35th Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council

Excellencies, distinguished participants, I hereby declare open the 35th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. In accordance with established practice, I would like to announce that the Council has, in closed meetings, examined the situation of human rights in Tajikistan under the complaints procedure established pursuant to Council resolution 5/1, and that it decided to keep the situation of human rights in Tajikistan under review, and requested the Government of Tajikistan to provide further information at the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council. In conformity with the confidentiality of the procedure, Members of the Council should make no reference in the public debate to the confidential decision and material concerning this country. With that, we have concluded the consideration of agenda item 5. Excellencies, distinguished participants, we will now continue the general debate on the agenda item 8. We proceed with the list of national human rights institutions and non-government organizations. I give the floor to United Nations Watch.

Chair, the United Nations was intended to be the chief guarantor of international law.

And this Council, the principal guardian of human rights.

What a catastrophic failure for humanity and the civilised world that it has allowed itself to become the main mechanism by which terrorists, bigots, despots and dictatorships weaponise international law, to become the mouthpiece of internationally proscribed terrorist organisations, to become a platform from which to propagate heinous blood libels against the only Jewish state, Blood libels of occupation, ethnic cleansing, colonialism, apartheid, genocide, terms which, having been so inverted against Israel in order to demonise it, have become meaningless. This Council has become the world's most prolific disinformation laundering facility, because when so-called human rights organisations openly publish Hamas propaganda, they depend on this Council, its commissions, its rapporteurs, to repeat those lies. They depend on that disinformation being parroted by the UN General Assembly, the ICC, the ICJ, And once that cycle of fraud is complete, those NGOs that fabricated.

The lies point to the UN's endorsement as proof of their veracity.

Future generations will observe how easily these supposedly illustrious institutions.

Were hijacked, and they will hold you all responsible.

I move. Please conclude. Your time is up. I would like to call on everyone to adhere to language that is commensurate with the dignity inherent to the discussion on human rights issues. Everyone has the right to express his or her views, but this should remain within acceptable framework. With this in mind, I give the floor to the next speaker. I give the floor to CDPCNS. by video.

Honorable President, Excellencies, the UN member states have binding international obligation to promote and protect human rights under the Vienna Declaration, UDHR, ICCPR, and other core human rights instruments. However, a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in the forcibly divided state of Jammu and Kashmir. In Azad Kashmir, the Joint Action Committee has called for a complete shutdown and A wild jump strike on 29 September, reflecting the growing frustration and unity of people against deprivation. Pakistan has deployed Rangers and shut down phone and internet services to suppress a legitimate, non-violent movement demanding ownership of resources, fundamental rights and justice. More than 3 million Kashmiris in AJK are under siege, and 2 million Kashmiris living abroad have been left disconnected from their loved ones. This digital blackout is a blatant attempt to silence dissent and isolate the people from the world during a critical moment of peaceful resistance. We call upon Pakistan to restrain the use of force against peaceful Kashmiris and to address their legitimate demands. We appeal to the United Nations and the international community to intervene immediately. The lives of peaceful protesters, innocent civilians, are at great risk. I thank you, Honourable President and Excellencies.

Thank you. I give the floor to Association Hastelwa.org.

President, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action affirmed the duty of states to promote and protect human rights in accordance with their constitutional order. Yet the just finalised political declaration for the upcoming World Summit for Social Development in Doha threatens to undermine these very principles. Behind vague terms like sustainability, equity and inclusion, the text embeds deeply controversial concepts that were never agreed upon as human rights. The promotion of abortion and gender ideology, global digital surveillance with no safeguards for privacy. We see where this leads in the UK. The Prime Minister has proposed digital ID rules so strict that without one, you could be barred from work. Provisions that censor dissent, rebranded as combating misinformation. Top-down radical climate policy that could lead to travel restrictions, food controls, or even digital carbon rationing. If adopted in November, such a declaration would entrench Agenda 2030 as a global blueprint for years to come. Once embedded in UN language, these provisions filter into court rulings, funding, trade. This is not cooperation, this is coercion. The Vienna Declaration was meant to defend human rights, not rewrite them with ideological reinterpretation. We as CitizenGo, with the support of hundreds of thousands of citizens, urge Member States to reject any declaration that undermines life, family, sovereignty, or the very freedoms that preserve our way of life. Better no declaration than one that imposes global top-down policy under the false pretext of development. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Association Victims of the World.

Thank you, Chair. I would like to draw the Council's attention to the persistent violations of the Vienna Declaration by the Sri Lankan Government against Eelam Tamils. The Declaration, a beacon of fundamental freedoms, is being trampled upon by the Sri Lankan authorities. Countless reports from reputable international organizations and human rights bodies have documented egregious violations such as extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances. Despite widespread condemnation and repeated calls for accountability, the Sri Lankan government persists in its complicity in these atrocities. Therefore, it is incumbent upon member states, as champions of the Vienna Declaration, to take decisive action. Mr. President, the United States has expanded its military partnership with Sri Lanka by funding a new English language.

Lab called-- Please speak slowly. No, the interpreters cannot keep up with you.

New English lab at the Sri Lankan Navy's Academy in Trincomalee, a Tamil district that remains heavily militarized more than 16 years after the end of the armed conflict. The facility, which opened on 15 September, was inaugurated by lieutenant colonel Matthew senior defense official at the US Embassy in Colombo we asked to the council members to stop occupation of Tamil to have a nomination of special rep for Sri Lanka to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court ICC to strengthen to strength Sri Lanka accountability project for three more years thank you.

Thank you please uh speak slowly so that interpreters can do their work thank you I now give the floor to CIMI. I now give the floor to the Association of Horus for Youth and Development in Kenya.

Madam Vice-President, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action was a milestone in the history of humanity. However, violations in Sudan, in particular against the violate the principles of the international community in the progressive practices also the Hassan Hamid the journalist of the independent site since the 9th of October 2023 has been reporting from Sudan I also was he was detained. I was also detained and had to leave the country. Thousands of journalists are threatened, tortured, undergo military trials. We recommend the follow to bring the Sudanese army to account for the systematic abuse against journalists, which amount to a blatant violation of international human rights law. And the international community must protect and support Sudanese journalists who are threatened on a daily basis. Freedom of the press is not an option. It is an international commitment that is true in nature according to under the Durban Declaration, and your Council is invited to make it a reality. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to China Ethnic Minorities Association for External Exchanges by video.

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am from the China Ethnic Minority Association for External Exchanges. In China, there is a highly renowned woman named Zhang Guimei. Thanks to her efforts, nearly 2,000 girls from ethnic minority areas have fulfilled their dreams of attending university. Her story is a vivid reflection of China's commitment to safeguarding the rights and interests of ethnic minority women. China's Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests ensures gender equality as a fundamental national policy, and emphasizes the state's commitment to cultivating and selecting ethnic minority women as public officials. China effectively guarantees women's rights to participate in political affairs and public discourse. Ethnic minority women occupy a notable and steadily increasing proportion of delegates to the National People's Congress and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at all levels. China also promotes educational equity to protect ethnic minority women's right to education. In Xizang, women account for over 50% of students in higher education and postgraduate education. Today, women have become a vital force in driving economic and social development. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Yotang.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in 1993, established the core universal principles of peace, security, democracy, and the fundamental respect for human rights. The right to self-determination is paramount. People under foreign occupation, such as the Eelam Tamils, are entitled to take all necessary action under the UN Charter. Effective legal protection must shield them from human rights and international humanitarian law violations. Yet in the north and the east of Sri Lanka, civil society is shrinking. Tamil human rights defenders, particularly women, faces immense suffering and threats. The occupying Sri Lankan military is engaged in systematic human rights violation that constitutes structural genocide against the Eelam Tamils. These violations include the discriminatory confiscation of Tamil land, which impose financial burden on essential services like livelihood and healthcare. These acts are committed amid the expansion of settlements and a deliberate effort to create demographic change, flouting international law and UN resolutions. This situation creates more Eelam Tamils to leave Sri Lanka to seek refuge elsewhere, and denying the safe return of failed asylum seekers to their homeland. We request to this esteemed council, nominate a country specific special rapporteur for Sri Lanka, refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for the crimes committed by the past successive government, recognize the Eelam Tamils as a non-self-governing territory. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to African Youth for Democracy and Development, Togo section.

Ms. Vice President, the world is witnessing a rapid digital transformation that is reshaping urban life with smart cities, representing an innovative model for the efficient management of advanced technologies and the achievement of sustainable development. These cities translate human right principles into practical practices by improving access to public services, strengthening transparency and accountability, reduce social disparities and proving safe, healthy and sustainable urban environment. The United Arab Emirates represent a pioneering model in building, developing smart cities through strategies projects such as Masdar City and Smart Dubai, the adoption of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in government services, and the launch of national strategies for sustainable digital transformation. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have ranked highly in international smart cities indices, reflecting the UAE's success in achieving a balance between technological innovation, safeguarding human dignity, promoting social justice, and ensuring inclusive digital empowerment. We recommend the adoption of a comprehensive international framework for the development of smart cities based on balancing technological innovation with protection of human rights. Such a framework should guarantee privacy and digital rights, promote inclusive and social justice, and encourage the exchange of expertise among states to benefit the pioneering experiences, including that of the United Arab Emirates. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Sikh Human Rights Group.

Dear Vice-President. The Vienna Declaration was a landmark agreement which led to commitment by state members by implementing human rights around the world. There is still a long way to go as we hear of violations increasing in many regions of the world. This is unfortunate. Dignity, respect, and enabling a fulfilling life are some of the fundamental principles that form the basis of human rights. They were the sentiments articulated in Vienna in this splendid document. After three decades from Vienna, we are discussing integrating human rights of women throughout the UN system. It causes us to think that per- perhaps the issue of gender inequality is possibly even more prevalent in states around the world. It is not just human rights of women that need to, are need to review, but rights across the spectrum decided at Vienna that needed attention. With respect, we wonder whether the principle of dignity, respect, and fulfilling a life might be achieved by widening our approach by adding responsibilities and duties on par with rights. In some civilizations, there is greater focus and importance given to responsibilities and duties of the individual to family, community, and even the nation with reciprocal expectations. We will suggest a which can focus on human rights, responsibilities, and duties. the pluralist approach to dignity, respect, and life. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Global Action on Aging.

Vice President, we are alarmed over the current UN liquidity crisis.

Which is disrupting many mandated activities in the human rights sector, as well as the United Nations as a whole. However, the response by the UN Secretary General to the crisis by presenting on 15 September a revised 2026 program budget containing crippling budget cuts is unacceptable. It's impossible to understand the logic behind the Secretary General's response to anticipated US nonpayments in 2026 to ask all other countries, members of the UN, to less in the 2026 budget, less than they pay in 2025.

Those members never asked to pay less than they are paying now.

Instead, as we stated in the item 2 debate, methods for maintaining or even increasing the regular budget should be explored in order to have all mandates implemented. This should include revising the UN budget scale with a more even distribution of the assessed contributions in order to make the UN less dependent on contributions from any single member state. Such reforms were actively discussed in the 1980s and 1990s and should be revisited now.

As we are--

Thank you. I give the floor to Brazil Institute of Human Rights by video.

Mr. President, we welcome the importance, we celebrate the importance of the Vienna Declaration and its meaning, what it means when it comes to defending human rights, its universality, indivisibility and interdependence, that is of human rights, as well as the right to development. The declaration restates that every state has a duty to promote these rights through international co-operation, on the one hand, with the objective of defending self-determination, which it currently does, and combating inequality, discrimination and poverty. In that scenario, the role of the UN is enhanced, because the UN is the main place where dialogue and multilateral consensus takes place through collective policies designed to overcome any inequalities and designed to recognize that democracy and development are both sides of the coin of the dream of freedom and this to defend human rights. Defending human rights is in the spirit of the declaration. We need more humanity, more multilateralism and more understanding between peoples. That's what the Vienna declaration is for. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Legal Analysis and Research Public Union.

Distinguished Chair,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action underlines that refugees and displaced persons, as vulnerable groups, are entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights, including the right to voluntary, safe, and dignified return. For decades, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were forced to flee from their ancestral lands in Armenia due to persecution and violence. These individuals remain deprived of their basic human right to return, to reclaim their homes and property, and to live in peace in their places of origin. In parallel, the fate of thousands of missing Azerbaijanis remains unresolved, inflicting continuing suffering on their families and violating their right to truth. Equally alarming is the legacy of mines and unexploded ordnance deliberately planted by Armenia. These deadly remnants not only take lives and maim innocent civilians, but also make obstacles to the safe resettlement of Azerbaijani displaced persons, turning their right of return into a daily life-or-death risk. The Vienna Declaration calls us to protect the most vulnerable, for Azerbaijani refugees, IDPs, missing persons' families, and mine victims. This is not only a question of rights. It is a question of justice and human dignity.

Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to F.E.D.H. by video.

Thank you, Tamil journalists. face systematic discrimination in Sri Lanka. Constant harassment of journalists is unacceptable and constitutes a major encroachment on press freedom. We call this Council's members to undertake to put a stop to the arbitrary use of terrorism accusations. The security forces must stop hounding any Tamil journalists who directly or indirectly broaches the Tamil issue. Quote unquote, civil space in Sri Lanka remains repressed, quote unquote, under the government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake. despite the president's campaign promises to dismantle draconian laws and expand democratic rights. The military continues to occupy vast swathes of land. Sinhala Buddhist colonization is rampant. Human rights defenders and journalists, as the recent interrogation of Ganapathi Pillai Kummanan demonstrates, remain under harassment and surveillance. Tamil journalists are harassed by the authorities, above all, for covering the fact that, although the civil war ended in a crushing defeat for the Tamil Tigers, discrimination and violence against the Eelam Tamils has continued in Sri Lanka. We ask this Council, members, to appoint a special rapporteur for Sri Lanka, to refer Sri Lanka to the ICC, to recognise Eelam Tamil as non-self-governing territories. Thank you very much.

Thank you. I give the floor to Association for Integration and Sustainable Development in Burundi by video.

Mr. President, as in the item, it remains the house of the bin, the declaration of the universal promises here, three decades later, too many states defy is openly reducing it to rhetoric. In India, there is an extension of the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act in northeast and transits impunity despite repeated interest and criticism. ethnic violence since May 2023 has killed civilians and displaced tens of thousands. Most alarming is the suspension of fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees. For over two and a half years, citizens of Manipur have been effectively denied their rights to move freely across the country, with no measures taken to address this basic liberty. In Bangladesh, reports of enforced disappearances, harassment of defenders, and a shrinking civic space demonstrate persistent disregard. Similar patterns of repression can be seen across Southeast Asia. We therefore urge the Council to adopt strong mechanisms to compel compliance, including enhanced monitoring and public reporting on persistent violators. State of the review with the draconian law of the register, suspended rights, great protection and support for civil society and defenders where government failed. Mr. President, the Vienna Declaration plugged human dignity and freedom. Unless the Council act with urgency, that promise will remain unfulfilled for millions. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Midline for Human Rights, MHR, by video.

We raise grave concern regarding the systematic restrictions on freedom of expression imposed by Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Across these countries, human rights defenders, journalists, and social activists are routinely silenced, criminalized, and subjected to surveillance and intimidation simply for exercising their fundamental right to speak out. In Israel, activists who challenge occupation policies or advocate for Palestinian rights face harassment, arbitrary detention, and travel bans. In the United Arab Emirates, laws on cybercrime and national security are used to suppress dissenting voices, with defenders imprisoned for peaceful expression. In Bahrain, individuals continue to be targeted, arrested, and stripped of their nationality for their legitimate activism. These practices violate not only international human rights law but also the commitments these states have made as members of the United Nations. We therefore urge this Council to hold these States accountable, to demand the release of all those detained for exercising the right to free expression, and to call for an immediate end to reprisals against civil society. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Centre Zagros for Human Rights.

Madame Vice-President, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action recalls that the rights of women and girls are an essential component of universal human rights and calls upon the countries of the world to protect all minorities against discrimination. However, in Iran, these principles are simply ignored. Iranian women and girls still do not enjoy equal rights. In 2024, a law strengthened penalties against those who refuse to wear the mandatory veil, and they get punished with fines, prison sentences, and restrictions in the area of employment, education, and access to public services. In parallel, the Kurdish, Baluch, Arab, and Turk nations, as well as the Baha'i community and other religious minorities, are the subject of discrimination, marginalization, and state violence. Their right to equality and participation and self-determination are systematically denied. Iran is also one of the countries in the world where executions are the most numerous, often at the end of unfair trials, and this in blatant violation of the right to life. These practices contradict Iran's commitments under the Vienna Declaration. We call upon the Council to strengthen what it does. and to demand that Iran respect its international obligations by guaranteeing dignity, equality, and justice for all of its citizens. Thank you very much.

Thank you. I give the floor to Arab European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights.

Thank you, Vice-President.

The right to privacy is a key part of the human rights system, which has been incorporated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Today, this is all the more necessary to uphold it with the development of technology and data management systems. There is a clear need to develop such systems so as to protect the most vulnerable groups. As a civil society, we commend efforts made by the United Arab Emirates, which has developed a comprehensive system for the protection of privacy. Law 45 of the United Arab Emirates, which strives to manage data accordingly, is an example to be followed. enables people to continue their activities while following a national strategy that is accompanied by a plethora of measures to manage online activities while respecting confidential private data. The law adopted in September 2024 is an additional milestone in terms of the proper management of technologies in full respect to privacy. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Women Association for Culture by video.

Thank you, Chair. For over 75 years, Ullam Tamils have endured systemic oppression, violence, and killings. Today, the Sri Lankan security forces continue to occupy Tamil lands, arbitrarily detain and disappear Tamil activists, and violate the rights of Tamil women and children. One of the most haunting symbols of this impunity is the Chemmanai mass graves in Jaffna. This first came to light in 1998 when a Sri Lankan soldier admitted that hundreds of Tamils were and buried by the Sri Lankan military. Chemmanai has since yielded over 240 skeletal remains, including those of children. This Council member should ensure that Chemmanai, Mannar, and all other mass graves investigations contribute meaningfully to truth, justice, and closure to the Tamil relatives of the forcibly disappeared. We urge this Council to take the following steps. Mandate independent international investigation into Chamaney, Mannar and other mass grave sites to ensure impartiality and credibility. Memorialize Chamaney, Mannar and other mass graves as places of remembrance and education, ensuring they are preserved in public memory and to ensure this does not happen again. Nominate a special rapporteur for Sri Lanka. Refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court. Recognize the homeland of Eelam Tamils as non-self-governing territories.

Thank you. Thank you. I give the floor to Youth Parliament for SDG by video.

President, Freedom of speech is not just a fundamental right; it's the foundation of human dignity. In Bahrain, this right is systematically denied, with authorities imprisoning individuals for their political and ideological beliefs without fair trials and subjecting them to torture and ill-treatment, sometimes leading to death in custody. Political prisoners in Bahrain face grave human rights violations from the moment of their arrest. Torture is routinely used as a tool of repression, and medical neglect has become a deliberate method of punishment, causing slow and painful deaths to ill detainees. The recent deaths in custody due to healthcare neglect triggered protests inside the prison, where detainees demanded medical care and humane conditions. Instead of addressing their pleas, prison authorities violently suppressed the protests. The OHCHR has documented excessive force, including severe beatings that left detainees bleeding heavily. We call on the international community to take urgent action and pressure the Bahraini government to uphold its human rights obligations. Bahrain must end repression, ensure freedom of expression, and protect the right to health and life. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Sustainable Development Enablement.

Madam President. We wish to draw the attention of this esteemed Council to the grave violations committed by the Sudanese army and allied militias since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, which constitute a systematic pattern of crimes prohibited under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. These include, in particular, the destruction of vital infrastructure, the eradication of livelihoods, the deepening of civilian suffering, and the denial of the right to healthcare and protection of humanitarian communities. Madam President, the documented violations in Sudan include the targeting of humanitarian workers, the systematic practice of torture, the destruction of health and educational facilities, and the deprivation of millions of Sudanese of their basic rights across many areas, including Khartoum, Omdurman, and North Darfur. Madam President, we call upon the Sustain Council to condemn these violations and to strengthen its mandate to promote respect for human rights. We also demand an immediate ceasefire, the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors, and the activation of international justice mechanisms in cooperation with the International Criminal Court. We urge the Council to take swift and decisive measures to protect civilians, restore dignity, and uphold the rule of law in Sudan without delay. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. I give the floor to International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development by video.

President, The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action affirms that all human rights are universal, equal and non-negotiable. Yet in Indian-occupied J&K, this promise is denied daily. Since 5th August 2019, more than 1000 people have been killed, 300 of them in custody or in staged encounters. Over 3000 have been tortured and critically injured. Nearly 30,000 have been arrested under sweeping laws like the UAPA and PSA. Mr. President, these are not mere statistics. their fathers taken away from their families, sons silenced, and communities living in fear. Mr. President, more than 1,000 homes and shops have been burned to the ground. Eighty women have been widowed, forced to carry the burden of survival alone. Around 300 children have been orphaned. With more than 22,000 cordons and search operations, entire villages wake up each morning not knowing if they will sleep in peace or under rubble. The VGP demands that the world stand for those under occupation, yet Kashmir has been met with silence. Mr. President, how long can we look away when even the dead are denied dignity? We urge this Council to stand with the widows, the orphans, and the detained, and to affirm that the promise of Vienna Declaration belongs to Kashmiris too. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Interfaith International by video.

Mr. President, the VDPA is the brainchild of the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in June 1993. Interfaith International and its members, especially the Tamil Centre for Human Rights, participated in this conference and installed in the venue to display the atrocities carried out for decades on the Tamil nation by Sri Lanka. VDPA paragraphs 2 and 15 say that all people have the right to self-determination. By virtue of the right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their social and cultural development. Also, the speedy and comprehensive elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination. Is this practiced by the UN member states? For example, the realities and facts of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka are similar to the conflicts of Eritreans, East Timorese, South Sudanese and Kosovans, which were resolved by the UN member states. It is disappointing that the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka have not been considered seriously. We still see Many countries in Africa, Asia, Western countries, and others are still practicing ethnic cleansing. In conclusion, Interfaith International and victims in the island of Sri Lanka, I expect UNHRC's member states should support the resolution on Sri Lanka, which is purely based on the principle of the VTPA. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to International Network for Human Rights and Rule of Law.

Madam Vice President, the Vienna Declaration is seen as an important document for the protection of human rights, which includes the protection of vulnerable groups and minorities. On September 20, 2023, the former Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Ferdinand de Varennes, warned, and I quote, "India risks becoming one of the world's main generators of instability, atrocities, and violence due to the systematic targeting of minorities, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs, and others under the banner of religious nationalism," end quote. Along similar lines, multiple mandate holders of this council issued a joint communication to India in November 2024 regarding extrajudicial killings and violent attacks on Sikh activists in exile. They stress that such attacks contribute directly to an increasingly, quote, "hostile environment in Punjab," end quote. Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Morrison, testified before a parliamentary committee in Canada in October of 2024 that India's Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, is the architect of these transnational attacks. The Sikh people continue to face arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial killings at the hands of Indian state authorities. Those who advocate for an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan, are treated not as political actors exercising fundamental rights, but as enemies of the state to be silenced. This campaign of repression is extended beyond India's borders, creating a risk for the Sikh community worldwide and escalating tensions that may create further conflict. Madam Vice President, in furtherance to the goals of the Vienna Declaration, we call on all member states of this council to publicly raise concerns over India's systematic

use of arbitrary detention.

I call upon OIPMA.

Madam Vice President, the Vienna Declaration reaffirms our shared duty to protect civilians and uphold the rights of women and children in conflict. Yet in eastern DRC, these commitments are being gravely violated.

We once again thank the fact-finding mission for its critical work as presented during the Council's recent interactive dialogue.

Its findings confirm a pattern of systematic abuses by all parties, including M23, national forces, and affiliated militias, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite diplomatic efforts, the situation in North Kivu is worsening. M23 controls key areas, imposes illegal taxes, recruits children, and commits summary executions and sexual violence. Public services have collapsed. Displacement and hunger are rising. VOIPMA, working with a local children's home, has witnessed the impact firsthand. In January, renewed clashes forced 41 children and their caregiver to flee.

One child was seriously injured.

A local leader who helped them was killed.

The children were later withdrawn from school after M23 entered the compound and attempted forced recruitment.

These are not isolated incidents.

They reflect a broader failure of protection and accountability.

We urge the Council to act by deploying child protection monitors, supporting local responders, and ensuring independent justice mechanisms.

Further recommendations are in our written submission.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Association Peace for Justice. Absent. I give the floor to International Committee of Humanitarian Coordination.

Mr. President, the racial discrimination in Sri Lanka resulted in illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention, abduction and enforced disappearances, rape and torture in custody, extrajudicial killings, and internal displacement of Tamil nation and militarization of Tamil lands. Since the conclusion of genocidal massacres of May 2009 in Mullivaikal, the Sinhala Sri Lankan state has taken unparalleled measures to criminalize the commemoration of Tamil national resistance and to destroy its symbols in a bid to eradicate the spirit of national resistance among the beleaguered Eelam Tamils. Many of those violations continue to take place under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The draconian legislation includes a number of highly controversial provisions which are in direct contravention of the most significant fundamental provisions granted by the Sri Lankan constitution, including the right to equality. Madam Vice-President, despite pledging to repeal the law in the UN Human Rights Council, the Government of Sri Lanka continues to utilise this piece of legislation to discriminate against and marginalize the Tamil nation. Therefore, since the government of Sri Lanka has time and again failed to uphold the reaffirmations and considerations of the Vienna Declaration, and also continues to violate the Geneva Convention and other applicable norms of humanitarian law-- Thank you.

I give the floor to C. F. D. H. I give the floor to Association of Youth of Villages.

Tamil journalists are facing systematic racial discrimination in Sri Lanka and they need implementation of Vienna Declaration. The Sri Lankan constitution recognizes freedom of expression but for Tamils, this law is not applicable as the case of repression against Tamil journalists are the results of the systematic discrimination suffered by Tamils, according to Freedom House. and other international organization reports. For more than 40 years, 80% of Tamil journalists had fled the country had lived abroad because they are the first victims of the Sri Lanka occupying military. The international organization regularly report attacks against Tamil journalists. Since January 2020, more than 120 Tamil journalists have received death threats by Sri Lankan security forces. There's also the case of Murugapillai Koviladharshan, an independent Tamil journalist arrested in in December 2021 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Last month, Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has expressed concern over the interrogation of Tamil journalist and human rights defender Kanavathu Palkumnan by Sri Lankan counterterrorism and Investigation Division. We ask this Council members to have a nomination of Special Rapporteur for Sri Lanka to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court, ICC, to recognize Eelam Tamil as non-self-governing territories.

Thank you.

I give the floor to Citizen Aid and Development.

Thank you, President. Today, the Tamils of Eelam are faced with a devastating reality for since 77 years. Contrary to the Vienna Declaration, the Sri Lankan forces continue to occupy the Tamil land, and they kill and disappear human rights activists, arbitrarily detain activists and civil society members. They also violate the rights of women and children, expelling them from public life. They are sending Sri Lanka back to an era when the Tamils were living in a state of fear. Tamils in Sri Lanka still have no independence from Sri Lanka, and that has been the case since 1948. The reason is that there is a racist Government in power that continues to govern a country where Tamils are treated as second-class citizens. The successive Governments of Sri Lanka have been pursuing genocide and appropriating Tamil land, and are trying to eradicate Tamil culture and use enforced disappearances. There was a date that was set for the Tamils to go to a so-called security zone, where weapons were used contrary to international law and innocent Tamils were massacred. It is clear that what the Government did was a planned genocide. We call on the international community and all of the human rights mechanisms to act in order to uphold the promise contained in the Vienna declaration that all human beings are born equal in rights and dignity and that they are They deserve protection, including the Tamils who are under Sri Lankan occupation. And we call on this Council to appoint a specific rapporteur on Sri Lanka under agenda item four and to bring Sri Lanka before the International Criminal Court and to recognize Tamil. Thank you.

of solidarity of students in Bordeaux.

Thank you, Chair. Tamil relatives of families of enforced disappearance need urgent implementation of the Vienna Declaration. The reason is the racist government that continues to rule the country, and the Tamils are treated as a second-class citizen. For the full implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action, we request the Council members to urge the establishment of a team of international experts mandated under the International Protocol on Mass Grave Protection and Investigation to oversee the protection and investigation of the ongoing mass grave excavation in Chamanee and other places in north of Sri Lanka. Engage independent international forensic experts and human rights observers to ensure the independence, quality and credibility of the investigations. Provide psychological, legal and protective support to Tamil families of the disappeared, enabling their meaningful participation throughout the process. Support Tamil families to preserve and rigorously document all evidence to support future efforts towards criminal accountability. Establish an independent special office to investigate and prosecute senior crimes by state officials, including enforced disappearances, with adequate resources, expertise, and international support. Publicly disclose findings from all past and present mass grave investigations, promoting transparency and truth. Recognize the retroactive applicability of the crime of enforced disappearances, as provided by Article 15 of the ICCPR. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Centre of Lhasa Bond for International Law and International Relations. Absent. I give the floor to PDES.

Under President of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, reaffirmed that the right to development is universal, inalienable and integral part of fundamental human rights.

Yet for more than four

decades, 10 of thousands of Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf camps in Algeria have been systematically excluded from this fundamental right. Contrary to Algeria's international obligations, these refugees remain deprived of essential infrastructures, almost entirely dependent on humanitarian aid, and excluded from national development policies. This situation has particularly severe consequences for women and children who suffer from chronic shortages of educational and health facilities. It also entrenches structural economic dependence in clear contradictions with the principles of dignity and equality in trend. and the Vienna Declaration.

Mr. President, we call on the Human Rights Council to remind Algeria of its international obligations, particularly to guarantee refugees effective access to the right to

development, demand the immediate organization of independent censuses under UNHCR supervision, ensure transparency and accountability in the management of humanitarian aid to the Tindouf camps.

integrate the issue of the

Tindouf camps into the systematic follow-up on the right to development to ensure that no population is left behind. The prolonged exclusion of tens of thousands of refugees from fundamental rights constitutes a blatant denial of the principles of Vienna and of the international instruments

to which Algeria is a party.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to United Villages. Absent. I give the floor Global Sri Lankan Forum, United Kingdom, by video.

President, distinguished delegates, I am speaking today on behalf of independent organizations that are linked to the promises enshrined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. We reaffirm that the protection and promotion of human rights must take place in respect of constitutional frameworks and the rule of law. The constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees the access to legal resources and this is not a matter of abstract ideas but things that are clearly invoked by lawyers and civil society activists who are seeking justice. The Vienna Declaration calls for national institutions to be strengthened and not sidestepped. We are concerned by calls in favour of external mechanisms that could undermine the constitutional order of Sri Lanka and which could politicize the transitional justice process. The true responsibility must be borne locally. It must be anchored in the local context and based on institutions. The path towards reconciliation does not involve parallel processes, but a support for national reconciliation. We call on the Council to respect the spirit of the Vienna Declaration, to commit in a constructive fashion to strengthening sovereignty and national institutions. Sri Lanka is on the right path, and it has to be led by its own people through mechanisms and institutions that they understand and have faith in. We need this to be shown through action as well as words. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to AESFE.

Thank you, Vice-President. The right of older persons is central for ensuring decent living and independent living. And yet this category continues to face many challenges, such as marginalization, poverty, and a lack of social protection, especially in developing countries and fragile contexts. International reports, including those of the Secretary General of the United Nations, underscore the urgent need to devise national policies at a global level, which, or comprehensive national policies, which meet these challenges by integrating older persons into sustainable development plans in accordance with principles of human rights and international instruments. In the face of these challenges, an early commitment from the United Arab Emirates offers an innovative model for the protection of the rights of older persons and their active participation in society through law and advanced initiatives, including a federal law on older persons. The State provides comprehensive social services and is generally committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and its humanitarian vision. We call on this Council to step up the commitment of States for the protection of older persons' rights through legislation and national policy and to adopt a binding international convention on this. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Matt for Peace, Development, and Human Rights Association by video.

Thank you, Mr. President. Objective 38 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action recognizes the important role of nongovernmental organizations in promoting human rights activities. However, the Ethiopian Government has continued to impose various restrictions on the work of these organizations, particularly those working in the field of human rights. The proposed amendments to the law, known as the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation, would place the Ethiopian civil society sector under government control, granting five seats to the government and only two to civil society organizations. These proposed amendments would also prohibit civil society organizations from receiving foreign fundings if they engage in activities that the government considers political, including election monitoring and human rights education. Finally, Matt urged the Ethiopian government to implement the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, specifically Objective 38 regarding the role of NGOs, and to immediately withdraw the proposed amendments to the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation. Thank you.

Thank you. This is the last speaker we are able to accommodate during this session. With this last intervention, we have concluded the general debate under item 8. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I understand that certain delegations have requested to exercise the right of reply in relation to statements made under agenda item 8. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan. You have three minutes.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. I am exercising right to reply to reject India's falsehoods. The Indian delegation should realize that disinformation can never change the facts on ground, especially those established by the UN Charter and international law. Rather than addressing the dire human rights situation in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, The Indian delegation has made yet another futile attempt to deflect attention and avoid scrutiny of its criminal human rights record in the territory. Unilateral declarations and casting aspersions on my country cannot change internationally recognized historical, political, and legal realities. Domestic legislation and judicial verdicts from its pliant judiciary cannot absolve it of its international obligations. Time and again, the brutal oppression in IIJNK has been exposed domestically and internationally. Countless commentaries and reports by independent observers, civil society and media bear testament to the fact that insularity, polarization and marginalization of minorities have reached alarming levels. Yet these calls have fallen on deaf ears. years, willfully closed to the voices of those being brutally silenced under the state oppression. In recent days, the Indian occupation's crackdown in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir has exposed the truth, notwithstanding the tall tales of development and efficiency that accompanied its illegal actions of August 2019. India would do well to remember the High Commissioner's advice from earlier this year about democracy, diversity, and development. A look at its denial of self-determination for the people of IIOJK would be a natural starting point for an honest conversation centered on human rights. I thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan. You have three minutes.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Sudan is practicing the right of reply to organizations such as Association for Youth and Sustainable Development Enablers. on the allegations stated by these organizations and accusations against the Sudanese government. We stress that these are foundless allegations that are not based on any facts. They come under blatant attacks to undermine the authorities in the Sudan that do their utmost to protect their citizens from the illegal militias. We find it unfortunate for them to stoop to that level and to misguide their audiences in order to appeal to their paying sponsors. This is a blatant violation of the rules of this Council and an obvious politicization of the Council and its mandate. This is not acceptable under any pretext. We would like to stress that such organizations work under paid agendas and their report is void of any partiality or credibility, which contradicts all rules on which the Human Rights Council is based. We will continue to work with the credible civil society organizations away from politicization and false allegations. We are fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights under our constitutional obligations. We will take all necessary measures through the NGO Committee of the United Nations against such organizations. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any other delegations wishing to exercise this right of reply? I see none. Excellencies, distinguished participants, we have thus concluded the consideration of agenda item 8. We will now take a short technical break before beginning the interactive dialogue with working group on people of African descent. Excellencies, distinguished participants, I now declare open agenda item 9, entitled Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance, Follow-up to the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. We will now hold the interactive dialogue with Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I now give the floor to Ms. Bina D'Costa, Chair of the Working Group, to present the Working Group's report. You have 17 minutes.

Your Excellency, Vice President of the Human Rights Council, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, fellow mandate holders, people of African descent. It is a pleasure to address the Human Rights Council in my capacity as chair of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and to report on the activities of the working group in 2024 and 2025. including the findings, conclusions, recommendations of our 2025 thematic report on reparatory justice and the country visit to Colombia conducted in May 2024. Since August last year, the Working Group has been engaged in numerous activities as outlined in the main report. In particular, the working group held its 35th and 36th sessions in New York, respectively, from 2nd to 6th December 2024 and from 21st to 25th April 2025. These sessions offered the opportunity to bring a great number of people of African descent together to discuss the issue of reparatory justice, as well as to deepen our cooperation with experts of reparatory justice civil society organizations, bar associations, and universities for a renewed partnership as we begin the second International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed in December 2025 by General Assembly. As funding has continuously been constrained in 2025, the working group has only been able to conduct one country visit to Suriname. and regrettably could not conduct the technical visits it is mandated to undertake for the second year in a row. Excellencies, distinguished participants, the thematic report on principles, provisions, and pathways to reparatory justice for people of African descent is a result of numerous consultation and written responses to the working group's call for submissions from states and civil society. and its 35th session. I thank the experts who provided very useful insights during the session, the participants, and those who submitted written reports. Reparatory justice for the enslavement, the trade in enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans for centuries, subsequent colonization and ensuing diverse forms of segregation is a matter of priority. Separated from their families, their communities, and their cultures, millions lost their liberty, their identity, their religion, as they were physically, sexually, and psychologically abused and subjected to degrading and dehumanizing treatment. They were taken from their families and communities that were torn apart, fearful and scarred physically, materially and psychologically. Today, people of African descent still face the legacies of these tragedies, as acknowledged by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Slavery, the slave trade, especially the transatlantic slave trade, are among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and that people of African descent were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences. The working group appreciates the initiatives taken at the international and regional levels for reparatory justice. These initiatives are a testament that different actors, including universities and churches, are more and more open to debate reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent, and to take action in their respective contexts. Excellencies, Distinguished participants, our report seeks to discuss the various dimensions that reparatory justice should cover, political, economic, social, and cultural. The working group found that although reparatory justice is necessary and should be inevitable, obstacles at the legal, political, and social and economic levels still persist and hinder the narrative for reparatory justice. From the legal point of view, proposals were put forward as a solution to overcome the legal argument of the application of the intertemporal law, which, according to some actors, may prevent any pursuit of reparations for past injustices, in particular the transatlantic slave trade. The Working Group therefore draws some conclusions: enslavement, Colonialism and related abuses targeted Africans and their descendants as a group. Reparatory justice must be collective, comprehensive, and pursued with their full gender-sensitive participation, given the enduring impact of these legacies. Core common principles should be considered in the pursuit of reparatory justice, among others. Africans and people of African descent should be considered as the main victims who may put forward any claims for reparations. States that were involved in or benefited from enslavement, the trade in enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and colonialism, and their successors should be considered as the main responsible actors. Reparatory justice should seek to eradicate the legacies and ongoing manifestations of these crimes and injustices. International recognition of enslavement and colonialism as crimes against humanity should be pursued. Reparatory justice should be comprehensive in its forms, namely compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. be acceptable to Africans and people of African descent, and comprises a central tenet, restitution, including the return and protection of ancestral lands, given the spiritual, sociocultural, and economic ties people of African descent and Africans have to these lands and the resources they contain. Repertory justice should include monitoring and evaluation, as well as clear lines of accountability and responsibility. Repertory justice should also include a system of incentives and sanctions. In terms of provisos, that there should be no statute of limitation on the pursuit of reparatory justice for the crimes of enslavement, the trade in enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and colonialism. The cost of pursuing reparatory justice should be borne by the countries and their successors, and the private entities that perpetrated enslavement and colonization or benefited from them. The working group emphasized that reparatory justice for Haiti should remain at the forefront of the pursuit of reparatory justice for and by people of African descent. In terms of pathways, The working group considers that the diverse history, geography, lived experience, and context of people of African descent require flexible, responsive, and evolving approaches and strategies in the pursuit of reparatory justice. Based on its findings and conclusions, the working group made several recommendations. Key among these are the following. Member States recognize the principle of reparations for enslavement and the trade in en- enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, as a norm of international law. Adopt a resolution in support of the delivery of reparatory justice in a comprehensive manner, notably through restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and non-recurrence, that considers each historical and country context and is grounded in international human rights law. Consider designating a United Nations mechanism to guide the process. and refrain from excluding prima facie compensation as a form of reparation. Hold a high-level meeting to examine the issues, concerns, and pathways related to reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent, with a view to establishing the appropriate international body or mechanism to provide technical support to Africans and people of African descent in their claims. ensure accountability and oversight, and ultimately bring resolution and closure. Adopt research and evidence-based approaches to assess the harm caused to people of African descent by the legacies of the past, racism, and racial discrimination as a prerequisite for reparations. The United Nations should facilitate the formal recognition, acknowledgement, and apology owed to Haiti for the discrimination suffered through enslavement and colonization, compounded by the financial demands made upon its independence, and support the restitution of those payments as an integral element of reparatory justice for Haitians. Madam Vice President, Excellencies, distinguished participants, I now turn my attention to the visit to Colombia at the invitation of the Government of Colombia. First, I wish to express the appreciation of the Working Group to the Government of Colombia, including to its Vice President, for their welcome and receptivity to the visit, as well as facilitating meetings and travel within Colombia. The working group met with the Vice President, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, senior officials from line ministries, as well as the Directorate of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, the National Administrative Department of Statistics, the Ombudsperson, the Supreme Court, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, and local authorities. It visited Bogota, Tumaco, Cali, Northern Cauca, Buenaventura, and Quibdo. The working group also met with people of African descent, in particular victims and their families, human rights defenders, lawyers, academics, civil society organizations led by people of African descent, especially youth groups, community leaders, and women's groups, including from rural and remote areas in the Pacific coastal region. It further met with demobilized guerrillas of the FARC. The working group received written input preceding, during, and after the visit. It expresses its sincere appreciation to all contributors, including women, men, LGBTIQ+ persons, and young people of African descent, who shared their valuable testimonies, research, and their connection to their territories and lands. I would like to highlight the main findings of the visit. First, Colombia has in place the requisite legislation, legal and policy frameworks against racial discrimination. A number of laws and constitutional court decisions were passed in favor of people of African descent. Nevertheless, These, there still needs full implementation. The working group noted and documented a number of good practices that the government of Colombia has put in place, notably recent decrees advancing Law 70 of 1993, and the ethnic chapter of the 2016 peace agreement mark a historic step towards securing collective rights and improving conditions for people of African descent in Colombia, with transformative potential in areas like land, resources, and cultural preservation. The working group recognizes recent institutional advances in reparatory justice, including legal reforms, ethnic inclusion in rural development, and the creation of the National Intersectoral Commission for Historical Reparation. The working group raised the main following concerns. First, people of African descent experienced a lack of recognition at multiple levels, spanning from the absence of a positive narrative of their contributions to Colombian society, the absence of their history in textbooks, to the slow implementation of the right of self-governance as recognized in the provisions of the Constitution of 1991 and other relevant legal provisions, especially Law 70. Results of both the 2005 and 2018 censuses have been widely criticized for undercounting people of African descent. Second, development disparities between the capital and Afro-descendant regions like Buenaventura, Tumaco, and Quibdoo are stark, with poor infrastructure, high poverty, and unmet basic needs. especially in Tumaco and Nari no. Corruption and illicit economies further depend state neglect and insecurity in these marginalized areas. Third, despite having long-standing legally recognized self-governance structures, communities lack full autonomy and legal protections, with poverty and poor infrastructure undermining local authority. Fourth, there was an evident general lack of representation of populations of African descent, including among areas such as housing projects in the territories and state-sponsored spaces for ethnic art and music. Fifth, significant barriers to access justice persist, including to free legal aid, as people of African descent mainly live in impoverished and remote areas. Land rights remain a major challenge. People of African descent lag behind in terms of access to employment and to the labor market. Finally, with regard to the right of education, the working group found insufficient measures to ensure full access to schools for all children of African descent. We make the following recommendations to address these issues. Operationalize Law 70 fully and recognize local leaders, especially community councils and authorities in their territories, and equip them and empower them with proper instruments of authority. Take corrective measures to ensure people of African descent are visible in official data sources. Confront all inequalities in access to education for people of African descent. Adopt concrete and urgent steps to promote access by people of African descent to employment. Madam Vice-President, I wish to reiterate my appreciation to you and the Council for this opportunity to report to you and the working group's readiness to respond to any queries as we continue to build on 22 years of implementation of the mandate. Thank you.

Thank you. According to our practice, we shall start by hearing the delegations of the country concerned. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia. You have five minutes.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Colombia, it was an honour for Colombia to welcome the visit of the Working Group on Persons of African Descent from the 15th to the 24th of May 2025. as the Chair has just informed us, restating its firm commitment to constructively cooperate with the special procedures of the United Nations on human rights. We value the kind views voiced by the Chair of the Working Group in her presentation just a few minutes ago on this visit and for the reception from the authorities and the society, especially our Vice President, Flavia Marques. We've taken note of the valuable recommendations of the group and reiterate the commitment of Colombia to eradicate racism, racial discrimination and colonialism, eliminating the structural barriers that prevent access to justice and guaranteeing combat against impunity. And we focus especially on the recommendations mentioned by the Chair in her report on the importance of depth deepening the enforcement of law 70 with corrective measures to increase the visibility of Afro-Colombians in data gathered and to adopt measures to guarantee access to employment and also strengthening measures on education for persons of African descent in Colombia. We recognize the centuries of systemic and structural racism. We assume that we need to pay the debt as a priority in our policies. An element of the report which we believe should be further developed is the exploitation of the vulnerabilities and marginalization and historical exclusion of Afro-descendant communities by groups who work in narco-trafficking. Drug trafficking in Colombia has driven forward land grabbing, fragmented collective lands, which means that there has been a setback in the efforts of the State to generate favourable conditions to overcome the structural gaps faced by people of African descent. This is only one of the expressions that strengthens the comments made by several Special Procedures who say that the so-called war on drugs has been more effective as a system of racial control and as a tool to reduce drug markets. which is why we invite the working group to develop their analysis thereon on the multiple even harmful effects on Afro-descendants of the drug policies, so that we can gather evidence to steer our policies in favour of Afro-descendants in Colombia. The national government is working to overcome the effects of the internal armed conflict, which has had a direct impact on Afro-descendants. generating poverty, forced displacement, illegal mining and drug trafficking. The protection of human rights of boys, girls, adolescents, women, men and Afro-descendant leaders amount also to a priority for the national government. We reiterate our commitment to the full implementation of Law 70 of 1973, which guarantees the right of Afro-descendants to self-governance, to manage their own resources and special courts according to their customs and laws. We will continue to adopt positive measures to promote and protect the human rights of Afro-descendants and foster sustainable development on their territories. Internationally, Colombia is driving forward the comprehensive recognition of peoples of African descent in the general framework of the UN. Therefore, it strongly supports the negotiation and the prompt adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Peoples of African Descent as a first universal document leading towards the recognition of and justice for and the development of Afro-descendants. We invite the group of experts and all states to support the recognition of the category of persons of African descent in the context of the United Nations framework, in order to make progress towards their recognition as a collective subject of rights under international law. We've supported the adoption of the second decade. The full implementation of the programme of activities of the decade should complement the first decade. and be translated in the guarantee of rights for African descendants, which is why Colombia invites states and international organizations to put together all of the political will and resources they have to achieve successful results for these efforts and all the multilateral efforts made in that vein. The belonging of Afro-descendants in Colombia or that enriches Colombian culture and means that we are seriously and deeply grateful for and committed to the protection of their rights pursuant to our commitment under international law, of course, on the one hand, but also and especially because we value the relevance of the need to achieve in our country to create a pluricultural, prosperous and peaceful society on the basis of respect for human rights. Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the Ombudsman's Office of Colombia by video message.

We

welcome the report by the Group of Experts on People of African Descent following their visit to Colombia in 2024. Its message is unequivocal. Structural racism persists and is clear in the relationship between the center and the periphery, violence against leaders and the institutional exclusion and statistical invisibility, which distorts policies and services. Colombia is the country with the third largest Afro-descendant population in the world, yet there are still structural challenges that prevent the effective realization of the rights of these persons. There's violence and that's linked to the colonial past and the history of slavery and there are major gaps compared with the other parts of the population which manifests itself in terms of social, economic inequalities and a lack of access for opportunities. The Colombia's Ombudsperson recognizes and is promoting the second international decades plan of action We urge the government to approve the International Declaration on People of African Descent and both tools, so the declaration as well as the Inter-American Convention against Racism and Racial Discrimination, are essential for tackling racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all related forms of intolerance. These It is only through joint and decisive action that we can make progress towards full implementation of human rights for people of African descent and towards more inclusive societies. Thank you.

Thank you. The list of speakers is now closed. I now invite interested delegations to ask questions and to make comments on the report. The speaking time is one minute, 30 seconds for all. I now give the floor to the European Union.

Vice President, Madam Chair, the EU thanks the Working Group of Experts for the work carried out this year. The report you have presented provides a clear indication that there needs to be a new consensus on the issue of reparatory justice to move ahead as a global community. Only through consensus can actions unravel. Fortunately, we are not starting from scratch. The Durban Declaration offers a clear framework on where to anchor our discussions. In those discussions, the European Union acknowledged and deplored the immense suffering caused by the past and contemporary forms of slavery and the slave trade, wherever they have occurred. The DDPA also recognises that colonialism has led to racism, with consequences that persist still today. The EU is committed to transforming structures in society which are perpetuating these injustices from the past. States should provide effective remedies wherever relevant, and all states that have not yet done so should address their negative legacies. A new consensus could allow to advance on the issue of accountability, truth and memory. The EU is also committed in supporting African countries to reach their sustainable development goals and strengthen their economies. From 21 to 27, we are providing close to 30 billion in funding for sub-Saharan Africa, about 40% of our total financial envelope. for development cooperation. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Ghana on behalf of Group of African Countries.

Madam Vice President, the African Group thanks the working group for the report. The conclusions of the working group are fully in line with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as it acknowledges that Africans and people of African descent were victims of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism, and continue to the victims of their consequences. The focus of the report is perfectly aligned with the theme of the African Union for the year 2025, namely, justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations to a decade for reparations. Accordingly, the African group supports the working group's view that Africans and people of African descent should be considered as the main victims who may put forward any claim for reparations. Moreover, states that were involved in and have benefited from enslavement the trade in enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and colonialism and their successors should be considered as the main responsible actors. We call on states that have not done so to initiate a comprehensive approach to address the legacies of the past through a plurality of measures, including true formal apologies, truth-telling processes, and reparations in various forms. The African Group condemns the surge of violent manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance precipitated by specifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous ideologies, such as white supremacy, as well as by extremist, nationalist, and populist ideologies. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. I'm pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the CARICOM group in Geneva. We welcome this interactive dialogue with the working group, which provides an important opportunity to reflect on the insights and recommendations of the group on advancing efforts towards reparatory justice for people of African descent. Given general recognition that this second International Decade for People of African Descent should be one of concrete and robust action centered on reparatory justice in all its dimensions, including climate and cultural justice, we signal the continuing relevance of the revised CARICOM 10-point plan for reparatory justice as a useful model. The CARICOM group also highlights the significance of our Caribbean sister Haiti in these discussions, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. More broadly, we underscore the need to anchor reparatory justice in international human rights law and encourage the continued strengthening of collaboration between the working group and other UN anti-racism mechanisms. In closing, we reiterate the ongoing commitment of CARICOM heads of government to continued high-level advocacy and collaboration, particularly within the context of this second decade, which was most recently evidenced during the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly and the recently concluded second Africa-CARICOM Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 7, 2025. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to South Africa.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. South Africa aligns itself with the statement just delivered by Ghana on behalf of the African Group. We thank the Working Group for its report that focuses on principles, provisions and pathways to reparative justice for people of African descent. My delegation fully supports the view that enslavement, the trade in enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, Colonialism and other serious human rights violations inflicted on Africans and people of African descent need reparatory justice. This should include restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-occurrence, and consider each history and country context, recognizing that no one fits all. Indeed, These historic injustices and other serious human rights violations were inflicted on Africans and people of African descent as a group. Therefore, it is only logical that reparatory justice must accrue to the collective, must be comprehensive, as the legacies of those historical injustices continue to affect all aspects of the lives of people of African descent. South Africa supports the view that reparatory justice must be pursued and provided with the effective and meaningful participation of Africans and people of African descent, integrating gender-sensitive approaches. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Benin.

Thank you, Vice-President. Benin would like to congratulate the working group for the quality of its report, and we commend the group's constant commitment to the promotion of the rights of persons of African descent. The question of reparation for the historical injustices linked to the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement are of crucial importance. It is in this spirit that Benin, in 2024, adopted a law that recognizes Benin citizenship for people of African descent due to the historic ties that bind those people with our continent. Benin is continuing its efforts to protect the memory of the transatlantic slave trade. We have a museum which is dedicated to that, and there's also the annual Vodou Days. That's a festival that is dedicated to Vodou spirituality and culture. Moreover, Benin stands out as a pioneer in Africa regarding the restitution of cultural goods, and we have been highlighted in that respect as a model for reparatory measures. We are committed to implementing the recommendations made by the working group, and we will support the second International Decade on Persons of African Descent. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Mexico.

Thank you very much, Madam Vice-President. We welcome the report by the working group on the principles, provisos and pathways towards reparatory justice for people of African descent. In Mexico, the people of the Afro- The presence of the Afro-Mexican people goes back to the colonial era, when thousands of African people were transferred by force to what is now Mexico to work as slaves. In later times, people from the African diaspora came to Mexico in the context of migration. However, their presence and their contributions were for a very long time rendered invisible. Today, reparatory justice encompasses explicit recognition of the existence of people of African descent in Mexico, as well as recognition for the historical context of marginalization and discrimination that they faced. Therefore, since 2019, our constitution has recognized Afro-Mexican peoples and communities as part of our country's pluricultural composition. And since 2024, our country has considered Afro-Mexican peoples and communities to be subjects of public law with their own legal personality and assets. Today, they are holders of collective rights as well. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Kenya.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Kenya aligns with the Africa Group statement and join in the call for justice for Africans and people of African descent globally, and welcome the working group's pivotal contributions to the normative and operational framework on reparations. We commend the experts in their efforts to advancing reparatory justice, anchored firmly within international human rights law, recognizing enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism as crimes against humanity with enduring legacies of systemic racism and exclusion. The group's work in delineating principles, legal bases, and pathways for reparations lays a critical foundation for meaningful redress, restoration, and reconciliation. Kenya further welcomes the Africa Union's 2025 theme, "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations," which resonates deeply with our vision for collective African leadership in addressing historical injustices. We emphasize that reparations are not merely amounts of compensation but a transformative process encompassing restitution, rehabilitation, symbolic measures, and guarantees of non-repetition. This framework encourages states and international partners to confront historical accountability courageously and to dismantle structural inequalities persisting from enslavement and colonial exploitation. We reiterate our commitment to championing reparatory justice within the Human Rights Council and beyond, fostering a future where dignity, equity, and healing prevail for all Africans and global African diaspora. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Sierra Leone.

Madam Vice-President, my delegation aligns with the African Group statement and welcomes the working group's report. We reaffirm our commitment to the Durban Declaration and the Second Decade for People of African Descent, emphasizing the importance of tackling racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Despite our historical experience, racism and racial discrimination have never been practiced in Sierra Leonean society. On the contrary, our culture and traditions are rooted in hospitality, where strangers are welcomed with special warmth. Racism and racial discrimination have no place in Sierra Leone. Our values, heritage, and identity reject such traits outright. Sierra Leone is, however, concerned about the systemic racism and structural inequalities that affect people of African descent. These issues include barriers to justice, socioeconomic exclusion, underrepresentation, and disproportionate violence. We emphasize the importance of reparative justice, remembrance, and education in addressing the legacies of slavery and colonialism. We also call on States to adopt national action plans and strengthen accountability in order to eliminate racial discrimination and to promote inclusion, dignity, and equality. asked the working group how can the principles and Pathways of reparatory justice for people of African descent be translated into concrete inclusive and sustainable policies at National and international levels I thank you vice president.

Thank you I give the floor to Jamaica.

Thank you. Jamaica welcomes the report of the working group and commends its unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and dignity of people of African descent globally. We especially welcome the outcomes of the 35th session, themed "Principles, Provisos, and Pathways to Reparatory Justice," which aligns with Jamaica's longstanding advocacy for reparatory justice both nationally and through CARICOM. Our convening of the Durban Memoirs special event at that session reaffirmed the enduring relevance of the Durban Declaration in combating racism, and related intolerance. We support the working group's call for reparatory justice for Haiti and its recommendation to recognize reparations for enslavement and the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans as a norm of international law. Jamaica also welcomes a proposal to make reparatory justice central to the draft UN Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent. We emphasize the need for the second international decade to be strategic, action-oriented, and well-resourced, with reparatory justice integrated into its implementation. Jamaica remains committed to working with the working group to advance a transformative agenda that promotes equity, dignity, and development. We align with the statement just delivered by Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of the CARICOM group in Geneva. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Mozambique.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Mozambique aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Africa group. Mozambique thanks the Working Group for its insightful report and reaffirms its commitment to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, and the legacy of colonialism and slavery. We strongly support the call for reparatory justice rooted in the principles of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. This condition a session not only to address historical wrongs, but to dismantle structural inequalities that persist today. Mozambique welcomes the recommendation that member states adopt research and evidence-based approach to assess the harm caused to people of African descent by the legacies of the past, racism and racial discrimination as a prerequisite for reparation. We also stress the need to integrate reparatory justice into the implementation of the second International Decade the people of African descent through education, institutional reform, and inclusive development. Madam Vice President, in conclusion, we would like to ask to the working group, what concrete mechanism would you recommend member states prioritize in the short term to operationalize reparatory justice at the national and regional level? Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Senegal.

Thank you, Vice-President. Senegal is deeply committed to ensuring the place of memory as a guiding compass as we build a common future between Africa and its diaspora. This is the meaning that must be given to the Pan-African High-Level Meeting on African Memory, Justice and Reparation, which my country organised on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, its 80th sessions, and which was co-sponsored by Ghana. and included the presence of the presidents of Ghana, the Comoros and the Prime Minister of Barbados. The first International Decade on Persons of African Descent contributed to insights on history and has strengthened the visibility of matters relating to people of African descent, and it has helped give impetus to legal and institutional frameworks. That said, we are forced to note that, despite the headway made, structural inequalities remain in fundamental fields such as access to education, healthcare, housing, employment and political representation. Specific measures remain necessary in terms of racial equality and reparatory justice in order to redress the historic wrongs that were caused by the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism, and this must involve recognition, justice and development for people of African descent. Therefore, my country advocates fresh mobilization in order to fully implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which is the international framework for combating racism and racial discrimination. I thank you.

I give the floor to China.

Madam Vice-President. In the history, Western countries extracted vast amounts of ill-gotten wealth from the Asian, African, Latin American peoples through colonial rule, forcibly interrupting their historical process of development and progress. To this day, colonial mindsets and hegemonic practices persist. Africans, people of African descent, continue to suffer systemic racism and discrimination. Their aspirations have not been given adequate attention yet. To address this historical injustice, we must take a clear stand against the toxic legacy of colonialism and acts of hegemonism. Western countries should genuinely assume their historical responsibilities, end their wrongful practice of interference, coercion, and sanction, fulfill their obligations of reparation, and take concrete steps to support developing countries in accelerating industrialization and modernization. China urges countries concerned to effectively implement DDPR and to safeguard the human rights of Africans and people of African descent. Guided by President Xi Jinping's global governance initiative, China will work with all parties to promote a more just and equitable global governance system, enabling peoples to share in the dividends of development. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Dominican Republic.

Thank you very much, Vice-President. The Dominican Republic welcomes the work of the Working Group on the Promotion of Reparatory Justice and follow-up to the Durban Declaration Programme of Action. As a country with a rich heritage of people of African descent, we recognise that enslavement is a crime against humanity, the tragic consequences of which, sadly, still persist in our societies today. Therefore, reparatory justice must include comprehensive measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, guarantees of non-repetition, and also historic and cultural recognition in order to give greater dignity to our collective memory. The Dominican Republic, as a neighbor to Haiti, underscores the recommendations aimed at improving the living conditions for the people of Haiti. In this context, we welcome the Security Council's decision to establish a gang suppression force in Haiti. International cooperation is crucial for making headway on sustainable development and reparatory justice. by generating specific responses that lead to a better future for the Haitian people. We'd like to reiterate our commitment to building societies in which reparative justice and international solidarity become pillars for transformation. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Zambia.

Madam Vice President, Zambia aligns with the African Group statement.

Welcome the report of the working group and take note of the recommendations therein.

People of African descent continue to bear legacies of slavery, colonial exploitation, and systemic racism, whose consequences persist across generations.

Reparatory justice is not only about compensation; it's also about recognition, restitution, and transformation.

It demands that states acknowledge their role in these historical injustices, commit to genuine dialogue with affected communities, and implement policies that address both material deprivation and the denial of dignity.

Reparations are not only a matter of charity; they are a matter of justice.

They are an essential step towards healing, reconciliation, and the building of societies grounded in equality and human rights for all. In conclusion, we reiterate the need to move beyond acknowledgement to implementation and beyond promises to progress. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to UNICEF.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. UNICEF welcomes the report of the working group and supports the call for comprehensive reparatory justice for human rights violations inflicted on Africans and people of African descent. Legacies of enslavement and colonialism continue to impact every aspect of the lives of people of African descent, including children, who must be meaningfully engaged in reparatory justice processes. Processes must be child-sensitive, grounded in equality and non-discrimination, and accessible to children through child-friendly language and materials. Children of African descent continue to experience systemic racism, racial profiling, unequal access to justice and social services, excessive use of force by law enforcement, and overrepresentation in criminal justice systems that too often fail to protect their rights. These harms stem from the legacies of enslavement and colonialism and continue to persist today. UNICEF emph- emphasizes the importance of safe, inclusive and meaningful child participation in reparatory justice processes to ensure that outcomes are effective, sustainable, age appropriate and rights based. This requires empowering children to access formal and informal child-friendly justice systems that place their best interest at the core. UNICEF calls on states to fully implement their international human rights obligation and ensure reparatory justice processes are grounded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We stand ready to support. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Ethiopia.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Ethiopia thanked the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for its comprehensive report and its resolute advocacy for justice, dignity, and reparation for peoples of African descent worldwide.

We reaffirm our full commitment to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to the effective implementation of International Decade for Peoples of African Descent and support its continuation through a second.

Decade.

Ethiopia has long stood as forefront of the Pan-African solidarity and championing the liberation movement from colonialism and apartheid.

We view reparatory justice as a moral and historical imperative, rooted in principle of fairness, dignity, and equality. We align with the working group's assertion that reparatory justice must respond holistically to the historical and contemporary injustice rooted in enslavement, colonialism, and systemic racism. This includes restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition and tailored to each country's context and inclusive African voice. Ethiopia emphasizes that reparation must go beyond financial measures.

To include the return of looted cultural property, investment in education and social infrastructure.

Formal acknowledgement and truth-telling. Thank you.

I give the floor to Uruguay.

Thank you, Vice-President. Uruguay welcomes the presentation of the report and we agree that reparatory justice must be understood in a comprehensive way. It should include restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition, and it should have a human rights-based and gender equality-based approach in order to ensure its legitimacy and effectiveness. At the national level, Uruguay has made headway on measures that are in keeping with these principles. Law 19.122 on affirmative action is a specific instrument for reversing historical inequalities through quotas for public employment and education. The national strategy on public policies for Afro-Uruguayans and people of African descent and our national plan on racial equity and people of African descent both promote active and meaningful participation for people of African descent in the design and implementation of public policies in keeping with the working group's vision that reparations should be devised involving the voice of the affected persons. Uruguay reaffirms its commitment to the Durban Declaration Programme of Action and we are convinced that the second international decade is an opportunity for consolidating more equitable and cohesive societies that recognize the cultural contributions of people of African descent and address structural divides and strengthen racial equality. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Plurinational State of Bolivia.

Thank you, Vice President. We welcome the presentation of the report and the recommendations made by the working group for Bolivia. The past and the future of people of African descent are inextricably linked. The transatlantic trade and colonialism were not isolated events, and even today the consequences are felt. serious human rights violations inflicted against Africans and people of African descent require reparatory justice. Reparation is not a symbolic gesture, but a historical and political and humane process that should strengthen the future of humanity. Also, it is essential to recognize the responsibility of those who partook in the slave trade and colonialism and benefited from it. We cannot accept the shirking of responsibilities in this regard. Economic compensation should not be reduced. There should be the restitution of ancestral land and recognition of historic truth and cultural and social rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition. It is only through a process of this scale that we can address the current consequences of structural racism and build genuine, inclusive and just societies. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Algeria.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. The Algerian delegation welcomes the Working Group and thanks them for the presentation of their report. My delegation echoes the Working Group's view that colonialism, foreign occupation, apartheid, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade inflicted many historical injustices to Africa, Africans and people of African descent. We echo the calls for reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent as a moral, historical, and legal imperative. We reaffirm that reparation should entail recognition, redress, and guarantee of non-recurrence. It should also include resource mobilization for Africa, financing for development, technology transfer, and capacity building. We call upon governments, the international community, and international organizations and institutions to commit to long-term efforts toward justice for people of African descent and take concrete actions at the local, national, and international levels to redress these wrongs in meaningful and transformative ways. Finally, reparatory justice is essential to addressing and healing the painful past and to building a just and equitable present and future. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Egypt.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. Egypt expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and commends the report's inclusion of principles and recommendations aimed at establishing clear foundations and practical pathways towards achieving reparatory justice for people of African descent. Egypt considers reparatory justice to be a fundamental pillar in addressing the roots of racism and racial discrimination. It requires a comprehensive and multidimensional approach encompassing restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition, while also supporting efforts for sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and ensuring fair participation in the global economy system. In this regard, Egypt values the African Union's decision to designate reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent as the theme for 2023. as a reflection of the collective political will within the continent to advance a unified African position on this matter. Egypt also stresses the importance of developing transparent, participatory, and accountable reparatory frameworks grounded in international human rights law and built in close cooperation with relevant regional and local organizations in order to ensure that such frameworks respond to the priorities and needs of affected communities. In conclusion, we reaffirm the need for reparations territory justice to serve as a tool for strengthening international cooperation and fostering solidarity, thereby helping to overcome the legacy of the past and open wider horizons for society that are more just, equal, and inclusive in the future. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Cuba.

Senora Vice President. We're grateful for the presentation by the group of experts. We recognise their important, significant work against racism, racial discrimination, this for over 20 years. Sadly, the objectives subsequent to Durban still haven't been fulfilled. The ongoing existence of racism significantly has increased, principally in developed countries. Police brutality, The disproportionate populations in prison, marginalisation and racism, poverty, discrimination remain the hallmark. Pending still are the economic reparations due to African descendants because of the consequences of slavery, colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. Reparatory justice must be comprehensive and collective. Slavery and colonialism, whose consequences are still ongoing today, must be recognized as crimes against humanity. Cuba will maintain its firm determination to repudiate racism in any of its forms or manifestations. We will be actively involved in the negotiation of the UN declaration on the full recognition of the rights of persons of African descent, which we hope will be adopted as promptly as possible. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Togo.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. Togo commends the working group for its report and we fully support its conclusions and recommendations. We remain deeply committed to the DDPA, which is the universal basis to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance stemming therefrom. We are aware of the fact that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism still have consequences on us today. They are crimes that are not subject to the statute of limitation, and Togo has always advocated in favor of an effective international recognition of reparatory justice on the basis of truth, dignity, and reconciliation. In this spirit, Togo has actively contributed to the historic decision of the African Union, together with other kindred countries, to declare 2025 as the Year of Reparations under the theme "Justice for Africans and Persons of African Descent." This initiative embodies the collective determination of the countries and the Committee of Togo to make the issue of recommendations a priority on the African and international agenda. Togo finally appeals to the international community to recognize the principle of reparations as a norm of international law and to embody reparatory in the second International Decade for Persons of African Descent. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Brazil.

Madam Vice-President, Brazil thanks the Working Group for its report. As recognized in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, slavery and slave trade were appalling tragedies in our history and are considered a crime against humanity in the present day, as they should always have been. The lack of effective memory and historical reparation policies for Afro-descendants is one of the facets of institutional racism and a key root of contemporary manifestations of racial discrimination. Brazil has taken decisive steps to implement the Durban Program of Action by addressing reparation through transformative public policies, including affirmative actions measures of non-repetition, and memory and truth initiatives, as well as the promotion of cooperation for development. In COP30 and its Circle of Peoples, the knowledge of Afro-descendants is being integrated into our collective efforts to enhance climate solutions, while respecting their rights and combating environmental racism and inequalities. Madam Chair, how's the working group planning to integrate the issue of reparatory justice at the high level event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the DDPA? I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Russian Federation.

Thank you, Vice-President. We support the mandate and the work of the working group on people of African descent, and we read the report with great interest. We agree that it is necessary to step up international efforts in order to restore historic justice regarding persons of African descent. Our country consistently supports people of African descent to free them from the colonial yoke, and this involves strengthening their states and their sovereignty and their defence capabilities. We have built more than 300 large-scale infrastructure and industrial sites, such as power stations and other infrastructure, which work every day and continue to contribute to the economic development of Africa. Our country has provided education to many African doctors, teachers, and other professions, and We believe that it is right for the people of Africa and African descent to defend their own rights and independence, and the pathways for their development must be respected. We must respect the sovereignty of the people of Africa and the traditional values and their desire to determine their own fate. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Islamic Republic of Iran.

Madam Vice President, the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, Islamophobia, aphrophobia, and related intolerance. We remain committed to combating these challenges at the national and international levels. Iran echoes the working group's conclusion that enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade, the colonialism, and are crimes against humanity, requiring comprehensive reparatory justice. We support its call for the recognition of the right to reparation as a norm of international law. The plight of the Palestinian people stands today as the most tragic manifestation of racial oppression in our time. Palestinians, including women and children, endure systematic discrimination and apartheid under the policy that the ICJ has confirmed violate Article 3 of ICERD and constitutes apartheid within the meaning of the Article 2 of the Apartheid Convention. This institutional regime of racial domination must be confronted with urgency, justice, and accountability. The international community can no longer afford silence or complicity in the face of such grave crimes. Iran, therefore, calls for the establishment of an international mechanism, a dedicated committee against apartheid, to hold the Israeli regime accountable, to end impunity, and to ensure that those complicit in sustaining this regime are held accountable.

Thank you. I give the floor to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. We thank the working group for their report. We value their conclusions and recommendations. Reparative justice starts with the acknowledgement that African people were enslaved, abducted and taken to America, and through that a true ethnocide was committed. Structural racism and systemic discrimination still exist today and affect people of African descent. Venezuela sees reparations as a collective process to restore dignity, geared towards rebuilding the social, cultural, spiritual, and territorial fabric of African descendants to overcome the trauma of slavery and tackle the impacts of colonialism and capitalism today. We have adopted public policies to guarantee all human rights of persons of African descent, consistent with the principles of justice, recognition, and reparation established in our domestic machinery and the DDPA. Distinguished experts, currently one of the challenges faced by persons of African descent comes from the negative impact of UCMs. We urge, therefore, the working group to embody in their subsequent reports the impact of UCMs on Afro-descendants, and we appeal for the end and the eradication of these measures that violate the international law and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Thank you.

Thank you.

I give the floor to Iraq.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. We welcome the working group and its independent experts. We are committed to guarantee equality, to combat discrimination on the basis of religion or origin. We renew our commitment to fight against all forms of racial discrimination. and all forms of intolerance. We can only talk about these realities if we combat discrimination against persons of African descent. To build a just world means that we recognise the rights of all peoples and defend them against discrimination. It is crucial for States who have exercised discrimination to provide compensation and reparation for the peoples affected by colonialist practices. Reparations must be adopted. We need to guarantee coexistence and we need to eradicate hatred. The whole world must enjoy freedom and peace. We condemned the aggression against the Palestinian people, not to mention the policies and the increase in hate speech against the Palestinian people. This calls for accountability. This calls for action against the occupying forces responsible for these actions. Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker on the list. We shall now turn to the list of speakers for national human rights institutions and non-government organizations. A call upon Nigeria National Human Rights Commission by video, but the quality of the video is not very high and therefore may not be interpreted. Nigeria, please.

The National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria expresses its appreciation to the Working Group on People of African Descent.

Nigeria, as Africa's most populous nation and a key contributor.

The African diaspora share deep concern over the severe discrimination and systemic exclusion faced by people of African descent globally. Highly displaced persons, ethnic minorities, and persons of African descent returning from the diaspora often face discrimination in access to documentation, housing, and employment. The National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria has initiated public education campaigns and dialogue platforms to promote tolerance, social cohesion, and human dignity. However, we urge Member States to strengthen accountability for racial injustice, including reparations and restitution measures.

In line with the Durban Declaration.

We encourage collaboration between diaspora communities and NHRI in Africa to advance solidarity and shared human rights agenda. FTA Human Rights Commissioner, Nigeria stands ready to support international frameworks aimed at dismantling the shared hierarchy and advancing equity.

I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Gail Ades.

Thank you, Chair. My name is Gabriel Dantas, and I speak on behalf of Galadas Black Women Institute from Brazil. The working group is clear. The colonial legacies requires reparatory justice, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. And this should be integrated into the second International Decade for People of African Descent. To move from recognition to delivery, we propose an annual discussion on racial and reparatory justice, model on the annual gender discussion, mandating the OHCHR and HRC mechanism to produce a system-wide action matrix with follow-up. Delivery must include economic instruments, racial and gender impact criteria for development and climate finance, and direct access windows for Afro-descendant-led initiatives, so that finance itself becomes a vehicle of repair. This is also a democratic imperative, where racism is normalized, institution, road, and rights receipt. And last but not least, we call on states to fully implement the DZPA as a form of reparations. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations.

Thank you, Madam President. The International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations is most warmly welcome the report by the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on reparatory justice. As an NGO that was at the core of the campaign for the holding of the Durban World Conference, we know that this working group was mandated by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. We appreciate the important role it has played in defending the DdPA and standing up against the disinformation campaigns and undermining the DdPA. The working group has actively listened to voices of the civil society and its meeting, which has contributed to its achievement. The DdPA was groundbreaking as it recognized that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade were crimes against humanity, which is the basis for the demand to provide reparations to people of African descent. We agree with the working group that the of reparatory justice be put high on the international agenda with a high-level UN meeting to consider the matter in full. As it is now 200 years since France extorted Haiti, demanding compensation for the Haitian people's liberation, we join the working group in calling for reparatory justice for Haiti to be placed at the forefront of the global pursuit of reparatory justice for people of African descent. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Thank you, Vice President. We thank the working group for their report. Its findings reaffirm the truth that has long been recognized but often denied. The impact of colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and the resulting legacies of injustices are still evident today in systematic racism, economic marginalization, environmental injustice, and ongoing Afrophobia. Countries profited and continue to profit from the crimes of slavery and colonialism. Former colonial powers have largely evaded responsibility. Words of regret without concrete reparations only perpetuate impunity. The time for symbolic gestures has passed. Reparatory justice is not optional. True justice demands comprehensive measures essential to truth, dignity, and equality for people of African descent everywhere. Reparations are not acts of charity or mere developmental aid. They represent a legal and moral obligation for states and institutions that committed and profited from these crimes. Reparatory justice must include compensation for centuries of exploitation, restitution of stolen lands and cultural heritage, public acknowledgement of responsibility and guarantees of non-repetition. IFORD and Geneva International Center for Justice support the working group's call for the United Nations to recognize reparations for enslavement and colonialism as a standard of international law. We urge the UN and member states to establish mechanisms to deliver reparations that are transparent, inclusive, and ensure meaningful participation of people of African descent, particularly women and youth. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Global Institute for Water, Environment, and Health by video.

We remain concerned about the concern of workers of African descent in the UAE, their essential contribution, they remain exposed to abuse under the kafala, confiscation of passports, lack of wages and restriction of movement, arbitrary detention, social exclusion without any regular procedure, without access to justice, depriving whole families of their means of subsistence and worsening racialised exclusion. These workers in the UAE are often less well paid, deprived of the right to create unions, working in degrading conditions, assist we call upon the UAE to abolish the kafala to ratify the fundamental ILO conventions and to create an independent mechanism guarantee equality of rights for them thank you very much.

Thank you I give the floor to Sandy patriotic volunteer Association by video.

The Marty K Marti.

Delegates, I represent the International Patriotic Pact Organization, advocating the principle of loving one's own country without harming other nations' interests. I'm honored to speak on the issue of people of African descent. According to the UN report, Afro-descendants' history of suffering represents a fracture zone in humanity's collective memory. Through our Belt and Road Initiative, China has rejected neocolonialism through the approach of technology transfer and localized operation. Colleagues, from the image of foreign merchants in the Dunhuang mural to the achievements of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Chinese civilization has always upheld the wisdom of harmony in diversity. IPPO will work with all countries to turn the just demand of Afro-descendants into an action agenda for global governance. The essence of civilization lies in enabling every group to find its own place in the constellation of humanity. Let's start with this dialogue and jointly build a new, prosperous world free from discrimination. Thank you all.

Thank you. I give the floor to a joint statement by Oida Go by video.

Residence in Colombia.

Afro-descendants are disproportionately affected by the armed conflict. According to CUDIS, between 2022 and 2025, over 226,000 victims were registered, that is, victims of mass displacement. One of four was an Afro-Colombian victim. In the Bajo Atrato region, military, paramilitary groups exercise social, political and economic control over Afro-descendant communities in a context marked by state abandonment. We ask the Council and States here to urge Colombia to meet their differentiated protection obligations to guarantee immediate humanitarian access in the Pacific, especially, and strengthen international support so that Afro-Colombian lives are no longer lost. As mentioned in the OHCHR report, it is crucial that Colombia implement effectively the policies, the laws and the legal frameworks that it has against racism. In the face of the reports of violations by the law enforcement, you need to put an end to racial profiling and investigate violations effectively and increase Afro-descendant representation in the judicial system. Uh, more people need to be given their lands, uh, need to get their lands back, especially with regards to the principle of free prior and informed consent. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to United for Human Rights.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Despite international efforts made for decades now, racism and racial discrimination still today are a key challenge for the international community. That is often why international peace and security do not exist. Suffering is worsened, especially for a significant number of peoples in Africa who are denied health, education, as also the most basic and fundamental human rights, such as dignity and equality. We must absolutely put an end to these practices and end also marginalisation and hate speech and speeches that divide people. We should also recall the positive contributions made by a significant number of countries who have proactively and preventatively acted as is the cases of the UAE who have adopted a whole range of measures to bring about justice and guarantee the respect for the dignity of persons of descent, in fact, for, in fact, persons from 200 different nationalities who live peacefully side by side in our country. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Sustainable Development Enabled.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Sudan is witnessing a tragic situation due to severe human rights violations, where the Sudanese armed forces and allied militias perpetrate multiple forms of discrimination based on origin and ethnicity. These practices have manifested in ethnic cleansing campaigns, denial of humanitarian aid to specific groups, and the direct targeting of civilians based on their tribal or geographic affiliation, constituting a blatant violation of the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Madam Vice-President, These policies have resulted in the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands, severe violations against women, and the denial of food and healthcare to targeted communities, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. This highlights the critical importance of establishing a strong legal and institutional framework grounded in equality and tolerance. Madam Vice-President, we call upon this Council to take urgent action to hold the Sudanese army and allied militias accountable for these crimes, ensure an unhindered access of humanitarian aid to all affected populations, and expand the mandate of UN monitoring and investigative mechanisms to document these violations. We also emphasize the necessity of strengthening international efforts to promote a culture of equality and non-discrimination, ensuring the protection of all people from exclusionary policies and ethnic cleansing. Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

It is important for the speakers to contextualize interventions according to the theme of each agenda item. We are presently considering item 9, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. With this in mind, I give the floor to the next speaker. I give the floor to International Service for Human Rights by video.

Thank you, Mr. President. Human rights violations against Afro-descendants in Brazil remain a critical threat to our survival. The rising tide of racial hate speech from far-right representatives has left Brazil's Black population extremely vulnerable. after they said that the human and girls are the primary victims of a gender based violence, highlighting the intersections of racism and sexism. Racial profiling criminalizes black people, responding to violent interventions by public security force. It drives arbitrary arrest and the killing of thousands, mostly black, young and children, while it is just a system and should impurity through casual dismissals. In fact, killing of Afro-descendants by law enforcement in Brazil are carried out in that systematic way, suggesting a social cleansing process designed to exterminate a sector of society. The Arab world has made home of the world's third largest prison population. Young people and men aged 19 to 30 are the majority, enduring inhuman conditions, frequent torture and denial of due process. Mr. President, in the context of the second International Decade for People of African Descent, it is urgent that Member States fully implement the DDA, as well as space reparatory justice grounded in the history of local context. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Interfaith International.

Madam Vice-President, Interfaith International welcomes the report of the Working Group.

Of Experts on People of African Descent and commends its focus on principles, provisos, and pathways to reparatory justice. The report reminds us that enslavement, the transatlantic trade in the enslaved Africans, colonialism, and their enduring legacies.

Are not just matters of history but living realities that continue to shape systemic racism.

And exclusion today.

Repertory justice must therefore.

Be understood not only as a restitution and compensation, but also as a rehabilitation, acknowledgment, apology, and guarantees of non-repetition. It is about restoring dignity, fostering reconciliation, and ensuring the quality of future generations. We note to call for the United Nations to recognize the reparations for enslavement.

As a norm of international law and for integration of repertory justice into the second International Decade for People of African Descent, the steps are.

Essential to move from recognition to accountability and from words to action.

Interfaith International emphasizes that it's not only a legal political imperative, but a moral one.

Faith traditions across the world affirm the principles of justice, healing, and human dignity.

Reparatory justice is a pathway towards healing historic wounds and building a future rooted in equality and solidarity.

We therefore urge Member States, international organizations, and civil society to work together with courage and commitment to finally address the injustice of the past and dismantle the structures of racism in the present. I thank you, Madam Vice-President.

Thank you. This was the last speaker we could accommodate for this dialogue. I now give the floor to Ms. D'Costa for her concluding remarks. You have one minute.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On behalf of the working group, I thank member states and civil society organizations for their invaluable interventions and recommendations. Let me respond to the questions posed by the distinguished delegates from Sierra Leone and Mozambique. The working group emphasizes the need to move from recognition to accountability and redress. This requires dismantling structural barriers at local, national, and international levels, integrating the history and contributions of people of African descent into textbooks, public narratives, and policy frameworks. I thank Colombia's distinguished delegates for their interventions. I'd like to reiterate one important finding. People of African descent are subjected to statistical invisibility by state institutions. Our recommendation is to fulfill the commitments under the pillars of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, recognition, justice, and development. Thank you.

Thank you. This brings us to the end of this interactive dialogue. I wish to thank Ms. D'Costa for her participation. We will now take a short break of one minute before the interactive dialogue with the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Excellencies, distinguished participants, we will now begin the interactive dialogue with the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I now give the floor to the Chair of the Permanent Forum, Mr. Martin Kimani, to present the report. You have 15 minutes.

Thank you very much, Madam Vice President, Excellencies and distinguished delegates, and dear colleagues. It is an honor to present the annual report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. Every year, events captured in news headlines and in the lived experiences of people of African descent tragically confirm that even at this stage of the 21st century, The color line remains in place, creating a hierarchical divide that sustains segregation, violence, societal division, denial of equal opportunity, of equity, and of continued exploitation and multiple forms of oppression, human rights movements. including anti-racist movements, need to unite more than ever and act to ensure that the promise of multiple resolutions of the United Nations, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, are realized. In this regard, the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent views the renewal of the International Decade for People of African Descent as a period enabling the reinforcement of global solidarity that advances concrete progress. The adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent to be adopted during this new International Decade will be one of the catalysts. That is why the Permanent Forum is committed to ensuring that the draft reflects the aspirations and realities of people of African descent. It has already held regional consultations on the draft declaration in Latin America and the Caribbean, and it will continue to undertake more regional consultations and periodically present its findings to the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. To fulfill its promise, the Permanent Forum and a diverse front of stakeholders has advocated for the second international decade to advance a more ambitious program of action. Consultations with civil society indicate that it must be built on three foundational pillars. Under the pillar of recognition, we need a greater recognition of systemic and structural racism and racial discrimination within and among countries. under the pillar of justice, the pursuit of reparatory justice, and under development, greater efforts for the inclusion of people of African descent, racial equality in all development frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, as well as the post-2030 agenda that will emerge. It must also confront human rights concerns that may not have been addressed during the first international decade. These include environmental and climate justice, the fair application of artificial intelligence and digital justice, and the human rights of those facing intersecting forms of discrimination. Excellencies, this year, the Permanent Forum has had the opportunity to engage closely on these issues. First, on environmental and climate justice, the Permanent Forum attended the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Colombia in October 2024, in which the coordinated advocacy of organizations of people of African descent led for the first time to the recognition, within the framework of the Convention, of the explicit role of people of African descent in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. We also anticipate that people of African descent will attend the COP30 meeting in Brazil next month to seek greater recognition in the deliberations and outcomes. The Permanent Forum addressed the issue of digital justice during its annual session last April in New York under the theme, and I quote, "Africa Africa and the people of African descent. The forum emphasized that the pursuit of reparatory justice remains urgent in this digital age, as systemic inequities within and among countries risk being replicated and amplified in emerging technologies. In its conclusions, the forum expressed profound concerns regarding the perpetuation of racial biases within AI systems, while acknowledging the significant potential of AI to contribute to societal development. AI and digital technologies cannot be disconnected from the broader historical and contemporary injustices that shape them. In this regard, the Permanent Forum notes that the General Assembly in Resolution 78 dash 265 stressed that artificial intelligence system must be safe, secure, and trustworthy in full respect, promotion, and protection of human rights and international law, and encourage states to, and I quote, "to adopt proactive measures to counteract racism, discrimination, and other forms of algorithmic bias," close quote. Building on that foundation, the forum recommends that member states adopt regulatory frameworks for AI grounded in international human rights law and informed by an understanding of systemic racism and its technological manifestations. The Forum further recommends that Member States take steps to end the use of AI technologies in law enforcement and criminal justice systems wherever documented evidence demonstrates racial or gender bias. At the same time, regulation must be designed to avoid entrenching digital divides or privileging a few dominant actors, and instead ensure that technological advances which promote the rights and opportunities of people of African descent are enabled and supported. Thirdly, on intersecting forms of discrimination, the Permanent Forum examined the specific situation of women and girls of African descent during its annual session. It noted that the dehumanization of African women from the onset of enslavement set the tone for the continued devaluation and discrimination they face to this day. The goals of development cannot be achieved without reparatory measures that explicitly address their realities. Member States and other stakeholders should prioritize a collection of disaggregated data to enable a more accurate and nuanced assessment of the situation of women and girls of African descent. They should also adopt and effectively implement comprehensive human rights-based policies and programs that address racism and racially motivated violence against them. In that regard, the Permanent Forum welcomes the proclamation of the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent on 25th July each year, and encourages Member States to use it as a catalyst to establish plans of actions that promote their leadership and recognition. This year, the Permanent Forum continued to deliberate on and develop recommendations concerning reparatory justice and systemic racism. The Permanent Forum considers reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent a critical and urgent priority in order to comprehensively recognize and address systemic and structural disadvantages. Reparatory justice is a multidimensional process to redress historical and contemporary injustices. In line with the General Assembly's basic principles and guidelines on the right to a remedy and reparation for victims of gross violations of international human rights law, which is Resolution 60-147, reparations encompass five forms, restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. Restitution may include restoration of liberty, legal rights, identity, property, and return to one's place of residence. Compensation addresses economically assessable damage, including physical or mental harm, lost opportunities, material and moral damage. Rehabilitation includes medical and psychological care, and legal and social services. Satisfaction includes verification of the facts and full public disclosure of the truth, acknowledgement and public apology, commemorations and memorials, and appropriate judicial or administrative sanctions. Guarantees of non-repetition include institutional reforms such as strengthening civilian oversight and judicial independence, human rights education and training, including for law enforcement, and review of discriminatory laws and practices. Reparatory justice should be centered on the will and needs of the people it serves. In addition, the Permanent Forum has underlined that reparatory approaches must respond to contemporary challenges, including environmental and climate justice, where people of African descent are disproportionately affected. The Permanent Forum recognizes the leadership of the African Union and the Caribbean Community in advancing reparatory justice and commends the African Union for its designation of 2025 as the year for reparatory justice. Regional structures have a key role to play. in shaping a unified global framework for reparatory justice grounded in obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and in the commitments of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Forum therefore recommends that Member States consider establishing at the international level a legal advisory group on reparations to address their legal implications. The Permanent Forum has consistently underlined that the current crisis in Haiti is not an isolated event, but is deeply rooted in the legacies of colonization and enslavement. The Permanent Forum has published a position paper on this topic containing concrete recommendations, including that the situation of Haiti should be approached from a reparatory justice perspective, with formal acknowledgment of the enduring impact of Haiti's so-called independence debt as a historical injustice integral to understanding the country's present situation. We therefore recommend that this Council consider the crisis in Haiti in that light, and note that the full position paper is available on the Forum's website as an official document of its work. The Permanent Forum recognizes that further comprehensive dialogue will be required to develop a common understanding about the question of reparations, including through the organization of high-level meetings, such as a dedicated political forum on reparations. As a precursor, the Permanent Forum also recommends the organization of an international conference to assess the contributions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The conference should also explore how a future United Nations declaration on the respect, protection, and fulfillment of the human rights of people of African descent can further strengthen protections in this regard. This effort would form part of collective action to strengthen the legal framework for addressing systemic and structural racism, as well as reparatory justice. Dear Madam Vice President. In the coming month, an evaluation of the modalities of the permanent forum shall be carried out by the General Assembly on the basis of an evaluation made by the Human Rights Council. We urge all member states to engage actively in this review. This process is an opportunity to reinforce global commitment so that recognition is translated into justice and justice into lasting equality. As W.E.B. Du Bois warned more than a century ago, The problem of the 20th century was a problem of the colour line. A quarter of the way into the 21st century, that problem endures. The task before us, across generations, is to confront it with honesty and resolve so that recognition, justice, and development for people of African descent are finally secured. I thank you.

Thank you. I now invite interested delegations to ask questions to the Chair and to make comments on the Permanent Forum's report. The speaking time is one minute 30 seconds for all speakers. I give the floor to European Union.

Madam Vice-President, Mr. Chair, thank you for your presentation of the proceedings. of the fourth session of the Permanent Forum. As always, the European Union took part with a great interest. There were many different topics touched upon that evidenced clearly the complexity of the task before us, fighting all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The EU particularly welcomed the focus on experiences of women and girls. Racial prejudices targeting black women and women of colour continue to exist today, negatively impacting their well-being and undermining their dignity. It is for this reason that the EU is committed to combat multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on the basis of race. The EU will continue to deepen its understanding of racism and develop more effective gender-responsive actions. The session of the Permanent Forum also dissected the challenges arising from new technologies and AI, which may negatively affect the right to non-discrimination, given biases in algorithms. The EU regulatory framework for AI prohibits the use of AI for predictive policing based on profiling. We furthermore underlined that we remain committed to addressing negative legacies of a troubled past that includes conquest, slavery, and the slave trade. We believe that progress should be made based on wide consensus on these issues. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Ghana on behalf of a group of African states.

Madam Vice President, I am going to deliver this statement on behalf of the Africa Group. We stand in solidarity with people of African descent everywhere, united by a profound historical responsibility and an unwavering commitment to reparatory justice. This year, the African Union has declared justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations as its primary theme. The recent AU-CARICOM Summit was a historic demonstration of global political will, marking our joint resolve to pursue recognition, restitution, and redress for these injustices. We call for reparatory justice that is multidimensional, embracing restitution, compensation, climate action, and restoration of dignity, and grounded in legal recognition and genuine accountability. Madam Vice President. An effective global reparations framework must address both the legacies of the past and discriminations of the present, with the meaningful participation of youth, women, civil society, and diaspora communities. The political movement demands nothing less, justice, dignity, and transformation for present and future generations. In closing, the African group reaffirms its commitment to transformative and unapologetic advocacy to working with all partners so that the principles of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action are finally fulfilled. The time for rhetoric is past. The arc of history bends only with the exertion of political power, unity of purpose, and the courage to make reparatory justice the legacy of era. Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

Thank you. The list of speakers is now closed. I now give the floor to Guatemala.

Thank you, Vice-President. Guatemala is aware of the current obstacles which people of African descent face, from socio-cultural inequalities to the combined effects of racism and other multiple and intersecting forms of racial discrimination, which largely prevent women and girls from fully enjoying their human rights. Historically, despite modernity and new technologies, people of African descent have been rendered invisible because of the lack of recognition for their rights, as reflected in today's report. It is alarming that Afro-descendant women and girls continue to figure prominently in statistics related to poor access to education and access to healthcare, and they are disproportionately represented in high rates of obstetric problems, to which you have to add economic marginalization. Guatemala agrees with what is in the report about the fact that the governance of artificial intelligence must have as a guiding acts the voices safety and leadership of people of African descent in order to foster inclusive participation social justice and empowerment in the digital era my delegation would like to ask the following question how can governments protect people of African descent from the abuses of artificial intelligence especially as regards algorithmic discrimination thank you.

Thank you I give the floor to Benin.

Madame la Presidente.

President, Benin aligns itself with the statement by the Africa Group and we fully support the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and its work. We particularly commend the results obtained during the fourth session of the Forum and we note the recommendations that have been made about the crucial issue of reparatory justice and other related issues that have been tackled. My country still endures the stigma and scars of the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement, and we fully intend to play our full part. You can see this through the adoption of the law in December 24, which recognizes citizenship for people of African descent. Benin citizenship. And the idea is to give them a legal and historic framework for those whose roots were in Africa. And that is also why my country is fully committed to the restitution of African heritage. And we are working towards the rehabilitation of cultural and remembrance sites, as well as the religious practices of Afro-descendant communities, in particular through the festival Voodoo Days that was launched in 2024. Through these actions, Benin intends to actively contribute to second decade on people of African descent in order to bring about a safer, more just world in which remembrance, dignity and belonging go hand in hand with rights, citizenship and recognition. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to UNFPA.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. UNFPA welcomes the report of the Permanent Forum and its efforts to advance the recognition, rights, justice, and development of people of African descent. As the report notes, the historical and ongoing intersectional oppression of women and girls of African descent is rooted in legacies of enslavement, the trade in enslaved Africans, colonialism, and systemic racism. UNFPA data has revealed that maternal mortality among women and girls of African descent remains disproportionately high, five times higher than for other groups. Policy mechanisms addressing the diverse intersectional forms of discrimination Afro-descent women and girls face must address these challenges through deliberate investments in their quality education, including comprehensive sexuality education and access to sexual and reproductive health. As our Executive Director, Ms. Diane Keita, stressed at the last session of the Permanent Forum, governments have to invest in public innovation, data systems, and disaggregated data to make the lived experiences of Afro-descent women and girls substantive in policymaking. Young Afro-descendant girls and women are capable of transforming communities if given access to health, education, and information, if they are not married early, and if they are enabled to prevent unwanted pregnancies at an early age. UNFPA will continue to engage with the forum in advancing the cause of Afro-descendants, particularly women and girls and young people, to fulfill their rights, dignity, and potential. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Sierra Leone.

Madam Vice President, Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statements of the African Group. We commend the Forum for its vital role as a consultative mechanism dedicated to advancing the human rights, dignity, and development of people of African descent. Sierra Leone notes the important role of the Permanent Forum in promoting economic, social, digital, and reparative justice for people of African descent and supports efforts to strengthen its capacity to fulfill its mandate. Sierra Leone underlined the urgent need for the full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Durban Declaration in order to combat racism. We also highlight the importance of disaggregated data in addressing systemic and structural discrimination. Sierra Leone supports an inclusive, human rights-based approach to AI governance. This approach addresses racial biases, centers the voices of people of African descent and calls for investments in digital infrastructure, STEM education, and local capacity to close the digital divide. CEAALON supports the forum's recommendation for more inclusive practices, such as holding sessions in Africa and extending them to allow broader participation. We also call for the forum's mandates and terms of reference to be reviewed to ensure effective and efficient implementation. And I thank you, Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Jamaica.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Jamaica thanks the Permanent Forum for its support and commends its leadership in advancing the human rights of people of African descent. We welcome the Forum's recognition of CARICOM's leadership in this movement and strongly support the recommendation in paragraph 55 for a joint General Assembly resolution to convene a high-level political forum on reparations. This is a timely and a step to consolidate global momentum and secure political will. Jamaica also acknowledges the forum's dedicated focus on Haiti and supports the call for a reparation fund and a victim-centered process of truth, justice, and reconciliation. These measures are essential to addressing the enduring legacies of colonialism and the independence debt. Finally, we echo the forum's affirmation in paragraph 78 that digital justice must be integral to reparatory justice. Bridging the digital divide is is critical to ensuring equity, dignity, and full participation for people of African descent. Jamaica remains committed to working with regional and international partners to advance these priorities and ensure meaningful outcomes under the second international decade. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Brazil.

Madam Vice President, Brazil appreciates the report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent on its fourth session, which addressed the urgent issues such as reparatory justice, challenges facing women and girls, the implications of artificial intelligence, and the critical situation in Haiti. Brazil has showed its commitment by sending a high-level delegation chaired by the Minister of Racial Equality. As in past sessions, Brazilian civil society had a robust participation. We appreciate the provision of Portuguese interpretation at this session, which acknowledges the important role played by Brazilian civil society in those discussions. We trust this service will continue in future sessions, despite current financial constraints. Brazil is proud to announce that it will host an intersessional meeting of the Forum this November. This event underscores the Brazilian government's commitment to the fight against racial discrimination and the promotion of racial equality. Mr. Chair, how the Permanent Forum can help advance the negotiations of the draft declaration on the rights of people of African descent. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Peru.

Madam Vice-President.

We thank the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent for the presentation of the report, and we also welcome the successful holding of its fourth session. We are convinced that the Permanent Forum is a unique platform for giving visibility to and exchanging views about racial discrimination with a view to protecting and promoting the human rights of people of African descent. And it is with this firm conviction that Peruvian state and civil society has been participating actively in the forum's sessions. Peru is no exception to the fact that there is racial discrimination that is systemic discrimination at the local and national level, and we are committed to fighting it. In this vein, we promoted a constitutional reform in 2024, which recognizes the Afro-Peruvian people with a view to promoting their rights and the development of around a million Peruvians who self-identify as being part of the Afro-Peruvian people. We support the idea of developing a UN declaration on the protection and promotion and full respect of the rights of people of African descent, which will complement international efforts that have already been undertaken in order to combat racism. This is, uh, essential for promoting the dignity and inclusion of people of African descent. Thank you very much.

Thank you. This was the last speaker we could accommodate in this meeting. Excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of this meeting. 00 p.m. to hold the enhanced interactive dialogue with High Commissioner and International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement, to be followed by the continuation of the interactive dialogue on report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. We will then have the presentation of the reports and the general debate under agenda item 9, I hereby close the 35th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council.