gender-responsive policies and budgets, and work with indigenous women and girls to mobilize, advocate, and lead the decisions that impact their lives. Related to the special rapporteur's statement, I would like to remind us all that the Commission on the Status of Women 70 for next year is on access to justice and non-discrimination, a great opportunity to integrate the rights of Indigenous peoples and women in particular. We are reminded that CEDAW General Recommendation No. 39 affirms Indigenous women's right to self-identity while warning of persistent structural racism and discrimination. Yesterday, at the high-level meeting of Beijing+30 in New York, member states made bold, actionable commitments to address intersectional discrimination and inequalities that drive indigenous women's leaderships and rights. We will make sure to work with member states to make these commitments real, measurable, and steps to dismantle intersectional discrimination and drive real change. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:49:50]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I give the floor to Botswana. Botswana [1:49:57]: Madam Vice-President, Botswana extends its sincere appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for his informative report. Despite increased international recognition of their rights, indigenous peoples across the globe continue to face persistent and pervasive discrimination, which manifests in many ways, including limited access to quality health care and education, economic exploitation of the ancestral land and underrepresentation in decision-making bodies. Indigenous peoples continue to face systemic barriers that affect their development and perpetuate poverty through social exclusion, while their unique cultures, languages, and spiritual traditions are often undervalued. It is for that reason that Botswana concurs with the Special Rapporteur's noting that States have the obligation to recognize indigenous peoples as particular subjects of international law and holders of specific rights under international law. The recognition is essential to fulfilling international commitments and ensuring the protection and promotion of their rights. The human rights-centric government of Botswana, my government, has established an inter-ministerial committee on indigenous peoples and their rights. so that this committee can aim to comprehensively address challenges faced by Botswana's indigenous peoples and to devise concrete and sustainable solutions. In closing, Botswana reaffirms its support for the work of the Special Rapporteur, Special Procedure mandate holders, including the valuable contributions of experts such as Dr. Albert Barume, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. HRC · Vice-President [1:51:34]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. was the last speaker that we could accommodate in this segment. Excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of our public meeting. 00 a.m. to hold the annual half-day panel on the rights of indigenous peoples and continue also with this interactive dialogue. the dialogue with the expert mechanism on the rights of indigenous peoples. We'll now take a brief break before the closed-door meeting on the complaints, UN Human Rights Council complaints procedure. I remind you that that meeting, closed meeting, will be held in person in this same hall. So I'd ask that only members of the Council participate in person during this meeting. In other words, observer members may not stay in the room. With that, I thank you for your participation today, and I wish you a very good evening.