9th Meeting - 60th Session of Human Rights Council

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I call to order the 9th meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. Before anything else, let me address an urgent matter regarding this 60th session. On 10 September 2025, I received two letters. one from the Permanent Representative of Pakistan, on behalf of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the other from the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait, on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Both letters request the holding of an urgent debate during this 60th session in order to discuss the recent military aggression carried out by the State of Israel against the State of Qatar on the 9th of September 2025. And that is a quote. These communications were immediately sent the very same day to all of the Council's members and observers. I would like to recall that urgent debates depend on a Council decision which adjust the Council's programme of work in order to address a question that is deemed urgent. The reorganization of the programme of work is done at the request of a State or of a group of States. For your information, nine urgent debates have been held to date within the Council and, in accordance with those precedents, the urgent debate would be held under agenda item 1 and would follow the modalities of a general debate. The debate could then be followed by the adoption of a resolution on the matter as long as the main authors submit a draft resolution at least 24 hours prior to its adoption and hold at least one informal consultation. Upon reception of the letters from the permanent representatives of Pakistan and Kuwait, I consulted the Bureau on the issue. The Bureau concluded that the urgent debate could take place tomorrow, Tuesday 16 September 2025, at 11 a.m., on the understanding that the Council would meet continuously from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day. Before giving the floor to the distinguished representatives of Pakistan and Kuwait to introduce to the Council their request for this urgent debate, as well as any additional information on the matter, I would like to remind you that this is a decisional process, and therefore only Council members may take the floor at this stage. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan on behalf of the member states of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation.

Thank you, Mr. President. The OIC group has sought an urgent debate at the ongoing HRC session to discuss the recent military aggression launched by Israel against the state of Qatar on 9 September 2025. The attack sought to disrupt the ongoing mediation process aimed at addressing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, securing an immediate ceasefire and the release of captives. This illegal action has been condemned and strongly rejected by states as well as the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, who condemned the attack, describing it as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar. Joining the Secretary-General's condemnation UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Turk, noted that such violence undermines peace efforts while killings and sufferings continue, only adding fuel to the fire. Mr. President, if left unaddressed, such flagrant and blatant violations of international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter entail serious impact on the enjoyment of all human rights, including, in particular, the right to life, liberty, and security of persons. We therefore request the Council to agree to convening this urgent debate without delay and affirming its abiding support for the primacy of international law and the enjoyment of all human rights. I thank you.

Thank you. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

President, We would like to thank you, as well as the members of the Bureau, for having reacted so fast following our request to hold an urgent debate. An urgent debate would enable the Human Rights Council to address this major issue that took place on 9 September 2025, when Qatar was the target of a brutal attack by the Israeli forces This was a violation of the sovereignty of a member state of the United Nations, of the Human Rights Council, and of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This Aggression was condemned by many international and regional actors, including the UN Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Security Council issued a President's statement condemning this act of aggression, which exacerbates tensions in a region affected by successive crises. We condemn in the most categoric terms this violation, which sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the regional security and peace and international security and peace. It leads to humanitarian and security consequences and undermines the promotion of human rights. And we would like to recall the constructive role played by the State of Qatar in terms of mediation and dispute settlement and for restoring stability, which helped stem the bloodshed among many peoples. Aggressing such a state sends a message whereby attempts to settle disputes through peaceful means are not welcome. The Human Rights Council, according to its mandate from General Assembly decision 60/251, is called upon to protect and promote human rights and to address all gross violations of international law. That is why holding an urgent debate within the Council would send a clear message emphasising that violating the sovereignty of states and threatening international peace and security is reprehensible and could undermine the pillars of international security and of human rights, and that defending the principles of international law and human rights is a responsibility that we must all shoulder and also represents the essence of this Council's mandate. Thank you.

Thank you. We will now hear from the states concerned. I note that the delegation of Israel is not present in the room. I would like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

In the name of God, the compassionate numbers for Mr. President. We have clarified the objectives behind holding this urgent debate in the two letters sent to you by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan on behalf of Member States of the OIC and the Permanent Representative of Kuwait on behalf of the GCC States in Geneva. President, on the 9th of September my country has been subjected to a barbaric and treacherous attack by Israel while hosting public and official negotiations claiming innocent lives a residential neighborhood was attacked was attacked where there are schools diplomatic missions and mosques this attack let alone being a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, represents a clear breach of the Charter of the United Nations and the international the rules of international law, human rights, and the principles of mediation. My country, the active member of your Council, the United Nations, and the OIC, as well as the GCC, has been subjected to this blatant violation and attack because of its role as a mediator that hosts negotiations and facilitates dialogue in order to reach a ceasefire and to prioritize negotiation over the barbaric logic of force that caused organized crime, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, as well as violations of human rights. And ironically, my country is being rewarded for this noble role by being subjected to a treacherous attack by the same party that my country is trying to release its prisoners, and we have been trying to help them to reach a peaceful settlement. This terrorist and armed attack against my country at a time when we are hosting negotiations and negotiators is a clear message by the implementing party that it does not recognize negotiations or dialogue or gives no heed to the lives of innocent people, even the lives of its own people. The Prime Minister is, uh, pushing Israel towards a global isolation, turning it into a rogue state, and this attack on my country reiterates, uh, or demonstrates that they were not negotiating in good faith, uh, but were, uh… middling with the security of the region. Peace-loving countries should denounce this barbaric act and this intransigence that is outdated. It is an opportunity for the Human Rights Council to assume its responsibility to promote respect for all human rights values in accordance with GA Resolution 6251. We look forward to this urgent debate on Tuesday to demonstrate the seriousness and sincerity of this Council to address the consequences of this treacherous attack on human rights, which is another vicious circle and another pattern of violations and crimes perpetrated by Israel in the region for decades in view of the inability by the international community to address them. Israel should know that this legitimacy, or this force that is devoid of legitimacy, will never make stability or peace. Who plants senselessness will reap devastation. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any other delegations who would like to take the floor concerning the holding of the urgent debate? I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

I have the pleasure to take the floor on behalf of the Arab Group.

The Arab Group expresses its strong support for the call made by the OIC Group and the members of the.

Gulf Cooperation Council for the convening of an urgent debate within the Human Rights Council to address this alarming development. We believe that the Council, under your leadership, must fulfill its responsibility to uphold international peace and protect human rights by urgently examining the legal and humanitarian implication of this act of aggression and taking the necessary measures to prevent its recurrence.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Kyrgyzstan condemns in the most categoric terms the aggression against the fraternal nation of Qatar. We welcome the urgent debate of the Human Rights Council, which we hope will contribute to stop the barbaric logic of force and war.

Thank you.

Thank you. I see no further requests for the floor. May I take it that the Council approves the Bureau's proposal to hold the urgent debate in order to discuss the recent military aggression carried out by Israel against the State of Qatar on 9 September 2025 on Tuesday, 16 September at 11 am? I see no objection. It is so decided. Thank you. Regarding the modalities for the urgent debate, The Bureau would like to recall that urgent debates follow the modalities of general debates and that, therefore, speaking times would be limited to five minutes for each State concerned and to one minute 30 seconds for all other speakers. Member States and observers, as well as national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations with ECOSOC consultative status may take part in person or via pre-recorded video message. In accordance with the practice followed during general debates, the Bureau has agreed that the list of speakers for NGOs will be decided on the basis of the average number of speakers from the last three urgent debates. The online registration system for the list of speakers will open on Monday, 15 September, at 2:00 pm for States, NGOs and other observers. If approved by the Council, these extraordinary modalities will apply exclusively to this urgent debate and should not set a precedent. Are there any delegations who would like to take the floor concerning the extraordinary modalities for the urgent debate? I see no requests for the floor. May I take it that the Council accepts that the proposed extraordinary modalities be applied during the urgent debate in order to, and I quote, "discuss the recent military aggression by the State of Israel against the State of Qatar carried out on 9 September 2025." End of quote. This debate will take place on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. I see no objections. It is so decided. Thank you. Colleagues, we'll now take a very short break before beginning the panel discussion on the fight against discrimination and violence and harmful practices against intersex persons. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we will now begin the panel discussion on combating discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons in accordance with resolution 55/14 of the Council. This meeting is accessible to persons with disabilities thanks to measures including the interpretation in sign language and real-time captioning. I have the honor of welcoming Ms. Nada Al-Nashef, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, who will deliver the opening statement. I also have the honor of welcoming Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General regarding sexual violence committed during times of conflict, and she will also deliver an opening statement. Allow me also to welcome our distinguished panelists, Ms. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health. She will deliver a video message. Mr. Jeff Kagandahan, Executive Director of Intersex Philippines and member of the Board of Administration of Intersex Asia. Ms. Andrea Albali Ioruretagoyena, Deputy Secretary for Public Health in Chile, and Mr. Yuri de Boer, who is the Chair of an expert committee of the Steering Committee on Combating Discrimination and Diverse and Entering Diversity and Inclusion within the Council of Europe. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, the list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I would like to encourage all speakers to intervene in an interactive way and ask questions and make comments that reflect the statements given by the panelists and the discussion itself. Speaking time is limited to one minute 30 seconds for all speakers and a maximum of 40 speakers will be accommodated. Delegates who are registered on the list of speakers and who do not have the opportunity to take the floor due to a lack of time will be able to upload their statements and these will be posted on the extranet. I now have the honour of giving the floor to Deputy High Commissioner for her opening statement. Thank you.

Thank you, President.

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Intersex people are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions for male or female bodies, including sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, and hormonal or chromosome patterns. They have natural variations in human sex traits, and they exist in all societies. While they have varied experiences, they share a common challenge. Around the world, they often face discrimination, stigma, and even violence. There are still far too little understandings and awareness of who intersex people are and the issues that they face. And my office, therefore, welcomes the Council's initiative on mandating this report and adopting a resolution that specifically addresses their human rights. Recent surveys in Europe and Latin America found that between one-fifth and one-third of intersex respondents experienced violence, including physical and sexual attacks. Civil society organizations representing intersex people report vandalism of their offices and events, threats against community members, and online harassment. Medically unnecessary interventions frequently performed on intersex infants and children without their full, free and informed consent. As noted by the World Health Organization, these are often carried out for cosmetic reasons or because of outdated beliefs that are not supported by medical research. Tragically, for the people involved, this may lead to sterilization and to lifelong pain and emotional suffering. Intersex people experience discrimination in healthcare, in education, in employment, and housing. One survey in East Africa found that 90% of intersex youth interviewed had dropped out of school due to discrimination from peers and teachers. And several sporting bodies have adopted measures that exclude women with innate variations in sex characteristics from competition. In most cases, intersex people struggle to access justice. The reasons for this include the expiry of statutes of limitations and the lack of access to medical records. Mr. President, the root causes of discrimination and harmful practices against intersex people lie in widespread stereotypes, misconceptions, misinformation, stigma, and taboo. This starts from the very beginning of their lives, when parents often receive incomplete or misleading information about their newborn intersex child. My office's report shows that changing these misconceptions and ending discrimination and abuse against intersex people is possible, and we highlight promising practices around the world. Seven member states have taken measures to prohibit medically unnecessary or non-urgent interventions on intersex children without consent. Sixteen have implemented measures to prohibit discrimination. We call on others to follow their lead and to engage with intersex people and organizations to understand how to protect and promote their rights more fully. Our report provides practical, concrete recommendations, including promising practices to end violence and hate crimes against intersex children and adults, to investigate the human rights violations they face, and to ensure accountability for victims. All States need to ban medically unnecessary interventions to modify the sex characteristics of intersex people without their full, free and informed consent, also aligning health protocols and procedures with human rights standards. The report recommends that States explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex characteristics, including in education, in employment, health, housing, sports, and access to services. States must also raise awareness to end damaging stereotypes, misconceptions, misinformation, stigma, and taboos against intersex people. And they need to consult intersex human rights defenders in the design and development of laws and policies that affect their human rights. The courage of intersex human rights defenders has driven change around the world, despite the very limited funding that they receive, and my office very much encourages you all to support them and their organizations. Our office will continue to advocate for an end to violence, to discrimination, and to harmful practices against intersex people. I urge that we build on this work so that intersex people can enjoy all human rights and freedoms around the world as we together deliver on our promise to leave no one behind. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you very much. Dear colleagues, I announce that there would be a second statement by Ms. Pramila Patten. Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Times of Conflict. I do apologize, that is a mistake on our behalf. She will not be intervening today. So I will now give the floor to the panelists for their opening statements. And I would like to invite Ms. Thlaling Mofokeng to deliver her speech via video message.

Excellencies, dear friends, it is an honor to address the Human Rights Council's first panel discussion on combating discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against intersex persons. welcome the Council's decision to address the human rights of intersex people, including the right to health, and of course the High Commissioner's report represented to this session. This is a topic on which there is too little awareness still and too many misconceptions and inaccurate information. I have regularly addressed in the different working methods afforded to me the right to health of intersex persons including through my thematic reports, as have my predecessors, and during my country visits. As emphasized by my mandate and the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the right to health includes the right to control and make decisions on one's body and health free of violence, coercion, and discrimination. It extends to effective protection from all forms of violence, and it also requires preventative, promotional, and remedial action to shield individuals from such harmful practices or norms and gender-based violence that deny them their full sexual and reproductive health. In this regard, the most critical concern that I and others have raised is the issue of violence and harmful practices against intersex persons in medical contexts and settings, and in particular, medically unnecessary, irreversible and involuntary surgery and treatment performed on intersex infants or children, and how this has an impact on those individuals in their adulthood. As a medical practitioner, as an independent expert, intersex persons have highlighted to me the suffering caused by these interventions. It also includes sterilization, trauma, incontinence, scarring, loss of sexual function, and harm to mental health. Now, the obligation of states to respect human rights requires that they refrain from directly or indirectly interfering with the right to health, including refraining from applying coercive medical treatments, such as involuntary surgery on intersex persons, including on infants or children who are intersex. The obligation of states to protect the right to health requires that they also take all measures to prevent third parties from carrying out such harmful practices including enacting laws and enforcing laws and policies prohibiting these practices and prosecuting those who are perpetrators. I welcome the research carried out by the WHO, which highlights the medically unnecessary interventions often carried out for cosmetic reasons or rationales that are not supported by medical literature or need, or shockingly, without any rationale provided at all as to the conduct and timing of these procedures. It is important to emphasize that my mandate on the right to health has raised concerns about procedures that are medically unnecessary and And of course, some intersex children, like other children, do sometimes require medical intervention to support their physical health and well-being. And the report of the High Commissioner provides such examples. But make no mistake, colleagues, that there is no health rationale for cosmetic surgery on the genitals and bodies of intersex children and neonates to make them fit societal stereotypes, just as there is no rationale for female genital mutilation. In both cases, for example, these are forms of violence and harmful practices that violate children's right to health, bodily autonomy, physical and psychological integrity, and can lead to long-suffering in their life. It is important that intersex children and adults should be the only ones who decide whether they wish to modify any parts of their bodies and in the case of children, when they are old or mature enough to make those informed decisions themselves. Excellencies, dear friends and colleagues, human rights violations can be prevented. The right to health as a framework is solution orientated, and as I embark on perhaps the last few months of my own tenure, the preventative nature of human rights is something that I want to spotlight. Importantly, we must urge states to move to implement the recommendations, the good practices, with each other, in collaboration, and importantly, in support of medical and health institutions and medical expertise and health care workers, to be able to be advocates to protect and to promote and to advance the rights of intersex people. It is very important to also note that in many of my country visits, a lot of health practitioners and health professions bodies have, after my visit, asked for support and assistance in updating practices and protocols. So this shows examples of how, on the one hand, civil society organizations with trustful partnerships with states and governments can work with the human rights system to prevent violations, to uphold the human rights of intersex people, including their right to health. My mandate remains available and capable and willing to provide any support to all of you as all of us move to advance the human rights of intersex people to ensure that violence is not the first experience of many children of being human. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I give the floor to Jeff Kagandahan for his statement.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies and friends. Thank you for this opportunity to speak at this historic event. I am Jep Kagandahan, an intersex person from the Philippines. Resolution 55/14, adopted by this Council, this panel discussion, and the OHCHR report mark a historic moment, the first time that this Council discusses the human rights violations that intersex people face. To be clear, an intersex person is born with variations in sex characteristics that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies. Despite being a naturally occurring aspect of human diversity, intersex persons, including myself, are often invisible in society and subject to a range of harmful practices and discriminatory policies that affect our lives in profound ways. As documented in the report, The impact of discriminatory laws and policies against intersex persons is far-reaching. It is not only in the healthcare sector where we are mistreated, but it extends to our access to education, employment and healthcare, as well as our ability to exercise legal capacity and access justice. In many countries, intersex persons are excluded from mainstream society. with their needs often ignored or misunderstood. Access to essential medicines is one such major challenge in several countries, including the Philippines, which needs coordination from multiple stakeholders, and yet it is not being prioritized by governments. One of the most pressing issues is the violence and harmful practices that intersex persons face, particularly the unnecessary and irreversible medical interventions that are performed on us without our consent and without fully informing us about the risks and consequences. These harmful interventions are carried out in the name of normalization or "fixing" our bodies to fit societal expectations. but what they fail to recognize is a right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. Intersex variations are simply some of the many ways the human body can develop. This brings us to the core issue we must confront, the root causes of discrimination and harm we face. Medical practices, societal stigma, and harmful policies contributing to the poor physical and mental health outcomes for intersex individuals are often rooted in misconceptions, inaccurate information, and harmful cultural norms. What we need is greater awareness, education, and understanding. We need to dismantle the myths and misconceptions about intersex persons. We need to raise awareness about the rights of intersex individuals to be who we are without fear of discrimination or violence. Further, we must also work toward more effective legal frameworks. The Intersex Legal Mapping Report from ILGA World has noted that more than 90% of the UN member states fail to legally protect rights of intersex people. leaving us vulnerable to discrimination, violence and harmful medical practices. We must advocate for laws that not only prohibit non-consensual surgeries and treatments, but also ensure that intersex persons have access to justice and remedies when our rights are violated. The global intersex movement has made a significant stride in defining our priorities. The Malta Declaration, a landmark document representing the consensus of the global intersex movement, provides a clear roadmap. It is a unified goal for an end to harmful medical practices and for our full legal and social inclusion. This collective goal to action resulted in Malta becoming the first state to pass groundbreaking legislation that prohibits unnecessary medical interventions on intersex children. Since then, a number of countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe have taken measures to protect the human rights of intersex persons. demonstrating growing recognition across the world. So where do we go from here? The OHCHR reports provide a blueprint, but action is our shared responsibility. I ask of you today, listen to intersex people, partner with our organizations, and support legislation that protects our bodily integrity and ensures full legal recognition that intersex people exist and are part of the community and deserve access to human rights without discrimination as everyone else. This is how we will move from a conversation about violations to a future of rights and dignity. Thank you and Mabuhay.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Andrea Albagli, Uru Retagoyena.

Thank you, President. Excellencies, participants, first of all, I wanted to thank you for giving us this opportunity to tell you about the experience of the State of Chile in its combat against discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons. The situation of intersex persons in Chile has been an issue of great concern for our Government and for our State, particularly as regards the medical procedures which were carried out on boys and girls with intersex variations. For a very long time, surgical and hormonal procedures that are irreversible were carried out on infants without their consent and with the aim of bringing their bodies into line with binary gender standards. These early procedures were based on a pathologizing view of bodily variations. They have been called into question by the global medical community, and what is more important, they have been questioned by intersex persons and their families. The Government of Chile decided to take measures in order to protect the right to health of intersex children. Given the evidence that these early procedures are, in the majority of cases, not medically necessary and cause significant harm in the long term, we have to consider the effects, which include loss of feeling in the genitals, infertility, urinary problems and have a deep psychological and emotional impact on identity. The decision to regulate this issue by means of a circular was grounded on the protection of bodily autonomy, the right to physical integrity and informed consent, which are essential principles underpinning human rights and the right to health. Ministerial circular number 15 of 7 November 2023, issued by the Ministry of Health, is titled "Instructions for public health service facilities ensuring they adopt measures to safeguard the comprehensive health of intersex persons". It was a circular that was a great watershed in our countries. It was put together in a collaborative, participative manner. The government worked closely with civil society organizations, academia, and health practitioners. The expertise and the testimonials which were presented were key in order to give the issues visibility and to put in place public policy, which was human rights centers. The work to draft circular 15 took place between August 2022 and September 2023, and it was promoted by an evaluation carried out by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, a body which recommended that the State of Chile update its technical and clinical documentation in order to protect intersex children, ensuring that children are not subjected to medical or surgical procedures if they are purely cosmetic or carried out for social reasons. And this brought about the updating and repealing of previous circulars from 2015 and 2016. So the circular was produced in an intersectoral manner with representatives of the Ministry of Health as well as participation of civil societies such as NGOs called Chile Intersex. And there were also participants from academia and experts from pediatric urology and the Genetic Society of Chile. In simple terms, the goal is to prohibit surgical procedures in children that are proved to be purely aesthetic or grounded in social reasons. And Chile has therefore become one of the pioneering countries in terms of protecting those that have sexual bodily variations at birth. It is a document which provides health practitioners to ensure that families, carers and legal representatives have better access, ensuring that persons are trained to know that sex characteristic variations are infrequent, and therefore we must manage the uncertainty for children and members of their families. The circular was implemented at different levels. We provided information to all national health service facilities, instructing them to postpone any surgical irreversible procedure on newborns that have intersex variations unless there is a risk to life or something which would seriously harm their health. We promote the provision of comprehensive information, which is clear information to families. We're training health teams and ensuring that decisions are taken together, that they are consensual, ensuring that the focus is always comprehensive health. This is a circular giving instructions to the public health service, and these are binding instructions to health facilities. Currently, in 2025, we are... strengthening and updating our system, we are raising awareness and training our different institutions, including 16 regional secretariats and 29 health services. We're establishing contact points and developing oversight capacities throughout the country. The impact of this circular has been significant. We now have a fora for dialogue between medical teams and the families, ensuring that decisions can be taken on an informed basis and they are respectful. We have progressed in recognition of intersexuality as a natural bodily variation and not as a pathology which requires correcting. However, we're still facing challenges. Disinformation persists in some sectors of the medical community, and there is a cultural resistance to leave behind practices which are deeply entrenched, and this continues to be a barrier. Also, the monitoring and oversight of the circular throughout the country requires ongoing efforts. We are therefore training health personnel. We are creating guiding frameworks and promoting space for dialogue To conclude, I wish to turn to other states that are exploring how to protect the rights of intersex persons in the healthcare system. Our experience shows us that the path ahead is paved with co-operation and active listening. Involving civil society, especially intersex persons themselves, in putting in place public policy is essential to ensure that what is done is effective and respectful. The protection of the rights of intersex persons is not based on ideology. It is rather a public health imperative and a health imperative based on evidence and human rights. This is a call to caution in the medical sector. It's a call for empathy and the respect for diversity in human bodies. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Yuri De Boer.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, friends, colleagues, my name is Youri de Boer, I chair a Council of Europe expert committee addressing the human rights of intersex persons, operating under the Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion. As part of our mandate, we have drafted a recommendation, the first international legal instrument devoted specifically to intersex persons, pending adoption by the Committee of Ministers next month. Why this instrument and why now? Because despite long-standing concerns voiced by Council of Europe bodies, including the Commissioner for Human Rights, the Parliamentary Assembly and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, as well as other European and international institutions and civil society, across our region, intersex persons continue to face a pattern of harms. And these harms include medically unnecessary interventions performed without the person's prior, free, informed and expressed consent; obstacles to obtaining medical records; and barriers to justice and remedy; violence; bullying; as well as discrimination in education, employment, housing and health care. The UN High Commissioner's report before this session also traces these violations, as well as their root causes. The explanatory memorandum accompanying our draft Council of Europe recommendation sets out the background, evidence, international human rights framework, and practical guidance, as well as examples to support implementation by member states. It notes how intersex people face elevated violence, harassment, and discrimination, driven by entrenched stereotypes and gaps in hate crime and hate speech law, as well as equality protections. The text is also informed by positive developments. Six Council of Europe member states prohibit non-consensual normalizing medical interventions on variations of sex characteristics in law, and others have other restrictions. More states are incorporating the ground of sex characteristics in hate crime and hate speech provisions and equality frameworks, action plans, and the mandates of national equality and human rights bodies. The draft recommendation and its explanatory memorandum are built on existing Council of Europe standards as well as case law of the European Court of Human Rights, pairing human rights standards with practical tools for oversight. It reflects a broad and inclusive consultative process, drawing on lived experience of intersex persons as well as medical and ethical expertise. One of its core pillars is the legal prohibition of medical interventions on the sex characteristics of intersex persons without their prior, free and informed consent. This responds to long-standing concerns voiced by the Council of Europe that such interventions, often performed in infancy or early childhood, violate rights to bodily integrity, autonomy and dignity. To that end, the draft recommendation outlines very clearly that interventions which are not strictly necessary to avert an imminent threat to life or serious physical harm should be postponed until the individual can provide personal and informed consent. Moreover, it establishes stringent procedural safeguards in the rare cases where interventions may be considered before a child reaches maturity. These safeguards include comprehensive information, consultation, independent oversight, and robust documentation to ensure the child's best interests and that the right to express their views are respected according to age and maturity. It also recognizes that discrimination and harm do not begin or end in the hospital or operating theater. It outlines principles for protecting intersex persons across key life domains. birth registration and legal gender recognition, access to justice and remedies, protections from hate crime and hate speech, inclusive education, family life, and access to healthcare, employment, and sports. This comprehensive approach addresses structural and intersectional discrimination faced by intersex persons throughout their lives. The draft also emphasises the need for Member States to develop evidence-based national legal and policy frameworks, to gather data disaggregated by sex characteristics, to train professionals across sectors, particularly in health, education and justice, and to provide intersex people and their families with adequate information and support, including access to peer-led networks, ensuring that intersex persons can meaningfully participate in these democratic processes. The Council of Europe's strength lies not only in setting standards, but in supporting its member states in applying them through assistance and cooperation. In short, this recommendation could offer a robust normative framework and a practical roadmap for states to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of intersex persons in a comprehensive and sustainable manner. In shaping our recommendation, we drew on the work of the United Nations treaty bodies, the CRC, CAT, the Human Rights Committee, CRPD, and CEDAW. We also recognize the valuable reports and guidance of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the African Commission on Humans and People's Rights. We see strong value in structured exchanges and standard setting, case law, and clinical guidance, and are ready to collaborate and share good practices. It is our firm belief that those whose rights are at stake must be recognized not as passive recipients, but as active agents in shaping the policies and laws that affect their lives. From the outset, drafting has been rooted in engagement with intersex persons and intersex-led organizations, whose insights, expertise, and testimonies have been central to the text. The recommendation would encourage Member States to ensure that intersex persons and organizations working on intersex human rights are included in the full policy cycle, from the development of policies to the implementation and evaluation. This requires mechanisms that embed intersex voices into the institutional fabric, such as advisory councils and formalized partnerships. One-off consultations are not sufficient. Participation must be structured, adequately resourced, and sustained. In conclusion, Mr. President, the Council of Europe and our expert committee stand ready with guidance, legislative support, and peer learning to make these standards real in people's lives. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much. We can now begin the first segment of our speakers list. The speakers list is now closed. And it is an honour for me to give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Katrin Kunnartodtir, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, for a video statement.

Mr. President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries. We remain deeply concerned about the persistent human rights violations faced by the intersex persons. Too often, intersex persons are subjected to irreversible and medically unnecessary interventions without their full, free and informed consent, sometimes in early childhood. These practices must end. States have a clear obligation to prohibit harmful practices, eliminate discrimination and ensure accountability for violations against all persons. We echo the recommendations of the OHCHR report. All states should adopt and enforce laws and policies that protect bodily integrity and autonomy, regulate medical practices, and ensure access to justice and effective remedies. Crucially, All measures must be developed in close consultation with intersex persons and their organizations, ensuring that their voices and lived experiences shape the decisions that affect their lives. We call on all States to uphold their obligations under international human rights law and to work together to guarantee the dignity, autonomy and equality of intersex persons everywhere.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the UNDP on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Mr. President. This statement is delivered on behalf of UNDP, UNAIDS, UNFPA, and UN Women. We welcome the resolution, OHCHR's report, and the panel discussion for bringing attention to and promoting dialogue in advancing the human rights of intersex persons. As United Nations entities committed to the 2030 Agenda, we also affirm our commitment to pursuing action for the protection and promotion of the human rights of intersex persons and their inclusion in sustainable development efforts in line with our respective mandates and as appropriate. Intersex persons globally continue to face stigma and discrimination rooted in social norms, gender stereotypes, and misconceptions about intersex bodies. Intersex persons are frequently subjected to medically unnecessary interventions that violate their right to bodily autonomy and physical integrity. Intersex newborns have been victims of baby abandonment and infanticide. Over the course of their lives, intersex persons also commonly face discrimination in accessing health services that address their specific needs. Intersecting forms of discrimination are also far common in education, employment, sports, and other sectors. They face obstacles in birth registration and in obtaining or amending identity documents, which limit access to public services, political participation, and more. We strongly encourage states and other actors to implement the recommendations in the OHCHR report. As UN agencies, we stand ready to support member states and communities in translating the recommendations in the report into actionable country level policies and programs. I thank you very much.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Finland on behalf of the group of countries.

President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the core group of the resolution on intersex persons, consisting of Australia, Chile, South Africa, and my own country, Finland. Today's panel is a milestone for the Human Rights Council in raising awareness of the human rights situation of intersex persons, that is, individuals who are simply born with sex characteristics that do not fit the typical definition of male or female bodies. We remain deeply concerned that across the globe, intersex persons experience stigmatization and multiple human rights violations and abuses in all areas of life. This is unacceptable. However, let us be encouraged by several promising national and regional practices that stand out as good models for protecting the human rights of intersex individuals, particularly in ensuring bodily autonomy, legal recognition, and protection for discrimination and violence. The report calls on all of us to learn and do better to uphold our obligations under international human rights law and to combat human rights violations, harmful practices, and hate speech against intersex persons, both online and offline. Violations and abuses should be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators should be held accountable. Today, more than ever, we must redouble our efforts to guarantee equal protection, respect and fulfillment of all human rights.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Austria on behalf of a group of countries.

I deliver this statement on behalf of Croatia, Slovenia, and my own country, Austria. We welcome today's panel discussion on combating discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against intersex persons. We believe it is important to raise awareness in the society at large to counter stereotypes, misconceptions, and misinformation. Every person is entitled to equal protection, respect, and fulfillment of all human rights as enshrined in the UDHR and the VDPA and international human rights treaties. We thank OHCHR for the report and recommendations, notably on medical interventions and further upholding the right to health. Effective access to services prevents social exclusion and marginalization. Many positive legislative and policy changes have resulted from advocacy by and in partnerships with civil society organizations. These include legislation prohibiting the performance of medically unnecessary interventions on intersex persons without their full, free, and informed consent, providing the possibility of an administrative procedure to amend the gender marker in official records and documents. and prohibiting and combating hate speech and/or incitement to violence, hatred, or discrimination based on sex characteristics. Dear panelists, updating legislation is a crucial step. However, eradicating discrimination and stigmatization takes time. Could you elaborate how states can better share best practices and lessons learned to counter the root causes of...

Thank you. I give the floor to the European Union.

The European Union thanks the panelists for their interventions and the OHCHR for its report and the convening of this panel. The EU strongly opposes all forms of violence and discrimination. We remain gravely concerned that in all regions of the world, intersex persons face stigma and multiple and intersecting human rights violations and abuses in all areas of life. These violations include, among others, infanticide, violence, medically unnecessary interventions performed without full, free and informed consent, as well as discrimination and barriers to accessing justice and remedy. Stereotypes, misconceptions and misinformation resulting in harmful beliefs and stigma are some of the major root causes for these violations and abuses. According to the report, so far, fewer than 10% of states have enacted comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that explicitly include sex characteristics as a prohibited ground for discrimination. However, there are promising practices both nationally and at regional level to combat discrimination and marginalization and to prevent violence and harmful practices against intersex persons. The European Parliament has strongly condemned sex normalizing treatments and surgeries and encouraged states to prohibit them. The role of civil society organizations is crucial in promoting positive legislative and policy changes as well as destigmatization. Likewise, it is important that intersex persons can safely report human rights violations against them and that the perpetrators are held accountable. Dear panelists, what are the most urgent steps that states can take to prevent violations against intersex persons? I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Luxembourg.

Monsieur le President. President, I am speaking on behalf of the Benelux countries, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The Benelux fully supports the statement made by the European Union. The Benelux reaffirms its commitment to promoting and protecting the human rights of all persons, including intersex persons. The experience of intersex persons remains largely marginalized from public discourse, even though it raises crucial concerns related to human rights, healthcare and social recognition. Too often, intersex persons face silent discrimination, stigmatization, and institutional invisibility that hinders their identity and dignity. We are proud to have been among the first signatories of Human Rights Council Resolution 55/14, Combating Discrimination, Violence and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons. This resolution clearly defines intersexuality, condemns unnecessary and non-consensual medical interventions on intersex children, and calls on States to guarantee the bodily integrity, self-determination and dignity of people born with variations.

Sex characteristics.

We encourage all States to enhance efforts to combat discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons and to.

Address their root causes.

Today, we affirm our commitment to fostering a better understanding of the lived experience of intersex persons.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you very much, President. I have the honor of speaking on behalf of a group of Latin American countries whose full list can be found on the extranet. This panel is a milestone. It is the first time that the Human Rights Council dedicates a forum for intersex persons. It is an opportunity for us to recognize their experiences, to lend visibility to the challenges they face, and above all, to move ahead together towards equality and full inclusion. Intersex persons continue to be exposed to practices that violate their fundamental rights, such as medical procedures without consent, and persistent barriers to access to education, health care and social protection. These situations are not isolated incidents. They reflect prejudices and legal gaps that call for decisive and coordinated responses at the international level. Our commitment at the international level is to promote conditions that guarantee that all intersex persons can enjoy the highest possible level of physical and mental health. This requires healthcare services that act with respect and without discrimination. It requires professionals to be trained on human rights and procedures that always guarantee free, prior and informed consent, as well as adequate support. Today, we reiterate our call for transforming laws, policies and practices in order to build societies that respect and protect the dignity and human rights of all persons. To aim for the well-being of intersex persons is to aim for more humane, inclusive communities. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Thank you, Chair. Canada would like to thank the panel for its presentation, and we thank the High Commissioner's Office for the report. Intersex persons exist and have the right to equal protection and the full realization of their fundamental rights on an equal footing as non-intersex persons. and yet intersex persons continue to be victims around the world, in particular of infanticide, violence and discrimination in the fields of education, health care, employment, housing, sport and access to services. Canada has taken measures to promote the rights of intersex people, in particular by supporting civil society organizations that strive to promote equality. Yet we do recognize that additional measures are required, and we will continue to work in order to promote equality for all. What does the panel think? How can member states and international partners step up their cooperation and bolster capacities so as to remove violations against intersex persons around the world? Thank you.

Thank you. I would like to give the floor back to the distinguished representative of Chile.

Thank you, President. First of all, we would like to extend a greeting to the Under-Secretary for Public Health, Ms. Andrea Albagly. We welcome her presentation, which highlighted the measures taken by Chile regarding the protection of intersex persons. We would also like to welcome the report presented by the Office, which lays bare an alarming reality. In all regions, intersex persons continue to be the target of systematic human rights violations. These are not isolated facts, but patterns that correlate with stigma and prejudice that seek to erase corporal diversity, thus perpetuating a cycle of violence, invisibility and exclusion. The lack of adequate legal frameworks exacerbates the situation. More than 90% of States have still not taken specific measures to protect intersex persons. Measures with immediate effect can be taken. It is possible to prohibit unnecessary medical procedures that do not have consent, and you can recognise the sexual characteristics as a protected category against discrimination and ensure access to justice and reparation. This Council needs to raise its voice against these forms of violence. We are not talking about abstract figures, but of lives that have been truncated in the name of normality. Ensuring intersex a life free from violence and discrimination is a necessary obligation. Thank you.

I now give the floor to Malta.

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the panelists for their presentations and the OHCHR for the report. No child should be forced into medical procedures that strip them of their dignity or deny their right to self-determination. This principle guided Malta in 2015 when it became the first UN member state to enact legislation specifically protecting the rights of intersex persons. Our law prohibits medically unnecessary and non-consensual surgeries on intersex children, safeguarding their right to bodily integrity. We are pleased that the report identified Malta as one of the countries that protects the rights of intersex persons and prohibits discriminatory practices. This decision has been made with the recognition that the individual is the rights holder, and that the State has the duty to promote and protect human rights. Since adopting this framework, our society has become more inclusive, respecting the choices of intersex persons, empowering them in their daily lives, and helping to reduce stigma and intolerance. We will continue to stand with intersex persons until equality and dignity are secured for all. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to South Africa.

Mr. President, South Africa welcomes the Human Rights Council's report and commends the High Commissioner for the thoughtful and timely reflection on the lived realities of intersex persons globally. We are proud to be part of the core group in leading the landmark resolution, a historic step towards affirming the dignity, bodily autonomy, and rights of intersex individuals. We reiterate our commitment to the principles enshrined in that resolution, which resonate with the enshrined in our constitution that protects and upholds equality and non-discrimination based on sex. South Africa believes that every person, regardless of their sex characteristics, must enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, be free from discrimination, coercion, and violence. We remain deeply concerned by the persistence of harmful practices, including non-consensual medical interventions, especially on intersex children, and call for urgent action to end these violations. encouraged by the growing momentum among member states and civil society to advocate and address these injustices. We echo the core group's call for inclusive legal frameworks, robust accountability mechanisms, and the sharing of best practices to ensure that intersex persons are not left behind. We wish to indicate that South Africa is the first country to include intersex persons in its anti-discrimination law, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act. We also have a specific law for legal gender recognition, the alteration of sex descript- description and sex status act. Um, South Africa contin- continues to engage with the national stakeholders, including intersex, lesbian, Thank you.

I call on Colombia.

President, Colombia recognizes the importance of this topic for the protection of human dignity and ensuring human rights, and we welcome the panelists' presentations, which enrich our debate and lend visibility to realities faced by intersex persons around the world. Our country has created a Ministry for Equality and Equity, which contains a dedicated structure for the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons. In 2025, the first public policy with an intersectional approach, was adopted in order to promote actions to remove structural barriers and improve access to justice, healthcare and education, and to combat prejudice and ensure that there are no medical procedures without consent that are performed on children. Ensuring bodily autonomy is another goal, and Colombia reaffirms its commitment to substantive equality, which recognizes diversity and equality and the autonomy of all persons, including those with innate variations of their sexual characteristics. It is also crucial to bolster international cooperation and work with international organizations, civil society, and intersex communities. It is only through joint efforts that we can eradicate harmful practices and create inclusive and respectful societies that respect human diversity. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Brazil.

Mr. President, distinguished panelists, Brazil thanks the panelists for their presentations and stands firm in its commitment to combatting discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against intersex persons. We welcome the Council's decision to begin addressing the rights of intersex persons, an issue Brazil has supported. In Brazil, the Ministry of Human Rights has established in 2023 an intersex working group composed also of civil society representatives with the purpose of, one, conducting a national mapping of data on variations in intersex characteristics; 2, discussing regional, national, and international strategies for combating violations of the physical and psychological integrity of intersex persons; and 3, proposing public policies for promoting and defending the rights of intersex persons, including the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and the right to privacy, dignity, bodily integrity, and bodily autonomy. We are glad to see the Brazilian initiative reflected in the Office's report, as well as the reference to the cooperation of the OHCHR with Brazilian civil society organizations to promote the rights of intersex persons through the United Nations Free, Equal, and Campaign, including training, advocacy, and awareness-raising campaigns addressing stigma, harmful practices, workplace inclusion, and access to health care. Brazil remains dedicated to advancing these efforts, ensuring a society where the dignity and human rights of all intersex persons are fully respected and protected. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the WHO.

Thank you, Mr. President. Intersex people face discrimination and stigma in health systems, including institutional violence and forced medical interventions, while many intersex variations pose no threat to physical health. Elective procedures in infants and children with intersex variations that are not medically necessary can result in lifelong physical and mental health harm, including irreversible sterility. A recent WHO-led systematic review of the medical literature found that studies either provided no rationale for the timing or conduct of early so-called sex normalising surgeries or explained these in relation to a combination of concerns. These concerns were often driven by parental desires, binary sex and gender norms and misconceptions of the relationship between sex characteristics and gender identity development. Consequently, many interventions reported in the studies were rationalised with respect to normalising both the cosmetic alignment of anatomy with sex assigned at birth and future sexual functioning. Delaying such procedures until the individual can actively participate in decision making and give free, informed consent is known to significantly reduce harm. Intersex persons have the right to access to health care free from coercion, discrimination and violence. The right to bodily autonomy and the highest attainable standard of health must be upheld for all. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now move on to the list of national human rights institutions and NGOs.

Human Rights Commission of Zimbabwe.

You very much for this opportunity. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission welcomes the report by the Office of the High Commission on Human Rights on discrimination against intersex persons. In 2019, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, in its report on the National Inquiry on Access to Documentation in Zimbabwe, highlighted some of the challenges faced by intersex persons who constitute 2% of Zimbabwe's population, that is in accessing national documentation. The Commission noted the lack of recognition of intersex persons due to the operating framework, which is based on binary sex categories. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission therefore produced a policy brief and advocacy paper on the rights of intersex persons, which was well received in Zimbabwe by various stakeholders, including the government, developing partners, and civil society. The Commission wishes to congratulate the Government of Zimbabwe for taking positive steps to address this overdue human rights issue on intersex recognition and the protection and promotion of the rights of intersex persons. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission particularly acknowledges and applauds the efforts by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in its assessment of the legal and policy gaps relating to the rights and protection of intersex persons. The Commission also equally salutes the intersex community of Zimbabwe for its courageous leadership in this. The government of Zimbabwe, through this Minister of Justice, has held consultative meetings in July 2025.

Thank you. I would like to give the floor to the Human Rights Commission of the Philippines for a video statement.

Salaam alaikum.

The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines welcomes this panel on discrimination and violence against intersex people. National Human Rights Institutions play a crucial role in advancing the rights of intersex people in three important ways. First, by supporting legislation and policies that recognize their rights and address the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination they face. In the Philippines, the Commission is supporting the passage of the KAGANDAHAN Bill. The KAGANDAHAN Bill aims to simplify the legal processes for intersex individuals to change their sex and names in the civil register without a court order, therefore promoting inclusivity. Second, by amplifying the voices and lived experiences of intersex persons and consistently calling for the protection and promotion of their rights. While Jeff successfully fought for recognition through the Supreme Court, most intersex people remain excluded, forced to endure stigma, discrimination, and costly judicial processes. Third, by working closely with intersex communities and organizations, building bridges with duty bearers, and enhancing efforts to combat discrimination and violence. The Commission remains committed to being a steadfast advocate of LGBTQI rights, supporting reforms, amplifying voices, and working to ensure that intersex individuals are fully recognized and protected under the law.

Thank you.

Thank you. I would like to give the floor to Women Deliver. This is a video message.

Thank you, Mr. President. I speak as an intersex person from Kenya. The report before this Council rightly highlights the global violations that we face as intersex persons. However, they are not just statistics. They are our daily reality. Intersex children still face discrimination driven by harmful beliefs that label them as castes. They are subjected to harmful non-consensual genital mutilation surgery in infancy that leave them with lifelong trauma and fatality and mental health struggles. In schools, nearly 90% of intersex students in East Africa drop out of school Due to stigma, in healthcare, we are treated as learning subjects rather than patients and often denied essential services. Despite progress like the Children Act 2022 and the drafted Intersex Bill 2023, implementation remains weak. We urge the state to prohibit non-consensual medical practices, including innate sex characteristics. in anti-discrimination laws, ensure stigma-free access to education and healthcare, and support intersex-led organizations. Our call is simple: respect our bodily autonomy and our rights to live free from violence and discrimination.

Thank you. I give the floor to International Planned Parenthood Federation. is a joint statement.

Thank you, Mr. President. This statement is drafted jointly with OII Europe, the European intersex umbrella organization. We welcome the landmark adoption of the first resolution focusing on the human rights of intersex persons by this Council last year and the realization of this historic panel. They give a statement to the progress made by states and international organizations driven by intersex human rights defenders and civil society actors towards the protection, promotion, and fulfillment of the human rights of intersex persons. Nevertheless, intersex people across all regions consistently face violation of their human rights to health, bodily autonomy and integrity, freedom from violence and discrimination, including in medical settings, and of the rights of the child. Intersex infants are still subjected to intersex genital mutilation. Hate speech and hate-motivated violence against intersex people are on the rise. Discrimination at school, in the workplace, in sports, and other areas of life persist. Reports like the one presented are a call for meaningful legal and policy change. Increase of knowledge about the situation of intersex people of all ages and continuous cross-country good practice exchange have proven to be key for progress and better protection. We call on UN Member States to now take the next steps towards the full realization of intersex persons' human rights, starting by implementing the recommendations of the OHRC's report presented, with the full and meaningful participation of intersex-led organizations. Thank you.

Thank you. I would like to give the floor to Frontline AIDS.

Thank you. I speak on behalf of Solid Initiative. As a grassroots human rights organization in Ghana, we welcome the High Commissioner's report on discriminatory laws, violence, and human rights practices against intersex persons. Globally, intersex people face stigma, medically unnecessary interventions without consent, and barriers to justice. In Ghana, intersex persons face grave challenges. Some cultural beliefs mean that some infants are killed at birth, while others are forced into irreversible surgeries without consent, leaving lasting pain and trauma. With no clear legal protection and little training for healthcare workers, abuse and discrimination are compounded. We are advocating for constitutional reform so that the article 12 and 17 better protect intersex persons. We are also expanding litigation supports for intersex children, drawing into the Kenyan precedent that affirm their dignity and equality. Through our REACH monitoring tool and emergency hotline, we have provided lifeline for survivors of stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence, while documenting violations nationwide. Urgent action is needed, stronger legal protections, an end to harmful practices, and recognition of rights and dignity of all people, including intersex persons. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to COC Netherlands for a joint statement.

Thank you, Mr. President. I speak today as an intersex person from Africa. We exist everywhere, yet our lives are hidden behind shame and fear. Across our communities, intersex children still undergo irreversible, medically unnecessary surgeries and hormones without informed consent. Young intersex people are bullied out of school, excluded from sports, pushed into poverty. Intersex adults face police extortion, workplace discrimination, and barriers to health care. Violence follows us from clinic to classroom to streets. This is why we welcome this landmark report. The Council can help to end these violations of our human rights. We urge States to prohibit non-consensual, non-urgent medical procedures and provide truth, apology and reparations. Ensure legal protection from discrimination to healthcare, education, sports and detention. Train healthcare workers and adopt care pathway grounded in bodily autonomy and evidence. community-led services, shelter, and mental health support, and ethical data that protect intersex human rights defenders with safe reporting as access to justice. We are not disordered to be fixed. We are people, families, and future to be cherished. Let every child leave the hospital with dignity and choice intact. I thank you.

Merci.

Thank you. That marks the end of our first segment of the list of speakers. We will move on to the second, and I would like to give the floor to the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr. President. The UK welcomes this important panel discussion. We recognize that all individuals, regardless of their sex characteristics, are entitled to dignity, respect, and the full enjoyment of their human rights. Yet we remain concerned by the persistent reports of discrimination and violence, including in medical settings, faced by intersex persons in many parts of the world. Those practices can have lifelong impacts on physical and mental health, as many have outlined today, and undermine the fundamental principle that everyone should be able to make informed decisions about their bodies. We note the progress that is being made to protect intersex persons, including in Africa and other regions. We must learn from those experiences and listen to those who are directly affected, ensuring that their voices continue to be central to policy development. The UK looks forward to further discussions in the Council of Europe on how we can collectively improve laws and policies that uphold the dignity and respect of all people, including those with variations in sex characteristics. We are committed to working with our international partners to promote inclusive approaches, challenge harmful stereotypes and ensure that no one is left behind. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Cyprus.

Mr. President, Cyprus thanks the High Commissioner for her report that exposes in stark terms the grave violations faced by intersex persons worldwide. It is intolerable that still today children continue to be subjected to medically unnecessary and irreversible interventions without their consent, that adults are denied access to justice and to their own medical records, and that discrimination, violence, and even infanticide remain a reality. Today's report reminds us that these practices are not medical necessities, but harmful acts rooted in stereotypes, stigma, and the refusal to accept that human diversity. They constitute serious violations of the rights to dignity, bodily integrity and non-discrimination. We must do better. Cyprus calls on all States to explicitly prohibit harmful medical practices, to guarantee equal protection under the law on the basis of sex characteristics and to ensure that intersex persons have full access to justice, health care, education and opportunities free from stigma. Above all, the voices of intersex persons themselves must guide us. Their leadership and lived experiences are indispensable in shaping laws and policies that safeguard autonomy and dignity. Mr. President, Cyprus reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand against all forms of discrimination and to work for a world where no person is made invisible because of who they are. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Albania.

Thank you, Mr. President. Intersex persons continue to face discrimination, violence, and medical unnecessary intervention that compromise their bodily integrity and well-being. It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that legal systems, health protocols, and social policies fully respect the principles of non-discrimination, bodily autonomy, and informed consent. Protected intersex person is not only a matter of health and law, it is a matter of human dignity and human rights. In Albania, reforms adopted in 2020 introduced a medical protocol restriction, restricting surgical intervention on intersex infants strictly to cases of medical necessity. In the same year, Albania amended the law on protection from discrimination to explicitly include sex characteristics as a protected ground. These steps illustrate how combining legal protection with medical safeguards can advance equality in practice. Mr. President, intersex persons, like all persons, must live free from discrimination, violence, and harmful practices. Let us build on the best practices shared on today's discussion and continue to strengthen international cooperation on this matter. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Germany.

Mr. President, Germany welcomes today's panel discussion, and I also would like to thank the OHCHR for its report. Germany condemns and opposes discrimination and harmful practices against persons who are born with sex characteristics that do not fit binary notions of male and female bodies. For too long, the existence of intersex persons has forcibly been made invisible. Medically unnecessary and non-consensual interventions continue to be prevalent. The physical and mental consequences of such forced treatments are long-lasting and often devastating. As mentioned in the report, Germany first introduced a national law to protect children from such unneeded interventions in 2021. We are determined to help others and to help also end such harmful practices globally. We also remain committed to further improve the broader human rights situation of intersex persons who still face many different forms of discrimination in their everyday lives, as we heard from civil society organizations today. In closing, I would like to ask the panelists What more we can do to improve the mental and physical health of intersex persons throughout their entire life course, maybe elaborating on the, um, uh, holistic and comprehensive approach that was mentioned by the panel. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Thank you, President. We recognize that a lack of legal protection for intersex persons begins with a lack of disaggregated data. And this is why Mexico has begun collating data on our intersex population. And we've done this through our national survey on sexual and gender diversity. Pursuant to this, nearly 1.5 million persons in Mexico born with a sex characteristics variation, regrettably, more than 20% say that they've suffered discrimination. In order to combat this discrimination, as well as having a comprehensive human rights legal framework, we have developed specific tools. Amongst them, we first of all have a protocol so that legal sentences can be handed down with an approach that is respectful of sexual orientation, identity and gender and sexual characteristics. This guides judges to protect intersex children from unnecessary surgical procedures. We also have a protocol ensuring a discrimination-free access to healthcare services for LGBTI persons, ensuring that medical care is provided in absolute respect of bodily autonomy. We thank the panellists for their presentations and we'd like to ask them about good practices they've identified in education in order to combat discrimination against intersex children. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain.

Thank you, President. Spain aligns itself with the statement made by the EU, and we thank for their presentations and we welcome the High Commissioner's report. We recognize the work that this Council has done to respect the rights and to prohibit discrimination of intersex persons. As the report says, Spain is one of the pioneering countries in providing legal protection for intersex persons. Law 4 of 2023 lays down that healthcare for intersex persons will be carried out on the basis of the principles of autonomy, informed decision and consent, non-discrimination, comprehensive care, quality, specialisation, proximity and non-segregation, ensuring that we do not pathologise persons. It is a regulation that has prohibited genital modification in persons under 12, except in cases where their healthcare protection requires it. We have tried to approach surgical intervention in that way. We are aware that we need a specific focus in combating discrimination, and thus we prohibit any discrimination based on sex characteristics, and we want to ensure full implementation of these policies. We would like to ask the panelists what other structural changes and what successful public policies have contributed to ensuring that intersex persons can live a life with dignity. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

President, we'd like to thank the panelists for their presentations and, for the first time, the fact that the Council is holding a debate on this issue. As a commitment to our promotion and protection of human rights for all persons, including persons that require the greatest protection, the Constitution of Cuba prohibits discrimination on any grounds. and our laws, constitution, and other regulations prohibit discrimination. We have developed a lot of law to protect sexual and reproductive health rights in recent years. We've approved a family code and a code on childhood and adolescence. In 2024, we had a first Cuban consensus on intersexuality promoted by the multisexual Cuban society. We approached these issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, and we had contributions from very many different sectors, surgery, psychologists, psychiatries, and persons and families affected. working with healthcare professionals to ensure that we keep updating our national legislation and we want to address all types of variances, especially when people are born with genital variations. We are committed to protecting the rights of intersex persons as part of our humanist vocation as a country. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of

Thank you very much, President. We welcome the presentations made by the distinguished panelists. We say we emphasize that in Article 19 of our constitution, we guarantee that any person pursuant to the principle of no discrimination enjoys the inalienable, indivisible, independent exercise of human rights. Our Article 21 says that all persons are equal before the law, and that means that we permit no discrimination on the grounds of of race, sex, or any other grounds, so we ensure that there is enjoyment of rights for everyone. The Venezuelan state has therefore set up and strengthened various institutions to guarantee these rights. We have a deputy ministry for equality and non-discrimination, which is the body that mainstreams a gender perspective in our public policies. We also add to this the organic law of our homeland plan, which includes one pillar on protection and social development as a way of eradicating all forms of inequality, discrimination, and sexual and gender violence. These are just some of the laws and policies put in place by our state to guarantee the promotion, protection, and full enjoyment of human rights in Venezuela. And we hope that these will contribute to the discussion we're having on these topics today. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.

Thank you very much, President. We thank the panelists for their presentations, and we also welcome the report from the High Commissioner's Office. As we learn from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the different human rights instruments, intersex persons, just like any other person, have a right to protection, respect, and the enjoyment of all their human rights. We're concerned at the cases of infanticide detailed in the report, as well as the unnecessary medical procedures carried out without the full, free, informed consent of persons affected. We believe states must guarantee the rights of intersex persons to health and physical and mental integrity. In Uruguay, laws and public policies protect intersex persons from discrimination, and we promote the recognition of their human rights. At the same time, legislation prohibits non-consensual medical procedures on children and adolescents. President, we echo the recommendations in the report, and we would urge this Council to continue to tackle human rights violations and abuses against intersex persons and address its underlying causes. Thank you.

Thank you. We come back to the list of national human rights institutions and NGO speakers, and I give the floor to ILGA World.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, my name is Crystal, a proud intersex woman from South Africa. ILGA World welcomes the OHCHR report on discriminatory laws, violence, and harmful practices against intersex persons. We thank the High Commissioner for centering intersex voices in this historic work, and we also welcome the panel discussion as a vital space to reflect on its findings. The report confirms what intersex communities have long denounced. Worldwide, intersex people face harmful medical interventions without consent, discrimination in education, employment, and sports, and persistent invisibility in law and policy. Stigma and stereotypes continue to deny intersex people dignity, equality, and bodily autonomy. As highlighted both in the report and by today's panel, urgent action is needed. States must prohibit unnecessary medical interventions on children, ensure accountability for past violations, and provide truth, justice, and reparations. Explicit legal protections must be adopted, and data collections must protect visibility while upholding human rights. The discussion underscores that intersex rights are inseparable from gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, and freedom from torture. Addressing them is not optional, it's a binding obligation. Mr. President, we call on all states to act decisively on these recommendations in close partnerships with intersex organizations. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Action Canada for Population and Development.

Thank you, President. Action Canada joins Interaction for Health and Human Rights and Sexual Rights Initiative in this statement. We congratulate OHCHR for the report and all panellists for their interventions. Today is a historic day for intersex people everywhere. I am the executive director of an Australian intersex organization. We are proud of the role that Australia played in this process. and of the progress made by the Australian Capital Territory in implementing reforms to protect many intersex people from harmful practices in medical settings. We hope that the report will support effective change in Australia and around the world. Intersex people have been historically pathologised or disordered by medicine. The best interests of children have been manipulated to justify practices to alter their bodies in line with gender and sexual stereotypes. Loose concepts of medical necessity rely on social and cultural norms rather than urgent necessity. Member States must enact laws to prevent harmful practices in medical settings and to ensure that victims have access to support, truth and reparations. Member States must support intersex-led organizations to provide psychosocial and healthcare services to their communities and to keep engaging in human rights work.

Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Human Rights Watch.

Mr. President, Human Rights Watch thanks the High Commissioner for this important report and calls on States to urgently implement its recommendations. For decades, medical professionals and policymakers have ignored the voices of intersex people, consistently failing to respect the right to full, free, and informed consent before their bodies are irreversibly altered. Some argue that early childhood surgeries reduce stigma and promote normalcy, that they help children develop cisgender, heterosexual identities through bodies that appear more typical. But these claims lack scientific support. In fact, the widespread adoption of these procedures occurred without evidence of benefit only to later reveal extensive harm. These surgeries often create the very stigma and disorder they aim to prevent and can result in lifelong physical and psychological consequences. A human rights framework is essential to ending these practices. International human rights bodies, including UN treaty bodies, have repeatedly found that these interventions violate fundamental rights. We welcome recent progress in banning or regulating such surgeries, including in Greece, Malta, Spain, and parts of India and Australia. also encouraged by the growing number of medical associations worldwide that now oppose non-consensual surgeries aimed at normalizing children's bodies. All people, including those within the sex trade, deserve the right to bodily autonomy and dignity. This starts with allowing children to grow up in their own healthy, if different, bodies without being subjected to harmful, irreversible interventions. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to OutRight Action International.

Hello. My name is Kimberly Zieselmann, and I'm an intersex woman from OutRight International. We are based in the United States, but support the protection of intersex human rights across the globe. In every single country, intersex children face irreversible physical and emotional harm. This harm is caused by genital surgeries that are recognized by international experts as torture. torture that is carried out in medical settings. It is also caused by the abuse and abandonment, in some cases by family members who do not accept their intersex child, and in some cases, even we see infanticide. There are many misunderstandings about intersex people. Intersex is not an identity. It is our actual physical bodies that we are born with. Kids like me. Those born with atypical physical traits are not a problem to be fixed. With appropriate human rights compliant care and support, we live fully and thrive. For us to thrive, however, we must stop the societal and governmental sanctioned violence against infants and children simply for being born with bodies that others perceive as unacceptable. I call upon every person, diplomat, human rights defenders, religious persons, family members, and medical practitioners, anybody that cares about children and access to health care and all people being free from violence, to join our global movement to end this senseless and preventable harm. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Sambali Trust for a video statement.

Discrimination and violence against intersex people are more than statistics. They are personal tragedies that echo through our communities. Today, millions of intersex people face rejection, invisibility, and trauma simply because of who they are. We gather here not just to address injustice, but to rebuild hope, create belonging, and insist that dignity is everyone's birthright. In Jodhpur, Sambhali Trust's Garima Project is lighting the way. The Garima Center is a space where intersex and other gender diverse individuals come not only for shelter but to reclaim their sense of self. People arrive hurt and isolated and at Garima they find open arms, professional supports and a community that listens, believes and heals. Garima has imparted over 1,680 individuals through counsellings, workshops and support networks. Each session, each gathering is more than an event. It's a celebration of courage, a testament to resilience and a promise that no one will face their challenges alone. Through every story shared at Garima, we see how acceptance and kindness transform lives and how love can make survivors into role models for change. Mr. President, Sambhali Trust deeply appreciates the United Nations' commitment to human rights. We urge the UN to amplify and strengthen protection for intersex people, to listen more closely to grassroots voices, and to partner with local change-makers like Garima. Together, we can build a future where compassion conquers.

Discrimination.

Thank you. I give the floor to RSKS for a video statement.

Mr. President, across the world, intersex persons continue to face discrimination, stigma, harmful practices, simply because of their natural variations in sex characteristics. Many are subjected to unnecessary medical interventions without consent, denied bodily autonomy, and silenced by social taboos. Such practices violate the core principles of human rights: dignity, equality, and freedom. So-called normalizing surgeries are harmful practices. They violate the rights to bodily autonomy, physical integrity, and self-determination. while causing lasting physical and psychological trauma. Mr. President, every person has the right to be recognized, respected, and to live free from discrimination. States, civil society, and international mechanisms must work together to end harmful practices and adopt rights-based approaches that safeguard bodily integrity and choice. We call on all stakeholders to ensure access to healthcare that respects autonomy and dignity, promote awareness campaigns that challenge stigma and affirm diversity. Strengthen legal protections that guarantee equality and justice for intersex persons. Mr. President, advancing the rights of intersex persons is not about tolerance. It is about justice, dignity, and humanity. Let us commit to building a world where every person can live with pride and without fear. Thank you.

Thank you. We have now concluded the second speaker's slot. I can now return the floor to the panellists so that they can deliver their concluding remarks. You have 3 minutes each. Mr. You have the floor first, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President, and thanks to all those who intervened. In response and in conclusion, the Council of Europe would like to call upon member states to align national law and clinical practice with the forthcoming recommendation, prohibit non-consensual interventions, build independent oversight and provide access to justice and redress, while recognizing that approaches to implementation may vary in the light of different national frameworks. Ensure that sex characteristics are included across equality, hate crime and hate speech frameworks. invest in lifelong rights-based care and integrate inclusive education, labour and sports policies; to resource organisations working on intersex issues and embed participation in every stage: design, implementation and monitoring; and promote recognition of human rights and safeguard the dignity of intersex persons. I invite our regional and international partners to deepen interregional cooperation so that standards, jurisprudence and clinical guidance move in the same direction from this, as some have said, historic date today. In response to the question from Austria on behalf of a number of, uh, states. I would invite Austria and those other Council of Europe member states to make full use of the appropriate intergovernmental avenues, including the Council of Europe's expert committee that I chair, for learning and exchange, and consider using the technical support offered by the Council of Europe towards implementing standards. I invite you all to take note of the explanatory memorandum to the draft recommendation for examples of existing promising practices across sectors, including education, recognizing the question there from, I believe, Mexico. The Council of Europe and our expert committee stand ready with guidance, learning, and legislative support to make these standards real in people's lives. Thank you very much.

Thank you, and I'll give the floor to Andrea Albagli, Iru Retagoyena, you have the floor, ma'am.

Thank you very much, sir. As a country, we welcome the UN's commitment, as testified by this debate, which is a historic event for intersex persons. We also welcome the cross-cutting support for the human rights of intersex persons that States have expressed during this panel discussion. Let me conclude on the challenges that we face as a state in ensuring the full implementation of the rights of intersex persons in order to support countries that want to follow our path. We have to think about clinical procedures, all of them must be based on evidence, they must be based on the well-being of the patient, not on cosmetic reasons or social considerations, and there must be support for families and individuals. in making decisions and there must be psychosocial support provided. We also provide follow-up where every stakeholder has to ensure coherent action. We also want to identify procedures normally applied to intersex persons and identify cases of possible violations, working together with public authorities, ensuring there is oversight and follow-up of any cases. And to conclude, our state reaffirms its commitment to work together with civil society so that we can identify their experience in applying the circular. We want to identify areas which are of relevance to intersex persons, and we want to do this with a comprehensive health-based approach. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Jeff Kogandahalan, who will be the last speaker.

I am here today with a sense of urgency and hope, as we face an opportunity for profound change. Intersex persons have been long silenced, misunderstood, and denied the rights that every human being deserves. But today, I call upon the States to take meaningful action. The time has come for tolerance and understanding to be backed by real action. Intersex persons are not anomalies. We are human beings with natural variations in sex characteristics. These variations are common as differences in hair color or skin tone. Yet we continue to face violence, harmful medical practices, and the denial of our basic rights. Resolution 55/14 gives us a moment of reflection, but more importantly, it provides a mandate, one that calls on every member state to protect the dignity, health, and equality of intersex persons. I urge every state here today to pass and implement laws that explicitly protect intersex people from non-consensual medical procedures, discrimination, and violence. These laws must not only protect us but must also establish clear pathways to justice for when our rights are violated. It is also critical that states engage the intersex community while they undertake such reforms. Member states must create a platform where intersex people can share their perspectives. Our rights to exist, to make choices about our own bodies, and to live in safety must be enshrined in law. Let us work together and through legislation and action, ensure that intersex persons live with the rights, respect, and freedom we deserve, because intersex rights are human rights. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Your Excellencies, dear colleagues. This brings us to the end of this panel discussion. I wish to thank the Deputy High Commissioner, the distinguished panelists, and all participants who have contributed to our discussion, especially those who have come to the Council today to share their personal experience and their testimonials. We will now have a short break before we continue with the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on International Order. Thank you.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. We will now continue the interactive dialogue with the independent expert on the international order. I understand that the expert is unable to be with us for the conclusion of our interactive dialogue. However, he will provide answers to the questions and the comments in a video message. We will continue with the list of speakers for states, and I would like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, President. Cuba has the honor of speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of the UN Charter. The group recognizes that a fair and equitable international order must ensure the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in their domestic affairs or external affairs, sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources, the exercise of the right to self-determination, and peace. The group shares the deep concern expressed by many countries from Latin America and the Caribbean following the recent deployment of US military forces in our region, and we condemn the use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Venezuela. The current military escalation poses an unacceptable threat of aggression and disregards the decision of ECLAC States to proclaim the region as a zone of peace. The attempt to associate the Government of Venezuela and its President, Nicolas Maduro, with drug trafficking criminals is an absurd and unsubstantiated allegation. We condemn these movements, which place the well-being of the Venezuelan people and the region at risk. It runs counter to many General Assembly resolutions and Human Security Council resolutions, including those on the right to peace. We urge the Government of the US to refrain from military escalation and from hostile actions against Venezuela. We express our firm solidarity and support for the people and the Government of Venezuela. Thank you.

Thank you. I do not see the delegation of Ghana in the room, so I will give the floor back to the distinguished representative of Cuba for her national statement.

The development divide between the global south and the north is not just ongoing but is getting worse systematically. The current international order is unsustainable. The figures presented by the independent expert confirm that. The 10 main service-exporting countries concentrate 58 per cent of global sales, and, with the exception of one member, none of them belong to the 9 out of 10 of the main financial services, uh, companies are American, which reflects an absolute hegemony over global finance, 10, the richest 10% of the global population receives more than half of all revenue, whereas the poorest half barely reaches 8%. In 2021, more than 2,000 multimillionaires accumulated more wealth than all of humanity. Sixty-four countries in 2021 allocated more money to servicing their debt than to other things. There has been a significant increase between 1980 and today in terms of the cost of debt servicing. cost of servicing debt exceeds the cost of expenditure on education and public health care. In low-income countries, barely 27% of people had access to internet, which is far less than in the developed countries. We presented a draft resolution. Thank you.

The President interrupts, and I'd like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iran.

Mr. President, We thank the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order for the valuable report and for her continued dedication to this mandate. Your presence and your work can contribute to restoring the credibility of the United Nations at a time when the credibility is under strain. The report correctly highlights the deepening North-South divide caused by resurging territorial ambitions, protectionist trade measures, climate injustice, unsustainable debt burdens, and widening digital and knowledge gaps. These findings are timely and important as the current international order is facing severe fragmentation. In recent months, unilateralism has reached unprecedented levels. Countries of West Asia are subject to repeated aggression in clear violation of international law. The Israeli regime remains the central source of instability, insecurity, and disruption of international order. and constitutes the principal axis of evil, carrying out acts of aggression and dirty jobs that, according to the rhetoric of certain Western states, executed on their behalf. In this context, I would like to pose a question: How can existing international legal mechanisms, particularly the International Court of Justice, be empowered to address systematic violations by the Israeli regime that systematically undermine the international order and are carried out under the shield of the support from the permanent members of the Security Council? Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you.

Colleagues, I'd just like to invite everybody to take a tone in this Council that is commensurate with the nature and the importance of our mandate, and also use terms that are usually used in United Nations bodies.

I'd like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Oman.

Thank you, President.

The Sultan of Oman would like to thank the independent expert for his presentation. And we support the topic that he selected, namely the factors which make it possible to build a democratic and equitable international order. And we agree with him concerning his worries about climate injustice, amongst other things, in developing countries, and the burden of debt, the digital divide, all this hinders development and makes dependencies stronger and constitutes an obstacle to the building of fair and equitable societies. We believe it is necessary to aim for the fair representation of developing countries in the governance of international institutions, including financial and trade institutions, and to ensure genuine partnerships between the global north and the global south and to respect equal rights and responsibilities, and we support the mandate of the independent expert, and we call on him to provide recommendations aiming to establish international recommendations and practices for building such an order. Thank you.

The list of speakers is now closed, and I would like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. President. We welcome the report of the independent expert and commend his continued efforts to advance a more democratic and equitable international order. We reaffirm that genuine global cooperation must be rooted in fairness, inclusivity, and respect for sovereignty. The current international order remains structurally imbalanced, marked by historical injustices and disparities in global governance, trade, finance and technology. Developing countries continue to face disproportionate climate impacts, rising debt vulnerabilities and barriers to digital inclusion, all of which hinder sustainable development and the realization of human rights. We support calls for reform of global financial institutions, a fair multilateral debt mechanisms, and strengthen climate finance that reflects the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities. Ethiopia also echoes the urgent need to close the digital divide through equitable access to infrastructure, technology transfer, and inclusive governance of emerging technologies. We emphasize the importance of revitalizing multilateralism based on solidarity, equity, and meaningful participation of the global South in international decision-making. In conclusion, Ethiopia firmly believes that a just international order is vital for sustainable peace, development, and the protection of human rights, and remains committed to constructive engagement. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the State of Palestine.

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the independent expert for his comprehensive report, which exposes the structural injustices that perpetuate the north-south divide. For the Palestinian people, this analysis is not abstract. We are enduring an ongoing genocide while living the daily consequences of a colonial order that the report so clearly describes. Israel's illegal occupation and apartheid regime are rooted in the same extractive logic that drains trillions from the global south. Our land and water are expropriated, our economy is suffocated, and our environment is devastated, all to entrench domination rather than development. The report warns against the resurgence of territorial conquest. Palestine is among the first to suffer this regression. The recognition of Israel's annexations and ongoing rhetoric on Gaza epitomize the dangerous erosion of the very principles of sovereignty and non-acquisition of territory by force. We therefore echo the experts' call for democratizing global governance. The Security Council cannot remain frozen in a structure that denies permanent representation to Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Muslim world, while one permanent member shields Israel from accountability. Mr. President, Palestine's struggle against occupation, apartheid, and genocide is part of the broader struggle of the Global South for justice, equality, and the right to development. A truly democratic international order is not only essential for our future, but also the only way to end impunity and ensure peace and justice. Thank you.

Thank you. I can't see the delegation of Rwanda, so I will give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi.

Thank you, Mr. President. Malawi welcomes the report of the independent expert and agrees that the resurging territorial ambitions, protectionist trade policies, climate injustice, unsustainable trade patterns, and persistent digital knowledge gaps continuously erode the very foundation of the international human rights system and negatively affects the enjoyment, protection, and promotion of rights in the Global South. Malawi believes that the foundations of the UN human rights system will continue to be eroded if the group south continues to be excluded in major institutions currently shaping the international order. Malawi further notes that the group south will continue to disproportionately suffer from climate injustice, debt burdens, and widening digital and knowledge gap if the current challenges are not addressed. Malawi therefore calls for an international economic and democratic order premised on equity, sovereign equality, common interest and cooperation, irrespective of economic and social systems, to correct the obtaining inequalities and existing injustices. Malawi trusts that the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order requires multilateralism and global governance in the UN human rights institutions, group justice, and measures towards digital equity and interdependent economy. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Kenya.

Thank you, Mr. President. Kenya welcomes the report of the independent expert and commends the clarity with which it exposes the urgent, structural, and geopolitical roots of the deepening North-South divide. Let us be clear, the persistent exclusion of Africa and the wider global South from core institutions of global governance is not merely an historical injustice, it is a present threat to the legitimacy and efficacy of the international system. Further, this report correctly identifies the chronic debt burdens, climate injustice, and digital divides that strangle the prospects of our continent. For too long, Africa has paid the price for a financial system stacked against us, with debt servicing overshadowing investments in health, education, and adaptation. Meanwhile, those least responsible for the climate crisis are made most vulnerable to its impacts, even as pledges for climate finance remain unfulfilled. Equally, the digital divide is no longer only a question of access. It is a question of power. Without digital equity, our youth are locked out of the future, and our economies remain tethered to outdated models designed elsewhere. Kenya thus supports the independent experts' call for immediate, ambitious reforms, including permanent representation for Africa and other excluded regions in the Security Council, binding commitments on climate finance and debt restructuring, reform of international taxation to dismantle illicit financial flows and tax havens that Africa's economy is dry. A global digital solidarity initiative where digital and AI technologies must serve as public goods, not...

Thank you. I can't see the delegation of Eritrea, so I give the floor to Togo.

President, the delegation of Togo would like to thank the independent expert for his report, which analyzes the structural aspects of the concerning divide between rich countries and these developed countries. This divide is structural and therefore calls for greater reflection and concerted action in order to build a just and equitable international order, in particular as regards representation and decision making within global governance bodies and international trade and economic relations. and the system of international debt and access to technologies. In this spirit, Togo is spearheading both African and global initiatives with a view to better contribute to creating this democratic and equitable world order that we wish for. In particular, Togo's initiative On 16th January 2025, the heads of state of Africa adopted, during a state session, an important decision regarding the reparations for the crimes of slavery and deportation suffered by the people of Africa. Beyond that of Africa, it is the voice of all the oppressed and marginalised peoples around the world which is calling for in-depth reforms of the global order, and Togo stands ready to further contribute to this. Thank you.

Thank you. I would like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

Thank you, President. As we are working tirelessly to bring about global peace and regional international stability and to settle international disputes, we suffered an attack by Israel, which was a cowardly and treacherous attack on the 9th of September. in a location close to schools, embassies and mosques, and which claimed innocent lives in a gross violation of the UN Charter, international humanitarian law and human rights, and which undermines the negotiation efforts being made by states in the field of diplomacy. Instead of being praised for this role, we were targeted in an attack by the very country that our efforts are seeking to benefit. We will continue our efforts despite these actions, and my country stands committed to respecting the conventions to which it is a party, and we call upon you to condemn these criminal actions and to hold the perpetrators to account as we mark the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter, which, amongst other things, calls for the non-use of force. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Nepal.

Uh, Mr. President, we thank the independent expert for the report and his continued engagement in promoting a democratic and equitable international order. We believe that democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and multilateral cooperation are indispensable pillars of an inclusive international order. It is vital that all the states, regardless of size and development level, participate meaningfully in global decision-making. Mr. President, we remain concerned that inequalities, unilateral measures, and disregard for international law undermine the foundation of a just and equitable order. Amidst multiple crises, climate change, food insecurity, technological divide, and conflicts, strengthening solidarity, mutual respect, and cooperation is essential. We support the call for reforms in global governance institutions to reflect contemporary realities and amplify the voices of least developed countries. Such reforms must correct structural imbalances, ensure fair representation, and enable LDCs to address their unique vulnerabilities and development challenges. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Malaysia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Malaysia thanks the independent expert for his report. Malaysia shares the view that current geopolitical trends have significantly contributed to the deepening of the North-South divide. The persistence of this divide is reflected in structural inequalities, notably in the context of the international economic order, climate injustice, and unsustainable debt burden. These destructive trends, if not addressed effectively, risk further erosion of trust and weaken the multilateral process. Today, many developing countries remain trapped in cycles of dependency and continue to face headwinds, hampering economic recovery and development due to the setbacks triggered by COVID-19 and geopolitical conflicts across the world. The combined impact of ballooning debt and escalating debt servicing costs, coupled with the burdens of the climate crisis, severely affects developing countries' ability to invest in socioeconomic priorities, including health, education, and climate adaptation. Malaysia believes that structural reform is urgently needed, particularly in global governance institution, fundamental reform of the international financial architecture, as well as far-reaching debt restructuring measures are needed to allow highly indebted developing countries to overcome debt distress and thus pursue the development goals and human rights commitment. Malaysia further underscores the need for all states to make collective efforts to build a fair, democratic, and equitable international order. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on India.

Mr. President, India thanks the independent expert for his insightful report. We share the assessment that the survival of multilateralism depends on its ability to adapt to contemporary realities. The continued exclusion of large parts of the Global South from key decision-making bodies undermines both the legitimacy and effectiveness of global governance. India has consistently called for urgent and comprehensive reform of global institutions to reflect present-day economic and political realities. Without such reforms, these institutions risk becoming irrelevant and anachronistic, increasingly disconnected from the people they are intended to serve. We support the report's call for democratized global governance and systemic approaches to debt restructuring. Equally important are measures to ensure equitable access to climate finance, technology, and digital opportunities, thereby promoting inclusive development. India's experience with digital public infrastructure demonstrates how technology can bridge inequalities when properly designed and implemented. India stands ready to work with all partners to build an inclusive, human-centric international order that is equitable, representative, and rooted in dialogue, cooperation, and sustainable development. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Cameroon.

Thank you, President. Cameroon aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Africa Group and that delivered by Cuba on behalf of a group of countries. Cameroon would like to thank the independent expert for his report on systemic inequalities and the structural reforms that are needed to ensure a truly equitable international order. My country shares the view that peace, security and sustainable development cannot be dissociated from inclusive multilateralism, one that is founded on respect for international law, the sovereign equality between states and solidarity and cooperation. In a context of global crises and persistent structural imbalances, especially in the decision making spheres in the realms of the economy and technology, we are seeing how these structural imbalances weaken the legitimacy of the current international world order and worsen the marginalization of developing countries. Cameroon would like to reiterate its call for an ambitious reform of multinational institutions, including of the Security Council and international financial institutions, so that they can reflect the diversity and aspirations of today's world. We commend the fact that the report calls for human rights to be moral compass as we draw up global policies. A truly democratic international world order should place human dignity, social justice and equity at its heart. Cameroon remains committed to a more just, more representative international system that respects the sovereignty of peoples and the UN Charter. Thank you.

I call on the Russian Federation.

President. The report presented by the international independent expert is, from our point of view, balanced and, overall, contains an in-depth analysis of international, legal and trade and economic aspects of the forming multipolar world. We support stepping up the efforts by the international community to reduce the digital divide, to remove politically motivated restrictions and barriers to access to technology and digital goods. We consider that such an approach is in the interest of ensuring comprehensive security and of accelerating global economic growth and helps counter non-market methods of competition. We are against the abuse by Western states of their leading position within the international financial system and their domination in global institutions. The IMF and the World Bank are used by their key shareholders for strictly self-interested neocolonial purposes, running counter to the best interests of the global majority. reforms aimed at raising the role of developing countries in global financial processes are artificially held back. We consider that the international financial architecture needs a comprehensive reform which should be based on the principle of equality, non-discrimination, equal access to available financial opportunities and instruments. The neo-colonial practices of dictates and ultimatums and unilateral sanctions, including the freezing and seizing of sovereign assets, are unacceptable. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on the distinguished representative of Iraq.

Thank you, Mr. President. Iraq welcomes the independent expert, and we value his efforts in preparation of the report and the discussion. We reiterate that the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order is possible through cooperation and addressing social and cultural issues and promotion of human and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the international the Charter of the United Nations. So promoting solidarity between the South and North is imperative, and this can be achieved through concerted efforts to address climate change that casts shadow on all states, in particular developing countries and least developed countries, as well as small island states. President, the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order that respects international law, IHL, and international human rights law in particular is important. Iraq calls on all states to support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to refrain from supporting the strategy of the heinous occupation that is underpinned by genocide of the unarmed Palestinian people. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to.

Bolivia.

Thank you, President. We welcome the presentation of the report by the rapporteur, which includes a list of activities carried out, including his participation in the event of the European Parliament on human rights and discrimination against the Palestinian people. Our commitment and solidarity towards the Palestinian people must be maintained and be expanded. We welcome the recommendations the report contains for global inclusive multilateralism in an ever more interdependent world. In such a world, multilateralism is the central pillar for tackling global challenges. Global democratic governance seeks to ensure that international decisions are taken in an inclusive way. that represents not only the interests of the largest powers. Justice and global redistribution, Anasree, and for instance, we need to keep our attention on land grabbing practices by foreign investors. Thirdly, there's also digital equality, and we call for global digital solidarity, which would allow for low cost connectivity and content available in local languages and the lit- and digital literacy for marginalized communities. Thank you.

Thank you. I'd like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Mr. President, Bangladesh thanks the independent expert for his report and takes notes of the recommendation therein. We concur with the independent expert that protectionist trade policies, climate change, unsustainable debt, technological exclusion and knowledge gaps all widen the North-South divides further, thereby hindering the attainment of sustainable development. In this challenging time of escalating geopolitical tension, deepening inequalities, and pervasive uncertainties, the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order is more crucial than ever for peace, sustainable development, and the realization of all human rights for all peoples. To achieve this, the global governance mechanism need to be more transparent, representative and reflective of the interest and voices of all states. International cooperation should be effective, people centered and development oriented, free from conditionalities to ensure meaningful participation for all. We also emphasize the urgent need to reform the international financial architecture to address financing gaps, debt burdens, and other complex development challenges. Digital and technological transformation must bridge the divides rather than deepen them to benefit all. Mr. President, it is high time we revitalize multilateralism based on mutual respect, equality, and solidarity to advance a democratic and equitable international order. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Thanks and welcome to the independent expert who has given due account of areas of weakness in the geopolitical order. especially disadvantaging countries in the South. There is a global hegemony in place, and we support the recommendations made by the independent experts. Relating to the Islamic group, it is necessary to make up these areas of weakness particularly when it relates to the actions of international financial institutions, particularly as regards a sovereign debt and the exercise of the right to development. It is, in our view, necessary to create a fair global order. It is our belief that there is no accountability and there is impunity for certain countries. There is a selective implementation of international law. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gambia.

The Gambia thanks the IE for its report, which highlights the numerous structural drivers of the global divide. On the interplay of the debt and climate crisis, it goes without saying that sustainable development will remain an illusion for developing and least developed countries if they continue to be locked into unsustainable repayment burdens. In many sub-Saharan African states, including the Gambia, debt servicing continues to divert scarce resources from investment in education, health, and social development programs. We reiterate strong support for the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Foreign Debt and Human Rights. for a fair UN facilitated debt worked out mechanism and for that climate swaps that link relief to investments in our people and environment. This is not charity, but justice, and it is essential to realizing the right to development. My delegation further emphasizes that more than two decades after the digital divide was identified as a major factor deepening the global North-South gap, it is unacceptable that the benefits of digital technologies continue to elude too many in the Global South. We support calls for stronger global digital solidarity and the regulation of AI that prioritizes the human rights imperative. Mr. President, these are two sides of the same coin, because without debt relief, we lack fiscal space, and without digital equity, we risk leaving our people behind. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Mr. President, China highly commends the independent experts' support of China's global governance initiative, are ready to cooperate with human rights mechanisms in jointly championing multilateralism and better global governance. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the world is entering a new era of turbulence, with rising unilateralism, bullying practices, and increasing isolationism on the part of a few countries, seriously challenging the international system based on the United Nations and the global governance system as a whole. At this crucial juncture, President Xi has put forth a global governance initiative advocating sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, and a people-centered and results-oriented approach in a joint effort to build a more just and reasonable governance system in the world. China recently held a grand ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Japanese aggression and world fascism. This is guided by a correct reading of the World War II history and international justice. We will soon hold global world… Women's Summit to speed up the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform of Action. China will always be on the side of multilateralism, international justice, and the common interests of the international community as we work to build a community of shared interests of mankind. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Venezuela.

Thank you, President. Our thanks to the expert for their important report. The idea of having a linear formula through which peace is obtained by force has led the United States to deploy land, air, and other forces in the Caribbean, threatening the peace of many states in the Caribbean. On the 2nd of September, they launched a missile against a supposed artisanal site murdering many people and with no respect for international law. Last Friday, 18 US soldiers arrived in the exclusive economic zone in Venezuela. There was a small fisheries boat there with no contact to the state of Venezuela. This provocation on the hidden by the fig leaf of fighting against drugs. That means that they're doing the same that Israel is doing has done against Qatar. And all of this aims to change the political regime of Venezuela and getting their hands on oil reserves. So there is this attempt to keep, to drive for peace through military order. The new global order, President, must be the outcome of the empire of diplomacy and not the diplomacy of power. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the independent expert for his report. We welcome the proposed thematic areas, particularly climate injustice, unsustainable debt burdens, and persistent digital and knowledge gaps. The Maldives has continued to display strong leadership in climate action. This year, we submitted our third Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, among the earliest to do so. We aim to generate 33% of our electricity from renewables by 2028. Achieving the NDC target requires adequate support and financial resources, technology, capacity building, and other means of implementation. Mr. President, we echo the independent expert's call to strengthen North-South cooperation, which is vital to address today's challenges. A stronger, rules-based international key is to building a just and peaceful world. In this regard, Maldives is deeply concerned by the ongoing suffering in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories. Israel continues to violate international humanitarian law with impunity. We call on all member states to hold Israel accountable, uphold its international obligations, and ensure urgent, unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. Finally, we reaffirm our unwavering support for Palestine's legitimate right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Mr. President. Algeria thanks the independent expert for the report that highlights the structural reasons for the North-South divide, and we fully agree with the results the findings because, uh, disparities are fed by external debt, climate injustice, and, uh, continued, uh, unjust trade relations, as well as the digital, uh, gap. This undermines inter-, uh, international culture, and social rights, especially in the south countries. Algeria reiterates that the right to development is inalienable right, and we recall that the Charter of the United Nations remains the basis for the international order, and we reject any attempt to replace it with the so-called rules-based order that is selective, that aggravates injustice. and we reiterate the urgent need to reform the international financial structure for a fair management of debt and to combat illicit flaws. We call for democratic practices based on solidarity and respect of the Charter of the United Nations and sovereign equality. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan.

Thank you, President. We take good note of the report produced by the independent expert relating to structural considerations that are different for the North and South, and we take good note of the comments made by all. We have to strengthen cooperation tools to foster multilateralism, and in order to face challenges such as climate change, economic crises, and poverty in countries of the Global South. We must bring about change in the international order in order to meet the challenges faced by many countries, including developing countries and least developed countries, and make up the shortfall between the North and South. We must also solve the problem of foreign debt. Some NGOs have submitted reports, and these are organizations that are trying to exploit the Council in order to attack Sudan and its forces. We also have to think about the actions conducted by terrorist groups. These are rejected by Sudan. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Cambodia.

Thank you, Mr. President.

My delegation thank independent expert for the report. Cambodia shared concern regarding

researching territorial ambitions, protectionist trade policies, climate injustice, understandable debt burdens, and the persistent gaps in digital access and knowledge. These challenges undermine the spirit of international solidarities and disproportionately affect, particularly for the least developed countries. As a small state, Cambodia recognizes the vulnerabilities created by inequitable access to finance, technology, and climate adaptation resources.

Cambodia believes that a truly democratic international order must be founded on respect for the sovereignty and

equalities of all states, regardless of size or level of development, and must ensure that no one is left behind. In conclusion, Cambodia reaffirms its support for the Pact for the Future as a chance to build a more just and equitable multilateralism and remains committed to working with all partners that uphold the UN charters and to advance peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for all. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guinea.

Thank you, President. My delegation endorses the statement made by the Africa Group, and we wish to make the following comments in our national capacity. We thank the independent expert for his report, which highlights systemic inequalities which affect the international order, and it also highlights the challenges linked to the erosion of multilateralism. We remain concerned at the growing resorting to unilateralism, to protectionist measures, and to conditionalities which weaken international cooperation. We support an appeal to a more inclusive multilateralism reflecting geopolitical realities and putting in place fair mechanisms on debt, trade, taxation and technology transfer. In my view, reducing the digital divide and combating illicit financial flows are essential in order to release resources for sustainable, resilient development. We restate that the promotion of human rights, solidarity and justice must lie at the heart of global governance. We are convinced that a democratic international order can guarantee peace. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Please accept our sincere regrets for not being here to speak to your first call. African group notes with grave concern the Resurgence of unilateralism protectionist trade policies and the erosion of multilateral cooperation especially in areas of trade climate and

development Finance we welcome the call for inclu inclusive multilateralism that reflects today's geopolitical realities we strongly support proposals for democratizing global governance, establishing a fair multilateral debt mechanism, and creating a global climate justice fund to support countries least responsible for the crisis yet most affected by its consequences.

The African Group also echoes the need to close the digital divide, ensure transfer of technology, and reform

and reform international taxation to combat illicit financial flows that deprive Africa of critical resources. Mr. President, the African Group reiterates that human rights must be central to all international economic, environmental, and technological frameworks.

The global South must no

longer be treated as a subject of unconditionality, but as equal partners and contributors in shaping the international order.

In closing, the African Group reaffirms its commitment to actively engage in all efforts aimed at building a multilateral

system founded on the principles of solidarity, equity, and prosperity. Thank you.

Thank you. And I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Rwanda aligns itself with the statement delivered by Ghana on behalf of the Africa group. Democracy matters equally in Western countries and in Africa. Democratic practice must reflect each people's history, institutions, and realities within the universal framework of human rights and the charter. Attempts to export a single model or to politicize human rights, to judge others against that model, weaken the very international order we seek to strengthen. We thank the expert for his presentation and echo the call for global digital equity through the regulation of AI as an international public good. The adoption of AI is uneven globally, and the competitive capacity of countries is even more so. Therefore, effective global AI governance is required to address this divide. Rwanda is witnessing an accelerated digital transformation across numerous sectors. In 2022, Rwanda launched its national AI policy with the vision to power economic growth, improve quality of life, position Rwanda as a global leader in AI. In 2024, Rwanda hosted the inaugural Global AI Summit on Africa, further facilitating Africa's contribution to shaping global AI governance. We wish to underscore the cross-cutting value of human rights in promoting a democratic and just international order. However, for this value to be realized, human rights must be free from politicization. In conclusion, we pose the following question to the expert.

The speaker is interrupted by the President. Thank you. I recognize Eritrea.

Eritrea.

Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to take the floor at this time. Eritrea thanks the independent expert for his timely report, which offers a valuable framework for understanding the entrenched inequalities shaping today's international order. This divide is not incidental, but rooted in structural imbalances that sustain domination and inequity.

Reform must therefore be authentic, not cosmetic, dismantling these barriers by ensuring inclusive reform of multilateral institutions with equitable representation and voting power, guaranteeing fair and unconditional access to finance, including climate and development funding, respecting national priorities, advancing genuine technology transfer and capacity building for autonomous growth, building trade systems based on partnership, not dependency, and strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation as the foundation of solidarity and shared progress. The Global South cannot be asked to bear the cost of crisis it did not create, economic, financial, or climatic, all while being excluded from shaping solutions.

Justice, equity, and solidarity must guide a new international order.

Eritrea reaffirms its commitment to work with the independent expert and member states for a fair, democratic global order that respects sovereignty, promotes universal rights, and upholds the rights to development for all.

Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker on my list, and so we can now move on to the list of speakers from non-governmental organizations. I give the floor to United Nations Watch.

Mr. President, in today's report, the expert's first recommendation is to give the Muslim world a permanent seat on the Security Council. So we ask the expert, will this include the Islamic Republic of Iran, whom we just heard accusing others of aggression, instability, and constituting an axis of evil? The same government that beats and jails women for the crime of showing their hair. The same government whose so-called morality

police murdered Mahsa Amini, sparking the women life freedom uprising that saw thousands arrested, hundreds killed, and countless young women

blinded or executed for demanding basic rights.

The same government that persecutes minorities, Baha'is, Christians, Sunnis, Kurds, denying them freedom of worship, education, and employment? We ask the expert, are you proposing to give a UN veto to those who jail lawyers, journalists, human rights dissidents, and even prison after sham trials?

A veto to those who expelled

700,000 Afghan refugees this year in flagrant violation of international law with families rounded up and beaten at the border?

To those who supply drones to kill civilians in Ukraine and arm Hamas? and Hezbollah to export terror throughout the Middle East? The Islamic Republic of Iran speaks of international order, yet it is they who systematically destabilize the region, undermine the rule of law and peace, and trample on the rights of its own citizens. Mr. President, Iran spoke about the ICJ, but the real

question is this: When will UN institutions hold Tehran accountable for its brutal repression at home and its aggression abroad?

Mr. President, I would like to

Thank you. I give the floor to Shanxi Patriotic Volunteer. I give the floor to Mr.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, I'm the initiator of the International Patriotic PAC Organization. Currently, the interplay of the United States protectionist trade policies, territorial ambitions, and structural factors, such as climate injustice and debt crisis, pose severe obstacles to realization of human rights. constituting a tremendous threat to the enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, and other rights. Since advocating the international patriotic concept, loving one's own country without harming other nations' interests in 2022, and the drafting of the International Patriotic Pact, we have now attracted over 160 non-governmental organizations in over 50 countries. We believe that the multipolar world order presents unprecedented opportunities for inclusive multilateralism, and achieving democratization and global governance is key to this. Therefore, we advocate the reform of global governance institutions to ensure equitable participation of countries in the Global South and to safeguard the rights of all peoples. We call on the establishment of an international patriotic committee to supervise whether countries are infringing upon the interests of other countries while safeguarding their own interests, thereby promoting the establishment of a new world order of peace. Finally, we'd like to call on the establishment of international order by encouraging the participation of the patriotic pact. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Traditional Medicine and Health Developer Society, Iran.

President, we express our deep concern about the harmful consequences of unilateral action by the United States, which undermine the international legal order and impose burdens on peoples. These actions include the expensive use of unilateral sanctions such as travel bans, imposing destructive tariffs, systematic withdrawal from multilateral agreements, obstruction of UN mechanism, and introducing a new concept of rule-based order which serves to protect the U.S. interest. We echo the concerns expressed by the IE on international order over the adverse impact of U.S. unilateralism in the Security Council and its consequence on the global decisions such as the resolution adopted by the UNGA to terminate genocide in Gaza. Equally alarming is the political, military, and economic support provided by the United States to Israel in its ongoing violation of IHL, including in Gaza and in the recent attack against Iran. This conduct not only worsens conflict, but erodes the credibility of the international system itself. We urge UN member states to call for the cessation of all unilateral action to strengthen multilateralism and to reaffirm that peace and justice can only be preserved through genuine multilateralism and respect for international law. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.

Mr. President, I speak today to raise alarm over the sanctions imposed by the United States against Al-Mizan Center

for Human Rights, Al-Haq, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights for our legitimate accountability work. Since February 2025, the U.S.

has individually sanctioned the ICC judges and officers, as well as the UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese.

Now, the U.S. is targeting three Palestinian human rights organizations.

The interpreters apologize, sound quality does not allow for interpretation.

The sanction regime is part of a broader pattern of repression aimed at Palestinian civil society and intimidate

those seeking to hold Israel accountable after decades of apartheid and occupation and now nearly two years of genocide.

They undermine the very foundation of international legal system, putting the global pursuit of justice at risk. Silencing human rights defenders anywhere undermines pursuit of justice everywhere. The message being sent by Israel and the U.S. is that powerful states will use this on attack tactics

evade accountability.

We urge the Human Rights Council to unequivocally condemn the use of sanctions by the U.S. and those seeking accountability for Israel's crimes at the

ICC and to stand up to save the integrity of international legal order.

Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the World Muslim Congress also for a video statement.

Mr. President, we thank the eminent expert for his report, which correctly identifies denial of rights to self-determination as a structural driver of the North-South divide. The people of Jammu and Kashmir were promised this right by no less than the United Nations Security Council. The Indian denial of this right to the people of Jammu and Kashmir has led to a regime of human rights violations. New resolutions have been replaced by 900,000 troops, mass surveillance, demographic manipulations, and systematic impunity. The report warns that resurgent territorial ambitions, unilateralism erodes multilateralism. India's 2019 annexation and subsequent settler colonial laws are a textbook case. Kashmir today is the world's most densely militarized zone, where peaceful assemblies are criminalized, journalists face the Unlawful Activities Act. We call on the Council to schedule a dedicated intersectional panel on Kashmir before 61st session. Re-establish a UN field presence to monitor human rights dimensions of self-determination. Ensure Kashmiri civil society representatives are invited to future HRC sessions. Without restoring the inalienable right to self-determination of Kashmiri people, any pledge of an equitable international order will ring hollow. I thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the Egyptian Youth Council for Development, also for a video statement.

Our thanks to the independent expert for their report, drawing the attention of the, to the very difficult situation of Sudan, the people are facing major challenges. There's the interference of the army in political life has threatened the principle of democracy, has gone against the will of the people. Army practices have threatened a peaceful transition to peace, and there are crimes met with impunity. This is not just about national security, but it's threatening global efforts for peace, justice, and human rights. The Sudanese people must be able to live under an order that protects their rights. And everything that's happened has, in fact, deepened their suffering. President, we would urge the Council to bring their pressure to bear on the army to end their actions and to respect human rights and allowing the Sudanese people to their right to self-determination. We believe that Sudan must be supported to create strong institutions and to contribute to an international order, a national order, which goes hand in hand with a global fair order. Thank

you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the UN Women's Society for Cuba.

Thank you, President. The Cuban Association Our organization wishes to thank the expert, and we had the opportunity to meet with him during his academic visit to Cuba. Our organization is deeply concerned at the situations of war, genocide, and threat of war that are rife throughout the world and that are a flagrant violation of the principles of the UN Charter. How can we hope to have a democratic and equitable international order when so many governments in the world and the main multilateral institutions have shown that they have not been able to stop the genocide in Gaza and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and in the total impunity of the aggressor and their accomplices. We condemn military deployment and the threat of war by the government of the United States in the Caribbean, which has destabilized the region and has violated the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace. In the context of the 80th anniversary of the UN, we must not just analyze the current situation of discrimination and inequality, but also tackle its underlying causes, including including the legacy of colonialism and unilateral coercive measures, amongst others. We must tackle the issue of necessary reparation for countries and affected peoples. We would urge the experts to share their considerations on this in their next report. We welcome their work and reiterate our support for their mandate. Thank you.

Thank you, your excellencies, colleagues. This brings us to the end of this meeting. We will resume this afternoon at 3pm to continue the interactive dialogue with the independent expert on the international order and to begin the two interactive dialogues with the special rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and the working group on mercenaries. I hereby close the ninth meeting of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. Thank you and have a nice lunch.