10th Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council Human Rights Council Date: 14 September 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/hrc/63/10 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- HRC · Vice-President [0:00]: Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I hereby declare open the 10th meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. We shall now continue the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. We will continue with the list of speakers for National Human Rights Institutions and non-governmental organizations. I would like to give the floor to IDPC Consortium. This is a video message. Speaker 2 [0:50]: Thank you. I am speaking on behalf of De Justitia, Elementa and IDPC. We would like to congratulate you on your appointment to the position of Special Rapporteur and wish you every success. we would like to draw attention to a situation of imminent risk in Colombia: the announcement by the new government to resume the agrotoxins programme for eradicating unlawful crops. This programme is subject to strict constitutional controls. For 15 years, the Colombian government sprayed around 2 million hectares with glyphosate, a substance that the WHO has declared as possibly carcinogenic. No protection measures were taken for the peasant population that is dependent on this economy. The program had, as a consequence, seriously harmful for human rights, and it led to health problems, environmental problems. It ruined livelihoods and contaminated water, and it did not solve the problem of coca leaves and cocaine. Constitutional protections, which are based on the principle of precaution, are being threatened by the new government with an even more toxic substance, which is glyphosate ammonium. We would like to issue an urgent call for the Special Rapporteur to continue her monitoring and warning work through applicable mechanisms in order to prevent and mitigate any possible harm stemming from this harmful practice. And we stand ready to help you. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:12]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the Brazilian Institute of Human Rights. This is a video message. Network of Agroecology of Maranho [2:21]: Thank you, rapporteur. My name is Ariana Gomes from the Network of Agroecology of Maranho, and I am speaking jointly with IBDH in Maranho in the Brazilian Amazon. We. would like to report that there is a chemical war being waged against peoples and traditional communities. Planes and drones are used as chemical weapons to spray agrotoxins onto communities with a view to contaminating their land, their water and their crops and therefore forcing them off the lands that they have traditionally occupied. Our monitoring work, which we have done jointly with FITAEMA and LIPUNG UFMA, has recorded 495 communities affected by aerial spraying in at least 45 municipalities between 2021 and 2026. 85.1% of these communities are in traditional territories, indigenous peoples, Quilombolas, and communities that harvest babassu cocoa. The impacts are very specific. Water sources are contaminated, livelihoods are destroyed through crop destruction, there are respiratory and skin diseases and animals die. These communities have no way to escape such exposure. They live and farm and bring up their children in the areas that are sprayed. Faced with this reality, 12 municipalities in Maranhao have approved laws and we ask the Special Rapporteur to recognize this practice as a form of environmental violence. Thank you. Speaker 5 [3:53]: Video. HRC · Vice-President [3:55]: Thank you. I give the floor to Pratik. This is a video message. Speaker 7 [3:57]: Edmond Rice International and the Children of India draw your attention to the urgent challenge of unsafe and inadequate waste management in India. The right to a clean and healthy environment has been recognized by our Supreme Court as part of the right to life under Article 21 of our Constitution. Annually, 62 million tons of waste are being generated, including 5.60 million tonnes of plastic waste, 0.17 million tonnes of biomedical waste, 7.90 million tonnes of hazardous waste and 15 lakh tonnes of e-waste. Improper disposal leads to soil and groundwater contamination, air pollution and release of toxic substances such as lead, cadmium and mercury. e-waste dismantling hub highlights severe health issues among workers, many of whom are children. While the government has taken a significant step by revising the e-waste rules, the children of India urge the government to: Strengthen monitoring and enforcement so that the waste management rules are implemented effectively. Promote the principle of reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle to build a cleaner and safer India, ensure hazardous waste is never dumped near school, playgrounds, or residential areas. HRC · Vice-President [5:23]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I now call on Shanhe Patriotic Volunteer Association. Speaker 9 [5:32]: For a video intervention. Delegates, on behalf of the my organization, we advocate loving one's own country without harming other nations' interest. Hazardous waste are not purely environmental issues. They are about human health, survival, and development. In some regions, hazardous waste is dumped and discharged indiscriminately, contaminating soil and water resources. And this is a serious violation of the right to life and health. The Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea has escalated a threat to a new height. The ocean is a crucial source of food for humanity. Nuclear contaminated water pose a global threat to world safety, impacting the rights of survival and development of coastal residents and groups dependent on marine resources. Currently, international responses to hazardous substance and waste issue remain inadequate. Some developed countries transfer waste to developing countries, undermining local people's human rights. Japan's discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea must be handled by the international community collectively. We call on governments worldwide to strengthen legislative oversight, increase investment in research and development, and enhance international information sharing, technology exchanges, we should also work to raise our environmental awareness and reduce the use of hazardous substances and the generation of waste. HRC · Vice-President [7:05]: Thank you. This was the final speaker that we could accommodate during this debate. I would now like to give the floor to Ms. Carney Armroth for her concluding remarks. You have 10 minutes. You have the floor. UN · Special Rapporteur [7:23]: Thank you very much for the opportunity to respond to your many excellent interventions. And in doing so, I would like to summarize and acknowledge some of the many common themes that came through in your statements. Some of these were regarding the intrinsic properties of hazardous chemicals and waste and toxic chemicals that we're discussing here today, including their persistence and their mobility, like we know from PFAS. their ability to spread through our ecosystems, through our environments, through our bodies. We also heard reference to health impacts related to these qualities, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, cancerogenic chemicals, chemicals that affect the development of children. A number of you also referenced the complexities in our ecosystems and the interconnectedness between hazardous chemicals, pollution, waste, toxic chemicals, and our Earth systems with impacts that are exacerbated in climate change and loss of biodiversity in our food systems, in the interconnectedness between the Earth system, its function, and our societies and economic systems. We also heard reference to the full life cycle of these toxics from extraction and production through to use and to waste. Many of you referenced a number of different kinds of substances, including PFAS, naturally, but also metals, radioactive waste, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals that are being released through the actions taken during armed conflicts and the problems associated with these. We also heard reference to different populations that are inequitably affected by exposures, including women, children, Indigenous peoples, workers, peoples of African descent, communities that are exposed through living close to production extractive sites or to waste facilities. And we heard mention of many rights that are violated in reference to toxics, including the right to life, the right to health, the right to a clean, healthy environment, the right to healthy food, the right to water, the right to science, to knowledge and information. Many of the interventions and questions that were raised concern where we go from here. What can we do about this? How can we act? A number of different principles and forms of policies or regulations were mentioned. These include importantly prevention and bans, the possibility to, for example, ban all non-essential use PFAS chemicals, the possibility to ban groups of chemicals rather than single compounds at a time. We heard reference to extended producer responsibility. We heard reference to polluter pays principles, to circular economy initiatives, and all of these would require information about the products, chemicals, toxics that are being produced, where and how they're being produced, where they're being used in our society so that we better can regulate them. And we also heard of the need for improved waste management facilities. In a lot of these interventions, there were concerns raised about shifting of burdens from producer countries to developing countries or from different groups of peoples to others where burdens and impacts are not equitably shared or suffered. We heard many references to the need for access to science and data, to knowledge and education, and how these can help us support addressing these issues that we're facing. We cannot solve a problem if we don't know what it is. We cannot understand if our solutions are effective if we can't monitor and measure those. Many of you reference the need for a just transition, for the need to support capacity. My, now it's working. Okay, sorry. My main. Is it only me who hears it weird? HRC · Vice-President [11:39]: Please, please continue. UN · Special Rapporteur [11:40]: My mandate can provide. Okay, sorry, technical difficulties. Right when I got to the part about technical support. So there were calls for capacity building and technical support, and my mandate can provide technical support and capacity building through a lot of the different tools that we have at hand. There were calls for guarantees to access to justice and effective remedies for victims. specifically of PFAS exposure, and this includes compensation, environmental restoration, ensuring that measures of protection can protect against injunctions. We can find temporary suspensions, emergency relief in situations that require those. There are many calls for support for scientific and technological research, so calls upon states to finance and support research and development that is free of conflicts of interest, that is free of vested interests, the economic interests of those whose goals may not align with protecting human rights. These include research and development around production, extraction and production technologies and applications. so we can find ways to fulfill the essential needs of society without causing harm. Support for science and technological research should also address transitions and alternatives to help ensure that those can be taken up and implemented in places where they require additional support. There were calls for cleanup and remediation, which needs to be done in a sound manner that does not cause more harm. than has already been instilled. Access to information of hazardous substances and waste will help us identify, as I said, some of the solutions and means of addressing rights violations. Development of pollution information portals can help us there. We have to increase requirements for transparency and reporting. Digital platforms that help collect, process and disseminate data can be instrumental in these efforts. We also need to advance human rights, environmental governance and corporate accountability so states are upholding the rights and businesses and corporations are required to respect them. All of this will include better controls of transboundary movements of toxics. This can be in products, this can be in waste, this can be in the environment, it can be in air, in water, in bodies as they move across borders. And we also need to support states in adapting, developing, modernizing, and implementing legislation and frameworks that can help align national standards with international conventions. So I think that's the summary of my responses. I appreciate the opportunity to do this, and I look forward to continuing to work within this mandate and with all of you. HRC · Vice-President [14:50]: Thank you. Thank you. This concludes our interactive dialogue. with Ms. Kani Almhoff, whom I thank for her participation. We will now take a short break before holding the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Speaker 15 [17:16]: Yes. HRC · Vice-President [18:21]: Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we will now begin the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. Let me welcome the mandate holder, Mr. Pedro Arrojo Agudo. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I'd now like to give the floor to Mr. Arrojo Agudo to present the reports. You have the floor, sir. UN · Special Rapporteur [19:01]: Thank you, Vice-President. I will speak in Spanish. Excellencies, at the end of October, my mandate comes to an end. At the outset, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for the honour that you gave me when appointing me Special Rapporteur. I just hope that my work has been useful for you and for those who live in poverty and are criminalised when they try to claim their rights. These have been six fascinating years. I have seen and experienced terrible realities, but also hopeful and inspiring ones. I have cried in the face of blatant injustices imposed by the dictatorship of greed, which is spreading around the world. But in my indignation, I have always drawn comfort from the strength of those who face such injustice. And I benefited from the support of my small but incredible team here in Geneva. Thank you. Thank you to all of you. As you know, in 2010, the General Assembly recognized the human right to drinking water and sanitation. It then subsequently specified that sanitation should be a distinct human right, a right which we tend to place on the back burner and give greater attention to drinking water, whose political dimension is far more appealing. I understand that, but without appropriate sanitation, you cannot ensure access to drinking water, nor the right to health or a healthy diet or decent housing or a healthy environment. Therefore, Excellencies, I have decided to devote this final report to the human right to sanitation. I assume that the definition of sanitation should include toilets that offer conditions of dignity, privacy and hygiene, the collection and treatment of domestic wastewater and excreta, adequate hygiene, which includes menstrual health and hygiene, the drainage of rainwater, which should be collected by sewers, and the management of solid waste to prevent waters from being contaminated. Above all, it is essential to include the treatment of polluting discharges from industrial activity, which is responsible for toxic pollution that undermines the right to drinking water. Allow me to go straight to the key challenges here. First of all, given that sanitation is a human right, it is the obligation of states to guarantee this right. You have to have sewer systems in cities that require it. You need to supplement the capacities of poor families to build appropriate toilets. You need to ensure that there are wastewater treatment plants and that faecal sludge from septic tanks in rural areas is properly handled and you also need to consider developing dry sanitation systems. It is not acceptable to simply assume that such responsibilities should fall to the families or communities themselves when they do not have the necessary resources for that. Secondly, states should promote public policies that shape appropriate sanitation strategies. They should cooperate with municipal and community-based authorities, providing the necessary materials and facilities and appropriate hygiene practices through educational campaigns and information campaigns across society at large. Thirdly, it is time to eradicate discrimination on grounds of one's family origin, caste systems for instance, which continue to subject 250 million people to inhumane exploitation, including humiliating work such as the manual collection of excrement, especially by women. It is not enough to just formally prohibit or reject this, you have to eradicate these practices. Fourthly, Given that menstruation is a natural part of female biology and that it is thanks to menstruation that all of us, that everyone exists, Menstrual health and hygiene should be an intrinsic part of the human right to sanitation. Therefore, States must guarantee the necessary facilities and materials for women, teenagers and transgender women, binary persons or intersex persons who menstruate and who, in total, account for over 2.2 billion people, can menstruate in a way that guarantees their health, dignity and hygiene. Fifthly, it is urgent to rigorously apply the principle of the polluter pays and restores. We need to tackle head-on the rising toxic pollution of water with heavy metals, agrotoxics or chemical pollutants such as PFAS. which come from legal and illegal mining, the exploitation of fossil fuels, intensive agriculture and industry. All of this is pollution which tends to be justified in the name of economic development. It is time to publish data about this lethal pollution, which gradually pollutes in an accumulative and irreversible way and poisons hundreds of millions of people with devastating effects on girls, boys and babies. Prohibiting such activities or Making it mandatory, forcing through law the clean-up of toxic environments by those who produce the pollution, is a key condition for ensuring the human right to sanitation. 6. All too often, the principle of priority is avoided when allocating public money for upholding human rights. The argument is that there are not sufficient public funds. Excellency, let me say this once more: not even poverty itself can justify marginalising the principle of priority when guaranteeing human rights. I'd like to repeat something I said a few years ago now about what the top priority for the poorest families is. There's no doubt about it, it's water, and it is women who spend inordinate amounts of time and efforts in order to bring to their families the water they need. So, Excellencies, I am calling on governments around the world to follow the example set by these women and to follow the principle of priority for available public resources and supplement them, if necessary, with funds negotiated by governments on capital markets and with the multilateral banks, so as to create public financial platforms that will make it possible to fund the necessary investments in conditions that are feasible for municipalities and communities. And seventh, Finally, Excellencies, the overwhelming majority of the billions of people who do not have a guaranteed access to drinking water and sanitation are poor people, indigenous peoples, rural communities and settlements that lie on the outskirts of big cities who manage these services on the basis of community-based models. They leave no one behind. When we try to address the challenge of sanitation in these environments, I would like to reiterate my call to strengthen these community-based models, paying particular attention to the equal participation of women, who are those who tend to shoulder the largest burden and commitment here, and to develop public and community partnerships, such as those promoted by the Colombian government in recent years, in terms of the community-run aqueducts network of Colombia. Will refer to my recent visit to Egypt in 2026. I wish first of all to thank the government of Egypt for the invitation and support extended to me, as well as to acknowledge the collaboration of human rights organizations and water management experts, most of whom were forced to make their contributions for from hiding. I have two main concerns. First, I wish to highlight the immense challenge to managing a major river like the Nile along a 1,000-kilometer corridor, home to 120 million people with their diverse productive activities, and in particular, the delta region, where 50 million people face the threat of rising sea caused by climate change and the salinization of the territory. In this context, cumulative pollution from industrial and urban discharges and irrigation runoff jeopardizes the potability of water for tens of millions of people living in poverty. Furthermore, the expansion of this desert irrigation which diverts river flows and drainage waters that could and should curb salinization in the Delta, is accelerating a crisis of massive proportions in the Delta region. And secondly and finally, it is urgent to publish water quality analysis and repeal the laws and regulations that penalize the reporting of pollution problems as a basis for addressing these issues and fostering genuine public trust. Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [29:06]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. According to our practice, we should start by hearing the delegation of the country concerned. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt. You have five minutes. You have the floor, Ambassador. Egypt [29:32]: Vice President, first of all, please allow me to thank the Special Rapporteur for having accepted our invitation, and we appreciate his interaction with our government, which is striving to meet its human rights obligations. We have done our utmost to ensure that the Special Rapporteur was able to meet all the government entities, stakeholders and civil society representatives he wanted. He visited various provinces of the country and we informed him about all the relevant projects. We also answered all his questions concerning the right to water in Egypt, which is based on the Constitution and our legal framework, which we are very pleased with. We strive to ensure that water is supplied to all regions of the country through our networks. For Egypt, the right to water is enshrined in our national development plan. The right to water underpins the right to life, and this is why water is distributed to all people without discrimination. paying special attention to the most vulnerable communities. We also respect consumer rights. We have a water sector management plan in view of the important role that the sector plays in rural areas. In particular, we also involve civil society in discussions on access to water at community level. As the report points out, notable achievements have been made in recent years. We have 1,920 drinking water projects, we provide water to 99% of the population, and we have ever better sanitation programs in both urban and rural areas. Despite the water scarcity that we face, which is extremely serious, because we have 110 million people who are crowded into 6% of our territory, and who rely on the Nile for 98% of their water needs. In addition, we have a further 10 million refugees and asylum seekers who need just as much water as our citizens. So despite all of these conditions and the growing pressure, We are rising to the challenges of huge investments required and new technology. We agree with the Special Rapporteur when he states that cooperation between Nile Basin countries is absolutely vital in order to ensure the development of all countries in the region. because the Nile Basin, as the rapporteur has stated, is one of the most exposed river basins to climate change and conflict anywhere in the world. Transboundary water course management requires enhanced cooperation. We must ensure that people's rights are respected and use water resources constructively when they cross borders we must ensure that no one suffers harm as a result of the use of water resources so We appreciate the rapporteur's support in this area. We have always proclaimed the right to water in international fora. In 2010, in the General Assembly, we made a commitment to respect the human rights to water and sanitation. As I have said, the right to water is the basis for life and ensures full enjoyment of all human rights. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [34:17]: Thank you very much, Ambassador. I have taken note of the fact that the National Council for Human Rights of Egypt wishes to make a statement by video, but the quality of the video doesn't allow for the video to be broadcast through our audio-visual system. So a transcription of the statement will be published on the extranet of the Human Rights Council. The list of speakers is now closed. I would now like to call on interested delegations to ask questions to the Special Rapporteur and to make comments on his reports. The speaking time is one minute and 30 seconds for each delegation. To the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Abdullah Al-Alah, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainability, on behalf of a group of countries. You have the floor. United Arab Emirates · Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainability [35:16]: Mr. President, I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal. The human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation are indispensable to health, dignity, and full participation in society. Yet, millions worldwide lack reliable access to safe water and adequate sanitation. Water scarcity, pollution, and climate-related impacts compound these challenges, particularly for those in vulnerable situations. We call for strengthened international cooperation to ensure that water and sanitation services are available, accessible, safe, affordable, and sustainable for all. This requires adequate financing, capacity building, and integrated, equitable, and resilient water management. Against this backdrop, the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and the Republic of Senegal from the 8th to the 10th of December 2026 in Abu Dhabi, offers a key opportunity to advance global collective and innovative action on water and sanitation. Building on the momentum of the 2023 conference, this year's conference will elevate water on international agenda, strengthen cooperation across sectors, and stakeholder groups catalyze investments and accelerate the translation of commitments into action. Ultimately, the success of the 2026 UN Water Conference will be measured not only by what is agreed there, but by what follows, stronger partnerships and greater support for implementation, leading to tangible improvements in people's lives. We invite all member states and stakeholders to help keep water and sanitation at the heart of our collective efforts to advance human rights and sustainable development. Thank you, Mr. President. HRC · Vice-President [37:09]: Thank you very much, Your Excellency. I would now like to call on the distinguished representative of Spain on behalf of a group of countries. Spain [37:21]: Thank you very much, Vice-President. I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of Germany and Spain. I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur, Pedro Arrojo, for presenting his final report, and we would like to express our deepest appreciation for his unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. work has helped to unequivocally affirm that the realisation of these rights is above all a matter of human dignity and quality. We welcome the conclusions of this last report and share his view that a human rights-based approach must be strengthened to ensure accessible, affordable, safe and dignified sanitation services for all, paying particular attention to those who are most vulnerable. We remain concerned about the disproportionate impact that persistent inequalities have in access to sanitation on women and girls. The lack of adequate sanitation services directly affects menstrual health and hygiene and undermines sexual and reproductive rights. Special Rapporteur, how can the UN Water Conference next December contribute to placing human rights at the center of solutions to these challenges and accelerate the achievement of SDG 6? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [38:40]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Finland on behalf of a group of countries. Finland · Nordic-Baltic States [38:47]: Mr. Vice President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States. We warmly welcome the Special Rapporteur's report and support the call for universal realization of the human right to sanitation for all. In this context, we highlight that the open defecation free is a target that should be reached everywhere. We remain committed to a human rights-based approach in sanitation governance, moving beyond basic infrastructure to place equality, non-discrimination, participation, accountability, and sustainability at the core of sanitation policies and investments. We particularly applaud the strong emphasis on gender equality and addressing the structural discrimination of those in marginalized and vulnerable situation, including persons with disabilities. Poor sanitation disproportionately burdens women and girls, compounding safety risks and undermining their sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic and educational opportunities, while structural barriers continue to limit equal access to persons with disabilities. Mr. Special Rapporteur, realizing the right requires comprehensive hygiene management. We ask How can states ensure that public and school sanitation systems meet distinct menstrual hygiene needs? And how can comprehensive sexuality education challenge the surrounding taboos and stigmas? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [40:19]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of the European Union. EU [40:26]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The EU thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. The right to safe drinking water and sanitation is a prerequisite for the enjoyment of human dignity and other human rights. The report highlights the need for greater promotion of integrated water resource management. Yet, for millions around the world, this remains out of reach with profound consequences for public health, education, gender equality, and development, disproportionately affecting those in vulnerable and marginalized situations. The EU is taking concrete steps to advance the right to sanitation through its international cooperation. Since 2021, 1.8 million people have gained access to sanitation facilities and improved drinking water sources through EU-funded programs. We call for a strong human rights perspective at the forthcoming UN conferences. We call on them to reaffirm that access to safe water and sanitation is not just a matter of infrastructure, but a matter of human dignity, equality, and rights and systems that sustain services for all. Mr. Special Rapporteur, this being your last report, the EU expresses its gratitude for your valuable work. What further measures can be promoted to address the distinct sanitation needs and disproportionate impact of inadequate sanitation on women and girls? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [41:55]: Thank you very much. I now call on distinguished representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. Bahrain · GCC [42:11]: Thank you, Vice-President. The members of the GCC have taken note of the Special Rapporteur's reports. We know that sanitation is not just about infrastructure, it's investment in health, human dignity and safe water for sustainable development, particularly in countries facing severe water shortages. So with this in mind, we have developed wastewater management plants and we reuse water for farming, reforestation, particularly in municipal authorities. We have better water quality monitoring and we strive to reduce losses and ensure that we use ever more sustainable techniques. We have launched cooperation plans in Riyadh in order for exchange of experiences and expertise. And we appreciate the UAE and Senegal's hosting of the UN Water Conference this December. We will take part in this opportunity to build responses for the problems of countries facing severe water shortages, for increasing funding, ensuring technology transfer, and this all with a view to the implementation of SDG 6. Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [43:36]: Thank you very much. I now call on Dominica on behalf of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. Dominica · CARICOM [43:43]: Mr. Vice President, Dominica has the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the CARICOM group in Geneva. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcome the call for renewed commitment to the universal realization of the human right to sanitation with particular attention to the principles of equality and non-discrimination. For the SIDS of the Caribbean, the realization of the right is closely linked to building greater climate resilience. Yet increasingly frequent and intense climate-related events place critical water and sanitation infrastructure, including wastewater collection and treatment systems, at risk, reversing development gains. As well, limited fiscal space and technical capacity further constrain our ability to invest in and maintain resilient and sustainable sanitation systems. We therefore underscore the importance of international cooperation in addressing these constraints, including through greater access to financing and capacity building tailored to the circumstances of SIDS. Mr. Vice President, we look forward to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference as a key opportunity to further advance action towards the realization of the right to sanitation within global water and development efforts, with particular attention to the needs and vulnerabilities of SIDS. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [45:02]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OIC. Pakistan · OIC [45:12]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The OIC is alarmed at the scale of the challenge with respect to the subject of this ID. Some 3.4 billion people lack safely managed sanitation, 2.1 billion lack safely managed drinking water, and 1.7 billion lack basic hygiene services, and 4,000 children die every day as a consequence. The OIC is appalled by the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, especially Gaza. We endorse the observation of the Special Rapporteur that the occupying power, Israel, has systematically destroyed and obstructed water and sanitation infrastructure in OPT. He rightly notes that water availability has fallen to barely 5 liters per person per day. While available water is often saline and contaminated, the OIC subscribes to the Special Rapporteur's characterization of this imposed restriction as using water as a weapon of war. We unequivocally condemn these actions by Israel and demand an immediate end to the deliberate denial of water and other necessities indispensable to civilian survival. Water must never be used as an instrument of war, conflict or coercion. As the report underscores, water and sanitation are fundamental to human dignity and multiple human rights. The universal realization of human rights requires adherence to relevant international law as well as adequate financing, capacity building and technology transfer for developing countries. The OIC encourages the Special Rapporteur to give greater attention to these issues. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [46:44]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Portugal on behalf of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, CPLP. Portugal · CPLP [46:55]: Thank you very much, Vice-President. I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, CPLP. The CPLP thanks the Special Rapporteur for presenting his report and for all the efforts he has undertaken throughout his mandate. The right to sanitation is absolutely vital for human dignity and achieving all human rights. Nevertheless, around 3.4 billion people still do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. Ensuring universal access requires more than just infrastructure. You have to have safe services which are physically accessible, affordable, and which protect dignity and privacy. It also requires policies that are based on equality, participation and sustainability, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people. CPLP has boosted its technical cooperation in this area, notably through the training plan in the area of water resource management and sanitation. This is a cooperative program for capacity building and promoting the exchange of experiences and strengthening water governance in the Portuguese speaking world. Special Rapporteur, with a view to the upcoming UN water conference later this year, what should be states' priorities for ensuring that investment in sanitation actually leads to achieving this right for everybody? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [48:25]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the Group of African States. Kenya · Africa Group [48:36]: Mr. Vice-President, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. The African Group takes note of the Special Rapporteur's report and its recommendations. The Group remains concerned about global trends in implementation of this right. In Africa, millions of people, particularly in rural communities and rapidly expanding urban areas, still lack access to safe water and sustainable sanitation. However, access to sanitation is a fundamental human right, essential for the implementation of other rights. The African Group welcomes the decision of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union which places the year 2026 under the theme, ensuring sustainable availability of safe water and sanitation systems to achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063. Mr. Vice President, this theme calls upon African states to cooperate in addressing the challenges of implementing the right of sanitation in Africa. Political will and innovative solutions are necessary. Community involvement in water and sanitation governance is also essential for the full implementation of this right. In conclusion, the Afghan group thanks the Special Rapporteur for his fruitful collaboration and wishes him full success in his future responsibilities. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [49:57]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Angola on behalf of a group of countries. Angola [50:06]: Mr. President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of a group of countries, LDCs, AIDS Trust Fund, Angola, Barbados, Benin, Cambodia, Jamaica, and Marshall Islands. We wish to express our appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report. For our countries, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is not merely an infrastructure issue, but an indispensable condition for dignity, public health, and eradication of poverty. At the national level, we remain committed to expanding these essential services to ensure water security, to target programs and investments in sanitation infrastructure and wastewater treatment, seeking to reduce regional disparities and improve the living condition of our population. Significant challenges persist, however, compounded by the climate crisis. In the global south, cyclical and prolonged droughts severely affect entire regions and undermine the availability and safety of water resources. Seeds, droughts, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and cyclones directly threaten freshwater sources and sanitation systems, putting the very survival of coastal community at risk. In this contest, we urge international financial institution to prioritize projects for water security, prevention of pollutants and water resources, including plastics, water resilience and safe access to water and sanitation, particularly in the global south states and seeds which face disproportionate vulnerabilities and adaptation. HRC · Vice-President [51:39]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I now call on distinguished representative of the Republic of Moldova for a joint statement with the WHO. Republic of Moldova · Chair of the Bureau [51:54]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I'm honored to deliver this joint statement in the capacity of my country, Republic of Moldova, as a chair of the Bureau on the Protocol on Health and Water, Water and Health, together with WHO. We welcome the Special Rapporteur's report and commend him for renewing attention to the human right to sanitation, which still lags significantly behind. We share the concern that the sanitation continues to receive less political attention and investment than drinking water, with the heaviest burden as usually falling on people in vulnerable and marginalized situations. We therefore particularly welcome the emphasis on equality and non-discrimination, participation, accountability, and affordability, which are enshrined in the protocol. The protocol offers a practical framework for translating the human rights to water and sanitation into action. Its target-setting mechanism allows countries to establish concrete, measurable national targets for sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater management, with regular reporting. In addition, the Equitable Access Scorecard 2.0 helps countries to identify geographical disparities, barriers affecting vulnerable and marginalized groups, and affordability gaps to support the development of targeted action. Protocol tools on WASH in institutional settings, such as schools and hospitals, helps countries assess conditions, strengthen monitoring, and improve services, including menstrual hygiene. As the 2026 Water Conference approaches, the Republic of Moldova and WHO call upon countries to give sanitation the political priority it needs and to use the Protocol on Water and Health and its tools to accelerate equitable access for all. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [53:30]: Thank you very much. I now call on the United Nations Population Fund on behalf of a group of UN agencies. UNFPA [53:40]: Thank you, Vice-President. UNFPA and UN Women welcome the Special Rapporteur's report, highlighting that the right to sanitation is still not fully accessible to everyone. The absence of secure, private sanitation facilities exposes women, girls and adolescent girls to heightened risk of physical, sexual and verbal assault. Furthermore, a lack of adequate hygiene and sanitation infrastructure in schools, workplaces, and public spaces severely restricts the ability to manage their menstruation with dignity. We collaborate, collaborate closely with WASH partners to ensure access to safe, clean latrines, private washing facilities, and menstrual products. We fully support the recommendations in the SR's report to implement comprehensive sexuality education, including by training teachers and healthcare personnel, and to integrate education that frames menstruation as a normal biological process while debunking harmful misconceptions. Moreover, in humanitarian settings, UNFPA distributes dignity kits, including menstrual pads, soap, and underwear. UN Women works with partners to ensure that water and sanitation responses consider the needs of women and girls, including safety, accessibility, and participation in camp management and service design. Together, these interventions safeguard the health, hygiene, and safety of displaced women and girls, refugees, and vulnerable communities when local infrastructure collapses. We remain committed to support member states and local communities ensuring the right to safe, accessible, and dignified sanitation for all. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [55:17]: Thank you very much. I now call on distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates. United Arab Emirates [55:24]: Mr. President, thanks to the Special Rapporteur for his report, and welcome the call to renew our collective commitment to realizing the human right water and sanitation for all. This call is particularly timely as we approach the 2026 United Nation Water Conference, which provides an important opportunity to accelerate progress towards sustainable development goal number six and ensure that water and sanitation remain central to the implementation of the 2030 agenda. The UAE believes that access to water and sanitation is not only a matter of infrastructure, but also one of the human dignity, health, equality, and sustainable development. Efforts should strengthen access to essential services and address the needs of people in vulnerable situations. Against this backdrop, or at a national level, the UAE continues to advance water security through the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which seeks to ensure the sustainable availability and management of water resources. At the international level, the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative reflects the UAE's commitment to addressing global water scarcity through innovative solutions and international cooperation. Mr. President, the UAE reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that access to safe water and sanitation translates into tangible improvements in people's lives, while advancing solutions that strengthen resilience and uphold human dignity. We look forward to continuing to work with the international community towards inclusive and lasting progress in realizing these fundamental human rights. Thank you, Mr. President. HRC · Vice-President [57:03]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of UNRWA. UNRWA [57:10]: President, UNRWA welcomes the Special Rapporteur's report on its call to place the rights to water and sanitation at the center of human dignity. Every child has the right to safe drinking water. Every family has the right to enough water to drink, cook, and wash. Today in Gaza, these rights remain under severe pressure. The conflict has pushed an already fragile water and sanitation system toward collapse. Water and electricity supplies remain heavily restricted. Infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Fuel shortages continue to affect water pumps and sanitation services. UNRWA continues to maintain water wells and desalination systems and to deliver water to displaced communities, distributing 970 million liters in 2025 alone. However, Gaza's water crisis is beyond UNRWA's capacity to resolve alone. In July, 90% of Gaza's population faced water insecurity, while more than 87% faced barriers to toilets and sanitation facilities. Water and sanitation infrastructure must be protected. Humanitarian personnel must be able to operate safely and essential supplies must be allowed into Gaza on a sustained basis. Every person in Gaza has the right to safe water and sanitation. Upholding that right is essential to their health, survival and dignity. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [58:36]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [58:41]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Pakistan thanks the SR for the presentation of his report. and share his concern that sanitation has remained relegated behind drinking water with disproportionate consequences for developing countries and people in vulnerable situations. We are particularly alarmed by the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza, as reported by the SR. The report described Israel's deprivation of water in Gaza as using water as a weapon of war in a strategy that has been characterized as genocidal. This principle must resonate universally. Water must never become an instrument of coercion, political leverage, or war. Mr. Vice President, for Pakistan, the Indus River system is the lifeline of over 240 million people. India's unilateral and illegal decision to violate the Indus Waters Treaty is testament to weaponization of water. Beyond their grave implications for peace and security in the region, India's actions threaten lives, livelihoods and human rights of millions of people in Pakistan. Against this backdrop, India's rejection of the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration demonstrates clear contempt for international law, including international human rights law. We seek the SR's thoughts on how the human rights framework can better protect populations whose access to water is threatened by unilateral actions concerning transboundary waters in violation of international law and treaty obligations. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:00:10]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India. India [1:00:16]: Mr. President, we welcome the report presented by the SR. India welcomes that access to water, sanitation, and hygiene is fundamental to human dignity, public health, and inclusive development. Our experience demonstrates for sustained political commitment, public investment, and community participation can achieve at scale. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, rural household tap water coverage has risen to 160 million rural households across the country. Through the Swachh Bharat mission, we have helped safeguard the dignity, health and well-being of 800 million citizens. At the heart of this transformation are village water and sanitation committees, where women and marginalized communities have a voice in local decisions, turning participation into meaningful community-led governance. And it's also undertaking one of the world's largest groundwater recharge and management efforts through initiatives like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Atal Bujal Yojana. Powered by science and community action, millions of citizens are reviving water bodies, harvesting rainwater, and advancing sustainable farming practices. Mr. Vice President, the impact of this transformation extends beyond the tap. For millions of women and girls, reliable household water access means less time spent collecting water and more time for education, livelihoods, and participation in community life. Investing in WASH is therefore also an investment in women's empowerment, opportunity, and equality. For India, meaningful progress means making everyday life healthier, safer, and more dignified, while ensuring development reaches those who need the most. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:01:38]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Gambia. Gambia [1:01:48]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Gambia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report on making the human rights to sanitation and water a reality for all. The Gambia continues to invest in improving access to safe and reliable water, and as such, the Greater Banjul Area Water Supply Project, launched in 2025, is expected to provide clean water to 80,000 new beneficiaries while improving supply for hundreds of thousands more, alongside continued efforts to expand access in rural communities. We share the Special Rapporteur's emphasis on the close interrelationship between safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene in protecting health, dignity and equality. In this regard, we particularly welcome the report's attention to menstrual hygiene for women and girls. Managing menstruation safely and with dignity requires not only access to menstrual products, but also reliable water, private and adequate sanitation facilities and safe disposal systems. Under the 2026 budget, the government has taken steps to eliminate import duty and VAT on imported sanitary pads with the aim of improving affordability and access, particularly for school-going girls. As we look ahead to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, The Gambia underscores the importance of strengthening international cooperation, including financing and capacity building, to accelerate universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:03:14]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Mongolia. Mongolia [1:03:22]: Mr. Vice President, Mongolia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcomes the report's emphasis on equality, non-discrimination, affordability, accessibility and meaningful participation. For Mongolia, ensuring equitable access to sanitation services must take into account our unique geographical and climatic circumstances, our vast territory dispersed rural and herder populations, harsh winters, rapid rapid urbanization and the expansion of pre-urban areas. Mongolia has made important progress in 2024. 70% of the population uses safety managed sanitation services. Nevertheless, the significant disparity remained particularly in rural and remote areas. Those challenges underscore the importance of locally affordable and climate resilient sanitation solutions, in particular in and underserved areas. We are therefore strengthening investment in sanitation and wastewater infrastructure, promoting decentralized and climate resilient solutions and improving wastewater treatment and environmental protection. We are also expanding climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools, kindergarten and public health institution. Mongolia reaffirms its commitment to SDG 6 and ensuring universal, equitable and dignified access to sanitation. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:04:55]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana. Ghana [1:05:03]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ghana thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcomes his emphasis on universal, equitable, and non-discriminatory access to adequate, safe and dignified sanitation. We particularly appreciate the report's recognition of Ghana's Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Water and Sanitation Project, through which sanitation facilities were constructed in more than 260 schools. This demonstrates how targeted investment can address sanitation deficits while advancing children's rights. Ghana's commitment to advancing sanitation as a matter of public health, human dignity and sustainable development is underpinned by the 1992 Constitution, which provides an important framework for promoting the welfare of the people and protecting the environment. Our national environmental sanitation strategy and action plan promotes the implementation of community-led total sanitation as an approach that empowers communities to identify sanitation challenges, mobilize collective action, and address open defecation. Mr. Special Rapporteur, given the persistent financing, governance, and behavioral challenges affecting sanitation, what measures do you recommend to strengthen international cooperation, support community-led approaches, and accelerate universal access, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:06:26]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Benin. Benin [1:06:34]: Thank you, Vice-President. Benin would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and his commitment to the right to water and sanitation, which is crucial for dignity and health and the exercise of human rights. Since 2016, this right has been translated at the national level in Benin through investment and reforms that have significantly improved access to these services in the rural and urban areas, with the view to achieving universal and equitable coverage by 2030. However, our progress remains vulnerable to climate change, demographic growth and financing constraints. Benin therefore calls for greater technical and financial cooperation so as to develop resilient infrastructure and to improve attainment of SDG 6. We will continue our efforts to guarantee that one and all has safe and equal access to water and sanitation. Special rapporteur, what best practices can you recommend so as to ensure sustainable services in areas that are vulnerable to climate change while guaranteeing sustainability and resilience of infrastructure and affordable prices for the poorest households? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:07:55]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. Japan [1:07:59]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I would like to thank the Mr. Special Rapporteur for his presentation. Japan has carefully reviewed the report and would like to respond to the following point mentioned therein. While the report mentioned that the tap water of more than 450,000 people in seven municipalities was contaminated with forever chemicals in Okinawa, in addressing the issue of PFOS and PFOA, it is important to prevent ingestion through drinking water. For this reason, as of this April, it has been made mandatory for water service provider to comply with the water quality standard for PFOS and PFOA. Following this change, all provider, including the Okinawa prefecture government, are required to comply with this standard and conduct water quality inspection. In this regard, I would like to highlight that on the website of Okinawa prefecture government, it is stated that the concentration of PFOS and PFOA is below the national water quality Therefore, the safety of treated water is ensured. The government of Japan takes the concern of the local residents about PFAS seriously. We are taking the necessary measure based on scientific findings and sharing the relevant information with the public. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:09:11]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire. Côte d’Ivoire [1:09:18]: President, Cote d'Ivoire aligns itself with the statements delivered by the groups to which it belongs. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report, which takes stock 16 years after the right to sanitation was recognized as a standalone human right. My delegation laments, along with the Special Rapporteur, that despite that recognition, only a handful of States have actually enshrined it in their national legislation, the result being that we are late in ensuring that this right is effectively realised. My country, aware that access to sanitation is crucial for human dignity, health, equality and sustainable development, has enshrined the human right to sanitation in its national legislation by adopting the law of 23 November 2023 on the hygiene and health code and a law dated 25 June 2025 on sanitation and drainage. My country has thus strengthened its public policies to ensure that every citizen, especially women, children and vulnerable populations, have access to safe, affordable and adapted sanitary facilities. Special Rapporteur, your report underscores the need to place the principles on human rights at the heart of public policy and investment regarding sanitation, but many states struggle to do this in practice. So, my question is as follows: how can states ensure that local communities can participate in an effective and sustainable way in the management of sanitation? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:10:52]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia. Malaysia [1:11:00]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Malaysia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and aligns itself with the OIC statement. Malaysia fully agrees that sanitation is fundamental to human dignity. We are deeply concerned with the situation in Gaza, where extensive damage to infrastructure continues to jeopardize access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for 95% of its people, compounding an already acute humanitarian crisis. Mr. Vice President, domestically, Malaysia continues to expand access to water and sanitation. Our approach integrates water resources, water supply, and sewage management, including through the national 2040 water transformation agenda. We are also taking steps to strengthen wastewater treatment and protect water resources to ensure that sanitation services remain accessible and affordable for all. Regionally, the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration recognizes the right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights continues to promote exchanges on applying human rights principles to these areas. Such cooperation remains important to support good practices and narrow access gaps across ASEAN. Special Rapporteur. How can states and regional mechanisms come together to accelerate affordable sanitation coverage for rural and undeserved communities? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:12:31]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jordan. Jordan [1:12:41]: Thank you, Vice President. We'd like to thank the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Agudo, for his report, and we reaffirm the importance of his insistence on the right to sanitation and access to those services by the neediest populations. In Jordan, wastewater management and sanitation are priorities as part of our national water strategy for the period 2023, 2040. As part of our most recent efforts, we have upgraded the wastewater networks in the Jarash and Zouf camps in concert with UNICEF and other partners in order to improve services and further protect public health. Mr. Vice President, water scarcity and climate change, in addition to other burdens that refugee host countries suffer, requires international cooperation that takes into account the needs and capabilities of those countries. This is why we insist upon the importance of providing and the necessary funding for the sustainability of such services. We also need to expand the scope of existing networks and making sure that wastewater management is safe and that existing water resources are protected from pollution. Our question to the SR, what are the mechanisms that you propose to facilitate deconcentrated wastewater management services and tools, especially in water scarce countries? that are also host to refugees. Thank you. Thank HRC · Vice-President [1:14:09]: you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq. Iraq [1:14:17]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Iraqi delegation appreciates the efforts of the Special Rapporteur in preparing the report, and we concur with him as to the concern regarding the reduction of the enjoyment of the right to sanitation services and safe drinking water. Iraq also concurs that there is a need to upgrade infrastructure, especially in the neediest areas. We are facing increasing challenges given water scarcity, as well as the destruction to our infrastructure at the hands of the terrorist group Daesh in the previous period. In order to confront these challenges, we have undertaken steps to improve our management of water and increase efficiency. This includes our cooperation with the IOM and UNEP, as well as other new projects to improve wastewater management and processing, while also decreasing the environmental impact. We also condemn strongly what the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, are suffering in terms of destruction that is systematic to the water and sanitation infrastructure by the occupying power. Using the deprivation of the population from water and sanitation as a tool of war, this only exacerbates the suffering of civilians, particularly children and women. We reiterate our commitment to improving the enjoyment of the right to sanitation and water resources in HRC · Vice-President [1:15:51]: Thank you very much, Aina. I give the floor to UNICEF. UNICEF [1:15:56]: Mr. President, UNICEF welcomes the Special Rapporteur's final report and would like to express deep appreciation for his steadfast leadership in advancing the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation over the past six years. The report rightly calls for sanitation to no longer be treated as secondary to water. Today, 3.4 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation. For children, this denial of right in turn threatens their rights to adequate nutrition, to access to education, and to the highest attainable standard of health. Girls face distinct barriers, including during menstruation, and children with disabilities and those living in poverty, fragile settings, and humanitarian crises are too often left further behind. UNICEF echoes the call to move beyond infrastructure targets and ensure services that are safe, accessible, affordable, acceptable, and sustainable across all spheres of life. This requires safe management across the entire sanitation chain. We urge states to place equality, non-discrimination, participation, and accountability at the center of sanitation laws, policies, and investments, prioritize public financing for underserved communities, schools, and healthcare facilities, and strengthen climate-resilient systems, regulation, data, and accountability. The December 2026 UN Water Conference offers a critical opportunity to turn this renewed commitment into measurable action. UNICEF stands ready to work with states and partners so that every child can enjoy the human rights to water and sanitation everywhere and without discrimination. HRC · Vice-President [1:17:30]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka [1:17:35]: Mr. Vice-President, Sri Lanka welcomes the Special Rapporteur's report and take note of his recommendations. Sri Lanka recognizes that access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is essential and is also a basic human right. In this regard, the United Nations Water Conference in 2026 will provide an important opportunity to accelerate action on water and sanitation, strengthen international cooperation, and enhance support for developing countries in addressing persistent and emerging challenges in this sector. Sri Lanka has 103 river basins across the island, with more than 90% of its population having access to safe drinking water. While challenges remain, efforts are continuing to strengthen the sustainability of the water and sanitation sector. The government is committed to providing safe water and sanitation facilities for all its citizens under its manifesto, Thriving Nation, a Beautiful Life. We also continue to empower girls and women with knowledge and practices essential for maintaining their menstrual health. Initiatives are being implemented in selected rural schools for sustainable water use with the assistance of UN and other partners. In conclusion, Sri Lanka reaffirms that the right to safe water and sanitation needs to move beyond infrastructure targets and should place equality, non-discrimination, participation, and sustainability at the core of policies and investments. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:19:07]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Morocco. Morocco [1:19:13]: Sixteen years after its recognition, the right to sanitation remains the neglected component of the right to water. My delegation shares the Special Rapporteur's assessment that it is still too often overlooked. For Morocco, sanitation is both an essential service and a resource. Under its national water plan through 2050, treated wastewater is reused to irrigate green spaces and agricultural land, providing a concrete response to water stress. Making this right a reality requires reaching underserved populations, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, and ensuring women's full participation in the design and management of sanitation services. Ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, Morocco supports making sanitation a pillar of the global water agenda, backed by adequate financing, including concessional financing for Africa. Finally, my delegation would welcome the Special Rapporteur's views on the financial instruments needed to ensure the sustainable provision of rural sanitation beyond market-based approaches. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:20:29]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji. Fiji [1:20:35]: Vice-President, Fiji thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of the report and for his continued work to advance the human rights to safe and drinking water and sanitation. Water is the foundation for human dignity, collective stability and prosperity. It connects everyone and everything, breathing life into our communities, our economies and our ecosystem. As a small island developing state on the front lines of climate change, ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation is increasingly challenging. Rising sea levels, salt water intrusion, extreme weather events, and the growing frequency of cyclones place significant pressure on our water infrastructure and affect the availability and quality of water, particularly for vulnerable communities. Fiji emphasizes the importance of strengthening cooperation at the international, regional and national levels, including with the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference and support for climate resilient water and sanitation infrastructure, including through Edward and accessible financing. technological transfer and capacity building. We reaffirm our continued support and collaboration with the Special Rapporteur in ensuring the protection and advancement of human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:22:03]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Libya. Libya [1:22:11]: Shoukran, Aseid, nabar, rais. Thank you, Vice-President. We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and for the information therein. Last April, Libya launched its National Strategy for Water 2050 in cooperation with UNDP and in order to address the challenges of climate change. This initiative is based on desalination of seawater. the reuse of treated wastewater and the use of rainwater for irrigation. We are also seeking to move from a crisis management mode to long-term planning of water resources use. We cannot separate water from human dignity, President, which is why the deprivation inflicted upon the population of Gaza, the population deprived of water and sanitation, is a crime. Children and older persons are faced with water shortages. They live in ruins, waiting for the rainy season. We call for these crimes to end. as soon as possible so as to preserve the right to water for all. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:23:36]: I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Senegal. Senegal [1:23:42]: Thank you, Vice-President. We'd like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his presentation, and we welcome his approach, which calls for us to move beyond an approach focused on infrastructure. We believe that sanitation and water is a priority. And therefore, my country is pursuing investment for ensuring affordable access to water and sanitation, particularly through major projects such as water transfers and others which are community-based but rely on political support and community ownership, decentralization, and active participation by women. As we are moving towards the 2026 UN Water Conference, Senegal calls for that event to be a landmark moment in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6. Bearing in mind all the challenges linked to financing, urban growth, climate change and wastewater management, Senegal would like to underscore the importance of enhanced international cooperation. This cooperation should ensure access to adequate financing, appropriate technology transfer and institutional and local capacity building. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:24:58]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe [1:25:03]: Thank you, Mr. President. Zimbabwe welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur and takes note of the recommendations made in the report. Making the right to sanitation a reality for all requires moving beyond basic infrastructure to ensure services are safe, affordable, accessible, and grounded in human dignity for everyone. It calls for governments to prioritize financing sanitation on their national agendas. In 2025, Zimbabwe strengthened its WASH framework through the National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy and Strategy, the Roadmap for the Elimination of Open Defecation, and the Roadmap for WASH in Healthcare Facilities in support of SDG 6. We have strengthened our legislative framework, which provides for the sustainable management and utilization of water resources, water-related infrastructure and services, and the protection of public health, water equality, and environmental sanitation. Government continues to invest in climate-resilient water infrastructure, and water quality monitoring is undertaken across water sources to safeguard public health. Zimbabwe acknowledges that challenges remain, but reaffirms its commitment to strengthening regulation, infrastructure development, and inclusive service delivery. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:26:32]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gabon. Gabon [1:26:38]: Thank you, Vice-President. Gabon aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Africa Group, and we congratulate the Special Rapporteur on the quality of his report. My country attaches particular attention to menstrual hygiene. That's why we co-sponsored a resolution entitled The Management of Menstrual Hygiene, Human Rights and Gender Equality, which was adopted by the Council twice now under the aegis of the Africa Group. We believe that states should guarantee for girls and women equitable access to drinking water, to adequate sanitary facilities with soap and menstrual hygiene products that are hygienic, safe and environmentally friendly. The Government of Gabon has therefore carried out awareness-raising campaigns at school in order to combat taboos and stereotypes surrounding menstruation, and we have also distributed hygiene kits and menstruation kits in social and educational facilities. Access to drinking water is guaranteed by article 37.2 of our new constitution. Our government has stepped up its public investment in order to further extend coverage and modernize water infrastructure and sanitary infrastructure, in particular in urban and rural areas. However, despite these efforts, challenges remain. Therefore, we would like to thank our public and private partners for their support as we seek to find a lasting solution to the problem. We are also trying to ensure that, uh, the universal exercise of the human right to sanitation can be included in the program for the post 2030. HRC · Vice-President [1:28:14]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Yemen. Yemen [1:28:23]: Thank you, Vice-President. We'd like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his report, and we declare that access to drinking water and sanitation is a fundamental right. It strives to ensure human dignity and the right to life. The water sector in my country faces a very severe crisis because of water scarcity. The crisis has been compounded drastically because of the attacks by Houthi militia, destroying water supply networks and imposing an unjust blockade on the city of Taiz. The humanitarian crisis people face there is particularly alarming. So the Yemeni government has been deploying efforts to repair infrastructure and use renewable resources, including rainwater. We call upon the international community to provide us with financial and technical support to meet water needs. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:29:48]: I now call on the distinguished representative of Cyprus. Cyprus [1:29:51]: Cyprus aligns itself with the EU statement and thanks the Special Rapporteur for this important report. Access to safe and adequate sanitation is a human right, essential to human dignity, health and survival. At the same time, it has become a matter of equality and non-discrimination. The sanitation crisis, compounded by growing water scarcity and climate change, disproportionately affects women, girls, and persons with disabilities. Inadequate and unsafe sanitation can undermine privacy, dignity, and bodily autonomy, keep girls out of school, and expose women and girls to heightened risks of gender-based violence. It is essential, therefore, to ensure that national sanitation policies are rights-based and responsive to the needs of those most at risk. Sanitation facilities must be safe, accessible, affordable, and culturally acceptable. Cyprus remains fully committed to the SDGs, in particular SDG 6. As an island nation facing prolonged drought, severe climate pressures and acute water scarcity, we know that environmental challenges can directly affect the enjoyment of human rights. As such, environmental and health protections have been integrated into our policy framework to protect the right to sanitation for all. Special Rapporteur, how can international solidarity can international solidarity be fostered to eliminate sanitation poverty globally? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:31:23]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Maldives. Maldives [1:31:29]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Maldives thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and joins others in commending his years of service to this mandate. Mr. Vice President, For Maldives, sanitation is inseparable from the right to safe drinking water enshrined in our constitution and the Water and Sewerage Act of 2020. On the Special Rapporteur's reference to the constitutional provision on sewerage, We note that, although it is framed in relation to citizens, service delivery in practice is governed by the Act as amended in 2025, which is framed geographically, requiring adequate systems on every inhabited island, and it strengthens governance by supporting island councils, professional licensing and water testing standards. Guided by that framework, we have continued to expand water and sewerage systems across our islands. In the Greater Male area, we have also reinforced water security through network interconnection and the construction of new water storage tanks. We are further strengthening climate resilience nationwide through desalination, rainwater harvesting, and freshwater lens protection so that the new infrastructure remains sustainable in the face of changing climate. In conclusion, could the Special Rapporteur advise how small island developing states can strengthen the capacity of local councils to finance and manage sustainable sanitation services? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:32:46]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Nigeria. Nigeria [1:32:55]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Nigeria thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report on making the human right to sanitation a reality for all. Nigeria agrees that sanitation is essential to human dignity, public health, and the enjoyment of other rights. In this regard, progress requires not only infrastructure, but also maintenance, public awareness, community participation, and appropriate attention to vulnerable communities. Mr. President, my delegation would like to provide updates on the reference in the report to damage to water and sanitation facilities during the 2021 floods and the subsequent cholera outbreak in displacement camps in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria. In response, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Center for Disease control and prevention, as well as state authorities have strengthened disease surveillance, oral cholera vaccination, water chlorination, and emergency response. Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and other national initiatives, the government continues to expand sustainable and climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene services, including in displaced and host communities. However, sustained progress requires national efforts to be complemented by international cooperation, particularly through adequate financing, technology transfer, and capacity building for climate-resilient sanitation systems. Finally, in conclusion, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to advancing the human right to sanitation for all. I thank you, Mr. Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [1:34:25]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Cabo Verde. Cabo Verde [1:34:37]: Thank you, Vice-President. Cabo Verde endorses the statements made by the CPLP and the African Group on this subject. We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for presenting his report on the human rights to water and sanitation, and we commend him on the conclusions and recommendations in the report, which we fully support. It is important to recognise those fundamental rights in domestic law. We have done so through constitutional provisions on human rights, health, quality of life and the environment, as well as through article 12 of the constitution and international law. That recognition has been enshrined in the water and sanitation code from 2015 and reaffirmed in our national strategic plan for the sector, which was adopted last year in line with relevant United Nations resolutions. Capo Verde is an arid country. We're exposed to drought and climate change, but we've made significant progress, and we plan to ensure universal access to drinking water and sanitation by 2030. We will also strengthen water security, modernize networks, and use renewable energies for desalination, and also reuse treated wastewater. We welcome the role of the UN and the Human Rights Council and High Commissioner, but you need tangible action as well as laws. International cooperation for developing countries and small island developing states is not just a nice to have, but a must have for achieving this right. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:36:15]: I now call on Mauritius. Mauritius · Africa Group [1:36:18]: Mr. Vice President, Mauritius aligns itself with the statement delivered on the behalf of the African Group. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report underlining that access to safe water and proper sanitation is a fundamental human right. It is important for us to remember that many of our ancestors died from diseases resulting from a lack of effective sanitation. We should also be concerned that diseases such as cholera, typhoid and polio have not yet been completely eradicated. Mauritius recognizes access to clean and safe drinking water and proper sanitation as a fundamental human right, essential for preserving dignity, ensuring health and advancing sustainable development for all. As a small island developing state, Mauritius is a water-scarce country, relying primarily on groundwater and surface water. However, climate change and the El Nino effect have reduced rainfall and the replenishment of our aquifers and surface water bodies. Mr. President, Mauritius is committed to achieving SDG 6 and is making significant progress toward universal access, particularly for the most vulnerable. Measures include rehabilitating sewerage infrastructure in low-income housing and exempting these families from wastewater charges. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:37:42]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta. SMOM [1:37:50]: Mr Vice-President, we thank Mr Pedro Arrojo Agudo for his final report and for his unwavering commitment to the realisation of the human rights falling within his mandate. The Sovereign Order of Malta shares the Special Rapporteur's concern for the 3.4 billion people worldwide that still lack access to safely managed sanitation services. A human rights-based approach to sanitation governance is key to accelerating the achievement of universal access and ensuring that human needs are placed at the center of the regulatory framework. In terms of implementation, sanitation remains a pillar of our WASH projects, which provide support to vulnerable populations. For example, our programme at the Nakivale refugee settlement in Uganda has improved its medical waste management system, provided building materials for almost 500 household toilets and rehabilitated 17 tap stands for drinking water in 2025. In South Sudan, our agency, Malteser International, recently built two solar-powered water systems with five collection points each, which in addition to other measures, enable us to provide daily wash services to more than 20,000 refugees in the Gorong camp and to residents of host communities. We also promote water user committees made up of volunteers from among the refugees, which keep the collection points clean and foster the participation of beneficiaries. We would like to ask, what sanitation strategies would the Special Rapporteur recommend to address situations of displacement and conflict? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:39:24]: Thank you very much. This was the last speaker that we could accommodate in this debate. So we're now going to carry on with the speakers list from representatives of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. I call first of all on the Independent Commission for Human Rights of the State of Palestine by video. State of Palestine [1:39:51]: We thank the Special Rapporteur for his important report, which reaffirms that sanitation is a human right in itself, and essential to health, dignity, safe water, and a clean environment. In Gaza, the collapse of water and sanitation systems has turned these concerns into a daily reality. The destruction of civilian infrastructure, combined with restrictions on fuel, equipment, and materials needed to operate and repair essential facilities, has exposed civilians to unsafe water, sewage, pollution, and serious public health risks. Mr. President, sanitation is not simply a service or an infrastructure issue. It is fundamental to human dignity and survival. Civilians cannot be expected to live with dignity when they lack safe toilets, clean water, and functioning sanitation systems. We call for the protection and restoration of water and sanitation infrastructure, unrestricted entry of essential fuel, equipment, and spare parts, and accountability for violations affecting these fundamental rights. Special Rapporteur, what measures should States take to ensure the realization of this right when the destruction of sanitation infrastructure and restrictions on essential supplies severely undermine access to sanitation, particularly in situations of occupation and armed conflict? And I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:41:19]: Thank you very much. I now call on the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights by video. Ukraine · Commissioner for Human Rights [1:41:28]: Special Reporter, ladies and gentlemen. The right to a safe drinking water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. Yet in Ukraine, Russia's armed aggression has turned it into a daily struggle for hundreds of thousands of people. Russian attacks on critical infrastructure continue to destroy water pipelines, pumping stations, and water treatment facilities. The situation is especially severe in frontline areas, where older persons, persons with disabilities, IDPs, and other vulnerable. Groups face the greatest risks. The destruction of the Kakhovka HPP on 6 June 2023 became one of the gravest examples of these attacks. Around 1 million people lost access to safe drinking water. Ukraine calls on the international community to strengthen support for the protection and restoration of water infrastructure, ensure. Accountability for those responsible, facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian missions for restore water supply and sanitation in conflict-affected areas. And joint efforts to mobilize investment for the reconstruction of environmentally sustainable water infrastructure. HRC · Vice-President [1:42:59]: Thank you very much. I now call on the Zimbabwean Human Rights Commission. Zimbabwe [1:43:07]: Thank you, Mr. President. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. and supports efforts to enhance universal access to safe water and dignified sanitation. The Commission commends the Government of Zimbabwe for guaranteeing the right to sufficient, safe, clean and potable water under section 77 of the Constitution, acknowledging the State's responsibility to progressively realize this right. Although the right of sanitation is not explicitly enshrined in our constitution, there is a national sanitation and hygiene policy in place, which aims to achieve universal access to dignified sanitation by 2030. Whilst the Commission recognizes efforts by government to improve access to safe water, such as the solar powered borehole program that benefits rural communities, challenges remain. Inadequate access to safe water continues to expose some communities to contaminated sources, increasing the risk of preventable diseases and undermining health and dignity. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission therefore recommends that the Government of Zimbabwe scales up sustainable delivery of safe drinking water and sanitation, especially to vulnerable communities. and to explicitly recognize and protect the human right to sanitation within the national legislative framework. The Commission further urges member states to support this. Thank you, Mr. President. HRC · Vice-President [1:44:46]: Thank you. This was the last national human rights institution inscribed on the list. So we'll now move on to non-governmental organizations. We'll start with Matt for Peace, Development and Human Rights Association. Speaker 107 [1:45:06]: Thank you, Vice President. We'd like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and his visit to Egypt. And we're following the dialogue between the Egyptian government and the Special Rapporteur with a view to the implementation of the recommendations in the report. Now we're talking here about water in Egypt, but Ethiopia is building three new dams, including the Great Renaissance Dam, and it's the same Ethiopia which protested against the building of the Aswan Dam. They also signed a memorandum on the right to shared use of Nile resources. So the Ethiopian government is now rejecting all initiatives to find fair rules on the use of the Renaissance Dam and ensuring that water resources of the Nile reach the Egyptian population. Ethiopia is taking unilateral action, which counters any international attempts to regulate the use of water. So, Matt would like to highlight the fact that there have been violations of the rights of people living downstream. This is only going to compound tension in the Horn of Africa. The international community should not just take a back seat. The. HRC · Vice-President [1:46:49]: The next speaker, Development Assistance International, is absent, so I now give the floor to Vivat International for a joint statement. Speaker 109 [1:46:58]: Mr. Vice-President, Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland's largest lake and the largest freshwater lake in Ireland and the United Kingdom, reached a critical point in 2023 when severe eutrophication triggered extensive blue-green algal blooms. The crisis has recurred for a fourth consecutive year, damaging aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. In 2026, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs first recorded blue-green algae in April, and since then there's been more than 70 reported sightings. Blue-green algae can produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals. The stakes are particularly high because Lough Neagh supplies around 40 per cent of Northern Ireland's drinking water. Although treatment processes protect drinking water safety, algal blooms have affected the acceptability of water supplied from treatment works that draw on the lough. The principal underlying problem is excessive nutrient enrichment, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. Government data estimates that approximately 56 per cent arises from agriculture, 31 per cent from wastewater treatment works, 12 per cent from septic tanks and 1 per cent from other diffuse sources. Other factors, including record-high water temperatures, invasive zebra mussel species and sand dredging, are affecting the natural ecosystem of the loch and can further favour algal growth. Vivat International and Ebon Rice International urge the UK Government, Northern Ireland Executive, local authorities and stakeholders to act urgently and collectively. Effective implementation of the Lough Neagh action plan, stronger nutrient controls, investment in wastewater infrastructure, improved monitoring and enforcement. And access to the right to safe, clean water. HRC · Vice-President [1:48:35]: Thank you very much. I call on China Health Charity Foundation. Speaker 111 [1:48:40]: We commend the Special Rapporteur for his insightful report. Sixteen years after its recognition, the human right to sanitation remains unrealized for 3.4 billion people, and inadequate water and sanitation continue to undermine the right to health and education, particularly for children in impoverished and marginalized communities. As a health-focused NGO, we try to contribute where we can. In less developed areas of Qinghai province, we've supported the renovation of drinking water facilities in local schools. Replacing outdated systems with safe and reliable water points, we hope this work can help reduce students' exposure to water-borne diseases, improve hygiene, and enable children to learn in a healthier and more dignified environment. Its observation that adequate water and sanitation in schools are fundamental to children's health inspires us to carry this work forward. We humbly call on states and all stakeholders to place human rights principles at the center of water and sanitation policies and investments. prioritizing and resource school and marginalized communities and to make this right a reality for all, starting with the furthest behind. Thank. You. HRC · Vice-President [1:50:07]: Thank you very much. I now call on Frontline through video. Environmental justice researcher [1:50:15]: Mr. President, my name is Dalraba Nayatova. I'm speaking for Frontline Defenders. I'm an environmental justice researcher from rural Kazakhstan, working on water in Aral Sea region and on schools. We welcome to rapporteur's findings that only a handful of states recognize sanitation as a distinct right in law. Kazakhstan passed a new water code last year, but sanitation is still not recognized as a distinct human rights in law. In a study of three rural children, a quarter of children at one school said the toilets were locked and they had no keys. Some children said they deliberately did not drink water at school so they would not need to use the toilet. Students also identified the lack of separate toilets for girls as a problem. That is not simply a plumbing problem. That is 11 year old girl learning that her body is an inconvenience. The reporter rightly asks us to move beyond infrastructure and put dignity, equality, participation and accountability at the center of sanitation. We ask states to recognize sanitation in law, publish sex disaggregated data on sanitation in schools, and ensure that rural communities and those who speak up can participate safely and meaningfully in decisions about water and sanitation. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:51:45]: Thank you very much. I now call on Howa Society for Women by video. Speaker 115 [1:51:52]: President, we endorse the emphasis placed on the need to strengthen dialogue among Nile Basin partner states to conclude agreements on the management of transboundary water resources. In this regard, we believe that unconditional negotiation and prior consultation in good faith among states represent the most effective paths towards reaching understanding and a mutually acceptable agreement. How a society highlight this issue as a citizen's organizations affected by the decision of one of the nine upstream states to pursue a different approach, refusing to reach a legally binding agreement governing the rules for filling and operating dams, continuing to Unilateral decision and actions without prior consultation with riparian states create a situation that threatens to inflict serious and indeed catastrophic harm on the two affected downstream countries. Accordingly, we recommend that the international community and all influential parties urge Nile Basin governments to urgently reach a legally binding agreement regulating the filling and operation of dams. HRC · Vice-President [1:53:18]: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. I now call on Partners for Transparency. Speaker 117 [1:53:28]: Thank you, Vice President. We'd like to congratulate the Special Rapporteur on his report and the Egyptian government for its efforts to promote the right to water through new infrastructure and projects to provide drinking water. Nevertheless, we're worried about unilateral measures taken to fill and operate the Great Renaissance Dam dam, which will reduce the supply of water to Egypt from 55 billion cubic metres to 30. This represents a dangerous drop of 1,000 cubic metres per capita. So the right to water is being converted into an instrument of political pressure plunging millions of Egyptians possibly into unhealthy living conditions. So the Council should pressure Ethiopia into entering a legally binding agreement on the filling and use of the Great Renaissance Dam. The right to water must be non-negotiable because it's fundamental for the right to life. We must strive to protect 120 million people because the international human rights system is being put to the test by this operation. HRC · Vice-President [1:54:57]: Thank you. Thank you very much. I now call on Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. CHRS [1:55:05]: Thank you. CHRS and partner organizations thank the Special Rapporteur for his report on his visit to Egypt. We welcome the report's documentation of serious concerns: contaminated and inadequately chlorinated water in places of detention, discrimination facing refugees and residents of informal settlements, and the non-disclosure of millions of annual water quality analyses on national security grounds. These findings point to deeper root causes. First, the closure of civic space, The Special Rapporteur himself faced serious difficulty meeting researchers, social actors, and human rights defenders due to fear of reprisals. This is a reality we documented in our joint submission ahead of the visit. The second is the securitization of water governance, reinforced by Law No. 172 of 2025, which can be used to criminalize public discussion of water quality itself. Like other draconian laws, it uses vague terms like "intend to disrupt public peace and social security" to restrict the freedom of expression on this crucial issue. Until these root causes are addressed, technical and infrastructure progress will remain fragile and unaccountable. CHRS and partner organizations call on Egypt to guarantee safe civil society participation, end. Reprisals against those cooperating with UN mechanisms, and repeal provisions criminalizing public debate on water management. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:56:36]: Thank you. I now call on ILGA World for a joint statement. ILGA [1:56:45]: Mr. President, ILGA World and GATE welcome the Special Rapporteur's report and particularly its explicit recognition of the barriers faced by trans, intersex and gender diverse persons in accessing sanitation. The report also affirms their right to use toilets corresponding to their gender identity. That claim also protects intersex people. This is an important recognition that access cannot be measured solely by the presence of a toilet. Indeed, for LGBTI people, a sanitation facility may technically be available while remaining effectively inaccessible because using it creates risk of harassment, violence, humiliation, forced outing or arrest. We also welcome the report's inclusive approach to menstrual hygiene. The Special Rapporteur explicitly recognizes that transgender men, non-binary people and intersex persons may menstruate. health policies must therefore move beyond assumption that menstruation concerns only women and girls. Products, information and safe disposal facilities should be available without discrimination and across restroom regardless of gender designation. Moreover, poverty, homelessness, displacement and exclusion from shelters and institutions are barriers and condition that leave LGBTI people dependent on inadequate or unsafe wash facilities. We therefore urge States to ensure that sanitation facilities are free, safe, accessible and dignified for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation. HRC · Vice-President [1:58:20]: Thank you. I now call on Minority Rights by video. Speaker 123 [1:58:25]: Mr. Special Rapporteur, Minority Rights Group warmly welcomes your report. We appreciate your extensive attention to marginalized groups. We echo your call on States to eradicate the practice known as manual scavenging, where Dalits in India and Christians and low-caste Hindus in Pakistan continue to have to collect excrement in appalling conditions. This leads us to raise the impact of religious and ethnic discrimination. Your report mentions Cahokia Heights in the United States, where residents have long faced extensive flooding by untreated sewage. The community is approximately 70% Black or African American and filed a federal complaint in 2023, alleging that 98% of American Rescue Plan Act infrastructure funds were allocated to projects in predominantly white communities. Concerning your country visit report on Egypt, we would also include Bedouins, Nubians and other communities that face discrimination when it comes to access to clean water and sanitation. We conclude by extending our warm thanks for your work as Special Rapporteur. You have consistently drawn attention to minorities, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups. HRC · Vice-President [1:59:50]: Thank you. Thank you. This was the last speaker we could accommodate for this dialogue. I now give the floor to Mr. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo for his concluding remarks. You have seven minutes, sir. Thank you very much, President. UN · Special Rapporteur [2:00:13]: In regard to the visit to Egypt, I will remain, I tell you, I will remain open to collaborating with the government, with NGOs, experts, and human right defenders to better understand and implement, if possible, my recommendations, even in a personal capacity once my term ends. In French now for those states who spoke French to me. you there were several of you who took the floor Cameroon, Djibouti, Cote d'Ivoire and others I'm sorry I can't list all of you but you did raise the issue alongside other states of the financial deficit and another matter that is very much linked to finance is community participation as I said in my report The principle of priority in order to achieve human rights should be developed, including for the poorest communities. And I mentioned the example of the poorest in the world and women who make water a priority. They are extremely poor, but they decide what is truly the priority for their families. So this is really the crux of the matter, but at the budgetary level, it's true, there needs to be that priority. I also recommend that you seriously turn to the multilateral bank. The bank should provide supplementary funds so as to have public financial strategies that serve municipalities and communities. With regard to community participation, that is crucial, recognizing the rights holders. Of course, everybody's a stakeholder, but a stakeholder is not the same thing as a rights holder. You know, business enterprise is driven to maximize profits even when it comes to water, but that is not at all the same thing as people who need water in order to survive. So you have to draw a distinction and you have to give priority to the rights holders. And in the same vein, You have to bear in mind that most of these, most of the people concerned do have a community structure around them. So it's important to strengthen that by also enhancing the equal participation of women. And there's an interesting example for you to follow. Colombia in recent years has adopted an approach of partnerships between the state and the communities. In English now, different countries have addressed the problem of women and girls and menstrual health and hygiene. So important, it's very, very important. And you have the European Union, Finland, and others. As human right, It is the obligation of states to guarantee the means necessary for its fulfillment. It's not the question of, yeah, up to you, up to the women. No, no, it's an obligation of the state in schools, in public spaces, to have a dedicated restroom for women and adolescent girls that offer adequate hygiene and privacy, as well as the provision of necessary supplies free of charge to those living in poverty. And they mentioned different examples, positive examples in the report, Brazil, Uganda, and now I just knew Gabon. So finally, Gaza, well, cutting off water supply, destroying sanitation systems, and blocking food supplies constitute a silent bomb. Yet, not less little than those that destroy buildings, especially for children and infants. History and our descendants will put us to shame for not having been able to stop this brutal genocide. We invite you to participate, in any case, in the side event on water and sanitation in armed conflicts on Thursday, 2:00 p.m. Well, and then there are others intervening on the question of the next UN conference in 2026. Thank you to Senegal and Emirates and the different countries that have intervened in these questions. I finish with some allegation words. mainly focus on this question. I would like to devote my final words to the challenge the United Nations faces regarding the global water crisis. As you are well aware, the UN lacks an institution dedicated to the management of water and aquatic ecosystem. This has led to initiatives such the World Water Forums being organized by the private sector. I often ask people to imagine a scenario where the WHO did not exist, and the entity convening us periodically to reflect on the risk of new pandemics was the pharmaceutical lobby. Well, that is precisely the situation that has prevailed regarding water management. Fortunately, the 2023 Water Conference in New York raised a question that remains unanswered half a century after the first water conference in Mar del Plata, Argentina. And the question is, will the UN assume its responsibility regarding the global water crisis by institutionalizing the conference as a forum for reflection open to broad societal participation? I am aware that the United Nations is navigating a critical period, facing powerful attacks from those who seek to dismantle multilateralism, sideline human rights, and impose a new order based on the law of the strongest. Yet, Excellencies, do not forget that crises are windows of opportunity to drive changes. are necessary and the United Nation as we will know is in need of these changes. Let us not allow this crisis to paralyze us in meeting our responsibility to address the global water crisis. I urge you and excellencies to view the current crisis facing the United Nations as an opportunity to reform and strengthen the multilateralism that the UN represents, specifically by championing the institutionalization of the Water Conference under the UN auspices to tackle the global water crisis. Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [2:07:49]: I thank Mr. Pedro Rojo Agudo. And this marks the end of this interactive dialogue. We will now take a short break before holding the interactive dialogue with the working group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination. Excellencies, distinguished participants, we will now hold the interactive dialogue with the working group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I now give the floor to Ms. Michelle Small, the chair rapporteur, to present the reports. You have the floor. UN · Chair-Rapporteur [2:10:54]: Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I have the honor to address you today on behalf of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the Rights of Peoples to Self-Determination and to present our report on the use of technology by mercenaries, mercenary-related actors, and private military and security companies in their services, operations, and activities. Mr. Vice President, We are living in an era of rapidly evolving and emerging technologies and pervasive digitalization, which has serious implications for human rights. Advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, surveillance technologies, commercial satellite services, cloud infrastructure, autonomous platforms, predictive analytics, and digital financing are transforming the way that actors under our mandate operate. Through technology, actors under our mandate are increasingly undertaking functions once the exclusive preserve of states, often with limited transparency, accountability, oversight and monitoring, with profound adverse impacts on human rights. The report argues that technology-enabled mercenarism, which is the development, sale, deployment and provision of for-profit offensive and defensive cyber, digital, geospatial and autonomous tools, by private actors, such as actors under our mandate, for or on behalf of state and non-state clients enable espionage, surveillance, disruption, attack, sabotage, warfare, and information operations across online accounts and platforms, networks, devices, and other infrastructures. This technologization of private force can occur in the context of armed hostilities, concerted acts of violence, undermining the constitutional order and territorial integrity of states, as well as undermining the rights of peoples to self-determination. As conflicts proliferate, states are relying more on private military and security companies and technology companies to collect, store, process, and analyze battlefield data. Actors under our mandate are increasingly involved in operating uncrewed aerial systems inclusive of drones, quadcopters, and counter uncrewed aerial systems, geospatial intelligence systems, signals intelligence, synthetic aperture radar technologies, as well as artificial intelligence-assisted targeting technologies. When machine-generated analysis and predictive systems are used to identify targets, often with limited human control or oversight, the risks of error, bias, and misidentification become significant. The right to life is therefore directly implicated. Surveillance technologies, facial recognition systems, biometric databases, and artificial intelligence enabled monitoring tools are being widely developed and used by private actors, inclusive of actors under our mandate against human rights defenders, activists, journalists, students, indigenous peoples, and minority communities. Information gathered through technological systems in some cases has been used to facilitate arbitrary arrest and detention, restrict and curtail freedom of movement, intimidate and silence local populations, and engage in lethal kinetic operations. Advanced technology designed, developed, and deployed by private actors has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable people, including Indigenous peoples, women, children, people with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights defenders. Of notable concern is the use of synthetic AI-generated content broadcast across digital and social media platforms to recruit children and young people into armed hostilities and spread hate, violence, and disinformation. In occupied territories and areas under external control, technology is being used to restrict political participation, cultural expression, and civic space. This directly affects the ability of peoples to determine their political future and enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights freely and without interference. Mr. Vice President, while technological capabilities have evolved rapidly, accountability mechanisms have not kept apace. The complexity of technology supply chains, the use of cloud infrastructure, encrypted communications, opaque corporate structures, and proprietary algorithms create significant obstacles to accountability and remedy. Victims often encounter immense difficulties in identifying those responsible for violations, accessing evidence, or obtaining justice. The result is an expanding accountability gap and an increasing risk of impunity. Technology-enabled mercenarism therefore presents a serious and growing risk to human rights, the rule of law, territorial integrity, and fundamentally to the rights of peoples to self-determination. Our report provides recommendations to a myriad of stakeholders, including states, the UN, technology companies, And we urge you to consider these recommendations carefully, including the need to effectively regulate the use of technologies, particularly autonomous technologies and military applications of artificial intelligence, and clearly delineate prohibited activities when contracting private actors or private service providers. We also urge technology companies, cybersecurity firms, and private intelligence providers, and private military and security companies to undertake robust human rights due diligence assessments and ensure that their products and services do not contribute to unlawful surveillance, information manipulation, autonomous targeting, or direct or indirect participation in armed hostilities that result in human rights violations. The working group recognizes that technology itself is not inherently harmful. We identify a number of positive practices, including human rights based procurement frameworks, transparency measures, responsible cybersecurity initiatives, and community led technological approaches that respect self-determination and human rights. Mr. Vice President. I now wish to present the findings of the Working Group's visit to Colombia, undertaken from 16 to 27 March 2026 at the invitation of the Government. The Working Group thanks the Government for its excellent support and cooperation in the preparation and conduct of the visit, along with colleagues from OHCR and all stakeholders who met our delegation. I reiterate our sincere condolences to Colombia for the passing of Ambassador Galan, whose assistance was invaluable to the preparation of our visit. Colombia faces many challenges stemming from the country's long history of armed conflict, which contributed to conditions that have seen many of its nationals recruited into military and security roles, and in some instances, mercenary activities in armed conflicts abroad. The government has taken important steps to addressing these challenges, including the enactment of Law 2569, approving the ratification of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries. It has also established an interagency task force to focus on mercenary-related issues and address recruitment networks. Many Colombians traveling abroad are victims of predatory recruitment. Practices akin to human trafficking, whereby individuals are deceptively lured into logistical and security-related contracts abroad, yet end up fighting on the front lines of armed conflicts. Predatory recruitment mainly targets former military personnel, young people, persons facing economic hardship, and even members of indigenous communities. Technology is central to recruitment. Recruitment occurs through social media platforms, informal intermediaries, and transnational networks operating across multiple jurisdictions. The human impact of this has been devastating. Relatives have been seeking information regarding their family members who have disappeared or died in armed conflicts abroad. Many face barriers in the repatriation of bodies, as well as obtaining death certificates, thus resulting in difficulties accessing support and benefits. We met representatives of those families throughout our visit. It is clear that predatory recruitment will continue to be a significant challenge for both government and families. The working group is also concerned by information regarding the involvement of Colombian nationals in conflicts abroad, where serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law have been alleged, including the training of child soldiers and other grave abuses. We are aware that some Colombians knowingly travel abroad to engage in mercenary activities with consequences to human rights, including impeding the right of peoples to self-determination. In terms of private security companies, the working group highlighted the need for the government to continue its efforts strengthening regulation through its national regulatory body, given the immense use of private security companies throughout the country and the likelihood of some of them being used as channels for illegal activities. The Working Group hopes to continue its close engagement with the Government of Colombia to address the diverse challenges identified in its report. Mr. Vice President, the Working Group would like to thank Member States, UN agencies, CSOs and all other stakeholders who have engaged with our mandate over the past year, and we look forward to ongoing engagements. I thank you and look forward to the interactive dialogue. HRC · Vice-President [2:20:58]: Thank you. In accordance with our practice, we will now hear from the delegation of the country concerned. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia. You have five minutes. Colombia [2:21:15]: Thank you very much, Vice-President. Colombia would like to thank the Working Group for the presentation of its report and for the visit to our country in March 2026. We welcome the dialogue that was held with the various national entities and we recognize how important it is to have such spaces for cooperation which help us to better understand this phenomenon and the challenges that it poses for states. My delegation would like to reiterate that Colombia notes with deep concern the increase in recruitment of Colombian nationals to participate in armed conflicts in different parts of the world, as well as the actions of networks or intermediaries who promote this kind of activity by exploiting the economic hopes of many people and the growing international demand for personnel with experience in the field of security. Colombia believes this is a phenomenon that is of a transnational nature. It cannot be addressed exclusively by the countries of origin. An appropriate response requires coordinated action with transit states and destination states, as well as greater responsibility of those who finance, facilitate, promote or otherwise profit from these activities. President, in recent years, Colombia has strengthened its institutional capacities in order to better understand this phenomenon and to improve coordination between different bodies and provide support to the Colombians concerned and their families. We have promoted mechanisms for inter-institutional coordination, prevention measures and information campaigns geared towards raising awareness about the risks associated to recruitment for participation in armed conflicts abroad. Similarly, the Foreign Office has stepped up its diplomatic and consular work in the face of situations that affect Colombians linked to armed conflict situations. Recently, Colombia formally requested that multiple states end all connection of Colombian citizens to their armed forces, and we have reiterated that our country does not promote, support or authorise participation by Colombian nationals in international armed conflicts. Our Government has also strengthened the assistance and care mechanisms for the families of Colombians who have died, disappeared, who have been detained or otherwise affected by this phenomenon. Similarly, we have developed preventive instruments, awareness-raising campaigns and co-operation measures with the relevant authorities in order to support investigations into misleading alleged job offers and recruitment networks. President, Colombia believes it is particularly important to move towards a better understanding of today's recruitment trends. The use of digital platforms, social networks, transnational brokering schemes have all significantly modified the ways in which people are recruited for activities linked to armed conflicts abroad. Therefore, international cooperation, the exchange of information and Capacity building in the field of prevention should be given pride of place in our state responses. We must also give greater attention to the role of certain intermediaries and private actors who operate beyond our national borders and which at times benefit from regulatory vacuums or the lack of effective international oversight mechanisms. The challenge is not only about the displacement of people towards conflict zones, but also about the structures that facilitate this and profit from it. My country will continue to strengthen its regulatory, institutional and preventive framework, and it will continue to cooperate with other states and with the relevant UN mechanisms. We will do so in order to protect our own citizens and prevent new situations of recruitment and to, and contributing to tackling a phenomenon which is having an ever greater effect on international security and stability. President, Colombia would like to reiterate its readiness to continue working in a constructive spirit with the working group and other states in order to find effective responses to this global challenge by promoting cooperation, prevention and the protection of our citizens. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:25:57]: I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia and I now give the floor to the Ombudsperson of Colombia. This will be a video message. You have three minutes. Colombia · Ombudsperson [2:26:10]: The Colombian Ombudsperson recognises how serious mercenarianism is and its impact on human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as peace and the self-determination of peoples. We consider that this phenomenon cannot be addressed solely through the lens of criminal law or security, because not every person from Colombia linked to a foreign conflict necessarily falls into one given legal category. We have been carrying out monitoring of situations linked to false job offers, um, deceit, exploitation, restrictions on freedom, the seizure of documents, and abuse of, uh, vulnerability, which can all represent predatory recruitment techniques or labor exploitation. Between January and August 2026, our Ombudsperson received 293 cases related to Russia and Ukraine. This lays bare the major family and socio-economic impacts it's having. 76.9% of the combatants were heads of households, and of those who reported the cases to the Ombudsperson, 92.3% were women and 88.5% had subsequently had to become the head of the household. Moreover, 98% of them said they had suffered physical or mental consequences linked to the uncertainty about the situation of their family member. For our organization, a key concern is precisely that of the families who are searching for their family members. Nothing can justify a family being deprived of information or consider assistance, legal support or effective mechanisms in order to determine their fate and whereabouts and ensure that their remains can be returned with dignity. Therefore, we would like to call on the state and international community to strengthen structural prevention and to regulate and effectively oversee the businesses and agencies and intermediaries that will take part in transnational recruitment processes. also to investigate the links between mercenaries, human trafficking and job exploitation, and to strengthen international cooperation and build a permanent roadmap for assisting families with special protection for the women who are looking for their relatives. Protecting human rights and combating the use of mercenaries are not contradictory. We believe that we should draw on military, we believe that intermediaries draw on military experience and also vulnerabilities, but it is essential to make sure that nobody is left outside of the protection of the state. All of this without prejudice to the criminal liability that is linked to the commission of crimes, especially those that are linked to human life. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:28:57]: Thank you. I would now like to invite delegations who wish to ask questions or make comments on the reports to deliver their statements. Speaking time is one minute, 30 seconds for each delegation. The list of speakers is now closed. I would like to call on the distinguished representative of the European Union. EU [2:29:20]: Thank you, Vice President. The EU thanks the working group for its report on technology enabled mercenarism. We share the working group's concern that mercenaries, mercenary related actors and private military and security companies are exploiting artificial intelligence. Surveillance, spyware and social media to facilitate. Serious human rights violations, including against human rights defenders, journalists and minorities, while evading accountability through opaque corporate and financial. Structures. Mercenaries are specifically defined under international humanitarian law. As we have previously highlighted, the working group's work would be more effective if its scope focused more clearly on mercenaries and mercenary-related activities, while avoiding conflation with private military and security companies. This distinction remains essential as the working group's analysis extends further into the technology sector. The EU recalls that these concerns are not abstract. State-linked mercenary actors continue to operate in several contexts, including in Ukraine and across Africa, and the technologies described in the report increase both their reach and the difficulty of attributing responsibility. Chair-Rapporteur, given the report's finding that layered supply chains and opaque ownership structures obstruct attribution. What concrete due diligence benchmarks would the working group recommend to states and companies to close this responsibility gap while preserving legitimate commercial confidentiality? HRC · Vice-President [2:30:53]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of a group of countries. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) · Friends in Defence of the UN Charter [2:31:06]: Thank you, Vice President. I'm delivering this statement on behalf of the group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter. The group attaches the greatest importance to the aims and principles in the UN Charter in their entirety and how they interconnect. They include strict respect for the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, states' territorial integrity, self-determination, non-use of force or the threat of the use of force in international relations, non-interference in the domestic legal affairs of states. The group expresses its concerns at the threat which mercenary activities entail for peace and security in developing countries in various parts of the world, in particular in conflict areas, as well as the threat to the integrity and respect for the constitutional order of affected countries. We're also concerned about inappropriate use of new and emerging technology for mercenary activities, including digital technologies and financial instruments, as well as the use of the Internet and online platforms for recruiting, organizing, supporting and funding mercenaries and connected activities. In conclusion, the group reiterates the need to prevent and combat all forms of mercenary activities. all forms of mercenary activities, and we urge States to refrain from facilitating or supporting practices which undermine the sovereignty of States. Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [2:32:34]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the Group of African States. Kenya · Africa Group [2:32:43]: Vice President, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. The African Group is deeply concerned about the evolving nature of mercenary activities and the increasing use of emerging technologies by mercenaries and the private military and security companies, which create new and serious risks of peace, security, and human rights. Africa has longstanding and direct experience with destabilizing effects of mercenarism. While its methods are evolving, including through new technologies, its destructive consequences remain. Our group is particularly concerned about the human rights consequences of using technology to facilitate gender-based violence and the exploitation of women and girls. We are equally concerned that children are increasingly exposed to technology-enabled recruitment, including through online content that glorifies armed violence and mercenary activities. We emphasize that emerging technologies must serve peace, development, and the protection of human rights, and urge the international community to address technology-enabled mercenarism as an urgent and collective challenge. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, Africa stands ready to engage constructively in developing effective legal, institutional, and practical measures to prevent abuse, close accountability gaps, and ensure that technological innovation does not become an instrument of conflict, exploitation, and impunity. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:34:10]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Sudan. Sudan [2:34:20]: Thank you, Vice-President. We've taken careful note of the report presented by the working group. We agree with the conclusions which indicate that Private military and security companies are playing a growing role in mobilizing, recruiting and training mercenaries. Many countries use mercenaries. And. Mercenaries are often accused of committing crimes in conflict areas. But. Mercenaries are recruited by states themselves and are thrown into the conflicts. My country suffers from the presence of mercenaries on its territory. We see that they are increasingly present in the racks of rebel militia. They come from 12 neighboring countries as well as Latin American countries and beyond. Sudan has also accused a country in the Security Council of using mercenaries to destabilise Sudan We have shown evidence of this and the use of mercenaries to commit crimes. We call for a ban on the use of mercenaries and also private military and security companies, because their activities destabilize countries and violate international law. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:35:58]: I now call on Panama. Panama [2:36:03]: Thank you, Vice-President. Panama thanks the working group for presenting its report of taking careful note of how new technology is changing recruitment, financing and other activities linked to mercenary activity and other activities which come under your mandate. Panamanians have been involved in conflicts abroad often through being lured into them through false job offers. We have been investigating those matters and trying to protect people who could be vulnerable, whilst we undertake the necessary diplomatic and consular demarches, without prejudging the individual legal status in each case. Panama believes that we must strengthen international cooperation and prevention with a view to tackling recruitment processes which work across borders and often through digital platforms. So what are the recommendations of the working group to strengthen interstate cooperation and how can we tackle the digital platforms so that they can be used actually to prevent, investigate and document these new forms of recruitment and ensure there is effective justice and reparations. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:37:31]: I now call on the ambassador of Cuba. Cuba · Ambassador [2:37:34]: Thank you very much, ambassador. The fast development of digital technology multiplies the forms of recruitment, organization and funding of mercenaries. This can be done both on and offline. We see that Cyber mercenaries are increasing, but there are no effective regulatory frameworks to deal with these activities. We are worried about the effects of these trends on human rights. Cuba supports the adoption of a convention which would fully regulate the activities of private military and security companies, ensure accountability, reparation for victims, and respect for international law. We also support the Secretary General and the working group undertake a study on the activities of private military and security companies and their impact on human rights. We also support the adoption of a resolution in the Human Rights Council concerning the obstacles to self-determination caused by private military and security companies. And we encourage all states to join us and support this resolution. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:39:01]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone [2:39:06]: With the statements of the African group. And thanks to working group for its timely report. On the use of technology, mercenaries and private immunity and security companies. As a country committed to peace, democratic governance, and the rule of law, Sierra Leone is concerned by the secrecy and transnational nature of technology-enabled mercenary activities. Digital surveillance, cyber operations, and autonomous systems in conflict and security settings raise serious concerns regarding accountability, transparency, and access to remedies for victims. Sierra Leone continues to strengthen cybersecurity and digital governance. The 2021 Cybersecurity and Crimes Act establishes a legal framework for cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and cybercrime investigations. However, developing countries require ongoing technological support and international collaboration to address emerging threats while safeguarding human rights. CILON supports stronger international norms and oversight of private military and security actors, as well as the development and use of emerging technologies that are consistent with international human rights law. We seek the working group's input on how to oversee private military and security actors in technological-enabled operations while ensuring compliance with human rights. And I thank you, Vice Chair. HRC · Vice-President [2:40:30]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I now call on distinguished representative of Kuwait. Kuwait [2:40:38]: Shukran, Sayed al-Rais. Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation has carefully read the working group's report. We commend the conclusions and recommendations of the report. We see the fast development of modern technologies such as drones and surveillance technology. This is adding to the challenges. So we need to strengthen international legal and monitoring frameworks to tackle them and ensure that there is human accountability. We are worried about the misuse of these technologies, notably through the Iranian military attacks on our territory, which targeted civilian infrastructure and vital facilities. posing a serious threat to civilians. We must prevent the use of technology to threaten human rights and peace and security. We call upon the international community to close legal loopholes and to ensure accountability to violations of human rights caused by the use of these technology. This in line with international human rights and humanitarian law. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:42:06]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Jordan. Jordan [2:42:17]: Thank you, Vice-President. We'd like to thank the working group for its report on the use of new technology by mercenaries and private military and security companies and the effects of this use on human rights. We underscore the need to protect civilians, to respect human rights and to adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law. The use of modern technology will not exonerate anyone from their responsibilities for human rights violations or to be held accountable. The activities of private military and security companies must be monitored by authorities in order to ensure that the use of modern technology does not violate human rights. The use of these technologies could be spread across different companies in different countries, so it's difficult to find out exactly who is responsible. That's why we need international cooperation in investigations and accountability. We call upon the working group to ask how we can ensure that we can find exactly who is responsible for the use of technology among the companies and countries concerned. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:43:42]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I would now like to call on distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo [2:43:53]: Thank you, Vice President. The Democratic Republic of the Congo endorses the African Group statement, and we'd like to thank the working group for presenting its report. This analysis is particularly relevant for our country. In our country and across the Great Lakes, we see that there is persistent aggression, destabilization involving mercenaries, the growing use of modern technology through cyber attacks or AI or the use of sophisticated systems by these new cyber mercenaries. strengthens the ability of these groups to perpetrate serious human rights violations and of IHL. So this is a way of undermining our sovereignty and the Congolese people's inalienable rights. So this is why we call upon the Council, international community, to strengthen regulation and call for rigorous traceability of private security and defense services, and to stop impunity for the use of these hybrid war technologies. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:45:05]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) [2:45:13]: Thank you, Vice President. Venezuela would like to thank the working group for presenting its report. We share the concerns about the new dimensions of mercenary activities through the use of emerging technology, including AI and cyber net capacities, as well as autonomous systems. We're particularly worried that private actors can have military capacity and security intelligence capacity which can rival those of states themselves. This poses serious challenges for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination. We must avoid technological progress facilitating new forms of recruitment, surveillance, financing, or participation of mercenaries in conflicts. Technological develop must contribute to peace and well-being and not become a tool for. Perpetrating violence. Current. Legal loopholes and the non-binding nature of existing mechanisms mean that we are not properly tackling the swift development of mercenary activities. That is why it is so important to have a legally binding international framework that ensures the effective regulation of private military and security companies and which strengthens the accountability of States and ensures full respect for international law, sovereignty and self-determination. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:46:48]: I now call on the distinguished representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [2:46:53]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. My delegation thanks the working group for its report. The expanding application of emerging technologies has opened new frontiers of progress and development, while at the same giving rise to integrate challenges. AI enables autonomous digital technologies continue to redefine the political, social, economic, and security landscape in which we live. Offensive digital capabilities and sophisticated Hacking tools available to private companies have turned cyberspace into an arena of conflict. Cyber attacks, cyber terrorism, disinformation campaigns, and attacks on critical infrastructure by cyber mercenaries directly impact regional and global security, as well as people's rights and fundamental freedoms. The traditional concept of territorial integrity is being challenged by the increasing shift of activities and operations from the physical to the digital realm, while the growing role of mercenaries risk eroding state sovereignty and control. We appreciate the working group for highlighting the malicious use of emerging technologies in carrying out surveillance. suppressing dissent, and undermining the right to self-determination in the occupied territories. Mr. Vice President, we believe that the emanating threats from ungoverned global cyberspace and relentless expansion of mercenaries' role in multiple dimensions prompt the development of internationally legally binding instrument to ensure accountability and oversight. Pakistan will continue to engage constructively with all partners in this regard. HRC · Vice-President [2:48:28]: Thank you very much. I now call on the distinguished representative of Algeria. Algeria [2:48:34]: Vice President, we'd like to thank the working group for its report concerning the use of modern technology by mercenaries. In fact, Autonomous systems, drones and artificial intelligence. Are a threat to stability and the enjoyment of human rights. The use of modern technology by. mercenaries and similar outfits is not properly regulated in law. This only fosters impunity. Spyware and surveillance systems and similar systems often violate human rights. So in view of this challenge, the international community should go beyond voluntary or private initiatives. We must combat the misuse of dual-use technology. Lastly, we call for the proper evaluation of the use of technology so that, uh, their use is properly regulated. Thank you very much. Thank you. I call on distinguished representative of South Africa. South Africa [2:50:18]: Uh, we align with the Africa Group statement and thanks the working group for presenting this informative report. My delegation is specifically deeply concerned that the recruitment of children to partake in the armed co- corporations and activities of mercenaries, mercenary, uh, mercenary related ac- actors and private military and security companies. continues to occur. In this phenomenon, children are particularly susceptible to both online and offline targeting, recruitment, and messaging. The use of technology by private security providers, such as closed-circuit television cameras, artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance software, and license plate recognition systems, play an important role in enhancing security and countering digital intrusion, cyber threats, and cyber attacks. However, these services should be grounded in international human rights law. In this regard, South Africa fully supports the view that states bear the primary responsibility under international law to protect human rights within the jurisdiction and must regulate corporate entities, private actors and individuals domiciled operating within their borders. South Africa will continue to support the mandate of the working group to formulate responses to human rights violations committed by mercenaries around the world. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:51:32]: Thank you very much. I now call the distinguished representative of Armenia. Armenia [2:51:37]: Mr. President, Armenia thanks the working group for presenting its report. We value our continued constructive cooperation with the mandate and its work in addressing evolving forms of mercenary-related activities. Armenia recognizes the challenges posed by the increasing use of emerging technologies in mercenary and mercenary-related activities, as the report illustrates. The use of artificial intelligence, digital surveillance, and cyber capabilities can facilitate activities ranging from recruitment and financing to surveillance, information operations, and the conduct of operations, while posing additional challenges for effective oversight and accountability, including the attribution of responsibility. We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding human rights in the development and use of emerging technologies. The report draws particular attention to risks related to algorithmic bias, technology enabled surveillance, and synthetic media, including their potential to exacerbate discrimination and other human rights risks. In this context, we recognize the importance of appropriate human oversight and safeguards in the use of AI-enabled and autonomous systems. In conclusion, we underscore the importance of continued international cooperation in addressing the human rights and accountability challenges arising from the use of technology in mercenary-related activities consistent with international human rights law. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:52:56]: Thank you very much. I now call on distinguished representative of Cameroon. Cameroon [2:53:03]: Thank you, Vice-President. Cameroon endorses the statement made by the African Group. We would like to thank the working group for presenting its report devoted to the growing use of technology by mercenaries, their affiliates and private military and security companies. We share the concern about the development of these activities, which are no longer limited to the traditional battlefield. Cyberspace operations, monitoring systems, drones, AI, and the use of data can considerably increase private actors' ability while making it more difficult to identify them and hold them accountable, and also make it more difficult for victims to have access to effective remedies. Cameroon reiterates its opposition to using mercenaries. We promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, respecting state sovereignty and self-determination. Domestically, military activities are carefully regulated. Our law punishes financing of terrorism as well as the recruitment and training of people in order for them to commit terrorist acts. In view of the growing privatisation of certain technological capacities, Cameroon believes it is absolutely vital to strengthen international cooperation, transparency, traceability and hold private outfits accountable. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:54:34]: Thank you. I now call on the distinguished representative of Kenya. Kenya [2:54:39]: Thank you, Mr Vice-President. Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group and welcomes the report of the working group. Kenya is concerned by the increasing use of digital technologies and online platforms to facilitate the recruitment of individuals into foreign conflicts. Our experience has demonstrated how private intermediaries, online platforms, and false promises of employment can expose individuals, particularly young people seeking livelihood opportunities abroad, to deceptive and exploitative recruitment. The growing use of technology in such recruitment makes traditional forms of regulation increasingly difficult. Recruitment networks can operate across jurisdiction and through informal intermediaries, creating enforcement gaps and complicating efforts to identify those responsible. Kenya therefore underscores the importance of strengthening national oversight alongside international cooperation to address recruitment networks operating across borders. Kenya further emphasizes the need to distinguish legitimate private security activity from mercenary-related conduct. As technology increasingly expands the range of services provided by private military and security actors, states must retain effective oversight and ensure accountability for activities undertaken within their jurisdiction. Working Group, how can the working group question how can States more effectively regulate cross-border digital recruitment for foreign countries. HRC · Vice-President [2:56:14]: Thank you. I now call the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan [2:56:20]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We express our deep concern over the growing potential for emerging technologies to facilitate malicious cyber activities and pose risks to the security and resilience of states and civilian infrastructure. As highlighted in the working group's report, the evolving use of cyber intrusion, cyber sabotage, and cyber espionage requires continued attention, particularly considering their potential impact on states and civilian infrastructure. The rapid pace of technological innovation and its application in the military and security sectors presents both opportunities and challenges that require careful consideration. Technological innovation is not a threat. On the contrary, the responsible and peaceful use of new and emerging technologies has significant potential to contribute to international peace and security, strengthen resilience, and enhance the protection of civilians. At the same time, we must remain attentive to the risks associated with the diversion and malicious use of such technologies to facilitate cyber activities, undermine cybersecurity, or destabilize states and civilian infrastructure. Mr. Vice President, the international community must therefore strengthen international cooperation, accountability, and the responsible use of emerging technologies, ensuring that technological progress serves peace, security, and the protection of civilians, rather than becoming a tool for mercenarism, sabotage, and destabilization. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:57:50]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. And now, the distinguished representative of Iraq. Iraq [2:58:00]: Thank you, Vice President. The delegation of the Republic of Iraq would like to thank the working group for the report that sheds light on a serious crime that undermines human rights and the right of peoples to self-determination. The phenomenon of mercenaries and foreign fighters is a serious threat to international peace and security, given their role in prolonging conflicts and destabilizing countries, as well as perpetrating grave human rights violations. Mr. Vice President, Iraq underscores the importance of promoting national and international legal frameworks that regulate the work of PMSCs in order to keep pace with the fast-paced technological developments, particularly in AI, surveillance techniques, and cyber capabilities. Thus, we must Subject these companies to clear legal and regulatory standards that, um, preserve human rights as well as the sovereignty of states, as well as to prevent recruitment, financing, and training. Iraq affirms that it works in order to regulate PMSCs in line with its national sovereignty and its safety and security needs. This is why we've adopted Law 52 of 2017, which regulated the operations of these companies and obligated their workers to respect human rights. We reaffirm the importance of international regional cooperation and the exchange of expertise. HRC · Vice-President [2:59:24]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador. Ecuador [2:59:31]: Thank you, Vice-President. Ecuador would like to thank the working group for its report. We reaffirm our commitment to preventing mercenary activity and the protection of human rights in the face of the growing incorporation of technologies into the operations of private military and security companies. As a State Party to the Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, Ecuador has a robust regulatory framework on authorization, oversight and accountability for the operations of private security companies and cybersecurity companies. The Act on Private Security and Surveillance regulates the functioning of these businesses and the design and station of software, closed circuits, GPS tracking systems, equipment, operational personnel and others. in Ecuador, there have been no reported cases of use by private companies of AI systems, automatic learning, predictive analysis, autonomous systems, except through the progressive incorporation of video monitoring, remote oversight platforms, and biometric equipment. Faced with this changing landscape, the relevant authority is currently carrying out legal and technical analysis in order to assess specific regulatory measures for data protection, biometric data, geolocalization and safeguards for human rights. As the report has highlighted, in Ecuador there are also positive experiences of community security systems. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:01:07]: This was the last speaker we could accommodate in this meeting for this afternoon. The dialogue, the interactive dialogue with the Chair of the Working Group will continue tomorrow. Excellencies, distinguished participants, I understand that some delegations have asked to exercise their right of reply. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. You have three minutes. Japan [3:01:36]: Would like to exercise its right of reply in response to the statement made earlier by North Korea. Regarding ARPU's treated water, for the sake of scientific accuracy, the water is discharged after thorough purification using ARPU's system and dilution with seawater, and has no impact on people or the environment. Therefore, it is wholly inappropriate to describe the discharged water as radioactive wastewater. As for the discharge of ARPA treated water into the sea, since August 2023, when the discharge of ARPA treated water began, the discharge has been carried out safely as planned in full compliance with international standard. The safety of the discharge has been continuously confirmed through the IAEA's review, as well as monitoring with participation of analytical laboratory and international expert, including those from neighboring countries. Japan will continue to provide information based on scientific evidence and detailed explanation in a transparent manner to the international community and cooperate fully with IAEA's review and monitoring. HRC · Vice-President [3:02:46]: I thank you. Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India. India [3:02:58]: Mr. Vice President, India is compelled to exercise its right of reply in response to Pakistan's continued attempt to misuse this platform to peddle a selective and misleading narrative concerning the Indus Water Treaty, while diverting attention from the broader context of its long-standing sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. However, that context cannot be wished away. Mr. President, the Indus Water Treaty was concluded in 1960 in a spirit of goodwill and friendship. Those principles were part of the environment of trust in which the treaty was conceived. That environment has been profoundly altered. For decades, India has confronted cross-border terrorism originating from, supported and financed by Pakistan. Tens of thousands of innocent lives have been lost. Yet Pakistan invokes the language of cooperation while pursuing a policy that systematically destroys its very foundations. A state cannot demand the dividends of cooperation while cultivating the instruments of terror. Terrorism does not coexist with cooperation, it destroys it. Mr. President, the treaty was negotiated more than six decades ago in circumstances that bear little resemblance to those confronting us today. The world has changed. Climate change is altering hydrological patterns. Technological capabilities have advanced dramatically. Energy requirements are increasing. And the global imperative for sustainable and clean energy has become both urgent and unavoidable. In such circumstances, it would be irresponsible to assume that an arrangement designed for the realities of 1960 can remain insulated from the realities of 2026. Mr. Vice President, a state cannot undermine the foundations of trust and cooperation while insisting that the privileges flowing from that relationship remain untouched. Cooperation cannot survive where terror has made trust impossible. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:04:50]: Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. You have three minutes. Democratic People's Republic of Korea [3:05:04]: Vice President, DPRK delegation would like to exercise its right of reply to the statement made by Japan, Japanese delegation. I wonder who could seriously believe assurances on the safety of nuclear contaminated water from the Japanese delegation who cannot even correctly identify the official name of a sovereign state. The Japanese delegation repeatedly claims that the discharge is safe, but repeating this assertion does not make it an established scientific fact. First, Japan itself acknowledges that approximately 70% of the water stored in its tanks as of August 2026, 23 contained radionuclides other than tritium above Japan's regulatory, uh, regulatory standards requiring further treatment. These include, include, uh, strontium, strontium 90, carbon 14, cesium 137, and others. Second, this is not a small scale operation. Japan plans to discharge approximately 32, 62,400 tons of contaminated water in fiscal year 2026 alone, containing about 11 trillion becquerels of tritium. The International Atomic Energy Agency may have assessed the radiological impact of the discharge, but this cannot be used as a blanket justification for dismissing all environmental and transboundary concerns. The Pacific Ocean is not Japan's private disposal facility. Japan must provide full transparency concerning the types, quantities, and cumulative amount of radionuclides released into the shared marine environment. I thank you, Mr. Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [3:06:55]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan. You have three minutes. Pakistan [3:07:03]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. This Council has just heard the Indian delegate suggest that her government is no longer bound by international law or its treaty obligations. For some, this may be shocking. For Pakistan, it's nothing new. For over seven decades, India has defied UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, denying Kashmiris their promised right to self-determination through a plebiscite under UN auspices, and subjecting them instead to illegal occupation, repression, and systematic violations of their fundamental rights. India's invocation of cross-border terrorism is a complete eyewash. India itself exports terrorism. Its serving naval commander, Kulbhushan Yadav, was apprehended on my country's soil for espionage and terrorism. Indian agents acting on behalf of their government have also been implicated in transnational crimes abroad. In one instance, an assassination on foreign soil led to the expulsion of their High Commissioner. In another, Nikhil Gupta was extradited from a European country to face criminal prosecution for allegedly masterminding a plot to assassinate another foreign national. This is the true face of the state lecturing this Council on terrorism. Mr. Vice-President, India's rhetoric cannot rewrite international law. On 31 August 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously rejected all the arguments that the Indian delegate has just advanced for suspending or terminating the Indus Waters Treaty. I quote: "The IWT remains fully in force and India must observe its obligations under the treaty." End quote. Unsurprisingly, India rejected this ruling the very next day. For India, Mr. Vice President, judgment in its favor is international law. Judgments against it simply do not exist. But international law, let me remind them, is not a menu of options to pick and choose from. India fancies itself the regional bully, but it cannot bully its way out of the IWT. The treaty remains in force and its obligations remain binding. Let me remind India that access to water is a fundamental human right under SDG 6. India's weaponization of water against Pakistan and its people will backfire on itself. Mr. President, we once again urge India to implement the UNSC resolutions in Jammu and Kashmir, end its sponsorship of terrorism beyond its borders, and honor and later in spirit its obligations under the IWT and international law. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:09:36]: Thank you. I understand that the distinguished representative of India would like to exercise a second right of reply. The representative. India [3:09:49]: Of India would not wish to exercise a second right of reply, however, we are compelled to do so. How is this topic, Pakistan's delegate's right of reply, related to the topic under discussion, which is ID with Sr. on water and sanitation? Pakistan continues to misuse this platform to peddle false propaganda after propaganda. And as we just observed the anniversary of 9/11, let me remind this Council once again that Osama bin Laden, the world's most wanted terrorist was not found hiding in some cave. It was enjoying state hospitality in Abbottabad. So Pakistan's narrative of dismissing our allegations of terrorism is false and misleading, and it is again misusing this platform for peddling false narratives. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:10:36]: I'm just going to ask. Thank you. I understand that the distinguished representative of Japan has requested a second right of reply. You have two minutes. Japan [3:10:47]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. My delegation would like to exercise a second right of reply in response to the statement just made by North Korea. Regarding ARPAF treated water, Japan stated that the water is discharged after thorough purification using the ARPAF system and dilution with seawater and has no impact on people or the environment. Therefore, it is wholly inappropriate to describe the discharged water as radioactive wastewater or contaminated water. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:11:19]: Thank you. I understand that the distinguished representative of Pakistan has requested the right to exercise their second right to reply. You have two minutes. Pakistan [3:11:31]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I understand the difficulty. I think sometimes we tend to forget in the heat of the argument or in order to peddle lies, we tend to forget what this dialogue is about. Now, the Indian delegate claims that the Indus Waters Treaty has no relevance to the discussion on the human right to water. Now, this argument is as flawed as the lies that they have just peddled. You cannot discuss the right to water while excluding actions that threaten the very source of that water. The Indus River system sustains the lives and livelihoods of millions in Pakistan. Any attempt to disrupt legal framework governing those waters, therefore, has obvious and direct human rights implications. Let me also remind them, maybe they would not know this, that this right is firmly grounded in the UN frameworks. SDG target 6.5 expressly recognizes cooperation over shared water resources. For good reason, UN Water reports that 153 member states rely on waters that flow from or to another country. Mr. Vice President, If they think they can get away with the weaponization of water and claim that its actions are irrelevant to a discussion on the right to water, then they must be living in a fool's paradise. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:12:46]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I understand that the distinguished representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has requested the right to exercise a second right of reply. You have two minutes. Democratic People's Republic of Korea [3:13:02]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Japan continues to hide behind the word safety while avoiding the fundamental issue. Dilution does not eliminate radionuclides. It only reduces their concentration at the point of discharge. Japan itself plans to release 62,400 tons of treated water and approximately 11 trillion becquerels of tritium in 2026 alone. This is part of a discharge plan to continue for decades. Nor can Japan invoke the IAEA as a blanket political or scientific authorization. The IAEA assessment concerns radiological safety. It does not erase broader questions concerning cumulative discharge, marine ecosystems, transboundary impact, and future generations. Japan cannot unilaterally transfer the consequences of its nuclear accident to the shared marine environment. Japan must stop the discharge, ensure genuine transparency, and assume full responsibility for the consequences of its actions. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. HRC · Vice-President [3:14:10]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. This was the last speaker on my list. Is there any other delegation requesting to exercise the right of reply in relation to the statements made today? I see none. I'd like to begin by thanking the interpreters for their flexibility. Excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of this meeting. As I said earlier, tomorrow morning we will continue the interactive dialogue with the chair of the working group on mercenaries. After that, we will hold the high-level panel discussion on the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. And we will continue the interactive dialogue with the working group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination. This will be followed by the interactive dialogue with the working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances. I hereby close the 10th meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. Thank you.