29th Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council

So, good morning, colleagues, excellencies, distinguished participants. I hereby declare open the 29th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. We will continue this morning with the consideration of the outcome of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. And I will now open the floor for the member states for their comments and the outcome of the review. The speaking time has been set at one minute and 30 seconds for all the states. So the first on the speakers list, I invite the representative of Belgium.

Thank you, Vice Chair President. BELSEM welcomes Laos' commitment in the UPR process, and we thank the country for having taken into account our recommendation aimed at eliminating child marriage, early marriage, as well as other forms of gender-based violence against teenage girls, such as kidnapping for marriage, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and violence at the hands of an intimate partner. We do regret, however, that our two other recommendations were not accepted. The first relates to the holding of investigations into all cases of intimidation, disappearance and killing of human rights defenders that were brought to the attention of the authorities. We also regret that Laos did not introduce a moratorium on the death penalty before its abolition, including regarding offences linked to drugs, or at least to abolish the death penalty and to limit its application to the worst sorts of offences under international law. We would like to reaffirm our opposition to the death penalty under all circumstances, regardless of the crime committed. Its abolition contributes to strengthening human dignity and full respect for human rights. It is in this constructive spirit that Belgium would like to invite the authorities of Lao PDR to reconsider their stance on those two points. Thank you.

I thank you, and I now call on Bolivia.

Thank you, Vice-President. We would like to welcome the distinguished delegation of the Lao PDR, and we welcome their presentation of additional information. We commend the constructive dialogue that was held in the context of their fourth universal periodic review and the support work done by the troika made-up of Burundi, Chile and the Marshall Islands. The People's Democratic Republic of Lao has accepted 189 recommendations which were received, including those from Bolivia. We consider that the work of their national human rights committee to be commendable when it comes to revising and reviewing the recommendations with the participation of all administrative, legislative and judicial bodies, including civil society organizations. Bolivia welcomes the adoption or supports the adoption by consensus of the, uh, UPR reviews report for Lao, and we wish the country successful implementation.

Thank you.

Mr. Vice President. Brunei Darussalam extends its sincere appreciation to the delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the updates provided on the encouraging progress achieved since its review. We commend the Lao PDR for its continued efforts and are encouraged to note that it has accepted 189 out of 257 recommendations received. This includes the two made by Brunei Darussalam in the areas of poverty alleviation and health. Bunheav Doulasalam also wishes to recognize the Lao PDR's commendable stewardship as ASEAN Chair last year, including its chairmanship of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, as well as the active role in advancing the promotion and protection of human rights within ASEAN. Mr. Vice President, we recommend the Council's adoption of the UPR working group report and wish the Lao PDR every success in the implementation of its accepted recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you. Now, Cambodia, please.

Thank you, Mr. White, President.

My delegation warmly welcome the distinguished delegation of the Lao PDR to the adoption of the UPR outcome.

We commend Lao PDR for its constructive engagement with the UPR process and for the spirit of openness and cooperation it has demonstrated throughout the review. We also welcome the progress made in strengthening the protection of human rights, including efforts to improve access to education and health care, promote gender equality, and advance social and economic development for the benefit of all. In closing, Cambodia joins other delegations in recommending the adoption of the UPR outcome for the Lao PDR, and wishes for the success of the implementation of the accepted recommendations.

I thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of China.

今年，老挝人民民主共和国成立.

50周年，中方注意到近年来老方在促进和保护人权领域取得积极成就。

Thank you. China has noted the positive achievements of Lao PDR in recent years in the field of protection and promotion of human rights, and we commend the country's efforts to extract itself from the group of least developed countries and improve the standard of living of its population. China also welcomes progress achieved by Lao PDR in combating climate change, addressing natural disasters, and improving the rule of law and the protection of vulnerable groups. China welcomes the fact that Lao is actively fulfilling its human rights obligations under international law and collaborates in a constructive way with international human rights institutions. China wishes the very best results for Laos in the protection and promotion of human rights, and we support the approval by the Council of the report for Lao PDR. Thank you.

I thank you, and I now invite the representative of Cote d'Ivoire to take the floor.

Thank you, Vice-President. Cote d'Ivoire would like to extend a greeting to the delegation of Lao PDR as we consider its final UPR report. My delegation commends the progress made by the authorities in the area of the promotion of human rights, in particular the establishment of a national human rights institution and the adoption of a law protecting children from all forms of violence, including corporal punishment. My country notes with satisfaction the integration of climate change-related challenges and sustainable development issues into national policies, and we encourage the Government to step up its efforts to prevent early marriages and to prevent forced disappearances and human trafficking. To conclude, Cote d'Ivoire recommends that the Council adopt the outcome report for Lao PDR.

Thank you.

Thank you. I now invite the representative of Cuba to take the floor.

Vice-President, Cuba welcomes the active and constructive participation of Laupidia in this fourth UPR cycle. We commend the commitment shown by the country in accepting 189 of the 257 recommendations that were made. This reflects the country's genuine will to continue moving forward with the protection and promotion of human rights. We welcome with satisfaction that the country accepted the three respectful and constructive recommendations made by Cuba. We acknowledge the efforts and the positive results of Lao PDR as regards integration of human rights in their socio-economic development plans and, in particular, their desire to incorporate accepted recommendations in the 10th National Plan for Socio-Economic These efforts will contribute to meeting the needs of the population and ensuring the full exercise of fundamental rights by its multi-ethnic people. Cuba supports the adoption of the report by consensus, and we wish every success to Lao PDR in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. Now I invite the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The DPRK delegation welcomes the adoption of the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review on the Lao People's Democratic Republic. We commend efforts made by Lao PDR to reduce poverty and advance rural development, thereby improving the standard of living, as well as its initiatives to expand education and health services. Noteworthy are the concrete measures to ensure the rights of women and children and to promote the well-being of ethnic minority communities. We support the government of the Lao PDR's constructive approach in accepting recommendations and improving policies and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. We expect that Lao PDR will continue to make achievements in protecting the rights of its people on the principle of respect for sovereignty. Thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Egypt.

Thank you, Vice President. The delegation of Egypt welcomes the delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic participating in this session. We commend the positive efforts undertaken to promote and protect human rights, including the implementation of the Ninth National Socio-Economic Development Plan of 2021-2025, as well as the adoption of a number of new legislations and laws aimed at enhancing the enabling conditions for the Lao people to fully enjoy their political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights. It also notes the measures taken to implement the recommendations accepted during the third cycle of the UPR. In closing, the delegation of Egypt extends its appreciation to Lao for accepting the recommendations submitted by our delegation during the review, and we wish Lao continued progress and success and recommend the adoption of its national report. Thank you, Vice-President.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Eritrea.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

We warmly welcome the distinguished delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the session for the adoption of its Universal Periodic Review outcome. We commend Lao PDR for its constructive engagement throughout this process, and we express our appreciation for accepting both of Eritrea's recommendations, mainly the continued commitment to reducing poverty and narrowing development disparities, and secondly, the further strengthening of the health sector with special attention to maternal and child health, reducing mortality, and improving nutrition. We acknowledge the commendable progress already made by Lao PDR in these areas and welcome the adoption of the Health Sector Strategy 2021 to 2030, which provides a clear and comprehensive framework for advancing public health and ensuring better outcomes for women, children and vulnerable communities. Eritrea fully supports the adoption of Lao PDR's outcome document. We extend our best wishes to the government of Lao PDR for the successful and effective implementation of the accepted recommendations, and we look forward to witnessing their continued progress in promoting sustainable development and advancing the well-being of all its citizens. I thank you.

All right. Thank you. And now I invite the representative of Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ethiopia welcomes the delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the adoption of the outcome of its fourth universal periodic review and commends. its constructive engagement throughout the process. Ethiopia notes with appreciation that the Lao People's Democratic Republic has accepted the majority of the recommendation received, including those proposed by our delegation. We encourage the Lao People's Democratic Republic to continue its effort to effectively implement the accepted recommendation. In conclusion, Ethiopia fully supports the adoption of the UPR outcomes report to the Lao People's Democratic Republic and wish the Lao People's Democratic Republic continued success. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of India.

Mr. President, India warmly welcomes the delegation of Lao People's Democratic Republic for the adoption of the UPR Working Group's report on its fourth UPR held on 29th April 2025. The review saw substantive participation with 90 delegations taking the floor and making a total of 257 recommendations. We appreciate the constructive engagement of the delegation of Lao People's Democratic Republic during the entire review, which reflect their commitment to the UPR process. India appreciates that as many as 189 recommendations have been fully supported by Lao People's Democratic Republic, including the three recommendations made by us. While recommending the adoption of their UPR report, we congratulate the delegation of Lao People's Democratic Republic on a successful review and wish them success in their efforts towards implementing the accepted recommendations. I thank you.

Now I will give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Indonesia commends the delegation of the Lao PDR for its constructive engagement during UPR process. We welcome Laos' decision to fully support 189 out of 250 seven recommendations received during the fourth review. We appreciate that all three Indonesia's recommendations are accepted by the Lao PDR, namely with regard to implementations of the National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking, promotions of human rights education and awareness, and advancements of the right to development. As a fellow ASEAN nation, Indonesia stands ready to work closely with the Lao PDR the human rights agenda, particularly in advancing economic growth and development, to ensure that the people of the Lao PDR can fully enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights. We recommend the adoption of the UPR outcome of the Lao PDR by consensus, and wish the Government of the Lao PDR every success in implementing the accepted recommendations. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Iran.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the active and meaningful participation of Lao People's Democratic Republic in the UPR processes. We appreciate that all of our recommendations enjoy the valuable support of Lao government and encourage them for their full implementation by boosting regional cooperation and prioritizing South-South complementary collaboration. We positively acknowledge that Lao fully support 198 of recommendations received during the fourth review, which demonstrates their political will to continue to make progress in the field of human rights. While considering the great importance of economic development and ethnic unity, we inspire Lao officials to take appropriate steps in the line with their national framework to guarantee cultural diversity. Thank you.

I thank you. Now, we have the representative of Kuwait.

Thank you, Vice-President. We would like to send a greeting to the delegation of Lao PDR, and we thank them for the information presented. during the UPR, we commend the acceptance of a large number of recommendations, which are all geared towards promoting human rights. Among those recommendations are two that were submitted by the State of Kuwait, specifically a recommendation on gender equality and the promotion of efforts to prevent violence against women and awareness and human rights education. We wish a very, we hope that Laos' efforts to implement the recommendations will be successful and we recommend the adoption of the final report of the UPR for Lao PDR. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Malaysia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Malaysia appreciates the constructive engagement of the Lao PDR during its UPR process and commends its decision to support many of the recommendations. We especially welcome the Lao PDR support for all the three recommendations put forward by Malaysia, mainly first, an inclusive and participatory constitutional amendment process; Second, strengthen regional cooperation to address cross-border transnational crimes. And third, enhance support for community livelihood and nutrition initiative. Malaysia notes Lao PDR's ongoing constructive engagement with UN mechanisms. We recommend the Council to adopt the outcome. of Lao PDR's UPR review by consensus. As close neighbor and fellow ASEAN member states, Malaysia wishes the Lao PDR continued success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Maldives warmly welcomes the distinguished delegation from Lao People's Democratic Republic to the adoption of the UPR report and compliments Lao PDR's commitment to the UPR process. The Maldives comments Lao PDR for accepting the majority of the recommendations it received during the UPR working group session in April, which includes the two recommendations made by the Maldives. We wish the government of Lao PDR success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and request the Council to adopt the UPR outcome report of Lao PDR by consensus. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I would like to give the floor to the representative of Morocco, please.

Mr. President, my delegation acknowledges Laos' constructive engagement in the universal periodic review process and its consideration of the recommendations addressed by Morocco. This reflects Laos' commitment to advancing the protection and promotion of human rights. We particularly welcome Laos' decision to continue efforts aimed at strengthening the right to education, particularly for girls, an essential step in ensuring equal opportunities and fostering inclusive development. Morocco supports the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review outcome of Laos and wishes Laos every success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank you. This was the last speaker we could accommodate for this segment of the debate. And let me remind you that all statements, including those which could not be delivered due to time constraints, should be uploaded online. And now I will give the floor to the other stakeholders to make their general comments on the outcome. I remind you that the speaking time has been set at two minutes for all. Now I will give the floor floor to the representative of the International Federation for Human Rights Leagues.

Vice President, FIDH and the Lao Movement for Human Rights regret the Lao government's insincere approach to the UPR. Despite its attempts to present a rosy picture of the human rights situation, the country remains an extremely dangerous place for independent civil society. The rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association continue to be heavily restricted and criminalized. Numerous cases of enforced Disappearances often involving transnational repression against human rights defenders remain unaddressed. While we welcome the government's acceptance of all 11 recommendations on the ratification of the ICPPED, we note that it was signed 17 years ago, and the lack of a specific timeframe for its ratification makes such a commitment hollow. Similarly, the acceptance of recommendations on enforced disappearances is tainted by the authorities protracted inaction in the investigation of such pending cases and by their failure to determine the fate or whereabouts of the victims. The Government's refusal to accept the recommendation to investigate the enforced disappearance of civil society leader Sombat Somphone is particularly disturbing. We are disappointed by the Government's failure to accept 22 of the 24 recommendations on the death penalty. While they falsely claim that capital punishment remains in force for the most serious crimes in accordance with article 6 of the ICCPR, it is an undisputed fact that in the Lao PDR, the death penalty is largely imposed for drug-related offences, which are not considered the most serious crimes under the ICCPR. The refusal to establish an independent human rights institution and to issue a standing invitation to all UN special procedures also reflect the government's lack of political will to allow independent scrutiny of the human rights situation. We urge UN member states to actively monitor the government's progress in the implementation of accepted recommendations and to encourage it to reconsider its position on non-accepted recommendations that are consistent with its international rights obligations. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Geneva for Human Rights.

Thank you. We deliver this statement on behalf of Geneva for Human Rights, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, and the Congress of World Hmong People. We express serious concern at the government of Lao PDR's response to the current UPR outcome. By continuing to deny the existence of indigenous peoples, despite repeated recommendations from UN treaty bodies and special procedures, the state denies these communities the legal protections guaranteed under international law. This non-recognition erases cultural identity and perpetuates structural human rights violations. The consequences are particularly severe for the Hmong. In this cycle, the government went further by denying the very presence of the Chaofa monk. Yet multiple rapporteurs, the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, and the 2025 Genocide Watch report have documented decades of military operations and forced disappearances, forced isolation, relocations to military-controlled villages, reprisals, and extrajudicial killings. Continued restrictions on humanitarian access and international monitoring only deepen the amongs vulnerability and underscore Laos noncompliance with its obligations. We welcome recommendations made on these issues and urge member states to continue press Lao PDR to officially recognize the Kmuong as indigenous peoples in line with UNDRIP and adopt legal frameworks for their protection. Halt land confiscations and forced relocations targeting indigenous communities. Grant international observers and humanitarian agencies full access to Xaisomboun province. and immediately all military violence and abuses against the monk, including the Chau Fa community. Mr. Chair, the situation of the monk is not only a question of rights, it is a question of survival. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development.

Mr. Vice President, we note that Lao PDR supported the majority of recommendations in this UPR cycle, including several to ratify the Convention on Enforced Disappearance. Its ratification and enforcement is long overdue in the context of increasing number of enforced disappearances, such as human rights defender Sombath Somphone. He was last seen more than 12 years ago at a police checkpoint in Vientiane. We regret that Lao PDR rejected several key recommendations on freedom of expression, assembly and association, and protection of human rights defenders, claiming these rights are guaranteed under domestic law. In reality, domestic law falls far short of international standards and fails to provide meaningful protections. The 2017 conviction of human rights defenders Lodkom Thamavong, Soukane Chaitad, and Somphone Pimmasone, sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for peaceful protest and online criticism of the government, illustrate how authorities weaponized the domestic law and legal system to silence dissent and suppress fundamental freedoms. They were prosecuted under penal code provisions on betrayal and propaganda against the state and gatherings to cause social disorder. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that their detention is arbitrary and politically motivated. They must be immediately released. Furthermore, Lao authorities must conduct credible investigations and ensure accountability for the April 2023 attack on prominent human rights defender Anousa Jek Luangsuphon. We are alarmed by increasing acts of transnational repression implicating Laotian authorities. The killing of exiled activist Bounsuan Kitiyano in 2023 and the disappearance of democracy activist Ode Saeyavong in 2019 in neighboring Thailand and the forced return of Chinese lawyer, Lucy Wei, and 17 Myanmar nationals are part of this pattern of cross-border targeting that implicate Laotian authorities. We call on Lao PDR to bring its legislation and practice in line with international standards, including the ICCPR. I thank you.

I thank you. Now we have an intervention by video from the Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Thank you, Mr. President. CSW notes with regret that Laos did not receive any recommendations relating to the right to freedom of religion or belief during its fourth Universal Periodic Review. During the previous UPR, Laos accepted a recommendation from the Solomon Islands to review and amend Decree No. 315 to ensure that administrative procedures for religious groups are not arbitrary, vague, and discriminatory, and to eliminate the wide latitude local officials have to discriminate against and persecute religious minorities. However, this recommendation was not implemented during the reporting period. Decree 315 continues to include ambiguous language instructing religious adherents to promote the beautiful culture of the nation, which creates a danger that converts to religions which are not considered part of the majority culture of the nation may be accused of undermining harmony. The decree also requires adherents to receive approval from the government for various religious activities and for aspects of the internal management of religious groups. The autonomous rule of rural areas and unchallenged powers of village chiefs also remains of concern. Religious minorities, particularly Protestant Christians, in these areas continue to be subjected to arbitrary detention, forced eviction, confiscation of land and livestock, destruction of property, harassment, and discrimination. Efforts by the government to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief are undermined by social hostility and weak rule of law at a local level. In June 2024, Protestant Pastor Mum and five church congregants were extrajudicially arrested in Tahe village in Kamurane province by their village chief. It is thought the group was arrested for hosting a small church service in the home of Pastor Mum, which was deemed illegal as the church is not officially registered. All six were subsequently held in Zibue Thong District Prison for over a month without being charged or granted access to legal counsel. CSW calls on Laos to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief is fully protected in all relevant laws and regulations in accordance with international standards, and to improve the rule of law at the local level by training relevant authorities on human rights and combating impunity for violations by both state and non-state actors. Thank you.

Okay, now I invite the representative of International Commission of Jurists.

Mr. Vice President, Lao PDR supports the several important recommendations on combating gender-based violence and has stated it has taken steps to improve access to services and develop standards operating procedures. However, these objectives cannot be realized without measures to counter harmful gender stereotypes, strengthen training for justice professionals, and provide for adequate survivor protection services. Shelters must be expanded nationwide, providing for adequate lengths of stay and simple admission criteria. Village mediation units as presently constituted must not be used to resolve gender-based violence-related criminal cases. Laws complying with LPDR's human rights obligations should be adopted to ensure effective investigations and prosecutions, and legal reform should begin immediately with full participation of civil society and survivors. On development projects, the repeal of decree number 84 on compensation and resettlement management in 2023 has undermined Lao PDR's support for recommendation on the rights of persons from affected communities. For years, the decree provided CSOs and communities with a framework for participation, compensation, and resettlement. Its replacement, the land law, is vague and inadequate. This has led to approval of numerous mining projects without transparent oversight or meaningful community participation. The ICJ deplores Laos' PDR refusal to accept recommendations on human rights defenders and civic space. Human rights cannot be realized without a safe and enabling environment for HRDs and civil society. Yet HRDs inside the country and in exile continue to face unlawful killings and forced disappearances and harassment through judicial processes, while perpetrators enjoy impunity. Recently adopted decree number 536 on associations grants sweeping powers to authorities, enabling undue restrictions on CSO activities, and must be immediately repealed. The ICJ urges Lao PDR to accept and fully implement all UPR recommendations without delay.

I thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of CIVICUS, the World Alliance for Citizen Participation.

Mr. Vice-President, Civicus, Forum Asia and Amnesty International welcome Lao PDR's engagement in the UPR process. During the previous cycle, the country received 38 recommendations on civic space issues and supported 15 of them. However, in reality, the government has failed to implement any of the recommendations. In this cycle, we note that Lao PDR received 24 recommendations on civic space. It supported seven recommendations but failed to accept 17 recommendations, including to and amend laws restricting fundamental freedoms, investigate all cases of enforced disappearances, and prevent acts of intimidation and harassment against HRDs and journalists. In recent years, our organizations have documented severe restrictions in laws imposed on civil society and cases of harassment, prosecution, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and killings of human rights defenders. We have also seen restrictions in laws that criminalize freedom of expression, including including by online critics, and the arbitrary detention of peaceful protesters, particularly in relation to land disputes. We urge the government to take concrete steps to implement the UPR recommendations by repealing or amending the decree on associations that imposes undue restrictions on CSOs, as well as Decree No. 327, the cybercrime law, and Article 117 of the penal code, so they comply with the ICCPR. The government must immediately and unconditionally release all detained human rights defenders, ensure accountability for attacks on activists such as Anousa Juk Luang Souphong, halt acts of transitional repression and undertake full independent investigations into all unresolved cases of alleged enforced disappearances, including that of Som Bhat Somphothong.

We thank you.

I thank you. Now I have one intervention by video from the Advocates for Human Rights.

Mr. President, the Advocates for Human Rights, a member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, warmly welcomes the Lao People's Democratic Republic's decision to support recommendations from Paraguay and Switzerland to reduce the number of crimes punishable by death and to establish a moratorium on executions and commute existing death sentences. We are disappointed, however, that the Lao PDR noted the remaining 22 recommendations regarding the death penalty. We are particularly disappointed that the Lao PDR asserts that it retains the death penalty in its penal code as a deterrent for the most serious crimes, because High Commissioner reports and expert panels at the Council have confirmed that the death penalty has no unique deterrent effect on crime. October 10th is World Day Against the Death Penalty, and the theme for this year is "The death penalty protects no one." We encourage the Lao PDR and all member states to consult World Day materials to learn more about effective means to deter crime while respecting international human rights, particularly without resorting to the death penalty. We regret that Lao authorities fail to disclose transparent and complete data about the country's death penalty practices and do not disaggregate data by gender or sex. Hence, civil society struggles to assess the extent of gender-based discrimination in the country's application of the death penalty. We urge authorities to provide heightened due process safeguards in cases involving women defendants at risk of the death penalty. We also encourage authorities to ensure that judges and attorneys in the criminal legal system have training on gender-specific mitigation, gender-based discrimination, and coercive control relationships. We further urge the Lao PDR to fully abolish the death penalty. In the interim, we recommend that the government implement the Human Rights Committee's 2018 recommendations that Laos maintain its moratorium on executions and undertake a comprehensive review of its laws to ensure the death penalty applies only to the most serious crimes, defined as crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing, and to ensure respect for fair trial rights. Thank you.

Now I invite the representative of the United Nations Watch.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. UN Watch acknowledges the several steps taken by the Lao PDR to advance human rights protection, including laws banning the use of corporal punishment on children, attempts to combat trafficking, and laws to protect freedom of religion. However, questions persist over the effectiveness of these steps and continued human rights violations in other areas. Firstly, enforced disappearances persist. Where is Sombat Somphone, abducted from Vientiane Street in 2012? After 13 years, his family still has no answers. His safe return must be secured. We urge Laos to ratify the Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances and to conduct immediate, independent investigations into all cases. Secondly, Laos placed 150th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. We call on Laos to align with ICCPR obligations and to safeguard journalists, human rights defenders, and peaceful critics from punishment. Decree No. 238 on associations, the cybercrime law and penal code article 117 on propaganda against the state must be repealed. Thirdly, the death penalty remains for several offences, including drug crimes. Laos must promptly declare a moratorium, as is called for repeatedly in the report, and commute existing death sentences. Fourth, due process and detention conditions must meet the Nelson Mandela Rules, guarantee the presumption of innocence and access to independent legal counsel. Finally, anti-trafficking efforts must be transparent and victim-centred. According to a 2024 US report, Laos identified relatively few SEZ victims versus the reported scale and classified almost all removals from SEZ as labour disputes. End this practice and hold perpetrators to account. Without swift reform, rights in Laos will continue to fall, people will continue to be trafficked, families will continue to be without loved ones who have fallen victim to enforced disappearances, and people will be unnecessarily killed. The Government of Lao PDR must act today. Thank you.

I think we now invite the representative of Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch welcomes Laos' support of the majority of the recommendations received, including to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Laos has accepted similar recommendations in past cycles, but has still not ratified this convention. We regret, however, that Laos dismisses several recommendations to conduct credible investigations into cases of enforced disappearance, including that of activist Sombath Somphone. Sombath Somphone was a civil society leader, was last seen at a police checkpoint on a busy street of Vientiane in December 2012. The authorities appear to have been concealing information about his abduction and have not provided any update on the investigation to his family. We call on Laos to fully and impartially investigate Sombath's enforced disappearance and disclose his fate or whereabouts. Sombath Somphone's disappearance is emblematic of Laos' broader impunity for human rights violations committed against its critics. Human Rights Watch also regrets that Laos has rejected several recommendations of fundamental civil and political rights, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and recommendations calling on the government to protect human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and critics of the government from harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, and forced disappearance. Laos continued to target critics, including activist Savang Phaloud, who was detained in April 2023, and has failed to investigate the shooting of Anousa Jang Luangsuphon, who was critically wounded later that month. Human Rights Watch urges member states to press the government of Laos to fully and impartially investigate reports of attacks against dissidents and end the use of arbitrary arrest and secret detention. Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker that we could accommodate. Now, before giving the floor to the delegation of Lao People's Democratic Republic for the concluding remarks, allow me to inform you that out of 257 recommendations received, 189 enjoyed the support of Lao PDR, and 61 are noted. Additional clarification was provided on another seven recommendations, including which parts of the recommendations were supported and which parts were noted. Now I give the floor to His Excellency, the Ambassador of Lao PDR in Geneva for the concluding remarks. Ambassador, Excellency, please.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Mr. Vice President, distinguished delegates, my delegation would like to express our sincere appreciation to all members and observer states and relevant stakeholders for their participation, for their support and encouragement extended to the Lao PDR during this UPR process. We take note of comments made during this session. At the same time, my delegation requests that during the session some intervention were based on inaccurate, unverified, and incredible information, which do not reflect the reality on the ground. Such misperceptions overlook the progress and the genuine efforts undertaken by the Lao government to advance human rights and well-being of our Lao ethnic people. As I mentioned yesterday, we officially recognize 50 ethnic groups in the country without any classification of any ethnic group as indigenous people. All individuals, regardless of ethnicity or gender, are considered equal under the constitution and enjoy the same right and obligation. We underscore that the Lapidia remains open to constructive dialogue and cooperation based on the principle of mutual respect, equality, and respect for national independence and serenity of state. We firmly reject allegations founded on misinformation or unverified information. Mr. Vice President, In the constructive spirit, the Lao PDR will continue to work with all, with the international community and UN agencies and relevant stakeholders to implement the accepted recommendation, which will be integrated into the plan of action in a manner consistent with our constitution, national laws, and socioeconomic developments. I would not recall if the member states are not implementing their national laws and legislations and only implementing international laws and instruments. Furthermore, the law will conduct disseminations to line ministries, relevant organization, human rights focal points, from the central to the provincial levels and other relevant stakeholders to raise awareness and make contribution to the implementation of the plan of action. With that, I thank you very much, Mr. Vice President.

I thank you, Ambassador. And also, once again, I thank you for your flexibility to accept the split in the debate after the meeting yesterday. And also, I would like to thank the whole delegation for the presentation and constructive participation throughout the UPR process. And now I propose that the Council adopts the decision on the outcome of the universal periodic review of Lao PDR as it appears on the screen. And if I see no objection, I see none, the decision is adopted. We'll take a brief break in order to resume with, uh, the consideration of the outcome on Sweden. Okay, welcome back. We will now proceed with the consideration of the outcome of Sweden. The outcome is based on the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of Sweden and its addendum. These documents, together with the additional information that will now be provided by Sweden, will constitute the outcome of the review and shall be adopted by the Council through a standardized decision. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Magnus Hellgren, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations Office in Geneva, to present the additional information on the review. Ambassador, Excellency, please.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, distinguished members and observers of the Human Rights Council. It is a great honor to present Sweden's formal response the recommendations received during our fourth universal periodic review. First, let me underline the importance we attach to the UPR. The UPR is a unique design of a state-to-state peer review and a valuable tool to promote and uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the world, as well as nationally. I want to especially thank The 101 states that have engaged with us in this review, and of course the Troika, Mexico, the Gambia, and Switzerland, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner. I also want to thank civil society and other stakeholders for engaging in this process. A critical part of the UPR review are the consultations with civil society and other stakeholders leading up to the national report, and Sweden looks forward to working together in implementing the outcome. The Swedish Government is fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, gender equality, democracy and the rule of law. Sweden's commitment in this regard remains firm. We appreciated the many positive acknowledgements regarding Sweden's commitment to human rights. Mr Vice-President, the goal of Sweden's human rights policy is to ensure full respect for Sweden's international human rights obligations and the 315 recommendations received are all valuable contributions to our ongoing effort. The government will continue to actively consult and collaborate with civil society and other stakeholders in monitoring of the human rights situation and in the implementation of the accepted recommendations from this UPR. The Swedish government has accepted 203 recommendations, partially accepted six recommendations and noted 106 recommendations. The government's general approach when having considered the recommendations received has been to accept only those recommendations where the government can foresee measures before the next review or where measures have already been or are being implemented. The establishment of the Swedish National Human Rights Institute as an independent national human rights institution was a measure recommended in previous UPRs. The institute has a key role to play in Sweden, meeting the objective of ensuring full compliance with international human rights obligations. We are pleased that the Swedish Institute for Human Rights is now accredited with A status by Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. I'll just have a sip of water. Mr. Vice President, let me comment briefly on some recurrent themes in the recommendations received. On ratification of international human rights conventions, Sweden signed the Convention for the Protection of All Persons against Enforced Disappearances in 2007 and is of the view that, in all essentials, our legislation meets the requirements of the Convention. Prior to the ratification of the Convention, however, further analysis is required. The ratification of the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention from 2019 is currently being prepared in the Government Office, and Sweden will consider its ratification once analysis of the compatibility of our legislation is concluded. Mr. Vice President, Sweden has received several recommendations pertaining to various forms of racism and hate crime. The Swedish position is clear. Racism is never acceptable. Wherever racism exists and however it is expressed, we must fight it. Racism, including discrimination and hate crime, has no place in a democratic society. In December 2024, the government adopted a national action plan to combat racism and hate crime. This new action plan is a concerted effort to fight racism in general, but also to highlight and combat specific forms of racism through various measures. The action plan focuses particularly on anti-Muslim racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Black racism, anti-Gypsyism, and racism against the Sami people. Several measures targeting anti-Muslim racism and hate crime have been carried out and are ongoing, including knowledge-enhancing efforts to prevent and combat anti-Muslim racism in schools and society at large, and efforts to strengthen security for faith communities and increase knowledge about their exposure to various forms of racism and hate crime. The Swedish government works actively to combat antisemitism with several measures as part of an integrated approach that also seeks to improve conditions for Jewish life in Sweden, including knowledge-enhancing initiatives and the establishment of a task force for Jewish life. On the 15th of May 2025 this year, the government adopted its first national strategy to foster Jewish life and combat antisemitism, and a national coordinator for the strategy will be appointed shortly. The fight against hate crime is a human rights issue. In Sweden, The rights to freedoms of expression, freedom of assembly, and to demonstrate are constitutionally protected and extensive. However, these freedoms are not unlimited, and several court cases, including Koran burnings, have resulted in convictions for the crime of agitation against a population group. The government has strengthened the criminal law protection against racist hate speech. Individuals who are victims of this offense can now be granted injury party status and be entitled damages. Denying, condoning, or grossly trivializing the Holocaust and other serious international crimes have also been criminalized. As regards recommendations received on combating discrimination and segregation, let me stress that equality is a core aspect of the government's policy. The Equality Ombudsman has a significant role in combating discrimination and covers many different areas. Discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin, religion, or belief is never acceptable. It is prohibited under Sweden's Discrimination Act. This prohibition covers several different sectors in society, including the workplace and healthcare. In addition, the Education Act and the Discrimination Act also prohibit discrimination in education on the grounds of religion or beliefs. The government has announced its intention to prepare a draft legislative proposal on extended protection against discrimination in relation to all public sector activities. According to the Discrimination Act, all employers must work on pay surveys to discover, remedy and prevent unfair gender differences in pay. Men and women must have the same opportunities and conditions regarding paid work to provide economic independence throughout their lives. The gender pay gap persists, but the objective of closing it remains and has not yet been achieved, and the work to close it continues. The responsibility for wage formation lies with the social partners and the that is, the workers and the unions. Mr. Vice-President, regarding the numerous recommendations to strengthen the rights of indigenous people, let me stress that the Sami people is recognized as an indigenous people and a national minority under the Swedish Constitution and Swedish law. The Swedish government is fully committed to taking steps to strengthen the Sami people's access to influence, participation, and livelihoods. In March 2022, the Act on Consultation with Issues Concerning the Sami People entered into force in Sweden. Under the Act, government agencies, regions, and municipalities are obliged to consult the Sami Parliament and, in certain circumstances, also the reindeer herding communities and the Sami organizations before making decisions on matters that significantly affect the Sami people. This act is a key step ensuring the Sami people's right to transparency and participation in decision-making processes that especially affect them. Another UPR recommendation which has been implemented is the appointment of the Truth Commission for the Sami people at the request of the Sami Parliament. The Truth Commission has a broad mandate, and the tasks of the Commission include examining policies pursued historically in relation to the Sami and their consequences. Another is increasing public awareness of Sami history and proposing measures that contribute to redress and promote reconciliation. The Commission has requested an extension of its mandate until the 1st of October 2026. which was recently granted by the government. The government has also allocated funds for the continuous work of the reconciliation process initiated with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Torna Dalians, the Quens, and the Lanta Laisit, in close consultations with those minorities. Mr. Vice-President, the ILO, in the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention of 1989, is a broad convention and covers many areas. A prerequisite for ratifying this convention is the approval of our parliament. And before parliament takes a final position, all questions regarding the legal consequences of accession to the convention must be further analyzed. The Swedish Government is also continuing its work on the long-term strategy for Roma inclusion within the prioritized areas of employment, education and gender equality. Mr. Vice-President, Sweden also received several recommendations concerning integration and countering exclusion. The Government is reforming its migration and integration policy to create better conditions for successful integration and measures taken to improve integration and combat social exclusion. The most significant reform is our new integration policy. Foreign-born women and men who reside in Sweden should be self-sufficient, learn the Swedish language, understand how Sweden functions, and become part of Swedish society, with the same obligations, rights, and opportunities as the rest of the population. Integration policy should contribute to improving conditions for girls and boys with foreign backgrounds. In terms of the government's work to counter exclusion, the objective for the newly revised policy into, is to improve the situation in neighborhoods that have significant challenges. The aim is to focus on schools, social services, and the employment sector, and are aimed at improving safety and reducing crime. As to the recommendations we have received to combat organized crime, it is the government's responsibility to protect everyone in Sweden against crime and to protect young people from criminal recruitment and influence. The government is now reforming Sweden's criminal policy, and these reforms will be undertaken in ways that comply with human rights legislation and that meet the test of being necessary and proportionate. The rights and dignity of victims, including their well-being and safety, is another central consideration in the government's efforts to prevent and respond to organized crime and serious violent crime. Mr. Vice President, lastly, regarding the recommendations received on gender equality, Sweden has come a long way in terms of gender equality, even if challenges remain. We have been and will continue to be a strong, progressive voice for gender equality for women and girls' enjoyment of human rights and for the enjoyment of human rights of LGBTQI persons around the world. The Swedish Government remains firm in its commitment to preventing and combating all forms of gender-based and sexual violence. Preventing and combating men's violence against women, domestic violence, honour-based violence and oppression, as well as prostitution and human trafficking, is a priority for the Swedish Government. The government prioritizes a coordinated chain of support for individuals who are subject to violence. Several authorities have been tasked with strengthening cooperation and aiming to enhance operational collaboration between the police, prosecutors, correctional services, social services, and health care. The government has proposed that gender should be added to the general regulation on aggravating circumstances for hate crimes. This would mean that a court should, when assessing penalty value, take into consideration whether a motive for a committed offence was to insult a person or population group on the ground of gender. This amendment entered into force on the 1st of July, 2025. In response to several recommendations regarding our national strategy on the rights of the child, the Convention of the Rights of the Child was incorporated incorporated into the Swedish law on the 1st of January, 2020. The goal of Sweden's children's rights policy is to ensure that children and young people are respected and given the opportunity for development, security, participation, and influence. All children, regardless of age, gender, origin, and disability, among others, should have their rights met. The government has commissioned the Swedish Agency for Public Management to follow up and analyze the Government's strategic work on the rights of the child. The focus should be on the work the Government has conducted to strengthen the rights of the child in Sweden and how to strengthen the efficiency and impact of the work at the national, regional and municipal level. And Sweden is now looking forward to hearing the comments and observations of the distinguished members and observers of this Council. I thank you.

I thank Your Excellency for this extensive presentation. Now, in accordance with the paragraph 13 of the annex of Human Rights Council resolution 16/21, we will hear from the national human rights institutions, namely, we will have a video from the Swedish Institute for Human Rights.

The Swedish Institute for Human Rights welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the UPR process, and we are honored to.

Participate for the first time.

We welcome the recommendations addressed to Sweden and acknowledge the government's engagement with us and civil society throughout the process. Out of 315 recommendations, 203 have been fully accepted. Among those, we welcome that the government has accepted recommendations on issues such as hate speech, hate crimes, and discrimination. However, we regret that the following key recommendations have been partially accepted or noted.

Firstly, we see need for a new human rights strategy.

The current strategy is outdated and its implementation has stalled. Moreover, implementation and follow-up of international recommendations must be strengthened. Secondly, we are concerned that nearly two years after recommendations.

From the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Tony Dahlgren's Quens and Lanta Lysit, key.

Structural and long-term actions such as a formal apology, language promotion and repatriation of remains are still unaddressed. Thirdly, we welcome that Sweden has accepted to ensure alignment of its legislation with UNDRIP, particularly regarding self-determination and participation. However, we are concerned that Sweden has only noted recommendations concerning free, prior and informed consent. Finally, we are concerned by the government's unwillingness to commit to ratification of the third optional protocol to the CRC, despite strong recommendations from several states, civil society actors and independent institutions. We stand ready to support the Swedish Government in implementing these recommendations. In this work, civil society plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability and meaningful progress. Distinguished members of the Human Rights Council, I thank you for your attention.

Okay, thank you. I will now open the floor to the members and observer States for their comments on the outcome of the review. I remind you all that the speaking time has been set at one minute and 30 seconds for all States. So now I invite the representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Maldives warmly welcomes distinguished delegation from Sweden for the adoption of the UPR report and compliments the Government of Sweden for its commitment to the UPR process. We commend the Government of Sweden for accepting majority of the recommendations, including the recommendation made by the Maldives during the UPR Working Group session in May. We wish the Government of Sweden success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and request the Council to adopt the UPR Outcome Report of Sweden by consensus. Thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Morocco.

Mr. President, my delegation wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Sweden for its constructive engagement in the Universal Periodic Review process. This demonstrates Sweden's commitment to upholding and promoting human rights. We commend Sweden for accepting a majority of the recommendations made, reflecting its dedication to strengthening human rights protection at a national level. Broko wishes Sweden every success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and reaffirms its support for Sweden's ongoing efforts in this regard.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Nepal.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Nepal warmly welcomes the delegation of Sweden to the adoption of its Universal Periodic Review outcome and thanks for its constructive engagements with the human rights mechanisms. We thank Sweden for accepting the two recommendations offered by us. Nepal appreciates Sweden's efforts to strengthen measures for increasing women's participation in decision-making bodies. Nepal wishes Sweden all success in implementing the accepted recommendations and supports the adoption of its UPR outcome report by consensus. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Philippines warmly welcomes the distinguished delegation of Sweden to this session. We commend Sweden's commitment to gender equality, its ongoing efforts to combat domestic violence and trafficking in persons, and to uphold the human rights of national minorities. We thank Sweden for supporting our recommendations to strengthen legal protection against racism and discrimination, including access to justice and support services for victims. Ensure the active involvement of older persons in policy development for their full enjoyment of all human rights, and to continue to fully guarantee the rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including the right to family reunification and respect for the principle of non-refoulement. Mr. Vice President, the Philippines supports the adoption of the UPR outcome report on Sweden and wishes Sweden all success in the implementation of all supported recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Russian Federation.

Vice President, we note that all three of the recommendations made by the Russian Federation have been approved. However, Russia remains seriously concerned about incidents of racial discrimination and xenophobia and harassment and other forms of intolerance, including on political or religious grounds. We are deeply concerned by the Russia phobic government that is deployed also at the government level against Russian citizens, Russian media, diplomatic services as well. And we have Swedish and also against Swedish citizens who speak out in favor of a normalization of relations with Russia. We hope that Sweden's implementation of recommendations will help us overcome the human rights difficulties in this field in the country. We recommend adopting the report for Sweden's UPR. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Sierra Leone.

Vice President Celen welcomes the Swedish delegation and commends its constructive engagements and commitments to advancing human rights. We acknowledge the Kingdom's migration policy and welcome the assurance that, despite being more restrictive, its measures remain consistent with EU law and international obligations, including the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement. We also welcome Sweden's reaffirmation of its commitment to gender equality. Since 1994, gender mainstreaming has been the Government's main strategy for achieving national gender equality policy goals. And we note with appreciation that these initiatives have been extended until 2029. Sierra Leone is further encouraged that all three of our recommendations enjoy the Government of Sweden's acceptance. We urge Sweden to continue its informative and progressive strides in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the protection of migrants. My delegation extends its best wishes to the Kingdom of Sweden for its successful implementation of all the accepted recommendations and invites the Council to adopt the outcome report by consensus. And I thank you, Vice-President.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Thank you, Vice-President. We would like to wish a warm welcome to the Swedish delegation and we thank them for the presentation that was made, which reflects a degree of commitment and respect for human rights as a pillar of Sweden's national policy. We also commend the constructive approach and commend efforts made in cooperation with the UPR mechanism. We welcome the acceptance by Sweden of a large number of recommendations, because this is confirmed through the adoption of a national strategy for guaranteeing respect for human rights and also for ensuring full participation by civil society and stakeholders in order to respect international obligations. We commend the national efforts that are made and the ongoing review of legislation for combating organized crime and the law on asylum and the laws on children and the fight against racial discrimination, xenophobia, marginalization and racism. We recommend the adoption of Sweden's report. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. Now I invite the representative of Tunisia.

Thank you, Vice President. We'd like to welcome the Swedish delegation, whom we thank for the presentation. We would like to express our appreciation for Sweden has accepted many recommendations, and we particularly commend the fact that Sweden accepted our delegation's recommendations relating to pursuing efforts to provide healthcare services free from any discrimination, and also to support the right to education, and to ensure that the fight against discrimination, racism and anti-Muslim discrimination and feeling. We also commend efforts made to ensure that national legislation is in line with recommendations and international obligations. We wish Sweden every success in the implementation of the accepted UPR recommendations and we recommend the adoption of the outcome report. Thank you.

I thank you. UN Habitat, please.

UN Habitat welcomes Sweden's acceptance of recommendations on the rights of minorities, including the right to adequate housing. For recommendation 76, specific actions and infrastructure are necessary to ensure the equal access of persons with disabilities, as are disaggregation in monitoring and following up on fulfilment. UN-Habitat regrets that Sweden's noting of recommendations 186 and 187, addressing the prevention of evictions leading to and of homelessness. Evictions are a highly regulated practice under international human rights law, and homelessness is the most severe form of lack of adequate housing. A commitment to monitoring and, if necessary, further developing prevention policies and procedures would be of benefit to all. UN-Habitat notes the absence of recommendations on general questions of the right to adequate housing in Sweden. Housing cost overburdens are particularly significant for the poorest sections of society in urban areas and impact 20% or more of households. UN-Habitat further observes that challenges to the fulfilment of the right to adequate housing disproportionately affect women and children in terms of both immediate and longer-term impacts on their human rights. We note Sweden's reservations regarding the recognition of indigenous rights to free, prior and informed consent, and encourage the Government to limit any proposed restrictions to the minimum necessary and only to address overwhelming public interest. Thank you.

I thank you. UNHCR, please.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

UNHCR appreciates the efforts by the.

Government of Sweden to maintain a robust asylum system for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. UNHCR notes that in response to the large-scale arrival of asylum seekers in 2015, Sweden has implemented a series of restricted measures to curtail migration, some of which have now become permanent. Reflecting the recommendations from the third and fourth UPR cycles, UNHCR supports Sweden to, one, ensure the stable and secure residence permits are granted to refugees to avoid prolonged temporariness of protection and to facilitate effective integration. Two, to facilitate family reunification for refugees and remove legal, practical, and financial obstacles to ensure the earliest possible reunification of families. Third, to establish a dedicated statelessness determination procedure to ensure that stateless persons are effectively identified and can enjoy their rights, incorporating the definition of a stateless person pursuant to Article 1 of the 1954 Convention in all relevant legislation. Fourth, to amend the Swedish Aliens Act to prohibit the detention of children for immigration-related purposes. Fifth, to continue to invest in the quality assurance of the asylum procedure and to ensure that the credibility assessments and asylum claims are undertaken with due consideration for the applicant's individual circumstances and in a manner that is both fair and sensitive. UNHCR remains committed to supporting the government of Sweden in achieving these goals and its UPR recommendations. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Venezuela. Gracias.

Thank you, Vice-President. A greeting to the delegation and thank you for the presentation. We take note of your cooperation with the UPR mechanism and we believe that it is the voluntary mechanisms, not those that are imposed, that yield the greatest results for the protection and promotion of human rights. We welcome the acceptance of three out of the five recommendations made by Venezuela during the interactive dialogue. These were aimed at the abolishment of the isolation regime for minors in particular, and the guaranteeing of fair and equitable policies that enable migrants and vulnerable communities to fully enjoy their human rights. We note with concern human rights violations in Sweden, especially against migrants, who are broadly affected by discrimination on the job market, as well as the use of racial profiling by the police forces in neighborhoods that are segregated by race. Therefore, we regret that the delegation only noted two of the recommendations made by Venezuela on those points. Finally, we urge the country to continue cooperating with the UPR mechanism on the basis of the recommendations made to fully guarantee the human rights of the population. Thank you.

Yes, sorry. Now, in favor of the representative of Vietnam.

Mr. Vice President, Vietnam warmly welcomes the distinguished delegation of Sweden to the adoption of the UPR report and commend Sweden for their commitment to the UPR process in the promotion and protection of human rights. We are happy to note that the Government of Sweden has accepted the recommendation made by Vietnam to continue to undertake proactive measures, including awareness-raising programmes to prevent and eliminate all forms of discrimination, and enhance further efforts to ensure access to health care, education and employment opportunities for disadvantaged populations, promoting an inclusive society. In particular, Vietnam commends Sweden for its efforts to combat hate crime and intolerance, tackle domestic violence and trafficking in persons, and promote gender equality. Finally, we wish Sweden every success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and request the Council to adopt the UPR report of Sweden by consensus. I thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Yemen.

Thank you, Vice-President. The delegation of the Yemeni Republic would like to welcome the friendly delegation of the Kingdom of Sweden, and we commend the commitment of the Kingdom of Sweden to human rights, democracy, and equality. We also welcome the establishment of the Swedish Human Rights Institute with an A status, and also the adoption of the National Strategy for Combating Racism and Hate Crimes. We support the pathway of Sweden towards promoting and protecting human rights, and we recommend the adoption of the report. Thank you.

Thank you. Now, in favor of the representative of Albania.

Vice President, Albania extends a greeting to Sweden, and we thank them for the presentation and their continuous commitment to the UPR process. Albania would like to commend Sweden on its successful UPR and for having accepted a large number of recommendations aimed at further promoting and protecting human rights in Sweden. It is our pleasure to recognize that the Government of Sweden accepted three of Albania's recommendations on further cooperation with civil society for the monitoring and implementation of recommendations stemming from the universal periodic review. The second one was on strengthening the legal framework for combating hate speech and hate crime. And the third was on stepping up activities for combating domestic violence. It is on the basis of the accepted recommendations that we are convinced that Sweden will continue to improve the human rights situation, including through its legislative and institutional framework. Finally, Albania recommends that the Council adopt Sweden's UPR report. Thank you.

Thank you.

I would now like to invite the representative of Algeria to take the floor.

So, Vice President, Algeria welcomes the distinguished delegation of Sweden to the adoption of the UPR outcomes. We thank them for the additional information provided today. We take note of Sweden's responses to the recommendation, including the position on those submitted by our country. Algeria recommends that the Council adopt the outcomes of Sweden's universal periodic review and looks forward to Sweden's success in.

And the accepted recommendations. I thank you.

I thank you, and now I invite the representative of Armenia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Armenia extends a warm welcome to the distinguished delegation of Sweden. We appreciate its meaningful participation in the Universal Periodic Review and the respect that Sweden places on the UPR process. The high number of recommendations accepted by Sweden demonstrates its commitment to human rights and democracy. In particular, we extend our gratitude for accepting Armenia's recommendation to combat domestic violence, including by expanding access to legal aid. We commend Sweden's dedication to the promotion of gender equality, the protection of children's rights, the fight against discrimination and hate crimes, as well as the support for indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities. We also welcome Sweden's active engagement in international platforms to promote human rights, equality, and sustainable development. In conclusion, we would like to express our support for the adoption of the report of the working group and wish Sweden every success in its implementation. I thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker that we could accommodate for this segment. Let me remind you again that all statements, including those which could not be delivered due to time constraints, should be uploaded online. I will now give the floor to the other stakeholders to make their general comments on the outcome. The speaking time, I remind you, it's set at two minutes for all. So first, we have an intervention by video from the Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism.

Mr. President, the Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism would like to appreciate the Government of Sweden for its commitment to the DPR process. Regarding the issue of counter-terrorism, the Swedish government has taken a number of measures, including adoption of the Terrorist Crime Act to criminalize participation in and financing of terrorist organizations. However, in recent years, members of a number of terrorist groups playing role in Iran and other countries have taken refuge in Sweden and have freely directed their subversive acts and even influenced the decision-making of the government. Consequently, In order to counter terrorism and in accordance with international instruments and the Swedish Terrorist Crimes Act, the ADVT recommends that Sweden: 1. Fulfill its international commitments in countering terrorism and refrain from selective implementation of the Terrorist Crimes Act. 2. Based on the provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention, refuse to grant asylum status to members of terrorist organizations, and revoke the asylum status of the criminals who had previously received it. 3. Provide appropriate conditions for rehabilitation and reintegration of the members who have not committed grave terrorist crimes. and have been deceived by terrorist groups in order to take a step towards ending the cycle of violence and terrorism. And finally, fully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights to applaud the rights of the Iranian victims of terrorism in the United Nations and other international bodies. Thank you.

Okay, now I invite the representative of World Evangelical Alliance.

Mr. Vice-President, The World Evangelical Alliance thanks Sweden for its constructive participation in the UPR and the open dialogue with civil society. We urge Sweden to respect parents' right to educate their children according to their religious traditions. We also call on Sweden to withdraw its proposed ban on faith-based private schools. Additionally, we ask Sweden to reconsider its ongoing review of such schools, which has disproportionately targeted independent Christian schools. We request that Sweden allow public funding for religious denominations and associations affiliated with religious communities that contribute to the public good. This funding should be provided without discrimination or interference with their religious beliefs and doctrines, in line with Sweden's international human rights obligations. This issue also relates to many churches' deeply held beliefs on sexuality and gender, especially as the government reviews proposals to ban conversion therapy. While condemning all forms of coercion, violence, abuse, and torture against LGBTQ+ people, we believe there are significant concerns with the proposed law, particularly regarding its definitions and limits, as well as the rights to freedom of opinion and religion. Mr. Vice-President, we also encourage Sweden to take stronger steps to protect asylum seekers' rights to leave their current religion or to convert to another. This is especially important for those fleeing persecution in their home countries. This includes refraining from reintroducing new blasphemy laws or using existing laws to prevent blasphemy, and guarantee freedom of expression and religion, both legally and in practice. Thank you.

I thank you. Now we have an intervention by video from Partners for Transparency.

Thank you, Mr. President. Partners for Transparency appreciates Sweden's engagement with the Universal Periodic Review mechanism and welcomes its acceptance of 207 recommendations out of 315 received during the fourth cycle. Mr. President, despite the advanced legal framework for helping discrimination in Sweden, partners express concern over the continued exposure of individual of migrants backgrounds to increasing the forms of discrimination in employment, education, and healthcare. More than 36% of the migrants in Sweden have reported experiencing discrimination in accessing healthcare and job opportunity. Partners also expressed concern about the hate crime and hate speech against Muslim minorities, which have been manifested in attacks on the near of Islamic schools and allowances of public Quran training. This is actions raising discrimination and undermine the principle of the peaceful coexistence and the social integration. Partners welcome judicial decisions that overturned bans on the wearing hijab and the niqab in educational institutions, viewing them as violations of religious freedom. In conclusion, Mr. President, Partners for Transparency calls on the Swedish government to review the recommendations that were not fully accepted to enhance its efforts to combating discrimination, protecting the freedom of religion, belief, and ensuring that migrants and religious minorities enjoy all human rights equal and without discrimination. Thank you.

Okay, now we have another intervention by video from the Action Canada for Population and Development.

Thank you, President. Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of Red Umbrella Sweden, a civil society organization representing sex workers in Sweden and Europe, and the Sexual Rights Initiative. We regret that Sweden received no recommendations on sex worker rights and instead received numerous recommendations which go against evidence-based guidance from the WHO, UNAIDS, and the Special Procedures, which support the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work, noting that decriminalization reduces violence against sex workers, reduces the risk of HIV contraction, and improves the recognition of sex workers' rights and access to justice and healthcare. We are deeply concerned by Sweden's approach to sex work, which indirectly criminalizes the bodies of sex workers, conflates sex work with trafficking, and exposes sex workers to violence, stigma, and exclusion from democratic participation. The criminalization of sex work forces sex workers to the margins of society. Red Umbrella Sweden members often live in precarious conditions, at constant risk of eviction, homelessness, and social isolation, and often face barriers to accessing healthcare. Further, in recent years, Sweden has imposed stricter migration laws with high demands in self-sufficiency, language, and civil knowledge. Red Umbrella Sweden members describe Sweden as increasingly hostile. Finally, sex workers have faced and continue to face significant barriers to organizing for their rights. Sweden must strengthen sex workers' rights to organize through targeted funding, through initiating and sustaining dialogue between government and the sex worker movement, and through sex worker inclusion in the legislative processes. We call on Sweden to, one, decriminalize sex work; two, ensure protection for migrant sex workers and others at risk of human trafficking; and, three, Recognize sex workers' rights to organize and fund sex workers' self-organization. I thank you.

Okay, now it's another intervention by video from the Union of Arab Jurists.

We commend Sweden for engaging with the UPR and the implementation of most of the 200 recommendations accepted in 2020, as well as recent steps to combat racism and hate crime, including the adoption of a national action plan, the creation of specialized police units, and strengthened legal protections. However, racism, Islamophobia, and discrimination against minorities remain a concern. We encourage Sweden to implement the suggested measures. We call on Sweden to ratify key international conventions, including the conventions on migrant workers and forced disappearance, ILO conventions 190 and 169. We urge Sweden to strengthen its action plan through increased educational awareness-raising efforts and to establish an independent body to investigate and address complaints of discrimination. We further urge Sweden to improve enforcement of existing laws and integrate international law into domestic law. In particular, we call on Sweden to adopt a legal definition of torture aligned with international standards, to criminalize femicide, and to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the light of reports of harassment and intimidation faced by pro-Palestinian activists, we support a call to amend the Police Act of 1984 and the 1969 Government Decree on the Use of Firearms by Police. to align them with the latest international standards on the use of force, and to amend the national law to ensure that peaceful protests are not treated as criminal acts of sabotage. As the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded, on reasonable grounds that the Israeli authorities and Israeli security forces have committed genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, we call on Sweden to take all the necessary measures to update its position and align with the Commission's findings. Thank you.

Now, another intervention by video with a joint statement from the internationallawyers.org.

to express our gratitude to Sweden for its active participation in the Universal Periodic Review, which demonstrates Sweden's efforts to combat racism and hate speech to protect minority rights. These initiatives should truly reflect respect for justice and cultural rights. We encourage Sweden to advance gender equality, safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring the inclusion of migrants and refugees, and strengthening the protection Sami culture. At the same time, Sweden's responsibility doesn't stop at its borders. A true champion of human rights must defend them everywhere. In the light of the International Commission of Inquiry's confirmation of the genocide against the Palestinian people and reports of repression of pro-Palestinian activists in Sweden, we urge the government to respect these voices and protect them from any intimidation or threat. We are also deeply concerned by Sweden's decision to withdraw funding from UNRWA, which provides vital aid to millions of Palestinian refugees. This decision risks worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis and undermines Sweden's reputation as a defender of human rights. Equally troubling are the restrictions imposed on Palestinian human rights organizations. By applying discriminatory standards, Sweden risks reinforcing systemic injustice and diminishing its credibility as a global advocate for the rights. We argue Sweden to ensure its policies are firmly guided by international law and the principle of equal dignity for all people. We argue Sweden to match its words with action and to lead with courage and consistency. It must act now to end complicity and stand with oppressed people everywhere. Thank you.

I invite the representative of Interfaith International.

Mr. Vice President, Interfaith International welcomes Sweden's constructive engagement with the UPR and notes with appreciation the steps taken since its last review. In particular, we highlight the establishment of Swedish Institute for Human Rights, the adoption of the National Action Plan against Racism and Hate Crime, and progress in advancing the rights of the Sami people. Sweden's commitment to gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTIQ rights also sets an important example. At the same time, challenges remain.

We encourage Sweden to ensure that the action plan against racism is fully implemented with measurable outcomes, particularly addressing anti-Black racism, anti-Gypsyism, and discrimination against the Sami people.

The incidents of the Quran burnings underscore

the need to continue balancing freedoms of expression with protection from hate speech and intolerance. We also urge Sweden to strengthen efforts to combat gender-based violence, ensure full protection to victims of trafficking, and guarantee effectiveness, consultations, and participation of indigenous people in decisions that affect their lands and livelihoods. Finally, we encourage Sweden to continue translating its progressive commitments into tangible improvements for all communities and to maintain its leadership in advancing human rights, both domestically and internationally.

Furthermore, we call on Sweden to combat incitements to religious hatred and ethnic hatred on the Internet.

I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

I thank you. Now we have an intervention by video from the March for Peace.

Thank you, Mr. President. MAC notes with deep concern the developments Sweden has taken regarding refugees and asylum seekers who have arrived in the country. According to the Swedish government, starting in January 2026, migrants who decide to voluntarily return to their countries of origin will be granted up to $34,000. These measures could indirectly pressure individuals to give up their rights to seek asylum, in violation of Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Separately, the Swedish government is proposing a bill to reduce legal assistance during asylum procedures to just one hour after registration of the application with the Migration Agency. This assistance will be limited to providing general information, without advice tailored to the individual situation. Lawyers will only be able to intervene in the event of the negative decision and referral to court. This reduction exposes asylum seekers, especially women and children, to a de facto deprivation of the legal support necessary to gather evidence or communicate with the witnesses. which could lead to negative decisions due to the migration agency's lack of comprehensive information. Mr. President, may I recommend that the Swedish Government ensure full legal assistance for asylum seekers from the beginning to the end of the procedure. It also recommends the implementation of the recommendations made to it regarding refugees during the fourth review of the UPR mechanisms. Thank you.

Okay, now we have another intervention by video from Rajasthan Samagra Kalyan Sansthan.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We warmly

welcome CVIDAN's constructive participation in the UPR process and commend its strong commitment to human rights, equality, and democratic governance. CVIDAN's acceptance of many recommendations reflect openness, responsibilities, and respect for international human rights standards. We especially value Sweden's effort to promote gender equality, protect refugees and migrants, and strengthen policies against discrimination. This step highlights Sweden's long-standing tradition of upholding human dignity and justice at both national and global level. We also appreciate Sweden's positive cooperation with civil society. This partnership is essential for accountability, monitoring, and inclusive development, and must continue to grow. At the same time, we encourage Sweden to further strengthen the protections of children's rights, with special attention to digital safety and access to inclusive education.

Continued investment in preventing gender-based violence

and ensuring equal pay for equal work will further strengthen Sweden's leadership in human rights. We appreciate Sweden's constructive approach in this UPR cycle and express full confidence that its commitment will bring real progress. We encourage Sweden to continue setting an example for the international community by turning promises into action and ensuring that no one is left behind. We thank you. We all live happily.

Okay, this was the last speaker on our list. So before giving the floor to the delegation of Sweden for the concluding remarks, allow me to inform you that out of the 315 recommendations received, 203 enjoyed the support of Sweden, and 106 are noted. Additional clarification was provided on six recommendations, indicating which parts of the recommendations were supported and which parts were noted. So now I would like to give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Sweden for the concluding remarks. Excellency, please.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. And I warmly welcome the member states, the national human rights institutions, and the civil society organizations who have made statements today, and I include those who have submitted theirs in writing, for their continued interest and engagement in the human rights situation in Sweden. This exchange has given us additional impetus to our continued work on human rights in Sweden. While the adoption of this report today wraps up the formal Council proceedings of our fourth review cycle, the success of the UPR lies in that all States commit to that, that it is an ongoing process. Where we now shift the work to the work that lies ahead, domestic implementation of follow-up stage, we will continue to listen to the views and input of all concerned stakeholders, and we will continue to address challenges and emerging issues and to improve the human rights situation for everyone, everywhere in Sweden. In conclusion, I thank you for your kind attention and for your contributions to this dialogue and the process that we are sure will help us to improve the promotion, protection and advancement of human rights in Sweden and that will also contribute to the universal respect of human rights. Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

I thank you, Ambassador. Thank you for the presentation and for the constructive participation of the delegation of Sweden throughout the entire UPR process. I now propose that the Council adopts the decision on the outcome of the UPR of Sweden as it appears on the screen. And if I see no objection, The decision is adopted. Let's take a short break before going into the consideration of the outcome for Lesotho. Thank you. Okay, welcome back. We will now proceed with the consideration of the outcome of Lesotho. The outcome is based on the report of the working group on the universal periodic review of Lesotho and its addendum. These documents, together with the additional information that will be now provided by Lesotho, will constitute the outcome of the review and shall be adopted by the Council through a standardized decision. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Lira Ralebeze, the Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Justice, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho to introduce the national delegation. Sir, please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I have the honor to introduce Honorable Minister of Law and Justice, Honorable Richard Ramoelisi, who will deliver closing remarks on behalf of the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho. He will also reflect on the comments made and allude to Lesotho's commitments on the UPR process. I also have the honor to introduce Honorable Attorney General Advocate Rapela Motsiela, who will deliver remarks which will highlight the efforts employed on the journey towards implementation of the recommendations that emanated from our review. He will also highlight some of the challenges Lesotho is facing. And in our midst, we also have the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho, His Excellency Tshiu Katibe. Honorable Attorney General, please take the floor.

Thank you, PS. Vice President of the Human Rights Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and on my own behalf, I have the pleasure to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to give an update on the issues that emanated from a successful interactive session with the working group on the universal periodic review of Lesotho in April 2025. The review provided an opportunity for critical introspection and self-assessment on the meaning, significance, and indispensable need for protection and promotion of human rights. Lesotho perceives the UPR as an effective tool and a valuable process that enables States to strengthen their human rights framework, taking into account the recommendations from the review. Once again, we applaud the UPR Working Group Secretariat of Lesotho and welcome its report. As it will be recalled, Lesotho received a total of 247 recommendations, of which 230 enjoyed our support. These supported recommendations are in line with government laws and policies, and they are already being implemented. Examples of them include a call to incorporate provisions from the international treaties into domestic laws, particularly those already ratified, to expedite establishment of the Human Rights Commission, and appeal to combat more effectively acts of human trafficking, which mostly affect women and girls, by taking all necessary legal measures against perpetrators, efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, a call to prevent early child marriages, and poverty reduction, to mention a few. With respect to the 17 recommendations that were noted, they were regrettably found to be inconsistent with national laws, government policies, and the culture and traditional values of Basotho people. These recommendations require a vigorous community mobilisation and sensitisation to bring about a change in public perceptions. These include calls for the abolition of the death penalty and legalising same-sex marriage. A bottom-up approach is therefore significant, as the views of the Basotho people must be central to any discussions on these sensitive issues. Vice-President, as stated earlier, Lesotho has already started implementing some of the recommendations received during the UPR, and we are optimistic that these efforts will yield tangible benefits for the rights holders at the national level. These include promulgation of the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which marks a significant milestone, as it includes provisions for the establishment of the Human Rights Commission. The government is committed to ensuring that this important institution becomes a central pillar for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. Government is also committed to addressing the backlog of state party reports. In this regard, Lesotho has worked with international partners like the Commonwealth Secretariat, who organized capacity building workshops in the country, and as a result, we have now submitted responses to the list of issues on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention for the Protection of All Persons against Enforced Disappearance in July and September 2025, respectively. These were in addition to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention for the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which were submitted in February 2025. To address the backlog of cases in the High Court and improve access to justice, five acting judges were appointed to the High Court at the beginning of this month. This measure will also enable the operationalization of the Southern Division of the High Court, further decentralize judicial services, and enhance judicial efficiency. To address poverty and reduce food insecurity, Lesotho is implementing a multi-pronged strategy. This includes strengthening social protection programs for vulnerable populations, improving the education and business environments to create jobs and boost incomes, and promoting resilient and commercial agriculture. These efforts also focus on strengthening social protection for its effectiveness and reach of social programs, which have shown positive impacts on poverty reduction and income distribution, improving education and healthcare, and investing in agriculture and natural resources. The government has also developed a long-term vision on climate change aimed at achieving carbon neutrality while ensuring equitable socio-economic growth towards 2050. The aim is to enhance climate resilience and limit greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy. in line with the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. By aligning climate strategies with national development goals, Lesotho aims to mobilize necessary financial, technological, and institutional resources to implement climate actions. This alignment is expected to increase buy-in and ownership from a wide range of stakeholders and attract opportunities for international cooperation and support. On the improvement of healthcare services, in 2025, Lesotho is focused on improving healthcare through strategic initiatives. These include implementing the new maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response guidelines, developing a national digital health strategy, revitalizing the Mmama transport service, strengthening primary health care systems and enhancing community health worker management with the use of a new Azure reference master list. Further, Lesotho has developed an HIV and TB sustainability roadmaps 2025, which reaffirms the government's commitment to ending HIV and TB as public health concerns. The roadmap also calls for continued and unwavering political leadership in the response, while also driving for a reduction in dependency on external donor funding, amongst others. To safeguard extractive industries, Lesotho is accelerating reforms in its mining sector. This includes introducing new data systems, issuing exploration licenses, and pursuing regional collaborations to broaden its natural resources base beyond diamonds. In this regard, mining laws are under review to make them more investor-friendly, including simplified licensing for artisanal miners. Also, a regional resource composition study is being planned to map untapped resources and expand investment opportunities. However, the sector is under pressure with global market shifts weighing on production and employment. These initiatives are guided by the Extended National Strategic Development Plan II and the National Social Protection Strategy, which aim to build resilience and support for the poorest and most vulnerable. In addition, the government is focused on transforming rural livelihoods, improving climate resilience, and facilitating private sector involvement to foster economic growth through programs like community development model. With the Vice President, Lesotho reaffirms that the UPR is not a one-time event, but a continuous process. In this regard, Lesotho is committed to engaging all relevant stakeholders together to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendation received. To facilitate this, Lesotho intends to strengthen the national mechanism on reporting, implementation, and follow-up, which tracks the recommendations and assists in State Party reporting. also intends to submit a mid-term voluntary report on the implementation of the recommendations. The report will assist in gauging and tracking implementation not only of the UPR but from all other treaty monitoring bodies. These efforts go a long way towards attaining the sustainable development goals which are mutually reinforcing for the promotion and protection of human rights. It would be remiss of me to conclude my remarks without acknowledging the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly hindered and disrupted implementation of the recommendations from the third cycle of UPR. The pandemic reminded us of the importance of the indivisibility of human rights, which are key to the success of the public health emergency response. We believe that through the concerted efforts of the United Nations system and the international community, we will be able to build more effective and inclusive solutions through a human rights-based approach. Mr. Vice President, from Lesotho's experience and engagement with the UPR mechanism, it is evident that this mechanism is a great multilateral achievement in pursuit of the realization of human rights belonging to all. We are cognizant of the fact that when the human rights of all persons are respected, they can realize their full potential, hence play a pivotal and transformative role in shaping the human rights landscape in their respective countries. For this reason, Lesotho will continue in its work to support the worthwhile mechanism and strive to respect and protect the human rights of the people. In conclusion, as Lesotho continues its journey in the implementation of the accepted recommendations, its ambition is to move expeditiously towards best practices in the field of human rights. The pace in this journey is determined by the availability of resources, technical capacity, and social acceptance. Despite setbacks and challenges, including a decline in agricultural production due to deteriorating rangeland conditions, soil erosion, and periodic drought, food insecurity, unemployment, and a high prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS that has increased child mortality as well as maternal health, maternal health, there continues to be progress on many fronts. Notwithstanding the challenges outlined, Lesotho remains firmly committed to fulfilling her obligations under the international law and the UPR mechanism, which continues to stand as a remarkable multilateral achievement in the global pursuit of the realization of human rights. To further enhance Lesotho's strides in the promotion and protection of human rights of her citizens, once again, Lesotho greatly values and appreciates the continued support and cooperation extended by individual countries and UN agencies. Special appreciation also goes to the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat, whose technical assistance and capacity building efforts have been instrumental in strengthening our national human rights framework and participation with UPR. Last but not least, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to the UPR Voluntary Fund for the support that was offered by sponsoring one of our delegates to attend the review of Lesotho. We are truly indebted. I thank you for your attention.

Okay. Thank you, Excellencies. I will now open the floor to the Member States and the Observer States for their comments on the outcome of the review. The speaking time, once again, I remind you, it's one minute and 30 seconds. I invite the representative of Maldives.

Mr. Vice President, the Maldives warmly welcomes the distinguished delegation from Lesotho to the adoption of the UPR report and compliments Lesotho's commitment to the UPR process. We commend the Government of Lesotho for accepting majority of the recommendations, including the two recommendations made by the Maldives during the UPR Working Group session in April. We wish the Government of Lesotho success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and request that the Council adopt the UPR outcome report of Lesotho by consensus. Thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Mali.

Thank you, Vice-President. At the outset, I would like to wish a warm welcome to the delegation of Lesotho and commend their fourth UPR. We would like to thank Lesotho for having accepted a significant number of recommendations following the UPR, including the Mali recommendation on strengthening the prevention of violence in prisons. amongst others. To conclude, we would like to wish Lesotho every success in the implementation of the recommendations that were accepted, and we recommend the Council adopt the report.

Thank you.

Thank you. I now call on Morocco.

Mr. President, the Kingdom of Morocco commends the engagement of the Kingdom of Lesotho in the UPR process and welcomes its commitment to implementing the recommendations accepted. Morocco notes with appreciation the acceptance by the authorities of Lesotho of the recommendations made by my delegation. In particular, the acceleration of efforts to ensure the establishment of an independent national human rights institution, the continuation of efforts to implement the national social protection strategy, notably through the revision of the national social assistance information system, as well as the intensification of efforts to combat domestic violence, including through the widespread establishment of shelters for victims and the strengthening of the capacities of law enforcement agencies. In conclusion, Morocco expressed its support for and endorsement of the outcome document of the UPR of the do- the Kingdom of Lesotho, whilst wishing it every success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank you. I invite the representative of Mozambique.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mozambique welcomes the distinguished delegation of the, the Kingdom of Lesotho to the adoption of the, of its fourth cycle of universal periodic reviews reports. We commend Lesotho for its continued engagement with the UPR process and other human rights mechanisms aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights. This commitment is clearly demonstrated by Lesotho's acceptance of the majority of the recommendations received, including the two recommendations made by Mozambique. Mozambique fully supports the adoption of the Lesotho's report and wishes the Kingdom every success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. We thank you, Chair.

I thank you. Now I invite representative of Nepal.

Nepal warmly welcomes the delegation of Lesotho. to the adoption of UPR outcome and comments its constructive engagements with the human rights mechanisms. We appreciate Lesotho's acceptance of two recommendations offered by Nepal, reflecting its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights. Nepal takes positive note of the progress made by Lesotho towards establishing a national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles. We wish Lesotho all success in implementing the accepted recommendations and support the adoption of UPR outcome report by consensus. Thank you.

I thank you. I now invite the representative of the Philippines.

The Philippines warmly welcomes the delegation of Lesotho to this session. We commend Lesotho for accepting the majority of recommendations received during its Universal Periodic Review. including the three presented by the Philippines, which pertain to, number one, the institution of mandatory human rights education and training for law enforcement and judicial personnel on the effective investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases; Two, the provision of sufficient resources for the effective operationalization of the trafficking in persons data collection system in support of evidence-based policy making and three, ensuring the full implementation of the Counter Domestic Violence Act. Mr. Vice President, in closing, my delegation is pleased to endorse the adoption of the UPR Working Group report on Lesotho and extends its best wishes to Lesotho for the successful implementation of the accepted recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Russian Federation.

Ms. Bayum.

President. The Russian delegation notes with satisfaction Lesotho's undergoing the fourth cycle of the UPR. We are grateful to Lesotho for the presented information about the recommendations, and we note that most of the recommendations, including Russia's, have been accepted. and this will help the government's work for protecting and promoting human rights and furthering cooperation with human rights mechanisms. We note the positive trend in the country on human rights and We note the efforts made by the government of Lesotho to fulfill the full rights of their citizens, and we hope that the recommendations will be successfully implemented and will help overcome remaining problems in the field of human rights. Russia recommends adopting the outcome report of Lesotho's fourth UPR review. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Sierra Leone.

Vice Presidents, my delegation warmly welcomes the high-level delegation of the Kingdom of Lesotho that includes both Leonard and Tony General and Minister of Law and Justice and commends them for the constructive engagement and commitment to human rights through reforms and progressive policies. We commend Lesotho's strong commitments to human rights as indicated by its acceptance of 93.1% of the 247 recommendations it received during the UPR process. We commend Lesotho for its progress in expanding access to quality education, including the provision of free primary schooling and strengthening of early childhood learning, both of which are in line with SDG 4. We recall that one of our recommendations was noted, and we therefore respectfully invite the Kingdom to reconsider it with a view to further advancing strong and progressive human capital development. My delegation extends its best wishes to the Kingdom of Lesotho for the implementation of all accepted recommendations and invites the Council to adopt the outcome report by consensus. And I thank you, Vice-President.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Singapore.

Mr. Vice-President, Singapore congratulates the delegation of the Kingdom of Lesotho on its fourth Universal Periodic Review.

We commend.

Lesotho for its engagement with the UPR process and its consideration of the various recommendations put forward by delegations. We thank Lesotho for accepting both our recommendations.

First, to continue to strengthen its efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation for its people, especially in rural areas.

Second, to continue to enhance its efforts in combating gender discrimination as well as gender-based violence. Singapore supports the adoption of the Working Group's report on Lesotho's UPR.

Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Sudan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Sudan is moving forward.

Thank you, Vice President. Sudan would like to commend the progress made on the protection and promotion of human rights in the Kingdom of Lesotho, and we also commend Lesotho's cooperation with the human rights mechanisms. and the acceptance of a large number of recommendations, including those provided by my country pertaining to the protection of the environment and stepping up efforts to address climate change and its impacts and to improve living standards for local communities, as well as continuing efforts to protect older persons. We recommend the adoption of the report and wish all the best. to Lesotho for the implementation of recommendations. Thank you.

Thank you. I invite the representative of Tunisia.

We'd like to welcome the distinguished delegation of Lesotho, and we thank it for the report. And we note with appreciation its acceptance of the majority of the recommendations submitted. Particularly, we note with appreciation its acceptance of two recommendations by the Tunisian delegation, which are strengthen maternal and child health and secure reproductive, uh, health, uh, services for women, particularly in rural areas. And the second recommendation was to continue efforts to, uh, secure the right to safe drinking water and sanitation services, uh, particularly in rural areas. And we commend, uh, Lesotho's, um, efforts to consolidate national legislation in line with international conventions. We recommend the adoption of the report and we wish every success to Lesotho in this session. Thank you.

Thank you. I invite the representative of UN Women.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. UN Women commends Lesotho for progress in advancing gender equality, including improvements in women's political participation, the establishment of the Gender and Child Protection Unit, adoption of the Countering Domestic Violence Act, and measures harmonizing the rights of customary widows with broader legal frameworks. These represent important steps toward human rights protection and inclusion. Yet, challenges remain. Women's representation is still below the 30% minimum quota. Gender-based violence and child marriage persist, and lack of adequate shelters undermines the safety of survivors. There is also a pressing need for legal aid for survivors of gender-based violence to address impunity for perpetrators. Child marriage and teenage pregnancy continue to drive school dropout among girls. Women and girls who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including women with disabilities and rural women, require targeted responses. UN Women calls for full implementation of the Counter Domestic Violence Act, expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services to reduce unwanted pregnancy and maternal mortality, and increased financing for gender equality programs. UN Women also urges measures to address unpaid care, strengthen social protection, remove structural barriers, and ensure strengthened representation and participation of women in development decisions. UN Women reaffirms its commitment to supporting Lesotho in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of UNFPA.

On behalf of UNFPA, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency in Lesotho, I would like to congratulate the Kingdom of Lesotho for the important progress it continues to make in advancing human rights and sustainable development. We commend the government for ratifying all nine core human rights treaties, enacting progressive laws which have strengthened the quality, dignity and justice for all Basotho. Lesotho has made notable progress in maternal and child health, antenatal care coverage. is at 82%, skilled birth attendance at 92%, postnatal care and facility-based deliveries at 86%. Lesotho has achieved the UNAIDS 1990 targets and continues to see a significant reduction in new infections. Despite this achievement, significant challenges remain.

Maternal mortality is still too high at 530 for every 100,000 births.

Violence against women and children is widespread. Limited access to education and high youth unemployment prevent many young people from reaching their full potential. UNFPA remains committed to working very closely with all segments of government.

With the civil society and all partners to accelerate progress and ensure that no one is left behind.

Our efforts focus on these four main issues, expanding access to health services, protecting women and children from gender-based violence and child marriage, investing in education, skills development and youth empowerment, and lastly, promoting equality and inclusion. So together, we can build a Lesotho where every woman, every child, every young person and every individual, regardless of age, gender, ability or circumstance, can live with dignity, equality and opportunity. Thank you very much.

Okay, now I invite the representative of UN-Habitat.

UN-Habitat welcomes recommendations to strengthen efforts to secure the right to safe drinking water and sanitation services in Lesotho. We note investments in infrastructure and encourage the continuation of these within a robust institutional framework that encourages the growth of public utility corporations. We welcome the participation of water providers in the Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance. Water and sanitation are essential to the realization of other rights. We welcome Lesotho's efforts to review housing-related policy and are pleased to have been able to provide technical assistance in this regard. We note that a lack of adequate housing continues to be a challenge that should be reflected in the Universal Periodic Review. Dependence on ownership and lease tenure is not sustainable and creates specific risks for both the rural and urban poor. UN-Habitat notes recommendations relating to climate adaptation projects. We encourage the consideration of urban resilience in climate adaptation measures. The government and international finance institutions must also ensure that climate adaptation measures respect and protect land and related rights, and where displacement is unavoidable, that international law is observed. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Mr. Vice President, the United Republic of Tanzania welcomes Lesotho's engagement with the universal periodic review. We commend Lesotho for accepting 207 recommendations made during its review. My delegation further commends Lesotho for measures taken promote and protect the rights of its citizens, as well as to improve the human rights situation in the country. We wish the delegation of RESO to success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations. I thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Gracias, Vice-President.

Thank you very much, President. We would like to welcome the delegation of Lesotho and we thank them for the presentation. We take note of Lesotho's cooperation with the UPR mechanism, which is further proof of the fact that it is voluntary mechanisms and not those that are imposed, which yield the best results for the protection and promotion of human rights. Therefore, we welcome the acceptance by the State under review of the three recommendations made by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. These were geared towards further developing workshops and awareness raising on human rights with the participation of all national institutions, as well as promoting initiatives in support for the right to education, including higher education and vocational education, and to continue implementing public policies that ensure the right to development for the people, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable. We encourage the country to continue implementing successful policies on human rights, adding to these policies implementation of the recommendations accepted during this fourth cycle of the UPR. For these reasons, we recommend the adoption of the report. Thank you very much, President.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Vietnam.

Mr. Vice President, Vietnam appreciates the delegation of Lesotho for engaging constructively during its fourth cycle of the UPR process. Once again, we commend the Labour Act 2024, disability protection efforts, investment in education, and the commitment by Lesotho to combating gender violence and overcoming climate challenges. We thank Lesotho for accepting both recommendations of Vietnam on strengthening national social protection system to better support vulnerable population with attention to digital tools and sustainable financing and access to inclusive and quality education, particularly for children with disability and those in remote areas. We take positive note of the initiative that Lesotho has taken towards combating child labor and discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, promoting primary education, provide health care for people living with HIV/AIDS, Mr. Vice-President, Vietnam fully supports the adoption by consensus of the UPR outcome of Lesotho by the Council and wishes Lesotho every success in implementing own supported recommendations. I thank you.

I thank you and now I invite the representative of Zambia.

Mr. Vice-President, Zambia welcomes the delegation of Lesotho to the adoption of its UPR outcome report. We welcome its positive response towards the majority of the recommendations received, including both recommendations made by Zambia.

This constructive engagement in the UPR process demonstrates Lesotho's commitment to cooperate with Human Rights Council mechanisms. We wish the Government of Lesotho success in implementing the accepted recommendations from the UPR session and respectfully request the.

Council to adopt.

Lesotho's UPR outcomes by consensus. I thank you.

I thank you. This was the last speaker that we could accommodate from this first segment. Let me remind you that all statements, including those which could not be delivered due to time constraints, should be uploaded online. I will now give the floor to the other stakeholders to make their general comments on the outcome. So the first on our list is One intervention by video from the Advocates for Human Rights.

The Advocates for Human Rights and Reprieve are members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and we commend Lesotho for not having carried out an execution since 1995. The death penalty, however, remains in law, and Lesotho's legal system does not sufficiently protect people from the risk of torture and fair trials and cruel punishment. We applaud Lesotho's acceptance of recommendations from Germany and Montenegro to adopt measures to prevent torture and strengthen accountability. We welcome Lesotho's acceptance of recommendations to address gender-based violence and improve detention conditions. We urge Lesotho to collaborate with civil society organizations to ensure the successful implementation of these recommendations. We regret that Lesotho noted without explanation many recommendations to formally abolish the death penalty and ratify the second optional protocol to the ICCPR. Given that the government has not executed anyone for 30 years and has shown no indications that it intends to resume executions, formal abolition is an important next step. We encourage the international community, particularly the growing number of abolitionist countries in the region, including Angola, Mauritius, Mozambique, and South Africa, and the region's newest abolitionist countries of Zambia and most recently Zimbabwe, take concrete steps to walk Lesotho into the fold as the next step toward eradication of the death penalty from Southern Africa. Thank you.

Okay. I missed that and my apologies to mention that the speaking time is two minutes for everybody. Now I invite the representative of InternationalLawyers.org for a joint statement.

Thank you. First, we would like to commend the government of Lesotho on their active engagement with the UPR mechanism. Their engagement shows a deep commitment to the upholding and implementation of human rights within their country, and thus shows their willingness and compliance with international law. Specifically, we commend the government for the progress they have made in enhancing access to education for children by granting free education. Additionally, we commend their efforts in facilitating easier access to healthcare across different regions. Although Lesotho has made decent strides in the strengthening of the human rights framework, there is still sufficient room for improvement. As echoed during the UPR session, gender-based violence continues to be a grave issue within the country. Women and girls continue to face risks that undermine their safety, dignity, and equality. Therefore, we urge Lesotho to take concrete steps to strengthen their legal protections, ensure prompt investigations and prosecutions, and expand survivor-centered support services. Pertaining to the death penalty, although Lesotho has a de facto abolishment on the act of practice, they have failed to fully implement the full abolishment of the death penalty into law. As such, we strongly urge Lesotho to fully abolish the death penalty both in practice and in law. We remain concerned about the shrinking space for civil society and the lack of meaningful opportunities for independent actors to engage across the country. Civil society organizations play a crucial role in advancing democratic governance, accountability, and human rights protections. Lesotho has a critical opportunity to make transformative progress in strengthening its human rights framework and fully honoring its international obligations, especially when it pertains to women and girls. Human rights are never fully fulfilled if women and girls are not afforded their basic human rights, and as such, this issue must be addressed. We encourage Lesotho to take a gender-based approach in the implementation of the recommendations given during the session, and we thank the government for their continued dedication to human rights and the continued engagement with the UPR. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Center for Global Nonkilling.

Dear human beings, Mr. Vice President, dear populations of the Earth, including of Lesotho, Excellencies, everyone, everywhere, the authorities of Lesotho, including the highest, the delegation, welcome to Geneva. Greetings of life and universal human rights.

Cry my heart.

Lesotho has the highest suicide rate worldwide. The homicide rate is very high also. Traffic casualties lowering are still too high. No recommending states expressed concern about these aspects of life, of the right to life in Lesotho. What will it take to see life valued for all in Lesotho as everywhere, valuing universal life? Lesotho has ratified CCPR. The Committee on Human Rights recalled in General Comment 46 the duty of states to preserve life and to prevent death. The Committee did address some of these issues when analyzing Lesotho's second periodic report. Thank you. An essential measure needed to protect life is state exemplarity. Abolishing the death penalty is a living example of life valuation for all in all situations by institutions. Dear Lesotho, please, what other measures will you take in these domains to protect and enhance the lives of your inhabitants? Thank you. Every life counts.

May peace prevail.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. Now we have an intervention by video from Amnesty International.

Mr. President, while the Swiss has accepted 230 of 247 recommendations, Amnesty International urges the government to take effective measures to urgently implement these recommendations into actions as soon as possible, and urge the government to submit a midterm report on progress towards implementation of supporter recommendations and to use an item 6 general debate to bring this to the attention of UN member states. Regrettably, whilst Lesotho has noted 17 recommendations, including the entire cluster on the abolition of death penalty, we call on Lesotho to immediately establish a moratorium, move towards full abolition, and accede to the second optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Lesotho authorities must urgently investigate all incidents of torture and other ill treatment and unlawful killings by both the police and the Lesotho Defence Force, bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible in fair trials, and adequately compensate the victims and their families. Lesotho has accepted recommendations to curb unnecessary and excessive use of force and reinforce independent oversight to address security sector accountability. In order to end the culture of impunity, the SITU must operationalize an independent oversight mechanism, empowered and resourced to investigate abuses by both the police and the SITU Defense Force, and to report publicly of outcomes. We call on the SITU to enact a rights-compliant access to information law, and amend the cybercrime cybersecurity framework. Amendments should include requiring prior judicial warrants for inception, applying a necessity and originality test, protecting encryption and journalistic sources, and providing a clear public interest defense for journalism and human rights.

Okay, now I give the floor to the representative of Rencontre Africaine pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme.

Vice-President, Rada would like to welcome Lesotho to this fourth UPR cycle, and we commend the country for the efforts made, in particular in the field of health, education, food, and the fight against forced labour. Our organization also commends measures taken by the authorities to improve the education and Bahutputi and Hosa children. But unfortunately there are still issues linked to torture and detention as well as the persistence of sexual violence against women, discrimination, high unemployment rates, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, poor delivery of justice as well as intimidation against journalists. Rado is particularly worried by the excessive use of force by security forces, as well as extrajudicial killings and intimidation against political opponents and human rights defenders. Constitutional and judicial reforms are extremely slow, and this creates a concerning climate of impunity. Rada therefore calls on Eswatini to speed up institutional and security reforms, ensure accountability for security forces, protect human rights defenders and journalists, and strengthen the fight against gender-based violence. By way of conclusion, Rada would like to encourage Eswatini to allocate additional resources to the National Human Rights Commission so that it can fully deliver on its mandate in order to respect the Paris Principles. Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speakers on our list. So before giving the floor to the delegation of Lesotho for the concluding remarks, allow me to inform you that out of 247 recommendations received, 230 enjoy the support of Lesotho and 17 are noted. I now give the floor back to the Lesotho delegation for the concluding remarks. Excellencies, please.

Mr. Vice-President, Lesotho appreciates the open, objective and constructive way in which the dialogue during its UPR review took place, a dialogue which provided an opportunity for critical self-assessment and reflecting on the meaning, significance, and indispensable need for promotion and protection of human rights. We are confident that the review has augmented our efforts to safeguard the enjoyment of the full spectrum of human rights for our people. Since the entire process was candid, we are optimistic that engaging further through implementation of the recommendations will yield positive results. Since Lesotho's first review under UPR in 2010, there has always been some recommendations on the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission that is compliant with the Paris Principles. I am proud to share that following Lesotho's fourth cycle review, the journey regarding establishment of this important institution, which will be home for human rights, is coming to fruition. Steps are being taken with support of the development partners and civil society organization to operationalize the Human Rights Commission. We remain committed to engage and work with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council by welcoming more visits of the experts in our country as their expertise assist to build on the promotion and protection of human rights discourse. Further, some of the strides already employed on the implementation of the recommendations speak to the national voluntary pledges that the country undertook during the 75th anniversary of the UDHR in 2023. It should be noted that significant progress has been achieved thus far, illustrating commitment to the pledges. Again, UPR has proved to be an essential ingredient that has helped to catalyze the national dialogue on human rights, including issues which open dialogue would ordinarily be shunned by the cultural values that are of great importance to Basotho. In particular, the UPR process has helped to start the discussions on the rights of sexual minorities, This has gradually softened the ground, promoting societal tolerance, acceptance, and partnership in promoting equal and equitable enjoyment of human rights by sexual minorities. I am pleased to inform this august body that this has led to Lesotho's current acceptance of more than 90 percent of the recommendations laid at that too. Dialogues on partnering towards the implementation of such recommendations has begun. Notwithstanding the challenges regarding the recommendations implementation process, some of them will be addressed by co-opting them in the already continuing national reforms process. We are optimistic that they will benefit rights holders at the national level as the awareness and understanding of human rights and the role of these core values play in our day-to-day lives is a process that requires continuous attention. Mr. President, It remains our aspiration to see Lesotho graduate from the category of least developed countries to that of developing country with the citizens fully enjoying their socioeconomic rights. Achieving this will require strong collaboration among government, business, community, private sector, civil society, and all Basotho. Together, we must work to build our an equitable, economically vibrant and peaceful society that upholds dignity and justice. At this juncture, I am delighted to appraise this august body that Lesotho has been removed from the list of countries that the Southern African Development Community Troika on Political Affairs has closely monitored on account of political instability. This development marks a significant milestone on our path towards achieving sustainable peace and security, foundations that are indispensable for the protection and promotion of human rights. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that respect for human rights is an inherent part of Basotho's tradition, social cultural, political fabric. Despite the challenges we face, Lesotho is determined to work tirelessly in pursuit of the realization of the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with our international human rights obligations. I thank you.

I thank the Honourable Richard Ramoeletse, the Minister of Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs of Lesotho. Also, I would like to thank His Excellency the Ambassador and the Attorney General and the entire delegation of Lesotho for the presentation and constructive participation throughout the entire UPR process. I now propose that the Council adopts the decision on the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Lesotho as it appears on the screen. And if I see no objection to that, then the decision is adopted. Let's take a brief break in order to prepare for the next consideration on Kenya. Okay, welcome back. We will now proceed with the consideration of the outcome of Kenya. The outcome is based on the report of the working group on the universal periodic review of Kenya and its addendum. These documents, together with the additional information that will now be provided by Kenya, will constitute the outcome of the review and shall be adopted by the Council through a standardized decision. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to Her Excellency, Ms. Fancy Chepkemoi Tu, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations Office in Geneva, to present the additional information on the review. Ambassador, Excellency, please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Kenya is honored to address this esteemed Council today at the adoption of its fourth cycle Universal Periodic Review report. We extend our sincere appreciations to the 112 member states that participated in our review on 1st May, 2025, and to the working group for its constructive engagement and support throughout the process. We received a total of 339 recommendations. Following extensive consultations, Kenya accepted 232 recommendations, noted 106, and deferred one. Today, we are pleased to announce that we accept the previously deferred recommendation concerning the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, acronym CEDAW, which was deferred on procedural grounds and given that the action it proposed had already been fulfilled. Kenya ratified CEDAW on 9 March 1984 and continues to implement its provisions with commitment and resolve. We are currently preparing to present and defend our ninth periodic report before the CEDAW Committee during its 92nd session in June, July 2026. This reflects our enduring dedication to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Mr. Vice President, we recognize that the implementation of it's true measure of commitment and we are determined to translate recommendations into tangible outcomes for our people. Since the May review, Kenya has taken proactive steps to disseminate the recommendations to key stakeholders, including civil society organizations. These engagements have laid the groundwork for the development of a comprehensive national implementation plan, which will guide the realization of the accepted recommendation over the current review cycle. Kenya has made legislative strides in key areas aligned with the accepted recommendation. For instance, One, the Conflict of Interest Act was assented into law, bolstering transparency and accountability in public service. Two, the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Anti-Corruption Law Amendment Bill 2025 are currently before Parliament for consideration. The Public Participation Bill 2025 is also under review, aiming at institutionalized inclusive governance and citizen engagement. Four, the Persons with Disabilities Act 2025 was assented into law, marking a significant milestone in the protection and promotion of rights of persons with disabilities. These reforms reflect Kenya's commitment to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard human rights, and promote inclusive development. Mr. Vice President, the 232 accepted recommendations span a wide spectrum of human rights. Many pertain to civil and political rights where Kenya has made significant strides and continues to invest robustly. This includes, one, intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking. Two, upholding freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. Three, investigation, investigating allegations of extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance. Four, strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms. Five, enhancing training for law enforcement agencies. And the last one is preventing torture and ill treatment. This recommendation align with ongoing national efforts and reflect our commitment to a democratic society governed by the rule of law and the respect for human dignity. On the recommendation to support the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, KNCHR, We are pleased to report that since the review, Kenya has strengthened the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights by appointing a new chairperson, following the untimely demise of the former chairperson in January 2025. This appointment restores full leadership to the commission and reinforces its mandate as an independent national human rights institution. Kenya has accepted recommendations that reinforce our pursuit of economic, social, and cultural rights. This includes, one, expanding access to quality healthcare and education. two, strengthening social protection system; three, promoting food and security and nutrition; and four, advancing gender equality and inclusive development. These priorities are embedded in our national development agenda, including bottom-up economic transformative agenda, and are central to our vision 2030. Mr. Vice President, Kenya wishes to underscore that noting a recommendation does not preclude future action. The 106 160 recommendations that were noted reflect areas requiring further national dialogue, legal review, or cultural consideration. However, the government remains open to revisiting and implementing some of these recommendations during the current review period where feasible and appropriate. Some of the reasons recommendations were noted include, one, the language and the legal precision. Some recommendation employed absolute language, particularly regarding the ratification of optional protocols. These are subjects of ongoing national dialogue, and Kenya remains committed to engaging stakeholders in a manner that respects our constitutional framework and democratic processes. Second, judicial independence. Kenya maintains full confidence in the independence and competence of its judiciary to adjudicate human rights violations, including those involving state actors. Our courts continue to provide remedies and uphold the rule of law. Three was the cultural and moral values. Certain recommendations, such as those calling for decriminalization of same-sex union, touch on deeply rooted cultural and moral norms. Kenya believes in respectful dialogue and gradual societal evolution, guided by national consensus and constitutional principles. Fourth, ongoing national engagement. Recommendations such as the abolition of death penalty are under active national discussion. Kenya has not carried out execution in over three decades, and we continue to engage stakeholders on this matter with openness and resolve. Mr. Vice President, Kenya acknowledges the importance of timely access to identity documentation and universal birth registration as foundational to the enjoyment of many other rights. Recommendation calling for free birth registration and certification for all children, as well as timely issuance of identity cards were noted during this review cycle. This decision was not dismissal of the underlying concerns, but rather a deflection of the need for further consultation with the relevant government agencies, including the Directorate of Civil Registration Services and the National Registration Bureau. These institutions are currently undergoing reforms aimed at digitizing and streamlining registration processes. Currently, while birth registration itself is free, a small administrative fee is charged for the issuance of a birth certificate. This fee supports operational costs and systems, Maintenance. The practicality of waiving this fee entirely, especially within the four-year implementation window, requires careful assessment of the budgetary implications, infrastructure readiness, and stakeholder consensus. Similarly, the issuance of national identity cards is governed by a multi-agency framework under the Integrated Population Registration System, which is being modernized to improve efficiency, reduce delays, and enhance data integrity. Kenya is committed to ensuring that all citizens, especially youth and marginalized groups, can access identity documents in a timely and equitable manner. Mr. Vice President, Kenya reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the UPR process. We view it not as a checklist, but as a dynamic platform for reflection and accountability and shared learning. We remain open to continued dialogue with member states, civil society, and international partners as we implement the accepted recommendation. We also recognize the invaluable role of our independent institutions, including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, the judiciary, and parliament in safeguarding human rights. Their contributions are vital to our democratic resilience and social cohesion. Mr. Vice President, we thank all member states and partners for their engagement, and we look forward to adoption of this report. Asanteni Sana, thank you.

Excellency Ambassador, I thank you for the, for the introduct- for the, uh, additional information presented. And now, uh, in accordance with the paragraph 13 of the annex of Human Rights Council resolution, resolution 16.21, I will now, we will now hear from the National Human Rights Institution, namely the National Commission on Human Rights of Kenya, please.

So it's video?

No, it's not. Okay. Apparently it's a moment of confusion for everybody. Okay, now, so let's not waste time. We will now open the floor for the member states, member and observer states for their comments on the outcome of the review. I remind you all that the speaking time has been set at one minute 30 seconds for every state. First on the list, I invite the representative of Lao PDR, please.

Mr. Vice President, my delegation warmly welcome the delegation of Kenya to this GPR

adoption section and comments for the constructive engagement in the GPR process.

We

also welcome the positive step taken by the Kenya in addressing gender-based violence, including the measure to provide greater protection

to the victim.

We welcome Kenya accepted of majority of recommendation, including two recommendation made by the Lao PDR. We wish Kenya great success in implementing the accepted recommendation.

In conclusion, we supported adoption of the GPA outcome of Kenya by consensus. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

I thank you. I invite the representative of Lesotho.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Lesotho welcomes the delegation of Kenya to the working group. We acknowledge Kenya's contrastive engagement throughout the UPR process and take note of the steps taken in various areas to promote and protect human rights. We commend Kenya for compliance with the UN special procedures, which has strengthened Kenya's strides on the promotion and protection of human rights. We also welcome steps taken to reform the security sector. Despite the progress made, we also call on Kenya to continue its strides on strengthening the implementation of the anti-torture law through training programs for all the role players in the justice sector to effectively deal with the cases of torture. We have also noted the strides towards protection of human rights through various bills mentioned throughout this report. On that note, we call on Kenya to specifically to speedily adopt and pass such bills into law. In conclusion, Lesotho wishes the government of Kenya well and as it continues to promote and protect human rights within the country and recommends that the working group adopts the report. I thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of Malawi.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Malawi congratulates Kenya for undergoing this review and for the comprehensive report by the delegation of Kenya. We commend Kenya's constructive engagement and commitment to advancing human rights as reflected in the working group report. Malawi welcomes Kenya's acceptance of the majority of the recommendations aimed at strengthening human rights protections. particularly in combating corruption and promoting good governance, strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms, and promoting gender equality and education. We take note of Kenya's commitment to the UPR mechanism and therefore encourage Kenya to continue its efforts in implementing these recommendations. Malawi stands ready to support its progress and recommends the adoption of the report. I thank you.

I thank you. And now I invite the representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Maldives warmly welcomes the distinguished delegation from Kenya to the adoption of the UPR report and compliments Kenya's commitment to the UPR process. The Maldives comments Kenya for accepting the majority of the recommendations it received during the UPR working group session in May, which includes the two recommendations made by the Maldives. We wish the government of Kenya success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and request the Council to adopt the UPR outcome report of Kenya by consensus. I thank you.

I thank you.

I give the floor now to the representative of Mali.

You have the floor, Vice President. I would like to preface my remarks by extending a very warm welcome to the Kenyan delegation. My delegation congratulates Kenya for having accepted a significant number of the recommendations put to it, including those put by Mali pertaining to the following: strengthening judicial capacity in terms of preventing and eradicating human trafficking; and extending social protection to vulnerable groups in order to reduce the levels of precarity. To conclude, Mali wishes Kenya every success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations and calls upon the Council to adopt the report before it. Thank you very much.

Thank you. I give the floor next to the representative of Morocco.

President, the Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the continued engagement of Kenya in the universal periodic review process. The Kingdom of Morocco is particularly pleased with the acceptance of its recommendations and encourages the Kenyan authorities to continue allocating sufficient resources to the National Commission on Human Rights of Kenya to ensure the continued implementation of the anti-torture acts by providing training, strengthening capacities, and prosecuting perpetrators of acts of torture, as well as to pursue the project of ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. To conclude, Morocco supports the adoption of the final outcome report of the Kenyans UPR and wishes Kenya every success in the implementation of the recommendations accepted. Thank you.

I thank you. I invite the representative of Mozambique.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Mozambique warmly welcomes the delegation of the Republic of Kenya to the adoption of its fourth cycle of UPR report. We commend Kenya for its engagement with the UPR process and for accepting 230 out of 339 recommendations received. While we observe that Kenya has taken note of the recommendations made by Mozambique on sexual and reproductive health and on the ratification of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons, we encourage continued reflection on these important issues. Mozambique supports the adoption of Kenya's UPR report and wishes the Government every success in implementing the accepted recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Mas Vice-President.

Thank you. I invite the representative of Nepal.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Nepal warmly welcomes the delegation of Kenya to the adoption of the UPR outcome and thanks them for their constructive engagements with the human rights mechanisms. We thank Kenya for accepting all three recommendations that we offered. We appreciate the measures taken by Kenya to combat climate change and its commitment to advancing the global environmental agenda. Nepal wishes Kenya all success in implementing the accepted recommendations and supports the adoption of UPR outcome report by consensus. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Oman.

Sayyida Al Rais.

Vice-President, the Sultanate of Oman is delighted to be able to welcome the Kenyan delegation. We congratulate Kenya on their active engagement in the field of human rights, particularly when it comes to the promotion of education and women's empowerment. We have taken careful note of the outcomes of the Kenyan UPR. The review took place in a constructive spirit. And we hail Kenya's acceptance of the recommendations put to them by Oman, including those pertaining to the need to strengthen the number of employers in the healthcare sector, the need to improve levels of education or completion for young people, and the empowerment for persons with disabilities. We recommend the adoption of the report on Kenya and wish Kenya every success in the implementation of the recommendations accepted. Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Thank you. Now, I invite the representative of Philippines.

Mr. Vice President, the Philippines warmly welcomes the delegation of Kenya and expresses appreciation for the favorable consideration of the Philippine recommendations on, number one, the full enforcement of the counter Trafficking in Persons Act of 2010 by strengthening accountability mechanisms and ensuring that penalties are commensurate with the gravity of the crime. Number two, enforcement of capacity building programs, including human rights education and training for law enforcement and judicial officers on the investigation and prosecution of gender-based violence cases. And three, strengthening of measures in the fight against all forms of gender-based violence by, among other actions, providing adequate resources to the National Gender Inequality Commission and the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Board. In conclusion, Mr. Vice President, my delegation supports the adoption by consensus of the UPR Working Group report on Kenya and extends its best wishes for the successful implementation of all accepted recommendations. Thank you.

I thank you. Now I invite the representative of the Russian Federation.

President, the Russian delegation notes with satisfaction that Kenya underwent its fourth UPR review. We thank Kenya for the written presentation of information concerning the recommendations, and we note that an overwhelming number of recommendations have been adopted, including two Russian ones. And this reflects the ongoing work of the government to protect and promote human rights, and also its readiness to further cooperate with international mechanisms and monitoring. We note that in 2022, there was a protocol to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, which was adopted, and there is also the fact that Kenya has joined the additional protocol on combating child *********** and child trafficking. We note that Kenya has reformed its police services with a view to raising the level of professionalism and also in 2022 it established a national human rights commission. The Russian Federation recommends the adoption of the report of Kenya undergoing its fourth UPR review. Thank you.

Thank you. Now I invite the representative of Sierra Leone.

The Vice-President of the delegation extends a warm welcome to the distinguished delegation of the Republic of Kenya and thanks them for their continued cooperation and constructive engagements throughout the fourth cycle UPR. We commend Kenya for the significant progress it has made in advancing human rights, particularly with regards to its policy shifts on the death penalty. We encourage the government to consider abolishing it entirely. CILON is grateful that Kenya has accepted all of our recommendations. We welcome the ruling of Kenya's constitutional court granting citizenship to many individuals who were previously denied it, as well as the new program for stateless persons. Sierra Leone expresses its best wishes for the successful implementation of all accepted UPR recommendations by Kenya and requests this Council to adopt the outcome reports by consensus. And I thank you, Vice-President.

I thank you. So, Excellencies, dear colleagues, dear distinguished participants, This brings us to the end of this morning meeting. We have to suspend the consideration of the outcome on Kenya, given the hours. 00 PM to continue with the consideration of the adoption of the outcome on Kenya. So basically, we'll continue with a part, a portion from the spillover list. And after that, of course, we'll continue after the adoption of the outcome on Kenya, we'll continue with the adoption of the outcomes of the other states examined during the 49th session of the UPR working group. So I declare the 29th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council closed. Bon appetit.