2nd Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council

Excellencies, distinguished participants, I declare the...

We'll renew now the interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights of the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar. We'll continue with the presentation by the panelists, First, I give the floor to Suya Phan, who will give her statement via video statement.

When I was growing up in a refugee camp in Thailand in the 1990s, seeing the world coming together as United Nations passed resolutions documenting human rights violations by the Myanmar military gave us hope. Those resolutions called on the Myanmar military to end abuses in the country, but they were never enforced. The first UN Human Rights Council resolutions calling on the Myanmar military to respect international law was 33 years ago. Since then, the Myanmar military have broken international law every year. UN agencies have documented war crimes and crimes against humanity, including apartheid and genocide. Impunity has led to an escalation of abuses. Decades of war crimes against ethnic groups, such as the Karen, Karenni, and the Kachin and other ethnic groups with no consequences has led to the genocide of the Rohingya. And then, impunity of the genocide encouraged the most recent coup. Earlier this year, I was in Kawthare, also known as Karen State. I met many people who were forced to flee by the attacks of the Myanmar military, just like I did more than 30 years ago. Nothing has changed, except the scale of how many people are suffering. According to the data from ACLED, The Myanmar military carries out an airstrike every two and a half hours on average. They have changed tactics, with much more larger attacks and then returning to the responders on the ground. Based on UN data, the Myanmar military killed a child every 29 hours on average. Despite this, the Myanmar military receives far more international support than the democracy movement does money, jets, and drones. Without this, the Myanmar military wouldn't be able to stay in power, and they wouldn't be able to kill as many people. For decades, People from Myanmar have been coming to Geneva calling for stronger international actions to help end human rights violations in the country and to uphold international law. Every year, the UN Human Rights Council passes a resolution on Myanmar. This year, two have been passed. And we do appreciate diplomats working hard to get certain text into the resolutions. However, these resolutions shouldn't be the end of the process. It should be the start of the process. Every diplomat should be working hard to implement it, and every government should be working on it. It is time to turn words into action. Thank you.

Having heard that

message, I now invite interested delegations to ask questions of the presenters and to make comments on their statements. I recall that, as per usual, the speaking time is limited to one minute 30 seconds for each intervention. I give the floor to the distinguished

Mr. Vice President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States. We thank the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for the continued efforts to document the grave human rights situation in Myanmar. As reported, the conflict in Rakhine has intensified. Myanmar's broader armed conflict remains nationwide, marked by continued military airstrikes, persistent fighting across several regions and states, expanding displacement, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions. Once again, we call for an immediate end to all forms of violence against civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence. and the military's use of indiscriminate aerial attacks. All parties to the conflict must abide by international law. We express deep concern about newly documented cases of violations, including reports of reproductive violence against women. We welcome the Mechanism's role in accountability processes for international crimes, including the sharing of evidence and analysis for international courts and national jurisdictions. These efforts are vital for accountability and justice. We further express support for the Mechanism's efforts on witness protection and support the victims and survivors in Myanmar. In conclusion, we ask what is most needed to ensure the safety and well-being of witnesses and survivors who engage with the Mechanism. I thank you.

Thank you.

I give

the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Mr. Vice President, the OIC Group thanks the High Commissioner and the Head of the Mechanism for presenting their reports. We remain gravely concerned over the continued deterioration of the situation in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State. Rohingya Muslims continue to face grave human rights violations by the Myanmar military and other armed actors. The Mechanism has a crucial role in advancing accountability and justice for the Rohingya. We call upon the Mechanism to enhance its cooperation with the courts or tribunals, including the ICJ. The group commends Bangladesh and other regional countries in the region for their continued support to the mechanism. We regret Myanmar's persistent non-cooperation with the mechanism. We call on Myanmar to cooperate with international accountability mechanisms and create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return

of the Rohingya Muslims to their homeland.

The Rohingya issue is not confined to any country, but has become a wider regional concern. It is a test of the international community's ability to prevent a humanitarian crisis from becoming permanent. We underscore the importance for the OHCHR and the mechanism to continue to document evidence of grave human rights violations and crimes committed against Rohingya Muslims. We call on member states to continue to support the full implementation of the mandated activities of the OHCHR and the mechanism for the Rohingya Muslims. Thank you. Thank

you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Mr Vice President, the EU thanks the panelists and welcomes the High Commissioner and the IIIM's reports and updates. Nine years since the brutal repression in Rakhine and five years since the 2021 military coup, the frequency and intensity of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed primarily by the Myanmar military keeps escalating. The Rohingya remain subject to systematic discrimination with absolute impunity, forced conscription and the continued access of the Myanmar military to arms count amongst the key drivers of the duration of the human rights crisis. The increased air strikes by the Myanmar military remain the main cause of civilian deaths. The EU does not recognize any elections that are neither free nor fair and that aim to legitimize the military without meeting the requirements of a democratic process. Resolving the crisis in Myanmar requires a transparent, inclusive and credible democratic path. The EU will continue to support the United Nations and ASEAN's efforts, including the full implementation of UN Security Council 2669 and ASEAN's five-point consensus. A sustainable solution also requires justice and accountability for all human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence. In that regard, the role of the IIMM is key. We would like to ask the panelists what concrete action by UN member states would most contribute to peace and reconciliation? Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Belgium on behalf of a group of countries.

Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking on behalf of the Benelux countries. We align ourselves with the EU statement. We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation and ongoing violence in Myanmar, including the escalating conflict in Rakhine, which has continued to deteriorate since the military coup. The Rohingya and other minority communities continue to face dire conditions and systematic discrimination. The so-called elections of 2025 and 2026 took place in a context in which the basic conditions for genuine, free, and fair elections were not met. Since then, indiscriminate attacks by and human rights violations primarily committed by Myanmar's military have not decreased. We remain deeply concerned about the airstrikes targeting civilians. We urge the military to cease aerial bombardments. We call all parties to abide by international law, including IHL, and to ensure immediate, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all communities in need. The Benelux countries remain committed to the UN and ASEAN's efforts towards a peaceful solution. We have reaffirmed our support for the efforts of the IIIM. We call for the full accountability for the crimes committed and reiterate our support for international justice mechanisms. Accountability must be part of the solution. Dear panelists, what can the international community do to foster safe and unimpeded humanitarian access?

I thank you.

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

Mr. President, Indonesia takes note of the reports, including the Mechanism findings of continued violence in Myanmar. Reports of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure underscore the urgent need to immediately end the violence and protect the civilians. We reaffirm that ASEAN Five-Point Consensus remains valid to address political crisis in Myanmar and must be urgently and fully implemented. Indonesia hopes the mechanism can pursue a calibrated approach with all parties concerned, including the authorities in Myanmar, that keeps channels of dialogue open, build confidence, and encourage sustained, concrete progress in reducing violence, advancing inclusive dialogue, and ensuring humanitarian access to the affected population. Such engagement should contribute to peace, reconciliation, and nation-building in Myanmar. International efforts, including by this Council, should complement and reinforce ongoing regional efforts. Close coordination between ASEAN and the UN, including the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, remains important. Our collective objective must remain clear: to help Myanmar people achieve a comprehensive political resolution through an inclusive process that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led. Thank you.

Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia.

Mr. President, We thank the High Commissioner and the IOM for their briefings. The situation in Myanmar demands our utmost attention. Since 2021, this internal conflict has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people. It has displaced more than 5.2 million within Myanmar and across its borders. Malaysia remains gravely concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country. We call on all parties to immediately cease all forms of violence, strengthen the protection of civilians, and uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Malaysia calls for ensuring safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need, and for them to be delivered without discrimination. Mr Vice President, Malaysia also remains deeply concerned by the plight of all Myanmar refugees affected by the conflict. We urge the Myanmar Government to create conditions that are conducive for their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation. Finally, Malaysia reiterates its call for a full and effective implementation of ASEAN's five-point consensus in addressing the crisis. We believe only through an inclusive, Myanmar-owned, Myanmar-led peace negotiations with relevant stakeholders can a lasting and durable peace be attained. Malaysia also aligns itself with the OIC position, and our full statement is available online. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, New Zealand welcomes the important work of the independent investigative mechanism and that of the High Commissioner and his office. We reiterate our strong support for

ASEAN's central role in addressing the crisis and for the full implementation of the five-point consensus.

We remain gravely concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar.

The military regime continues to subject the people of Myanmar to escalating violence and human rights violations.

The scale and persistence of these violations have displaced communities and further eroded the prospects for peace and stability. The current trajectory is unsustainable. The humanitarian consequences are severe. Conflict, economic decline, and recurrent disasters have left millions in need of assistance.

Food insecurity remains widespread, while the situation of Rohingya, both in Myanmar and neighbouring countries, remains deeply concerning.

New Zealand has contributed more than $128 million in assistance since the 2021 coup. We remain committed to supporting humanitarian efforts that reach those most in need.

Genuine dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders is vital for a peaceful and durable resolution to this crisis. The people of Myanmar deserve a future grounded in accountable and transparent governance, respect for human rights, and

leadership that reflects the will of the people. I ask the panelists what further steps can the international community take to foster genuine and inclusive dialogue towards a resolution of the crisis in Myanmar. Thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, Bangladesh welcomes the report of the High Commissioner and the IIIM. We appreciate the mechanism's continued work on Myanmar, including on the Rohingya. We note its important contribution to the January 2026 hearings before the ICC, as well as its continued engagement with the ICC and national jurisdiction. We regularly facilitate mechanism visit to Bangladesh and will continue to cooperate with the mechanism pertinent to its work on the persecuted Rohingya. We underscore that mechanism access to Myanmar is critical for fully gathering and collecting evidence of crimes committed against the Rohingya, and urge Myanmar to cooperate fully with the IIIM. Both reports present an alarming, deteriorating situation in Rakhine State. Rohingya continue to face killings, arbitrary detention, torture, forced conscription, and restricted humanitarian access. More than 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since November 2023, mounting pressure over already overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar. It is further exacerbated due to the diminishing trend of humanitarian assistance for Rohingya. Bangladesh reiterates the sustainable repatriation remains the only durable solution to the crisis. The international community must redouble its efforts to create conditions conducive to the return of Rohingyas, while ensuring accountability and justice for the crimes committed against them. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the Senior Representative of Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Canada thanks the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for their important work documenting serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Canada remains deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, ongoing deliberate aerial and drone strikes affecting civilians, and continued restrictions on humanitarian access. The Myanmar military's increasing reliance on paramotors and drones has made strikes harder for civilians to detect, thus limiting their ability to flee or seek shelter. These reckless and harmful tactics place civilians at serious risk. Rohingya remain a severely persecuted and systematically targeted population in Myanmar, having endured some of the gravest atrocities and human rights violations. Canada reiterates its call on parties to the armed conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. Canada is gravely concerned about reports of human rights violations resulting from the rapid expansion of illicit economies and unregulated mining activities, which have disproportionate impacts on women, workers, and local communities. Mr. Vice President, what trends are member states observing regarding the increasing use of drones affecting civilians, and how can we contribute to deterring these strikes? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President.

North Macedonia thanks the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for their reports. The reports on the situation in Myanmar demonstrate that the communities across the country continue to have to live under the constant threat of violence. The intensification of military attacks is deeply concerning. Indiscriminate airstrikes and drone attacks have caused heavy civilian casualties. We are deeply alarmed by the finding that during the reporting period, the military killed more than 1,200 civilians, half of those are women and children. Investigations also documented widespread torture and sexual violence in the military-run detention facilities. We call for an end of systematic acts of violence and use of force by the military forces, as well as massive deconstruction of civilian infrastructure, especially schools and hospitals and religious buildings. All victims of violence and repression, particularly the Rohingya and other minorities, deserves our full support and protection. We must remain committed to justice and accountability. In conclusion, North Macedonia would like to ask the esteemed members of the Mechanism: What should the Council do more, and how the Council's members can help to better protect those detainees especially those facing imprisonment on or the death penalty.

Okay, I'll

give the floor to the distinguished ambassador of Thailand.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thailand thanks the High Commissioner and the IIMM for their reports. As a neighboring country, Thailand has always given priority to supporting peace and stability in Myanmar. Thailand pursue a dual-track approach in our engagement with Myanmar through advancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, while supporting progress within the ASEAN framework. Our calibrated re-engagement approach was proposed to encourage Myanmar to undertake meaningful progress on ASEAN's five-point consensus. We know the High Commissioner's reflection in his report on the multidimensional impacts of transboundary environmental issues. Thailand and Myanmar have recently established a joint technical working group on water quality management. We will work closely with all stakeholders to address these environmental harms. Thailand remains concerned over the humanitarian situation in Myanmar and attaches importance providing timely, adequate, accessible, and non-discriminatory humanitarian assistance for people in need. Thailand is committed to providing assistance to the Rohingya population. Last year, we donated $20,000 to the World Food Program. In line with our pledge at the Global Refugee Forum and the international burden and responsibility sharing principle, I thank you.

Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Mr. Vice President, my delegation takes note of the report of the High Commissioner's Independent Investigation Mechanism for Myanmar. We also note the the continued efforts and progress made by Myanmar in strengthening its human rights mechanism, particularly through promoting an inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation among all relevant parties in Myanmar. The Lao PDR strongly supports ASEAN's continued efforts to facilitate constructive engagement, dialogue, and humanitarian assistance by fostering an inclusive Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led process towards addressing the complex situation and supporting a peaceful, sustainable, and lasting solution. We call upon the international community to pursue the constructive dialogue and cooperation to support and assist Myanmar in order to effectively address the human rights challenges in the country and to achieve lasting peace and national reconciliation and sustainable development. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, the Maldives thanks the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for their continued efforts to uncover evidence of the escalating war crimes and crimes against humanity committed across Myanmar. We are gravely concerned by the continued persecution and displacement of the Rohingya in Rakhine State, including credible reports of village destruction and the appropriation of land for security infrastructure, which further undermines prospects for their safe and dignified return. The MODIS also welcomes progress towards accountability, including the International Criminal Court prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant against a senior military leader, demonstrating that impunity will not prevail. We renew our call for an immediate end to violence and unhindered humanitarian access to Rohingya refugees. We commend Bangladesh for its continued hosting of Rohingya refugees. reaffirm our support for the Gambia's case before the ICJ and urge member states to ensure the mechanism is adequately resourced amid the ongoing liquidity crisis we reiterate our call for the protection of civilians restoration of democracy and the rule of law and remain steadfast in solidarity with people of Myanmar in their pursuit of Justice and human dignity I thank you

thank you I give the floor distinguished

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Republic of Korea thank the High Commissioner and IIWM for their valuable update. We are deeply concerned about the continued human rights violation and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, including the use of violence against civilians and the escalation of conflict in the Rakhine State. ROK also expresses its concern over human rights violations associated with illicit economic activities amidst the lack of adequate governance, such as drug production, online scams, human trafficking, and illicit, unregulated mining. We urge all parties to cease violence and protect civilians. ROK also expects further effort toward peace and reconciliation in Myanmar in line with the recent development such as the meeting between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Mr. Arnar Dybek, Resident Representative of ICRC to Myanmar. Mr. Vice President, we firmly support ASEAN continued effort to implement the five-point consensus, and we'll continue to join effort with the international community to address the crisis. We will also continue with our effort to improve the humanitarian situation in Myanmar by providing humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to distinguished Ambassador of Czechia.

Muchas gracias, Senor Vice President. The Czech Republic aligns with the EU statement and thanks for the presented reports. More than five years after the military coup, violations continue to escalate. Widespread airstrikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure, arbitrary detentions, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced conscription and restrictions on humanitarian assistance demand urgent and international action. We are particularly alarmed by the situation of the Rohingya. They continue to face systematic discrimination and grave abuses by the Myanmar military and the Rakhine army. Conditions do not permit their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return. The Czech Republic commends the Mechanism's impartial investigation of crimes committed by all perpetrators and its contribution to proceedings before international and national jurisdictions. Accountability is indispensable to breaking the cycle of violence and preventing further atrocities. We also reiterate our support for a Security Council referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. Mr. High Commissioner, Head of the Mechanism, how can states hosting victims and witnesses from Myanmar better protect and facilitate their safe cooperation with the Mechanism? Thank you. Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Vice-President, Switzerland thanks the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for its eighth report and the High Commissioner for his report on Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. More than five years after the coup d'etat, we remain profoundly concerned by the intensification of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the various parties, according to the elements collected and reflected in the report. We note with concern crimes committed in detention. The mechanism report notes cases of systematic torture, including sexual violence and reproductive violence against female detainees. Those inhumane practices must stop. We follow with grave concern the persistence of a critical situation in Rakhine state, where Rohingya, Rakhine and other communities have suffered atrocities. We commend the progress made in investigations into the operations of 2016-17, brought before the ICJ in the Gombik case against Myanmar in January 2026. Switzerland calls on all parties to respect IHL and human rights in Myanmar. Convinced of the importance of fighting impunity, Stressing that justice is indissociable from lasting peace, Switzerland reaffirms its support to the mechanism. Mr Kumjian, high commissioner, what can the international community do to better support the mechanism? Adaptation measures and innovations have been explored to maintain their impact. Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of UNICEF.

Vice President, UNICEF welcomes the report of the High Commissioner and of the IIMM and recognises the increasingly challenging environment in which the mechanism operates. More than four years into the escalation of the conflict, the situation for children in Myanmar is desperate. Grave violations against their rights continue to devastate children's lives. The worsening conflict in many parts of the country, compounded by natural disasters, has left civilians, especially children, acutely vulnerable. Attacks by all parties continue to drive fear, displacement, and suffering, leaving families with little protection and huge survival needs. Landmines, unexploded ordnance, and remnants of war multiply those risks. In 2025, the UN verified more than 2,200 grave violations against nearly 1,750 children, with a further 1,072 pending verification. Killing and maiming, primarily from airstrikes, explosive weapons and ordnance, remained the leading violation, followed by abduction and recruitment and use. Children as young as 14 have been arrested and detained for alleged association with armed groups. Attacks on schools and hospitals and their military use remain persistent, while restrictions on humanitarian access continue to hinder support to those most in need. We urge all parties to protect all children from grave violations and to abide by their legal obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We stand ready to support. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. We are grateful to the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for presenting their reports. We recognise the efforts made to bolster documentation of violations and move forward with accountability processes. In particular, we welcome the growing cooperation of the Mechanism with national and international judicial fora and its contribution to procedures before the ICJ and other jurisdictions. That progress highlights the importance of preserving evidence and keeping open effective avenues towards justice for victims. We note with profound concern the information offered in the report on the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation, in particular information on attacks against civilians and assets of a civilian nature, including schools, hospitals, places of worship, as well as reports of arbitrary detention and gender-based violence, we reaffirm that protection of civilians and full respect for international law should constitute a priority. All parties must guarantee safe, unhindered humanitarian access. We urge Myanmar to continue its full co-operation with the UN and its mechanism and to foster a peaceful, inclusive solution that meets the legitimate aspirations of all its people. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Vietnam.

Thank you, Vice-President. Vietnam takes note of the updates on Myanmar and remains concerned about the difficulties affecting the lives and well-being of its people. We support efforts to reduce tension, protect civilians, and advance an inclusive, peaceful solution that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led. Vietnam appreciates the efforts of the Government of Myanmar to promote stability, reconciliation, and dialogue, support economic recovery, and improve people's living conditions. Myanmar remains an integral part of ASEAN. The Five-Point Consensus continues to serve as the main reference and guiding framework for ASEAN engagement. Its substantive implementation should be supported by dialogue with Myanmar, confidence-building, and engagement with all relevant stakeholders. Vietnam stands ready to work closely with the Philippines, ASEAN Chair, its special envoy, and other ASEAN Member States to support these efforts. We underline the importance of ensuring the humanitarian assistance and reach all people in need, including through the AHA Center. We also support practical cooperation to address social challenges and combat transnational crime, contributing to lasting peace, stability, and sustainable development in Myanmar. I thank you.

I thank you and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Nine years after the mass displacement of 2017, the plight of Rohingya remains deeply alarming. We continue to follow with concern the situation of Rohingya Muslims, who have endured years of displacement, deprivation, and grave violations of their fundamental rights. Recent developments in Myanmar, particularly the security and humanitarian situation in Rakhine State, further complicate prospects for an early and sustainable resolution of the crisis. While noting the elections in Myanmar, we stress that any political step should contribute to the escalation, inclusivity, and long-term stability. Likewise, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across the country remains crucial. Turkey stands in solidarity with the Rohingya and continues its humanitarian assistance both in and outside Myanmar, which has exceeded $80 million. Our foreign minister's visit to Cox's Bazar last June provided an opportunity to assess the situation in first hand. We value the continued engagement of the UN and regional actors, including ASEAN, and our close cooperation with Bangladesh, whose heavy burden should be shared by the international community. The Rohingya crisis must not fade from the international agenda. We reiterate our call for sustained humanitarian assistance and stronger collective efforts towards the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of the Rohingya to their homelands. Thank you.

Thank you, and give the floor to the Ambassador of Liechtenstein.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Liechtenstein thanks the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar for their reports and continued work. In Myanmar, war crimes and crimes against humanity continue to be committed. with increasing frequency and intensity by multiple parties to the conflict. Particularly disturbing are the widespread indiscriminate aerial attacks by the Myanmar military. Their impact on civilians and civilian objects has resulted in immense suffering and widespread destruction across the country. Such attacks are unacceptable and must end immediately. Moreover, we remain deeply concerned by the systematic discrimination and abuses faced by the Rohingya, which continue to be committed with impunity. The reported violations by the Iraqi army, including arbitrary detention, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labor, and restrictions on movement, underscore the urgent need for accountability and the protection of Rohingya communities. Mr. Vice President. We welcome the Mechanism's growing contribution to accountability efforts, including its support to criminal investigations and judicial proceedings, notably before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and in universal jurisdiction cases. Ensuring accountability for serious international crimes is essential to delivering justice for the people of Myanmar and to preventing future violations. I thank you.

Thank you and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

Thank you, Vice President. With respect to the reports on Myanmar, we are forced once again to draw attention to the fact that they were compiled without taking into account the positions of the Myanmar authorities, which do not recognise the mandate. The report is based on inaccurate information from opposition and armed groups and used for political pressure, which is indicated by the double standards and the assessments that ignore explanations from the legitimate government. It does not cover the systematic crimes by armed groups, the use of schools and hospitals for military goals, the illegal recovery of resources, funding the conflict and causing damage to the ecology and local authorities. We positively note the efforts by Myanmar holding multi-party democratic elections, beginning the work of the parliament, reintegrating refugees, ensuring the work of the ICRC in prisons, as well as cooperation with ASEAN and UN humanitarian structures. We consider that only equal footing cooperation and initiatives with Myanmar's participation can lead to a long-term stability and genuine protection of human rights. But country mechanisms that are imposed with and sanctions only undermine trust in the UN. Thank you.

Malta now has the floor.

Mr Vice-President, Malta aligns itself with the EU statement and thanks the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for their reports. We remain gravely concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Myanmar. We condemn the ongoing violence perpetrated against civilians and are alarmed by the report's findings that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed by multiple parties. The documented use of unlawful detention, sexual and gender-based violence underscores the urgent need for accountability and justice. We are particularly concerned by the worsening situation in Rakhine State and by reports of violations affecting different communities caused by multiple perpetrators. Malta reiterates that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, ensure the protection of civilians and facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Malta commends the IIM Myanmar for its vital work in collecting, preserving and analysing evidence of the most serious crimes and violations of international law. Malta, therefore, calls on the international community to continue supporting the mechanism politically and financially so that it can effectively fulfil its mandate. The people of Myanmar deserve justice, respect for their human rights and a peaceful, democratic future grounded in the rule of law. I thank you, Mr Vice-President.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Albania thanks High Commissioner and the Mechanism for their report and their continued work. We reiterate our full support for the mandate and for independent monitoring, documenting and accountability efforts. The reports leave no room for optimism. More than five years after the military coup, the human rights situation remains extremely grave. With no meaningful improvement on the ground, civilians continue to face airstrikes, arbitrary detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced displacement. The Mechanism reported that war crimes and crimes against humanity continue with increasing frequency and intensity. We remain particularly concerned by the situation of the Rohingya minority, which continue to face systematic discrimination, forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, forced labor, and restriction on movement and humanitarian assistance. Nearly 150,000 Rohingya were newly registered as refugees in Bangladesh by April 2026. We commend Bangladesh and other neighboring countries for continuing to provide refuge and protection for those fleeing from Myanmar. Mr. Vice President. Accountability remains indispensable. We welcome the mechanism contribution to proceeding before the ICG and its cooperation with ICC and national jurisdiction. Those responsible for the most serious international crime must be held accountable.

I thank you. Thank you. The distinguished representative of Kuwait now has the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We welcome the report and we commend the efforts made in preparing it and in monitoring the developments of the human rights situation in Myanmar, particularly the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities. The State of Kuwait expresses its grave concern regarding the ongoing violations perpetrated against the Rohingya Muslims. This includes killing, forced displacement, arrests, forced recruitment, and labor. This is in addition to restrictions on humanitarian access. This only exacerbates the suffering of civilians and weakens prospects for peace and stability. We express our condemnation as to the violations perpetrated against the Rohingya and other minorities, and we call for guarantees for their protection, as well as holding the perpetrators accountable and preparing the right conditions for the Rohingya to go back to their homeland in a dignified, safe, and voluntary manner. We stress the importance of continuing to support the host countries, particularly Bangladesh, and to share the humanitarian burdens and responsibilities among the international community. In this regard, we reaffirm the content of recommendation 53B on the unhindered humanitarian access for those who need it, while insisting on the importance of providing foodstuffs and essential supplies and communications to the people.

Thank you. Australia, please.

Thank you, Vice President. We thank the High Commissioner and the Mechanism for their reports. Last month marked nine years since the Myanmar military launched targeted attacks against Rohingya communities in Rakhine State. Australia remains deeply concerned by the escalating violence and worsening humanitarian situation across Myanmar. The conflict is intensifying, destroying more civilian lives and infrastructure. Human rights violations and abuses are increasing, including systematic sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment and torture. More than one million Rohingya have been displaced, many being driven into dangerous maritime ventures by desperate conditions, with increasing deaths at sea.

Australia stands with the Rohingya people and supports.

Their rights, including for their return to Myanmar as citizens in a safe, voluntary, and dignified and sustainable way.

Australia has committed over 1.26 billion Australian dollars in assistance since 2017, our largest humanitarian response globally. But humanitarian access in Myanmar is constrained, and threats to humanitarian personnel are increasing.

Displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh are almost entirely reliant on diminishing assistance. They wish to earn their own livelihood, contribute to society, and gain skills to rebuild their futures in Myanmar. High Commissioner, how do we maintain support for those suffering, given deteriorating humanitarian access in Myanmar?

Thank you.

Thank you, the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. Now has the floor.

Thank you, Vice President. We have examined the reports of the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Myanmar, and we are closely monitoring the developments there. We call on all parties at the national level to maintain dialogue channels to ensure prospects for sustainable peace. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterates its long-lasting position on the protection of the displaced in Myanmar, especially the Rohingya, and recognizing all of their rights, including the right to full citizenship. The Kingdom reiterates the importance of preparing the right conditions for a safe and dignified return of the Rohingya to their homeland. Since the inception of the crisis, the Kingdom has played a humanitarian and developmental role in favor of the Rohingya and hosted some of them on its own land and provided them with job opportunities and healthcare based on the principle of humanitarian solidarity. We have also helped the Rohingya through various programs in multiple countries, and this included sheltering and healthcare services. The Kingdom reaffirms the importance of working within the international community to support the Rohingya and help them achieve their rights and enable them to live in peace and dignity in their own country. Thank you.

I thank you and give the floor to the representation of the Russian Federation.

Gospodin.

Mr. President, Russia focuses a high level of attention on the developing situation in Myanmar. We note that the December and January parliamentary elections took place, drew a line under the many years of the emergency state of emergency and opened a path to renew the authorities at all levels and build a new civilian government. We believe that the leadership of Myanmar is aimed at ensuring stability and security and relaunching socio-economic growth in the country. We believe that the quest for for a resolution of the crisis in this country should be based on the principles of sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and equal dialogue. Thus, we condemn the practice of a number of states using multilateral fora, including this one, to render pressure on the government UCMs, politicizing the human rights agenda, and attempts to isolate them only worsen the situation of the people of Myanmar and hinder constructive cooperation. We are against attempts to place all the responsibility for the current situation exclusively on the authorities in Naypyidaw. We note the efforts by ASEAN to organize constructive dialogue, mainly on humanitarian issues, with the government. We categorically reject, however, attempts by the West to intervene and monopolize ASEAN's role in this process. We call on all interested states to reject politicization of the human rights agenda and work with the dialogue with the government. Thank you.

Bulgaria now the floor.

Thank you. Mr. President, Bulgaria aligns itself with the EU statement. We welcome the presentation of the reports and remain deeply concerned by the deepening human rights crisis and the overall humanitarian situation in Myanmar. We are worried by the ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military and by various armed groups, including crimes related to unlawful detention and imprisonment, killings of civilians, etc. Bulgaria calls for immediate end of the military campaign and release of all political prisoners in Myanmar. We stand for accountability for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Myanmar, as well as for justice for the victims and survivors. We are deeply concerned about the continuing human rights violations and abuses perpetrated against persons belonging to the Rohingya and other ethnic and religious groups by the security and armed forces of Myanmar. The rights of voluntary, safe and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees and IDPs to Myanmar should be and guaranteed. The social and economic impact of the ongoing instability continues to affect the people of Myanmar. There has been no real progress since the elections held late last and earlier this year, which did not meet the requisite international standards. We urge for constructive, inclusive, and peaceful dialogue between the stakeholders aimed at restoring democracy and the rule of law in the country. Thank you.

Thank you. The distinguished representative of France now has the floor.

High Commissioner, Chair of the Mechanism, President, France thanks you for your respective reports and the clarifications which you have delivered. shed light, notably, on deliberate executions of civilians or combatants, as well as acts of torture, sexual crimes, and arbitrary arrests perpetrated by the Myanmar army and groups attached to them. These unacceptable acts could be war crimes and crimes against humanity. France urges the Myanmar armed forces and auxiliary groups to immediately stop these acts. Compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law, is an obligation for the junta and for all parties to the conflict. The junta must guarantee full, safe, rapid and unfettered access for humanitarian aid to all populations who need it. France demands the full application of Resolution 2669 of the Security Council, the cessation of attacks against civilian populations, and the liberation of persons detained arbitrarily, including the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. France reiterates its support for the efforts of ASEAN, notably the five-point consensus. France welcomes the entry into force on 1 January 2026 of the judicial cooperation convention concluded with the mechanism, in line with our constant commitment in favour of international justice. Thank you.

The distinguished representative of the United Kingdom now has the floor.

President.

These reports document a worsening crisis affecting the human rights of communities across Myanmar.

Airstrikes remain the leading cause of civilian deaths, striking schools, hospitals and places of worship. The Myanmar military's use of forced conscription, arson and arbitrary detention have driven displacement beyond 3.6 million. The Mechanism's evidence of sexualised torture in military detention facilities including of children, is deeply disturbing. We are gravely concerned by violations against ethnic and religious minorities nationwide, forced labour, forced.

Recruitment and the loss of land and homes.

The UK remains committed to accountability for all Myanmar's people. We have contributed 900,000 pounds to the mechanism and have supported international efforts to collect and preserve evidence of the most serious crimes committed in Myanmar. We intervene jointly at the International Court of Justice and await the court's judgment. High Commissioner, Mr. Vice President, perpetrators of the violations documented must be held to account.

Thank you. Thank you, the distinguished representative of India now has the floor.

Mr. Vice President, India takes note of the High Commissioner's report on Myanmar's human rights situation. We have consistently called on an immediate cessation of violence and creation of a conducive environment for an inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders. We have also repeatedly expressed concern over deteriorating humanitarian and security situation that continues to impact India's northeastern states through increased influx of people and transnational arms, drugs, and human trafficking along our shared border. India remains steadfast in its support for Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for Myanmar-led effort towards peace, stability, national reconciliation and socio-economic development. Whether providing humanitarian assistance as a first responder or supporting infrastructure, connectivity and capacity building, India has consistently prioritised people-centric initiatives as a neighbor and development partner. We will continue our assistance and cooperation based on mutual respect. We call on the international community to work together to support the people of Myanmar and facilitate a return to peace, and during peace can only be achieved through inclusive dialogue and the early restoration of democratic process. We continue to coordinate closely with ASEAN while supporting the United Nations Secretary-General's efforts.

Thank you. Thank you. The distinguished Ambassador of Japan has the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We appreciate the reports and updates of the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. Japan acknowledges the significant efforts by the IIMM in documenting serious human rights violations and advancing accountability. Japan remains deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, including the grave situation of the Rohingya and other minorities. We are deeply troubled by the reports of a pattern of deliberate aerial attacks against civilians arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence committed by the Myanmar military. Japan reiterates its call for an immediate cessation of violence and tangible political progress, including the release of all those detained and sincere dialogue among the parties concerned. We continue to stand with the people of Myanmar and provide humanitarian assistance as well as various forms of support to improve their livelihood. Japan continues to support ASEAN's efforts including the implementation of the five-point consensus and remains committed to working with the International Community for Peace, Accountability and Justice in Myanmar. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Germany aligns itself with the EU statement. Germany remains deeply concerned about widespread and systematic human rights violations in Myanmar since the coup of February 2021. We are alarmed by ongoing patterns of violence against civilians, including indiscriminate attacks, displacement, and targeting of those perceived as opposing the military regime. We are equally alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Germany thanks the High Commissioner and the IIMM for their reports. They are crucial in shedding light on human rights violations in Myanmar, including on the plight of the Rohingya. We will continue to support accountability efforts and provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance. In 2026, Germany allocated 15.2 million euros of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. We call on the authorities in Myanmar to allow the country to return to a democratic path, immediately implement the ASEAN five-point consensus, and put an end to violence against civilians and human rights violations? Mr. Kumjian, what are your most important recommendations to the international community to facilitate more effective evidence collection? Thank you.

I thank you and give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Vice President, Mr. Commissioner, China has listened attentively to the briefings made by the High Commissioner and independent investigation mechanism and regrets that Myanmar, as the country concerned, does not participate in the dialogue. And this year, Myanmar has held its general election, and the new government has put in place new policies, making every effort to promote its domestic peace and development. As a friendly neighbor, China firmly supports Myanmar's efforts to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity and supports the new government coordinating development and security, advancing domestic peace and reconciliation through political dialogue, and seeking a suitable development path that corresponds to its actual situation and is embraced by its people. China always advocates constructive dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Any action taken by this Council should help bridge the differences among all parties in Myanmar. Rather than exerting constant pressure or exacerbating the conflict, China supports dialogue and consultation as the means to gradually address the repatriation of the people displaced from Rakhine State and will continue to play a positive role in the achievement of peace, stability, and development in Myanmar. I thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the Iran is the next speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains deeply concerned about the prolonged and deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, particularly the continued suffering of Rohingya Muslims. The ongoing crisis, compounded by conflict, displacement, and growing humanitarian needs, continues to have devastating consequences for civilians. The continued displacement of Rohingya Muslims to neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh, has further increased humanitarian needs. Considering the diverse aspects of the situation, Iran stresses that the Rohingya crisis cannot be sustainably addressed without tackling its root causes. Mr. Vice President, discriminatory policies and practices, restriction on citizenship, and unequal access to legal protection have contributed significantly to the prolonged displacement and vulnerability of the Rohingya population. Rapid overcoming the situation requires immediate cessation of hostilities, strengthened humanitarian assistance, and effective measures to protect civilians. In this regard, Iran supports strengthened regional and international cooperation, including those of OIC and ASEAN, aimed at facilitating a lasting solution to this complex and protracted crisis. Mr. High Commissioner, how the Human Rights Council can help formation of an inclusive national dialogue, reconciliation and a peaceful political process involving all relevant national stakeholders in Myanmar.

Thank you. Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

South Africa thanks the High Commissioner and the double I, double M for the reports. The human rights situation in Myanmar remains profoundly concerning. Over the past year, the mechanisms in investigations demonstrated that the intensity of war crimes and crimes against humanity continue to escalate. This arises from pervasive impunity and encompasses a catalogue of horrors that demand a determined and coordinated international response. We therefore welcome the Mechanism's support for Gambia's case at the ICJ. While focused on the atrocities committed against the Rohingya, the forthcoming judgment will also have significant implications for the interpretation of the Genocide Convention, which continues to be violated, including in Gaza. As part of this process, it is important to recall that the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ in January 2020 give rise to binding obligations. Importantly, all states have an obligation to prevent and punish genocide. We must similarly ensure that we are not found to be complicit in enabling such conduct. Crucially, the mechanism's ongoing effectiveness depends on the political and financial backing of member states. Accordingly, South Africa shares the mechanism of our support, as accountability is not only a legal requirement, but a moral imperative. Indeed, justice for the people of Myanmar, who have suffered for far too long, must remain a priority of this Council. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. Egypt takes note of the report of the Independent Mechanism for Collection of Evidence in connection with international crimes in Myanmar. We condemn all violations against the Rohingya minority and we regret the fact that there Their situation continues to exist, and we call on the government of Myanmar to continue to put an end to the violations against them. We also support our international and regional efforts for accountability, and we call on the OHCHR to liaise and cooperate with the OIC, taking into account the centrality of the role of the organization. And we also commend the role of Bangladesh in its efforts to address the crisis of the Rohingya. We call on the international community to render support to host countries and to consider practical solutions for the problem of refugees. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much. Vice President, Venezuela notes with interest the situation going on in Myanmar. We reaffirm our support to all genuine efforts aimed at fostering a lasting peace, national reconciliation and sustainable development for the benefit of the people. It is crucial to foster political dialogue and constructive co-operation as avenues to bring positions closer together and to foster sustainable solutions, avoiding selective approaches or confrontation, which could hinder national efforts towards peace and stability. International human rights mechanisms should contribute to generating spaces of understanding and co-operation and not be converted into instruments of pressure or political confrontation. Venezuela stresses that peace and stability should be converted into greater development opportunities and wellbeing for the people of Myanmar. This requires a favourable international setting for its economic and social progress that helps overcome and not worsen the obstacles that the country faces to achieve its legitimate development aspirations. Venezuela will continue to support efforts geared towards peace, reconciliation and well-being of the people of Myanmar, convinced that a sustainable solution should be reached through political dialogue via peaceful avenues, fully respecting the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker that we could accommodate. We'll now turn to the list of speakers for national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. I give the floor first to Edmund Rice International Limited.

Mr. Vice President, ERI is concerned that civilians in Myanmar remain acutely vulnerable to relentless violence and repression. Aerial and artillery attacks on civilians and their homes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship have been intensifying in several parts of the country. Camps hosting internally displaced people have been repeatedly attacked, often resulting in multiple displacements and increased vulnerability. Myanmar remains one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 16 million people requiring assistance, nearly 4 million people internally displaced. Conflict, movement restrictions and administrative requirements continue to severely impede safe and sustained access. Despite this, the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was only 47 per cent funded at the end of August. Lack of funding also has a drastic impact on the situation in the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar. In this challenging context, civil society organisations, community and faith-based initiatives continue to provide critical and essential services, education, healthcare and humanitarian support. We urge the Human Rights Council and Member States to scale up humanitarian funding in Myanmar and for Myanmar refugees in neighboring countries, ensuring support reaches local and grassroots organisations, press the safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian assistance and access to all civilians in need, and strengthen international accountability and support independent investigations into violations of international human rights law, ensuring those responsible are held accountable. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Fortify Inc.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Fortify Rights welcomes the reports from the High Commissioner and the IICM. As Myanmar civilians continue to suffer grave violations, Documenting these crimes and preserving evidence for accountability remains critical. In Rakhine State, violence by the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army continues to drive Rohingya from their homes with civilian massacres, executions, forced recruitment, and other violations. Since 2024, an estimated 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, where more than 1.2 million people remain displaced after nine years amid aid cuts, trafficking and violence. Across Myanmar, the junta continues to wage war against civilians. Thousands of air strikes have been recorded nationwide in 2026 alone. 45 Rights has documented the junta's increasing use of cheap paramotors and gyrocopters to attack civilians, allowing an expansion in attacks at low cost while potentially evading sanctions. This is only a glimpse of the junta's violence against civilians. Fortify Rights urges member states to end support for the junta, impose targeted and coordinated sanctions on perpetrators, and cut off the weapons, aviation fuel, and dual-use technologies enabling these atrocities. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor now. It's going to be a video intervention by Video Human Rights Now.

Right now, the Myanmar military continues its rights violations and strikes against civilians. More than 40,780 political prisoners remain detained in faith-hurting conditions, including systematic torture, sexual violence, and denied medical care. More than 200 of them were arrested under the Election Protection Law for peaceful criticism of the election, violating freedom of expression. The military also continued to attack civilians, including homes, schools, medical facilities, religious buildings, and IDP camps. Between August 2025 and January 2026, at least 702 civilians were killed, including 224 women and 153 children. In total, more than 8,300 civilians have been killed since the 2021 coup. The military obstruction of aid has also caused a humanitarian crisis, with over 3.6 million people internally displaced and more than 15 million facing acute food insecurity, even as major donor countries have greatly reduced aid. And despite the military continuing non-compliance with the five-point consensus and Security Council Resolution 2669, neighborhood states and ASEAN are legitimating its illegitimate rule.

We call on the.

Military to restore true democratic rule to Myanmar and all military action and restriction on aid, release all political prisoners, and repeal abusive law. Thank you.

Give the floor now to the representative of Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. We remain deeply concerned about the widespread human suffering caused by the Myanmar military's continuing war against the people of Myanmar. As the High Commissioner's report finds, the military's persistent quest for control and legitimacy has only deepened the suffering. Despite such warnings, we deplore that some states are actively assisting the junta's quest for international legitimacy on the basis of its sham elections, while some others continue to supply technology and weapons aiding and abetting its violence. We call on states to refrain from such actions that come at the expense of the people of Myanmar and undermine any prospects of an inclusive and sustainable political solution. Nine years after the military's genocidal campaign, persecution and genocidal violence against Rohingya continues. Today, Rohingya face grave abuses from both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, which is using the same patterns of violence and discrimination that the military has used against the Rohingya for decades. Instead of seeking to repatriate Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar under these conditions, neighboring states must focus on creating conditions for their safe, voluntary, sustainable and dignified returns. We commend the efforts of the IIMM to ensure that Myanmar is not a forgotten crisis by continuing to investigate the ongoing crimes. We urge Member States to ensure that the mechanism has the necessary resources and capacity to continue its vital work. Finally, we call for strengthened international action to ensure accountability for continuing atrocities in Myanmar, including the genocide against the Rohingya. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor video from the Shanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association.

I'm the initiator of the IPPO organization, advocating loving one's own country without harming other countries' interests. I thank the IIM for its eighth report, documenting evidence on the aerial attack chain of command and two-way atrocities in Rakhine State, disposition of Rohingya land, et cetera. We know that in the conflict, all parties claim that their actions are patriotic acts, yet when external actors supply jet fuels, drone parts, the result is civil war, displacement, and spillover of disaster. severely eroding the right to development of Myanmar and neighboring countries such as Bangladesh. Patriotism is not a slogan, but a bond for peaceful dialogue and cooperation. True patriotism does not come at the expense of the interests of others. We recommend to include the cross-border supply route of material in the investigation and include testimony of affected communities in the relevant documents, and to hold thematic discussions, as well as to support our international patriotic pact to review a nation's right to development and open up avenues for civil society participation. Let us respect others and not a restraint for sovereignty. Thank you.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Thank you, Mr. President.

CSW welcomes the reports of the High Commissioner and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. We share their concerns regarding the systematic military airstrikes targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools, religious buildings, and displacement camps. Since 2021, the IIM mechanism has noted a steady increase in aerial attacks against religious minorities and recorded over 600 aerial attacks against a variety of religious buildings across the country. This pattern was evident in the recent military attack on a Buddhist monastery compound in Swe Lio in Myaungdaha township. On 21 August, the Myanmar Air Force fighter jet dropped two bombs on the village monastery, where more than 100 civilians had gathered during Buddhist Lent. The attack killed 14 civilians and injured at least 20 others. The targeting of civilians taking part in a peaceful religious retreat is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and underscores the total disregard of the Myanmar military for human life and religious sacred.

Space.

This systematic violence severely compounds the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya Muslims and other religious and ethnic minorities. We call on the international community to take immediate decisive action to stop the junta's violent campaign by restricting the supply of aviation fuel, expanding targeted financial sanctions against the military enterprises, and strengthening support of international accountability mechanisms at the ICC, ICJ and IIIM. Thank you.

Thank you. give the floor to the International Commission of Jurists.

Vice-President, the ICJ and IBARHI welcome the continued efforts to document serious violations and abuses and advance accountability by the IIIM and the OHCHR in the context of continued unlawful aerial attacks against civilians by the military. We wish to draw particular attention to the continuing practice of enforced disappearances in Myanmar and to those who seek to protect the rights of victims and their families. The junta continues the widespread practice of arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, whereby persons are systematically denied access to legal counsel, and family members are often denied information about the fate or whereabouts of their relatives. In such cases, lawyers are often among the first to whom families turn. They search for the disappeared persons, challenge arbitrary or unlawful detention, document violations, and preserve information that contributes to truth, justice, reparation, and accountability. Lawyers undertaking these critical professional duties themselves face intimidation, unwarranted surveillance, arbitrary detention and other forms of reprisals. We call upon all Member States to ensure that lawyers, human rights defenders, victims and survivors in Myanmar are able to exercise their rights without intimidation or reprisal. We also call for sustained cooperation and technical and financial support to the IIIM and other independent accountability mechanisms, and for the preservation of avenues to justice. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Legal Action Worldwide. Are they ready? Seems they're not on the room. Therefore, we'll move to intervention by video from the Mediterranean Forum for Promotion of Human Rights.

I'm one of the establishers of the National Covenant in Morocco. Uh, I say that, uh, patriotism should be at the expense of the interests of other states. Therefore, we have considered the second report of the, uh, II-MM on Myanmar, and the report indicates that, uh, since July 2025 to June 2026, Uh, there is escalation of, uh, airstrikes and, uh, forced disappearances, sexual, sexual violence perpetrated by the army and armed groups in Myanmar against civilians, targeting schools. hospitals and camps. There are also atrocities committed against Rohingya and Rakhine people in the state of Rakhine. So any party that inflicts harms against civilians in the name of protecting interests deviates from the real meaning of patriotism. Therefore, we call for including the principle of the fact that patriotism should not be at the expense of human rights and the military or armed groups should not be exempted from sanctions under the pretext of self-defense. There should also be a role for the mechanism on the right to development and there should be a role for the ICJ and other international mechanisms. Thank you.

And now here another video this time from uh Pax Romana.

My name is Muhammad Anwar I am a rohingya refugee in Sri Lanka I note the reports of the high commissioner and independent investigative mechanism for Myanmar we appreciate the rescue of about 105 rohingya from the sea of Jaffna in December 2022 by Sri Lankan Navy we request the Sri Lankan government to ensure rights to Livelihood housing food education and health care of all rohingya refugees residing around panadura in December 2022 2024, about 116 Rohingya, including 57 children, arrived in Sri Lanka after a dangerous sea journey in which two boats sank and six people lost their lives. Their testimonies of persecution, violence, displacement, and fear demonstrate they are asylum seekers, but they remain detained for more than 20 months with limited access to humanitarian assistance. We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to release the detainees and, until then, ensure unimpeded access for UNHCR, lawyers, humanitarian organizations, and journalists, and refrain from referring to asylum seekers as illegal migrants. A UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission found reasonable grounds to conclude that genocide against Rohingya have been committed and threats of genocide for Rohingya remaining in Myanmar. We Rohingya are also stateless. Thus, we call on Sri Lankan government to consider offering citizenship or permanent residency to Rohingya and other refugees in Sri Lanka who cannot find permanent settlement in any other countries. We also call for an end to harassment, surveillance and restriction against Sri Lankan human rights defenders expressing solidarity with us, Rohingya asylum seekers and refugees. Thank you.

Finally, we will hear from a representative of Human Rights Solidarity Organization.

We remain deeply concerned about the worsening human rights and humanitarian situations in Myanmar, particularly the grave conditions facing the Rohingya communities. More than 1.2 million Rohingya remain in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, living in diminishing food security, limited healthcare and growing protection risks. Humanitarian aid is vital, but it cannot become a permanent substitute for right, justice and safety. A durable solution requires creating the condition for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees. Return cannot simply mean crossing a border. It must mean return to a homeland where their rights are protected, their citizenship restored, and their safety guaranteed. Today, intensified conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, discriminatory laws such as the 1982 citizenship law, and the absence of the credible guarantees make such condition possible. Accountability is essential. The ongoing case, The Gambia v. Myanmar, before the International Court of Justice and the work of the Independent Investigation Mechanism for Myanmar remain critically to establish truth, preservation evidence and deterring future abuses. Compliances with the ICJ's provisional measures is indispensable for rebuilding trust. We call on this Council and Member States to support accountability processes, exert diplomatic pressure on all actors in Myanmar, sustain humanitarian assistance for refugees and host communities, and ensure independent UN monitoring.

Thank you. That was the last speaker that we could include in the dialogue. I'll give the floor now to the panelists for their concluding remarks. First of all, I give the floor to Tun Khin. You have the floor.

Mr. Vice President, I want to conclude on justice and accountability. In 2020, International Court of Justice issued legally binding provisional measures, order in Myanmar to protect Rohingya from genocide. Those orders have been repeatedly violated, but the military has faced no real consequences at all. The same military that committed genocide against Rohingya has gone on to commit atrocities against community across Myanmar. Accountability is not only about the past. It is about stopping atrocities now and preventing further violence. International law and court orders will not protect Rohingya unless member states act to enforce them. In 2019, BRO-UK has initiated its own universal jurisdiction case in Argentina to pursue criminal accountability for the Rohingya genocide. In 2023, seven Rohingya genocide survivors traveled to Argentina to give in person testimony that II double M also provided evidence to the court I would like to express many thanks to II double M and high commissioner for the continued support for justice and accountability in 2025 the court issued International arrest warrants against me online and 24 others we cannot allow the same failure of enforcement to happen with this warrants court decision must be upheld arrest warrant must lead to arrest we call on states to cooperate fully with international justice processes and act on these warrants whenever those named in them enter their jurisdictions. Interpol must act on Argentina's request on rat-a-last notice. Those wanted Those wanted for genocide must know that these warrants will follow them wherever they go. Justice and accountability are essential foundation for lasting peace and democracy in Myanmar. As the High Commissioner has stated, member state must press the UN Security Council to refer situation Myanmar to International Criminal Court. UK as a pen holder on Myanmar must lead effort at Security Council to secure this referral. There can be no guarantee, no genuine democracy while Rohingyas are denied our identity, our citizenship and equal rights. For Rohingya, justice must also mean restoring rights and what has been taken from us, our home, our lands and our citizenship. Rohingya must have a future in Myanmar as equal citizen. Rohingya do not have time. Justice and accountability delivered years too late will mean nothing if there are no Rohingya left in Myanmar. The international community cannot allow Rohingya to be erased from Myanmar and promise us justice afterwards. Member states must act now to stop genocide and impunity. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Ms. Shunlei.

Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, let me close with a few points raised in this dialogue. On peace and reconciliation, concrete actions start with honesty. Past peace processes failed because they excluded the people actually carrying the resolution. Our communities already hold the answer. This is not a case of needing something new. What is needed is real support for locally led dialogue that centers the voices of women, girls, and LGBTQ people from marginalized and ethnic community who have been excluded from every negotiation table so far. On humanitarian access, aid must reach people through cross-border, community-based channels, working directly with SCDF and local civil society organizations in areas outside military control. But access alone is not enough. The military must stop confiscating women's hygiene supplies and humanitarian assistance, and stop bombing the very community that aid is meant to reach. On the five-point consensus. Five year has produced no real progress. That failure is proof of impunity, not a plan that simply needs more time. To avoid complicity, ACM must impose time-bound measures with real consequences for violations by the junta, not continued diplomatic recognition. Red carpet treatment is not neutrality, it is participation in this crisis. Myanmar has sought recognition as Myanmar head of state, but that claim was obtained through force, not through the will of the Myanmar people. Any government that extends that recognition is not being neutral, it is choosing complicity. And on Myanmar Let and Myanmar O, we agree with the principle. That process already exists. The foreign council for the emergence of a democratic union and ethnic revolutionary organizations are building federal democracy from the ground up without the military leader that have been named in the ICC and ICG. When this language is used to mean the junta instead, it is not respecting Myanmar's ownership. It is handing our ownership to the actor that took it by force. That is not respecting sovereignty. This is abandonment and a complicity. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Mr. Kumjian.

Thank you. Thanks so much for the very important questions, particularly about witness security. That is the priority for our mechanism. And there's no question we need these brave witnesses to come forward, but it is dangerous. We need to have the technologies to communicate with them very confidentially so we have to be completely up-to-date on encryption technologies interception technologies so that we can keep our communication safe but when it comes to actually protecting witnesses where they are there's very little the mechanism can do we're not a state you the states have the authority to give people the right to stay in your country or to enter your country where they can be safe many witnesses particularly insiders are at extreme risk and it'd be very, very dangerous if they are returned to Myanmar. It's very important that states interested in supporting international criminal law step up and relocate some of these witnesses to where they can be safe. There were questions about drone technology and what can we do to stop some of these bombings. Well, the mechanism, particularly our financial investigation and open source units are looking at who's providing the means to these crimes, and we're investigating that. And many of your states already have laws, sanctions against providing material to the fighting forces in Myanmar. We can work with you to investigate potential national violations or international crimes related to the use of those weapons and supplying them to Myanmar. There were questions from Switzerland about the efficiencies. The mechanism recognizes that these are times of financial challenge, and we're trying to be as efficient as possible using technologies like AI. So we dropped our translators and trying to use technologies to have machine translation, very challenging with Burmese. as it is a different script. It's not a language that's so widely used around the world, but we're working on that. We've made progress, progress in making our materials. We have over 20 million items in our data bank, but making them searchable, including photographs and videos, so we can search for images of a certain type using these AI technologies and also using remote meetings whenever possible to save on travel costs and to ensure that we're in constant communication with key interlocutors. Finally, I would just say that these are challenging times for international criminal law and it's very important that states step up and support us We're a mechanism trying to collect evidence. It's important that people don't ignore international law. War crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide cannot be tolerated. It's not up to states to decide for themselves what the law will be. We need your support. Thank you.

Thank you. High Commissioner, you have the floor.

And I also would like to thank you all for your statements, including the very important statements from the non-governmental organizations. I actually don't know where to start when I offer my concluding remarks because we have had I don't know how many debates on Myanmar in this Council, and we always talk about the litany of human rights violations, the litany of disrespect, flagrant disrespect of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the question that one asks oneself is what is it that one can do in order to change fundamentally the situation on the ground? And in the report that we put forward, but also in my statement, I was very careful to note that the situation in Myanmar is a matter of grave international concern. I mean, first and foremost because of the human rights violations, but also because of the repercussions that it has on neighboring countries. And I have listed quite a few of them. Obviously, the most obvious one is the fact that you have a massive refugee outflow that is totally unresolved with Bangladesh. being the main hosting country, but many other countries as well in the immediate region. We have now, again, loss of life at sea in very dramatic circumstances. And you have the issue of trafficking, you have the issue of illicit economy, you have the issue of scam centers, you have the issue of even diseases, and so on and so forth. And I mean, and really, if anyone needs any education about what it means that something is a matter of international concern, just have have a reality check and listen, and not only what my reports from the office, but also what the independent investigative mechanism, the Special Observers, all the different mechanisms are doing, what the civil society organizations are collecting, I would really want to tell you, have a reality check. That is the reality on the ground. And when you ask, what more can we do, I have a few suggestions. One is to make sure that Myanmar becomes a priority, that it does become not just yet another discussion at the Human Rights Council. It should become a political priority to find ways and means to resolve this crisis. And it means you don't have to reinvent the wheel. You have the UN Security Council Resolution 2669. You have the ASEAN five-point plan. And there are some very core components that are still not respected until today. One is cessation of hostilities. The other one is release of all those arbitrarily detained. And by the way, if you look at the figures, since the coup, 31,859 people, including 6,587 women, have been arbitrarily detained. We still have 14,768 people detained, including 2,462 women. So you can start there. The other one is, of course, unhindered humanitarian access. The humanitarian situation is absolutely disastrous. I mean, if you go into the figures, 16.2 million people, including 5 million children, in need of humanitarian assistance. 12.4 million people facing acute hunger. one third of school-aged children not being able to go to school. I mean, and I could give you a whole list of more data that makes that particular case. Then you have the engagement with the military. Some of you have mentioned it. I have nothing against engagement, but please, please make sure that if you engage, that you put forward these very massive human rights concerns, because that's the one thing you can do in your engagement with the military. You need to make sure that they show and demonstrate meaningful, verifiable progress when it comes to those decisions that were taken both by the Security Council and by ASEAN. But I'm not sure that ever goes into the engagement strategy that some of you have been talking about. It also means stop the transfer of arms, of fuel, of technology that actually feeds the conflict and the crisis, including the drones, because some of you mentioned the drones, and we have documented the use of drones and aerial attacks in quite some detail. It means that please stop using please stop transferring any particles that could be used for these purposes. By the way, on the drone issue more generally, I agree that we see now the use of drones in every conflict. I've just mentioned it earlier today in Ukraine, in Sudan, in many other conflicts as well. I think we need to come to a bigger thematic discussion about the use of drones and the human rights impact because There are lots of lessons to be learned and with AI coming in, it becomes more and more a potentially extremely, it's already devastating, has already devastating impact on the protection of civilians becomes even worse. On the issue of the Rohingya, I mean, the Rohingya issue has been there for decades, unresolved for decades. I mean, the fact that you have the deprivation of nationality I met in 2015, I still remember, an old woman in northern Rakhine State, an hour away from Mongdaw, where she showed me her pink nationality certificate that she had had in the '60s. Of course, that nationality certificate is no longer valid. In fact, the whole population has been deprived of nationality, which is quite unprecedented. The plight of the Rohingya We actually have a solution. There is an advisory, the Kofi Annan Commission that was created by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State has a whole list of resolution of how you can resolve that crisis. It was in 2017 when Aung San Suu Kyi was issuing the report that the tragedy happened. So there is actually, there's not much to reinvent the wheel, there is all the knowledge is there of how to resolve it, it just needs to be done. and pressure needs to be exerted so that it can be done. And then there is the investment in the future. There will be a day after, but we can prepare for the day after with all the local communities, with all the civil society organizations, with all those local actors that play an incredibly important role in Myanmar. And one thing is going to be absolutely critical, and it is accountability. I mean, all the efforts that are going into accountability with the ICJ, ICC, with the universal jurisdiction cases in Argentina and elsewhere, that's going to be extremely important. With all the mechanisms that we have, we need accountability, truth telling, because otherwise this is not going to work. And the disruption of illicit conflict economies and due diligence, human rights due diligence when it comes to rare in rare earth and other supply chains, because that's really, there's a lot that can be done. I wish it would be done so that we don't have yet another discussion about the litany of human rights violations in Myanmar. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, High Commissioner, for those words. With that, this brings us to the end of this enhanced interactive dialogue. We'd like to thank the High Commissioner and all the panelists for their participation. now have a small short technical break before initiating the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Thank you. Thank you for your patience. We will now begin the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, pursuant to Council resolution 62. Let me welcome the mandate holder, Mr. Richard Bennett, and the list of speakers. As usual, we will close in 15 minutes. I am asking for some silence, please. I will now give the floor to Mr. Bennett to present your report. You have the floor.

Mr. Vice President, distinguished delegates, colleagues, and friends. I begin by recommitting to defending the human rights of the people of Afghanistan, especially its women and girls, and by asking this Council to do the same, not only in words but also in deeds. We meet three weeks after the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's seizure of power. After five years, the cumulative effect is clear: the Taliban's unrelenting restrictions, policies, and practices not only violate the human rights of Afghans, but are reshaping the social fabric of the country. The education system excludes girls and indoctrinates boys. The media trumpets Taliban doctrine. Music, art, poetry, and other forms of culture are suppressed. The institutions that once offered protection have been dismantled, and now Taliban decrees reach into the most private areas of life. The Taliban are constantly testing the limits of what the international community will tolerate. After five years, they've learned that condemnation costs them little and that red lines can be crossed without consequences. Every time we protest in words but continue to act as before, we send the same message. This is acceptable. The Taliban's gender order is the center of it all. After four years in this mandate, I remain shocked by what Afghans share with me about physical and psychological abuse by Taliban officials, sometimes compounded by abuse from their own families. I'm also shocked by the increasingly dehumanizing statements of leading Taliban, including denying women's equal humanity. My report is in two parts. First, I review human rights developments since November 25, with an annex taking stock of the past five years. Second, I review the situation of children in Afghanistan. UN figures show that 46% of Afghans are under 15, two-thirds are under 25. Whatever happens to Afghanistan's children today will shape the country for decades to come. As with my previous reports, my findings come from Afghans themselves, focus group discussions with 102 participants from every region, and 25 written submissions, including from children and young people. The words of one girl have stayed with me. She said, "Three words have come to define our lives: fear, tears, and despair." Those are not simply the words of one girl. They reflect what I have been hearing from children and young people across Afghanistan about a childhood shaped by fear, deprivation, and loss of hope. I continue to hear reports of suicide by girls. The de facto authorities also continue to reject the internationally recognized definition of a child as anyone under 18, dismantling legal frameworks and institutions that used to protect children. At the same time, new directives and decrees are further eroding their rights. Their May 26 decree on spousal separation appears to recognize marriage involving children and treats any girl who's attained puberty as eligible. Under these rules, a girl's silence can be taken as her consent to marriage. It's become almost impossible for a married girl or woman to leave an abusive relationship. Meanwhile, the so-called rules for courts sanctions violence against women and girls with punishments only if there are broken bones or visible bruises. Even then, the penalties are grossly inadequate. While girls are excluded from secondary education, boys remain in school, but their education is increasingly shaped by Taliban ideology. My report finds that child labor is increasing despite being prohibited. Children sold or given away by families who've nothing left. Meanwhile, around 9 million Afghan children are facing severe hunger. and 3.7 million under five are acutely malnourished. My findings on children and youth include several intersecting identities and vulnerabilities. The harms to children can't be understood separately from gender, and the Taliban's institutionalized and systematic regime of gender-based discrimination, oppression, and domination which I've previously described as gender apartheid, is at the core of the Taliban's ideology and rule and is shaping the whole of society, including for children, with deeply intergenerational consequences. However, Afghans young people are not only victims. Girls are learning in secret and teaching one another. Young Afghans are documenting what's happening to them, organizing and finding ways to participate in their country's future. Behind this chamber, Afghan artists have an exhibition they cannot show at home. It's called Art Resists, Hope Blooms. I encourage you to see it. Now I'll briefly summarize some recent developments affecting the overall human rights situation. I'm deeply concerned about rising pressure on minority religious and ethnic communities. Afghans' right to practice their religion is being steadily constrained. A recent decree restricts recognition of preachers to followers of the Hanafi school, and the new family decree overrides Shia personal status law. In Barakshan, Ismaili places of worship continue to be closed. During Ashura this year, Shia commemorations were confined to designated locations, Mobile networks were suspended and dozens of men were detained for displaying Ashura flags. In April, 12 civilians were killed by unidentified gunmen near a Shia shrine in Hiraat. Minority communities are also targeted on ethnic grounds through land appropriation and forced evictions, exclusion from public life and other discriminatory practices. Pashtun and Hazara communities appear to be singled out, along with Uzbek, Turkmen and Tajik communities. I remain deeply concerned that persons who are or are perceived to be LGBTIQ+ remain extremely vulnerable to violence, discrimination and severe criminal punishment. Disability is a legacy of years of war. and people with disabilities are excluded from education, healthcare and assistance. I find children with disabilities face compounded barriers. Civic space has been steadily closed. Organizations, restricted journalists, detained human rights defenders, persecuted. When residents of Herat protested peacefully in June against the arrest of women of a dress requirement, security forces opened fire, killing a boy and detained dozens in the days that followed. And last month, the crackdown became law. A new statute approved by the Taliban leader bans all demonstrations throughout Afghanistan. And as I speak, six staff members of a humanitarian organization have been held for almost two months without charge. I call for their release and for the release of all civilians detained without trial. Cross-border attacks this year have killed or injured well over 1,000 civilians, many of them women and children, in their own homes. An air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul on 16 March, according to UNAMA, killed 269 people and injured at least 122. I have not seen the outcome of an investigation into this tragedy. Millions of Afghans have come back from Iran and Pakistan, some deported, others under pressure. Among them are registered refugees, unaccompanied children and people born in exile. They arrived to find little work. and a humanitarian response a fraction of what is needed. Some returnees are punished for their past, links with the former republic, minorities or LGBTI identities, or lawful activity as defenders or journalists, punished through arbitrary detention, torture and, in some cases, death. I appreciate that Pakistan and Iran have hosted millions of Afghans for decades, and that Pakistan recently identified some 16,000 people whose stay is being facilitated. That instinct needs to become a system. No removal without individual protection screening. Afghanistan is not safe for involuntary return. Deportations must halt, including from European countries, which risk breaching the principle of non-refoulement. Mr. Vice President, I call on Member States to refrain from normalising relations with the Taliban until they have reversed oppressive policies. After five years, it may be tempting to think about a change in approach. However, neither dialogue with the Taliban nor isolating them appears to make any difference. There's no evidence that the Taliban intends to moderate its conduct. The decrees of the past year point in the other direction. There's a strong case for more humanitarian assistance and for well-designed support that reaches Afghans directly. But change must not mean compromising human rights law. Abandoning Afghans would hand the Taliban legitimacy in exchange for little, and Afghan women would pay first. And that standard applies to our own house. As the Secretary-General has noted, today is precisely one year since the Taliban physically barred Afghan women from reporting to the UN workplaces. We cannot keep asking States to refuse the erasure of women while accommodating it inside our own walls. The all-tools approach I espouse must advance gender-competent, survivor-centric, child-centred and inclusive justice, whoever the perpetrator and whenever the crime was committed. I call on Member States to urgently support and bolster every available accountability mechanism, and I hail Afghan-led efforts such as last year's hearing on the women of Afghanistan by the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal. In conclusion, five years is a long time in the life of a girl, but it is a short time in a country ravaged by decades of war and impunity. Victims and survivors of the entire period have a right to truth, justice and reparations. Once again, I ask this Council to stand with the people of Afghanistan in deeds as well as words. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Bennett. In line with the established practice, we will continue by listening to the delegation of the country concerned. And we will also give the distinguished representative of Afghanistan five minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We thank the Special Rapporteur, Sir Richard Bennett, for his report and for the extensive work undertaken in upholding his mandate. The report, informed by consultation, focus group discussions, submissions, and interviews, provides an important account of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, including the impact of Taliban policies on children and young people. Five years after the Taliban's military takeover, restrictions affecting fundamental rights are no longer isolated measures. As the report demonstrates, they have increasingly been consolidated through decrees, directives and practices, with particularly severe consequences for women and girls, children and young people, and ethnic and religious minorities. This institutionalization is precisely why the situation requires our urgent attention, and the finding concerning women and girls illustrates this concern particularly clearly. The report's assessment of the 2026 decrees on the separation and criminal rules is not simply a matter of legislative shortcoming. In fact, no legislative procedure exists under the Taliban. It's only one man's whim. Mr. Vice President, women facing violence encounter almost insurmountable barriers. and where legal protection against violence are further weakened, the ability of women to seek protection itself is being undermined. These measures are consequential because they affect the very mechanism through which rights can be exercised and violations challenged. While this report rightly calls for the replacement of the decrees and asks for restoration of appropriate protection and independent legal services, as well as for the revocation of 2026 degrees of criminal rule, calling on the Taliban, the five years showed has no practical impact. On the children's rights, the dismantlement of children protection and juvenile justice mechanism, the absence of legal definition of child, exposure to corporal punishment, and the report of recruitment and the use of children point to the erosion of safeguards that should protect children from precisely these forms of abuse and exploitation. The continued exclusion of girls and women from education must also be viewed in this longer-term context. The consequences extend beyond the denial of fundamental rights today. They affect Afghanistan's future human capacity and the ability of a generation to particularly fully, to participate fully in the country's social and economic life. The report's finding, therefore, reinforces the urgency of restoring access to education, rather than allowing the loss of educational opportunities to become permanent. As emphasized by High Commissioner Walker Turk this morning in his statement, the report also makes clear that the restriction of individual rights is accompanied by shrinking civic space. Restriction on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, arbitrary detention, and the concern regarding the due process reduce the ability of Afghanistan society to raise concerns, seek redress, and hold those responsible to account. The report's violence against members of the Shia community and the event in Herat further underlines the importance of the effective investigation and accountability. Mr. Vice President, what remains is not further deliberation on the fact, but a decision on what follows from them. The reports before us provides a clear and sufficient basis for the Council to move beyond the cycle in which violations are documented, condemned, and repeated. On the accountability, we call on the Council members to, number one, ensure a full and urgent operationalization of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan with the resources and mandate necessary to do its work without delay. We are also urging rethinking about the placement of IIM Afghanistan permanently in Vienna. Sustain and reinforce the investigation of the criminal court investigations. Advance the codification of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity within the forthcoming convention on crime against humanity. Finally, support universal jurisdiction proceeding and Afghan-led transitional justice initiative so that the accountability is not confined to institutions in Geneva and The Hague, but rather reaches to those who commit these violations. And we thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you, Ambassador. The list of speakers for this dialogue is now closed, and I invite the interested delegations to pose questions to the Special Rapporteur and make comments on the report. The speaking time, as usual, will be one minute, 30 seconds for each speaker. The distinguished representative of Norway is the first to have the floor on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

I have the honour to speak for the Nordic-Baltic States.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his important.

Work, for his powerful statement just now, and for his long-standing dedication to the Afghan people.

We remain deeply concerned by Afghanistan's worsening human rights situation.

Women and girls face systematic discrimination, with education and employment restricted and denied, intensified enforcement of dress codes, new decrees that further hardens discrimination, including decree number 18 that enables child marriage. We condemn cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments and restrictions on freedom of expression, journalists, human rights defenders and civil society.

The de facto authorities' policies have consequences that affect the future of an entire generation of Afghan children. We applaud the the resilience, creativity and determination of young Afghans referred to in the report, who continue to challenge the restrictions and defend their rights, often at considerable personal risk. President, history shows that the world neglects Afghanistan at its own peril. We should find more ways to engage these brave actors inside the country to support them in this important work.

We encourage.

Concrete measures to operationalize the independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan and reiterate our strong support for the Special Rapporteur's mandate.

How can we engage effectively with Afghan actors?

I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan on behalf of the OIC.

Mr. Vice President, the OIC group thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. The deteriorating humanitarian, social, economic, and human rights conditions in Afghanistan is deeply concerning. The U.S. reiterates its disappointment over the suspension of female education and calls on the de facto Afghan authorities to revisit and reverse these steps. Islamic teachings are crystal clear. Education is a fundamental human right, which all individuals must enjoy on the basis of equal opportunity and in a non-discriminatory manner and not be deprived of. There can be no justification for such discriminatory practices. We also urge the de facto Afghan authorities to adhere to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and of the OIC Charter, and to abide by its obligations under international treaties and agreements, including their obligations under international human rights covenants, particularly regarding the rights of women, children, youth, the elderly, and people with special needs. While we reaffirm our solidarity with the Afghan people, we also reaffirm the importance of combating terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan and ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used as a platform or safe haven by any terrorist group or organization, including against neighbors. The OECD Group reaffirms its support for a peaceful, stable, prosperous Afghanistan, inclusive of all stripes. I thank you.

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

The EU thanks Special Rapporteur for his report. Five years after the Taliban takeover, its stranglehold on Afghan society has only been tightening. Girls are reaching adulthood, having been denied secondary education. Safeguards protecting children's rights are dismantled. Civic space continues to shrink. Public executions and corporal punishments remain widespread. The Decree on Criminal Rules of Courts legalizes violence against women unless it amounts to a severe beating resulting in a fracture, a wound, or bruising. It enables violence against children and targets LGBTI persons, including by the death penalty. The EU strongly condemns all human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan. The systematic and systemic violations of women's and girls' human rights may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute. All measures impeding women's and girls' access to health services must be reversed immediately. The rights of persons belonging to minorities, persons in vulnerable situations and LGBTI persons must be guaranteed. Sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan requires a political process that is inclusive of all Afghans and ensures the equal and meaningful participation of women. Accountability is essential. The EU will therefore financially support the operationalization of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan and calls for its adequate funding. Special rapporteur, how do you envisage your collaboration with the IIMA?

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

Muchas gracias, Senor Presidente. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of more than 48 countries. Mr. President, five years ago, the Taliban seized power again in Afghanistan. And as documented by the Special Rapporteur, this has led to a devastating impact of Taliban policies on children, particularly girls. were gravely concerned that girls remain barred from education beyond sixth grade, denying millions the right to education. Reports of rising force and child marriage are alarming, including cases where a girl's mere silence is deemed sufficient consent to marry. Many girls are effectively confined to their homes, unable to leave without a maram for the fear of reprisal. We are regularly disturbed by reports of increased gender-based violence, where girls and women are killed within the context of domestic violence, forced marriage, and family disputes, amid pervasive impunity. These compounding harms are driving a severe mental health crisis among Afghan children, marked by fear, trauma, and hopelessness. We call the Taliban to guarantee children's right to education, end forced and child marriage, and ensure accountability for all violence against girls and women. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor.

To the same representative of Spain.

Vice President, Spain aligns with the statement by the EU, and we're grateful for the report and the work of the Special Rapporteur. We very firmly condemn the ongoing deterioration of the exercise of the rights of the Afghan population in the last five years. The Taliban have institutionalised and made human rights violations systematic. Therefore, we support the work of the independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan and other accountability processes, which offer a glimmer of hope and justice for victims. We urge the international community to do the same. The international community cannot turn a blind eye to the flagrant discrimination and persecution on grounds of gender. Spain condemns the gender apartheid in Afghanistan and calls on the de facto authorities to respect the fundamental rights of women and girls. They should also put an end to repression and violence against human rights defenders, journalists and ethnic and religious minorities. The report has shone a light on the drastic lack of protection for childhood in areas as relevant as adoption, child labour and early and forced marriage. These are clear violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. How can we support and step up cooperation between the various mechanisms and agencies on the ground? Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to UN Women.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Five years after the Taliban takeover, the systematic exclusion of Afghan women and girls is taking a deep intergenerational toll. A new report by UN Women shows nearly two thirds of parents feel their adolescent daughters' lives are worse than expected, and this is almost twice the amount who feel the same about their sons. Lost access to education was the leading concern among parents, with consequences far beyond the classroom, limiting opportunities to work and participate in public life. Afghan girls are growing up with fewer memories of women studying, working, and participating more freely. What mothers experienced as a sudden loss, their daughters risk knowing simply as the way life is. These restrictions reach into the core of the UN's operations. Today marks one year since the de facto authorities of Afghanistan barred Afghan women, staff, and contractors from UN premises. This egregious ban is unprecedented in the UN's 80-year history. Exclusion must never be normalized.

Afghan women have never stopped imagining a better future.

They need the opportunities to build it. This is not only about their rights and their futures, it is about the values we stand for as an international community. We call on the Council to keep Afghanistan on top of its agenda and stand with Afghan women and girls. I thank you.

Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Italy.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Italy aligns itself with the EU and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. Since August 2021, the human rights situation in Afghanistan has progressively deteriorated as a result of pervasive restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms. The 2026 decrees represent an unacceptable development, further entrenching the persecution and and the marginalization of women and girls. The diminished capacity of the child protection system exposes children to serious abuses. Religious minorities, media and civil society also continue to face intimidation and repression. Italy urges the de facto authorities to uphold international law. We remain fully engaged in countering this institutionalization of systematic discrimination and violation of fundamental human rights in Afghanistan. Mr. Special Rapporteur, given the systematic restrictions imposed on women and girls, what can the international community do to support the meaningful participation in society and public life?

Thank you.

Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Andorra.

Andorra thanks the special rapporteur for his report. Five years after the Taliban took power, systematic exclusion of women and girls has become a hallmark of life in Afghanistan. As the report shows, those policies compromise the future of a whole generation. These last five years, restrictions imposed on secondary education have affected directly at least 1 million girls. That figure will exceed 2 million by 2030 if current policies remain in place. Banning girls access from secondary education and women access to higher education is a violation of their fundamental rights, their dignity and their autonomy. These restrictions stifle their aspirations, limit their freedom to determine their own future and exacerbate an institutionalised system of gender-based discrimination. We call on the de facto authorities to abrogate all discriminatory measures, restore the right of women and girls to education at all levels, respect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms of girls and women, particularly those enshrined in instruments that Afghanistan is a party to. Special rapporteur, what measures can states and the international community take to support and strengthen education initiatives for Afghan girls, particularly when it comes to alternative education options, while at the same time not substituting themselves for the responsibilities of the de facto authorities. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Australia.

Thank you, Vice President. Australia remains gravely concerned by the Taliban's systematic repression of human rights. Since its return to power five years ago, the Taliban has consistently demonstrated contempt for human rights and fundamental freedoms, targeting ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQIA+ persons, civil society actors, and women and girls. Through over 100 edicts, the Taliban has sought to erase women and girls from public life, restricting their rights, including related to their education, employment, health care and movement. The Taliban has also weaponised Afghanistan's justice system, entrenching gender-based discrimination in law, policy and practice, and interfering in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those most in need. Australia is unwavering in its condemnation of the Taliban. This is why we sanctioned senior members of the Taliban under Australia's autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan. Australia, together with international partners, is also taking legal action against Afghanistan under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. We must remain resolute in holding the Taliban to account for its human rights abuses.

Special Rapporteur.

What further steps can we take to hold the Taliban to account for its human rights abuses, including against children?

And youth? Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

Vice president Afghanistan continues to face the largest humanitarian crisis the most intricate throughout the world more than 22 million people uh constituting 45 percent of the population need humanitarian assistance and the crisis exacerbates because of lack of security economic vulnerability uh climate shocks shocks displacement and cuts in assistance and also acid freeze there is also risks of acute food insecurity. Support for education, especially for girls and women, is a priority for Qatar. We have contributed to the evacuation of hundreds of Afghan children, providing shelter and psychological support. Qatar Fund for Development and Education Above All Foundation, since 2023, supported the education of 30,000 students. And the Qatari Red Crescent continues to support education in remote areas since 2016. While Qatar Charity implements a project for building a specialized hospital for children with the support from Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar is committed to its role as an international partner through mediation efforts, hosting dialogues and meetings with regard to Afghanistan. This has contributed to international consensus and providing a platform for coordination and dialogue. We reiterate the need to adopt a comprehensive approach that combines humanitarian response with the responsible political engagement to meet the aspirations of Afghan people to security.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Luxembourg.

Vice President Luxembourg outlines with the European Union statement five years after the return of the Taliban to power. Luxembourg remains profoundly concerned by the deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan. restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities affect the whole population, with a particularly grave impact on women and girls. As described, a woman in Afghanistan no longer dares to leave her own house, just for being a woman. As the report also shows, children and youth are denied education, any prospects for the future or the possibility of participating fully in societal life. The future of the country is compromised today. Luxembourg reaffirms its support to the independent investigative mechanism and to all efforts to guarantee truth, justice and accountability. The Afghan people should not be forgotten. Luxembourg reiterates the recommendations made by the High Commissioner and calls on the de facto authorities to respect their international obligations and to end all forms of discrimination, including gender-based discrimination and discrimination on the basis of ethnic and religious affiliation.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of New Zealand.

The human rights situation in Afghanistan remains profoundly alarming. Since the Taliban's takeover, there has been a sustained and systemic erosion of fundamental freedoms, with women and girls bearing the brunt of these restrictions. Girls continue to be denied access to education beyond primary school, while women face severe restrictions on employment, freedom of movement, and participation in public life. As highlighted in the Special Rapporteur's report, the Taliban's decrees have created a.

System of institutionalized gender discrimination and oppression that undermines the dignity and rights of half the population.

Beyond the treatment of women.

Journalists, human rights advocates, and civil society actors continue to face intimidation, arbitrary detention, and reprisals. Religious and ethnic minorities also face growing discrimination and restrictions.

As Afghanistan marks five years under Taliban rule, the.

International community must continue to highlight these grave violations, particularly their impact on women and girls and future generations. The people of Afghanistan deserve dignity, freedom, and accountability, and the full protection of their fundamental human rights. New Zealand remains committed to supporting Afghanistan, including through providing $8 million of humanitarian assistance over the past two years. Mr. Vice-President, what more can the international community do to support the rights and future opportunities of women, girls and children in Afghanistan?

Thank you. Thank you.

I give the floor to the distinguished delegation of Pakistan.

Thank you. Mr. Vice-President, we take note of the Special Rapporteur's report and remain deeply concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan has an unequivocal position on the need to protect and promote the human rights of all, including children, women, girls, and minorities. We believe that while the report criticizes several deleterious policies of Afghan Taliban regime, it overlooks their persistent failure to deny use of Afghan soil by terrorists and foreign proxies against neighboring countries. The Afghan-based TTP has been attacking Pakistani innocent citizens, imperiling people's fundamental right to life. No nation can tolerate such unprovoked and blatant aggression against its citizens. We urge Afghan Taliban regime to fulfill its commitments under international law and take effective and verifiable action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan. Mr. Vice President, for over four decades, Pakistan has hosted more than 4 million Afghan refugees, demonstrating generosity and compassion. Pakistan has and continues to desire a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors. Lastly, In line with the principle of international responsibility and burden sharing, we call for sustained international support for the people of Afghanistan. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, and thank you, Special Rapporteur, for your report, which does indeed paint a devastating picture. We also listen very carefully to all your policy recommendations, which we appreciate. We strongly condemn all human rights violations in Afghanistan.

Germany calls on the de facto authorities.

To abide by its international obligations, including under CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Germany reiterates its support not only to your mandate, Special Rapporteur, but also that of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan. We will contribute half a million euros to the mechanism. Special Rapporteur, as others, we'd be interested in hearing how we can support children and youth in Afghanistan because we think you made an important point around them not only being victims, they have agency, they show resilience, how can we support this? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Education is a universal human right which everyone must enjoy on the basis of equal opportunity and without discrimination. It is essential for Afghanistan's prosperity and future that all girls have access to education without exception. Sustainable stability cannot be achieved in Afghanistan without respect for human rights, especially those of women and girls, and an inclusive government. Steps pushing Afghan women and girls out of public life, particularly the bans on girls' education and women's work with the NGOs and the UN, are deeply worrying. We have denounced these bans at the highest level of our presidents. Turkey is playing an active role in the OIC's efforts to convey unified messages on these issues. Mr. Pres- Mr. Vice President, international community must adopt practical actions in order to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people. We continue to assist Afghanistan bilaterally and through international organizations. We have sent 24 charity trains carrying over 12,000 tons of humanitarian aid and contributed 4 million US dollars to the UNDP-led Special Trust Fund for Health and Education. Following natural disasters, we have also provided emergency aid and search and rescue teams. Turkey will continue to stand in solidarity with the Afghan people. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President.

the EU statement and thanks you, Special Rapporteur, for your continued efforts in documenting the human rights situation in Afghanistan, which is only worsening since 2021. Many concerns raised in your latest report echo previous findings, pointing to a continued and increasingly entrenched pattern of systemic discrimination against women and girls in areas such as healthcare, education, employment, participation in public life. We are particularly concerned by the concrete impact of the restrictions imposed on women and girls on their access to health care, as well as on the education and training of female health care professionals, which risk further limiting access to health care for women and girls. The long-term consequences of this policy of exclusion of girls from education could be devastating, and the scale of this is staggering. Around 2.4 million girls have now been excluded from secondary education since 2021. Romania therefore reiterates its strong support for all relevant mandates and mechanisms, such as your mandate as well as the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Afghanistan, that document abuses and seek accountability for the Afghan people. Special rapporteur, given the complementarity of the two mandates, yours and the WMA's, where do you see the WMA adding the most value to your work in the future?

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Canada thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and fully supports the renewal of his mandate. Canada strongly condemns the systemic repression, widespread human rights violations, and erosion of fundamental freedoms perpetrated by the Taliban against women and girls, children, LGBTQI+ persons, and religious and ethnic minorities. Since seizing power, the Taliban have institutionalized an unacceptable system of ideological indoctrination and gender persecution. Millions of Afghan girls remain barred from education. Afghan women continue to face severe restrictions on access to work, health care, and participation in public life. We are deeply alarmed by the Taliban's decree eliminating minimum age protections for the marriage of girls, thereby increasing the risk of child, early, and forced marriage, as well as policies that not only weaken protections for survivors of domestic violence, but endorse the infliction of such violence. These and all other repressive measures must be lifted. Afghans deserve accountability and justice for human rights violations. For this reason, together with other states, Canada is holding Afghanistan accountable for its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Canada stands with the people of Afghanistan. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what steps can we, the international community, take to close the accountability gap for these egregious human rights violations? Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Japan expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for his continued efforts to improve the human rights situation of the Afghan people. Japan remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Afghanistan, especially the continued institutionalized discrimination against women and girls. As the special rapporteur highlighted, the five years after the Taliban takeover, women and girls continue to face severe restrictions on education, employment, freedom of movement, and participation in public life. We are particularly concerned about the long-term impact of these restrictions on the younger generation. According to the UN Women, girls continue to be denied education beyond grade six while growing up with increasingly limited opportunities and prospects for their future. The deterioration of mental health among women and girls is also deeply concerning. These restrictions affect not only the women and girls today, but Afghanistan's future itself. Japan calls upon the Taliban to respect Afghanistan's international human rights obligations and remove restrictions on women and girls and ensure their full and equal employment -- enjoyment of human rights. To this end, Japan will leverage its presence in Kabul to directly engage with the Taliban while coordinating with the international community. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President.

Malaysia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and aligns itself with the statement of the OIC. We remain concerned that restrictions affecting the rights and freedoms of Afghans continue to persist. In particular, the continued limitations on women access to education, healthcare, freedom of movement, and participation in public life, risk further excluding women and girls from contributing meaningfully to Afghanistan's future. Malaysia reiterates Afghanistan's long-term stability and development require the meaningful participation of all Afghans. We encourage the de facto authorities to take concrete steps toward greater inclusion, including by ensuring that women and girls are able to pursue education and contribute to society consistent with Afghanistan's international commitments and the values of dignity, justice, and knowledge. We are equally mindful of the situation of children in Afghanistan. Malaysia welcomes the release and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups, while stressing that no child should be recruited or used in conflict. We urge continued cooperation with United Nations to strengthen child protection in this regard. In conclusion, Malaysia believes that sustained dialogue rather than isolation remains essential. The international community should continue to engage constructively with Afghanistan while supporting efforts to improve the lives and livelihood of the Afghan people. Malaysia remains committed to contributing to these efforts, including through our MTP capacity building programmes, healthcare, education and humanitarian assistance.

I thank you.

Thank you. The floor is now to the Permanent Representative of Austria.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Austria aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report. The erosion of child protection and juvenile justice mechanisms had left many children without the safeguards they require. In this regard, we are particularly troubled by the lack of adequate protections for children in detention and the weakening of institutions responsible for their welfare. Millions of Afghan girls remain banned from secondary education, with an estimated 3.8 million girls of primary and secondary school age out of school in 2024. While community-based and online initiatives demonstrate the determination of Afghan families to keep children learning, such efforts cannot replace the state's obligation to provide accessible and quality education. This has led to a growing mental health challenge among girls, compounded by poverty, repression, and uncertainty, as well as persistent child labor, forced marriage, sexual violence, and exploitation. Austria calls on the de facto authorities to uphold children's rights, restore girls' education, and strengthen protection systems. Afghanistan's young people must be empowered to shape their country's future. We would like to ask the speaker, how can states support children's access to education in Afghanistan? I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Malta.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Malta aligns itself with the statement of the EU and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. We remain gravely concerned by the continued and systematic deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls. As documented by OHCHR and the Special Rapporteur, the de facto authorities have institutionalized a system of gender-based discrimination that amounts to a near total exclusion of women and girls from public life. Since the Taliban's return to power, women's and girls' rights to education, employment, freedom of movement, expression, and access to justice have been severely restricted. Girls remain banned from secondary and higher education, making Afghanistan the only country in the world where such a prohibition exists. These measures are profoundly discriminatory and risk creating devastating consequences for women's health and survival. A society that excludes half its population cannot achieve peace and stability. We call on the de facto authorities to immediately reverse these discriminatory policies and comply with Afghanistan's international human rights obligations. In conclusion, we reiterate our strong support for the Special Rapporteur and all UN mechanisms assisting the people of Afghanistan. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished Ambassador of Liechtenstein.

Mr Vice-President, Liechtenstein thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report. More than five years after the Taliban's return to power, the human rights situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, ever further repressing women and girls and restricting fundamental freedoms, affecting all expressions of diversity or opposition, and disproportionately impacting religious and ethnic minorities. Women and girls face an institutionalized system of gender-based discrimination and oppression. They have been deprived of access to secondary and higher education, excluded from public life, and increasingly confined to their homes, exposing them to a heightened risk of gender-based violence. Harmful practices, including child and early marriage, remain a grave concern, as recent laws set out no legal age for marriage. The systematic denial of the rights of women and girls cannot be justified and must end immediately. Mr. Vice President. The international community cannot allow the normalization of a system that institutionalizes discrimination and denies human rights and fundamental freedoms. We reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls, and call for continued support for accountability efforts including the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan and the International Criminal Court. The meaningful, equal and safe participation of Afghan women, children and survivors in all processes concerning Afghanistan's future remains indispensable. I thank you.

Thank you. The representative of the Netherlands now has the floor.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President. The Netherlands aligns itself with the EU's statement and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update on the human rights

situation in Afghanistan, which continues to deteriorate.

Five years after the Taliban took power, the situation remains highly challenging for many Afghans.

The Netherlands is deeply concerned about the situation of children and young people in Afghanistan and its impact on their development and well-being. Specifically, many Afghans returning from neighbouring countries are children who may face heightened vulnerabilities and have specific protection needs upon return. The Netherlands admires the resilience and creativity of children and young people in these circumstances and welcomes initiatives that give

young Afghans a voice.

The Netherlands remains deeply concerned about the human rights

situation in Afghanistan, especially for women and girls who have been stripped of their fundamental rights. The Taliban's so-called laws, policies and practices constitute gross and systematic discrimination of women and girls by excluding them from education, healthcare and public life.

This has severe implications for their future and the future of the country.

The Netherlands urges Afghanistan under the Taliban rule to respect and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans, particularly women and girls, and remains firmly committed to this cause by supporting projects in Afghanistan. Mr Special Rapporteur, in your view, what is the most urgent action the international community should take to

improve the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan?

We thank you and recognize the representative of Switzerland.

Mr Vice-President, Switzerland thanks the Special Rapporteur for the report. Five years after the Taliban took power, the human rights situation remains deeply worrying. The framework protecting the rights and basic freedoms of women and girls has been systematically dismantled. Their access to education, jobs, their freedom of movement, access to care or public life are deeply restricted, while the institutions once charged with documenting and prosecuting violence against them have been abolished. The implicit legitimization of child marriage, the impunity in the area of forced marriages, and almost insurmountable obstacles for women wishing to end their marriages have been ever more deteriorated. Switzerland condemns the expansion of the death penalty the long list of crimes under the criminal procedures of tribunals. Normalization of violations of human rights is a risk which the Special Rapporteur has warned against. The change of attitude towards women within Afghan society is deeply concerning. The creation of an international independent mechanism for investigation is an important stage against impunity and stopping normalization of violence. What other actions should be a priority to this end? Thank you.

Thank you. Cyprus is recognized as next speaker.

President, thank you, Special Rapporteur, for your work.

Cyprus aligns with the EU statement.

We are also deeply concerned that discriminatory policies are violating rights today while reshaping

the conditions in which an entire generation of Afghan children grow, learn, develop, and participate in society.

Women and girls face institutionalized gender-based discrimination and oppression, including severe restrictions on their education, employment, movement, and public life. These measures also undermine children's access to essential services through the loss of women teachers and health workers.

Particularly alarming is the dismantling of child protection and juvenile justice safeguards,

as well as other forms of violence, exploitation, and psychological distress, chief among them, early marriages.

At the same time, we welcome the report's recognition of Afghan children as agents of change. Their voices, experiences, and aspirations must meaningfully inform international decisions concerning Afghanistan. Cyprus supports international efforts to assist those affected, guided by victim and survivor-centered, trauma-informed, child-sensitive approaches, and informed by Afghan

children's and young people's voices.

Mr. Rapporteur, what should states prioritize to best support the youth of Afghanistan? Thank you.

I thank you and recognize the Distinguished Representative of Belgium.

Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation aligns itself with the statement by the European Union. Belgium also thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report, and we reiterate our complete support for his mandate. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the return to power of the Taliban. For five years, the de facto authorities have shaped Afghanistan to bring it in line with their ideological vision. The result is sinister. All Afghans have seen their rights and freedoms ever more restricted in total violation of international humanitarian law. The situation is particularly dark for women and girls who are systematically oppressed by the Taliban, who have institutionalized discrimination against females. For example, in recent months, the de facto authorities have published a decree making it almost impossible for a woman to separate herself from her husband, and a second which legalizes violence against women if this violence only leads does not lead to a fracture, a cut, or a serious bruise. We condemn the systematic violations of human rights perpetrated by the Taliban and underscore that the perpetrators must be made responsible. Thank you.

I now recognize Croatia as the next speaker.

Mr. Vice President, Croatia aligns itself with the EU statement. We would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his report on human rights situation in Afghanistan and for his continued engagement despite the extremely challenging circumstances. Croatia remains deeply concerned by the continued and systematic deterioration of human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly by the severe and discriminatory restrictions imposed on women and girls. Their exclusion from education, employment, public life and decision-making cannot be accepted as a new normal. Women and girls must be able to exercise their rights fully, equally and without discrimination. The situation of children in Afghanistan deserves our particular attention. Children must be protected from all forms of violence, exploitation, recruitment and other grave violations of their rights. At the same time, their right to education and to a safe and dignified childhood must be fully respected. We support the OHCHR's call to the de facto authorities to adopt the definition of a child in accordance with the international standard under which a child is any person under the age of 18. Finally, we recall that Afghanistan remains a party to international conventions and human rights treaties and continues to be bound by the obligations arising from them.

Thank you.

I thank you and give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of South Africa.

Mr. President, the children of Afghanistan are growing up in a context where their development, well-being have been undermined, where they have been denied a childhood and robbed of a future. This is especially the case for the girl child. This is compounded by the fact that children continue to live with the physical and psychological scars of violence and entrenched impunity from decades of conflict. It is exacerbated by the misogynistic edicts that have been introduced transforming daily life especially for women and girls who have been relegated to the shadows as South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela reminds us the true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children today the children of Afghanistan are growing up in a country where violence oppression and discrimination are institutionalized as the de facto authorities seek to engineer a society based on fear and exclusion given our shame for past. As South Africans, we know all too well what this means, not only for children, but for adults and indeed humanity. Those responsible must be held accountable. The Council must ensure that the independent mechanism that we resolved to establish for this purpose is adequately funded and urgently operationalized. It is the least that we can do for the children of Afghanistan, who deserve no less. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the single representative of the Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Republic of Korea thanks the Special Rapporteur for his comprehensive report. Five years after the Taliban seized power, we remain gravely concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan. The Afghan people continue to endure systemic oppression and increasing control over nearly every aspect of public and private life, with particularly severe consequences for women and girls. We are especially alarmed by reports of the recent decrees on spousal separation and the so-called criminal rules of court, which further weaken protections against child and forced marriage and gender-based violence. We once again call on the Taliban to reverse all discriminatory policies and uphold Afghanistan's international human rights obligations. The Republic of Korea will continue to stand in solidarity with the Afghan people and remain committed to international

efforts to ensure that their rights are fully respected.

Mr. Special Rapporteur, how can the international community better address ongoing violations against women and girls and their long-term impact on children and youth? I thank you.

Thank you, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President. Slovenia aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcome its focus on the situation of children and young people in Afghanistan. Of particular concern is that a generation is growing up amid human rights and humanitarian crises, which threatens their development and future opportunities. In this context, we stress the importance of ensuring that the humanitarian response addresses the specific needs of children and young people, including food insecurity, malnutrition, health care, and psychosocial support. Continued attention to mine action and explosive ordnance risk education is also essential, as reports indicate that, on average, nearly one Afghan child is killed or injured by explosive ordnance every day. We continue to strongly condemn the widespread human rights violations and abuses by the Taliban, in particular, an extreme discrimination against women and girls. Girls and women continue to be denied the right to education and face heightened risk of violence, including forced and child marriage. These measures must be reversed without delay, and women and girls must be able to fully, equally, and meaningfully participate in all spheres of society. In conclusion, we would like to ask the Special Rapporteur what can the international community do better to safeguard the rights of Afghan children and young people. I thank you.

I thank you and give the floor to the distinguished representative of France.

Thank you, Special Rapporteur. Five years after the Taliban took power by force, the human rights situation in Afghanistan is continuing to degrade. France is mobilized with the United Nations and civil society, using all leverage possible to improve the situation of the Afghan population. Women and girls, in particular, are victims of a policy of segregation which excludes them from public life, politics, and the economy. However, gender-based discrimination is a crime against humanity. There are two arrests issued by the International Criminal Court for this same crime, and we urge on the Talibans to revert all restrictions against women and girls and implement the obligations set forth in Security Council Resolution 2593. We commend the work of the Special Rapporteur and renew our support for continuing his mandate. The fight against impunity is a priority for of France, the independent mechanism is created to document and investigate the most serious crimes. This is an important stage and we hope that it will be operationalized as soon as possible. France condemns in the strongest term the executions and we stand up against the death penalty in all circumstances. Thank you.

We thank you and give the floor to Albania.

Albania thanks Special Rapporteur and his team for the dedicated work and the report presented today. Five years after Taliban takeover, the situation in Afghanistan remain deeply alarming. Fundamental rights and freedom continue to be systematically restricted while the country face a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. Women and girls continue to bear the heaviest burden. More than 100 restrictive decrees has curtailed their rights to education, employment, freedom of movement, and participation in public life. Girls remain excluded from education beyond grade six, while restriction on women movement and access to healthcare and other essential services continue to intensify. Albania reiterates its unwavering support for the rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, particularly women and girls, as well as minorities and other vulnerable groups. Accountability for serious human rights violations must remain central to our collective response. We must support international accountability mechanisms and ensure that victims and survivors are not forgotten. at a time of multiple crises around the world, Afghanistan must not disappear from the international agenda. The people of Afghanistan, specifically its women, girls and children, deserve our attention, solidarity and action. I thank you.

Thank you. Montenegro's Ambassador has the floor.

Mr. Vice President, Montenegro thanks the Special Rapporteur for the report. Five years into Taliban rule, Afghanistan remains among the world's most repressive places amid the deepening human rights and humanitarian crisis. The de facto authorities are aggressively reshaping Afghan society through decreased discriminatory policies and institutional controls, enforcing ideological conformity, fear, and exclusion. Women and girls bear the brunt of this repression. Their exclusion from education, employment, and public life coupled with institutional gender discrimination, calls for accountability for gender-based persecution. The recent decree on criminal rules, of course, deepens this oppression within the legal system, severely undermining protections against violence. Children and young people are also profoundly affected. The dismantling of children protection safeguards and authoritarian control over education and civil engagement are altering their development and participation. An entire generation is growing up under Taliban oppression and enforced conformity. Time must not turn systematic repression into an accepted status quo. Accountability is indispensable. Montenegro calls for the effective implementation of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan. with adequate resources and active involvement of Afghan civil society, particularly women. Lasting peace and stability require an inclusive, human rights-based, Afghan-led political process, ensuring the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Bulgaria aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. Bulgaria remains deeply concerned that Through an increasing number of decrees, directives, and practices, the de facto authorities in Afghanistan continue to institutionalize bans and restrictions that adversely affect the rights and freedoms of all Afghans, and particularly women, girls, boys, and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities. We are deeply troubled that the established system of discrimination, segregation, and exclusion of women and girls prevents them from exercising fundamental human rights, such as the right to education, freedom of expression, freedom of freedom of movement and work, as well as access to justice. Bulgaria remains deeply concerned that the suspension of the 2019 Child Rights Protection Act has deprived children of age-appropriate legal protection and weakened safeguards against abuse and exploitation. The various measures introduced by the de facto authorities with the aim to severely restricting freedom of expression and media freedom are a cause for our serious concern. We therefore call upon the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to abide by the international obligations of the country, including those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. I thank you.

I thank you and give the floor to the representative of Iran.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. My delegation takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur and his attention to the rights of children in Afghanistan. The children of Afghanistan today are the builders of its future. The longer they are deprived of education, the deeper the cycle of social and development of setbacks, not only for Afghanistan, but the whole region. Mr. Special Rapporteur, you highlighted the overlapping harms faced by the children as a result of decades of conflict and diminishing hope for the future. How can this Council ensure the voices of children in Afghanistan, particularly Afghan girls, are meaningfully heard? Mr. Special Rapporteur, for more than four decades, Iran has generously hosted millions of Afghan who sought refuge and safety in our country. Throughout this period, Iran has provided extensive access to essential services, including and health care, particularly for children, regardless of their documentation status. This longstanding humanitarian responsibility has placed significant economic and social pressure on Iran, particularly in the absence of adequate international burden sharing, in spite of unilateral coercive measures-oriented economic pressure. And further to that, the serious humanitarian economic consequences of the recent unlawful and brutal acts of aggression of the United States and Zionist regimes against Iran. The international community should recognize the extraordinary responsibility borne by Iran and other neighboring host countries and strengthen international burden sharing and assistance. Thank you.

Thank you. I now recognize the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic.

Thank you very much, Vice President. We're grateful to the Special Rapporteur for presenting his report, where he expresses his profound concern at the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Afghanistan. Millions of girls continue to be denied secondary and higher education, while restrictions on work, mobility, participation in public life and access to justice are progressively reducing the spaces in which women can exercise their rights or build their own future. We are particularly troubled by the implications of decree no. 18 on judicial separation, which interprets the silence of a girl as consent. allowing provisions that could normalise child marriage and establish profoundly unequal conditions in which women can end a marriage. All of that is a retreat that is incompatible with dignity, autonomy and the rights of women and girls. The gravity of the situation is such that the council and the international community should convert the concern that was expressed during the dialogues into tangible action. The lack of resources cannot continue to weaken mechanisms that were created to protect rights precisely when they need them most. Therefore, we reiterate the importance of strengthening mechanisms for protection and accountability, guaranteeing adequate resources for international response and supporting in a sustained fashion Afghan women's organisations, whose participation is indispensable in this context.

We will now hear a video statement from UNICEF.

UNICEF remains concerned about the worsening situation of children in Afghanistan. Millions of girls remain barred from secondary schools and universities, with UNICEF estimates projecting over 2 million adolescents shut out of education by 2030. The resulting loss of female health workers will severely impact children's health outcomes. Crucially, recent Decrees 12 and 18 codify systematic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice. By establishing separation rules for married children and treating a girl's silence as consent, Decree 18 effectively permits and normalizes child marriage. Furthermore, Decree 12 strips safeguards against domestic violence by ruling marital abuse punishable only if it causes severe physical injury. Compounding this, nearly 2.7 million Afghans, over 60% children, are expected to return from neighboring countries in 2026, requiring urgent support. Additionally, over 1000 grave violations against children were verified by the UN in 2025, with explosive remnants of war, mines and improvised explosive devices remaining the leading cause of child casualties. UNICEF urges the de facto authorities to lift all bans on girls' education, revoke legal measures that normalize child marriage and domestic violence, and guarantee unhindered humanitarian access for children and women, including UN female national staff. We urge all parties to protect children from grave violations. Thank you.

And now I would like to give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the Russian Federation.

President, we are carefully watching the developing situation in Afghanistan. We recognize the right of the Afghan people to their own identity, their unique religious and ethnic traditions, and in contact with the authorities, we call on them to implement the obligations they have assumed with respect to the freedom of the population, forming inclusive system for our government, and fighting terrorism and drug trafficking. The double standards policies of the West are not acceptable. They are blocking Afghan assets, freezing them, whilst demanding decisive actions by the authorities to protect human rights. It is not acceptable for us to see humanitarian assistance to the population imposed with conditions. There has been a 20-year experiment. The West is responsible for this and the disastrous results. The war crimes by NATO and other allies committed over those 20 years of presence in Afghanistan must not be forgotten. Not all of them have seen full judicial investigation. It is clear that the Afghan government currently is in a difficult situation given the lack of resources and the challenges in normalizing the socio-economic situation. We call on international donors to increase their assistance in a completely neutral, impartial and independent way. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. Ireland aligns with the statement of the EU and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. Ireland condemns the abhorrent situation facing Afghan women, girls, boys, gender-diverse persons and ethnic and religious minorities due to the Taliban's decrees.

We are concerned that these

decrees not only have an immediate impact, but have fundamentally changed the environment in which children and young people develop and participate in society, and will limit opportunities for future generations. We are appalled by the Taliban's continued attacks on women and girls' participation in society. Dozens of decrees deny approximately 2.6 million women and girls access to education, including medical education, as well as employment, healthcare, and justice. This may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute, and we call for full accountability of those responsible. The targeting of marginalized communities, including the Hazaras and members of the LGBTIQ+ community, is also appalling and unacceptable. We reiterate our calls on the Taliban to reverse immediately all discriminatory decrees and to uphold the human rights of all Afghans, including those enshrined in the CRC and CEDAW, to which Afghanistan is a state party. Special Rapporteur, How best can the international community support the resilience of and opportunities for children and young people in Afghanistan in light of the closing space for participation? Thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, we associate ourselves with the statements delivered by the groups we belong to, and we take note of the Special Rapporteur's report. Mr. Vice President, my delegation affirms the principled position of the State of Kuwait, which stems from the universality and interconnectedness of human rights. We underscore the centrality of holistic development approach to safeguarding and advancing rights. Here, we underscore the importance of providing comprehensive care to children through protecting their intrinsic and fundamental right to education, and providing the right legislative and social environment for the growth and safety of the child. My delegation reaffirms the well-established principle of promoting the status of women and girls and their integration effectively in society. We call on bringing efforts together to overcome the challenges that face women and girls in Afghanistan. My delegation reaffirms the importance of ensuring...

Thank you. This was the last speaker by states that we could accommodate this afternoon. Thank you to the flexibility given to us by the interpreters. And I thank you on behalf of the whole Council And we'll listen, we'll hear from some of the NGOs now. And the first one on my list is Action for Development.

Mr. Vice President, we thank the SR for his continuous reporting on human rights crisis in Afghanistan. We echo his concern that five years of Taliban rule have entrenched institutionalization system, gender-based discrimination that may amount to gender persecution with the devastating consequence

women and girls.

Recently, an act could legalize child marriage, endorse due process, and overturn Afghanistan's child protection and justice system. Impunity persists while operationalization investigation mechanism for Afghanistan remains slow 12 months since its creation on paper. We call for the renewal of SRS mandate and request him to monitor and report on the situation of Afghan refugee and regional and beyond. The IOM should work well funded from a regular budget and staffs without further delay. Further, we urge the Council to reinstate the enhanced interactive dialogue on situation of women and girls in Afghanistan at the June session to ensure sustained high-level attention for this crisis. We call on states to legally recognize gender apartheid as an international crime, include in the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty, while underscoring the importance of meaningful participation of Afghan civil society in the treaty process, as well as before IIMA and the potential case before ICG. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to Madre Inc.

Mr. Vice President, Special Rapporteur, distinguished delegates, good afternoon. The Gender Persecution in Afghanistan Accountability Working Group and the Afghanistan LGBTIQ+ organization, ALU, welcome the UN Special Rapporteur's report on children and young people. Five years since the Taliban seized power, persecution continues to deepen. The 2026 decree on the criminal rules of courts criminalizes consensual same-sex relations, provides for imprisonment, and in repeated cases, the death penalty, and fails to distinguish consensual relations from sexual violence. These findings are especially urgent now because European governments are increasingly pursuing returns of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan while inviting the Taliban members to their capitals despite the ICC arrest warrants against two Taliban leaders. Such engagement risks normalizing the Taliban at a time when they are further institutionalizing persecution and repression in Afghanistan against women, girls, and LGBTIQ people. We call on the Member States to fully operationalize the independent investigative mechanism, expand protection and safe pathways for at-risk Afghans, particularly for women, girls and LGBTIQ people, and uphold non-refoulement. Special Rapporteur, given the current human rights situation in Afghanistan and increasing European engagement with the Taliban, what should European States do and prioritize to ensure protection for at-risk Afghans and to avoid violating their non-refoulement obligations or contributing to normalizing Taliban. I thank you.

I give the floor to the representative of Asia Forum for Human Rights.

Mr. Vice President, we strongly condemn the Taliban's grave and systematic human rights violations, particularly against women and girls and the Hazara community. Hazaras continue to face targeted attacks, religious persecution, discrimination, forced displacement, and seizure of their ancestral lands. These abuses are driving many to seek protection in neighboring countries and Europe through dangerous routes. Last month, an explosion at Shams Hidayat school in predominantly Hazara western Kabul injured at least 42 children. In Herat, at least 30 women were detained over alleged dress code violations, followed by excessive force against protesters in the predominantly Hazara and Shia neighborhood of Jibrail. We call for four immediate actions. First, mandate the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan to produce a dedicated thematic report on Hazaras. Second, ensure that the newly established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan prioritises genocide and other atrocity crimes committed against Hazaras and investigates the responsibility of all perpetrators. Third, use all tools approach to end forced displacement, land seizures, arbitrary detention and targeted killings, and guarantee Hazaras' freedom of religion or belief. European states must also maintain safe protection pathways and uphold non-refoulement. Finally, as Hazara communities observe the Hazara Genocide Memorial Day this month on 25th September, we call to recognise the historical and ongoing persecution of the Hazaras as the Hazara Genocide, promote accountability and deliver justice and reparation for victims and survivors. Never Again must not remain an empty promise. The international community must act before more Hazara lives and communities are lost. I thank you.

Thank you. Here now a video statement from Equality Now.

I am a rapper and activist from Afghanistan. With Equality Now, I welcome the Special Rapporteur's report. I am here to speak about five years of Taliban restrictions on women and girls and their most recent decree enabling child marriage. I was sold into marriage as a child twice, but I was lucky enough to escape it. Today, millions of Afghan girls, they don't have this chance. In May 2026, the Taliban passed Decree 18, which sets rules for marriage but does not establish 18 as the minimum age. It allows fathers and grandfathers to arrange marriages for girls who are children, with silence after puberty treated as consent. And these policies have dismantled decades of progress and denied an entire generation of Afghan girls the right to live with equality, with dignity and autonomy. The Taliban system makes women and girls legally subordinate. There can be no equality without their full rights. We call on all states to hold the Taliban accountable for international human rights violations and to use every available international legal mechanism to do so. And any effort to reform this situation must center the voices of Afghan women and girls. Thank you.

Now, here, a statement from Afghanistan Democracy.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. This joint statement is delivered on behalf of ADDO, FIDH, OMCT, HRD+, CSHRN, and GOPS. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report and his engagement with Afghan civil society. We share his concern that the exclusion of women and girls from public life amounts to gender apartheid and support its recognition under international law. We remain deeply concerned by the continued imposition of corporal punishment and the death penalty by the de facto authorities. UNOMOL documented at least 242 instances of corporal punishment between July and September 2025, alongside continued public executions. We are also deeply concerned by violations affecting ethnic and religious minorities. including Shia, Ismailis, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Tajiks, facing discrimination, forced displacement, land-related abuses, and restrictions on religious and cultural life. Accountability cannot wait. We welcome the independent investigative mechanism for Afghanistan and call for its full operationalization with genuine independence, adequate resources, and focus on gender persecution. Given its location in Vienna, we urge support for effective civil society engagement with the mechanism. We call on member states to match political commitments with the necessary financial resources. Finally, we strongly support the extension of the Special Reporter's mandate. His work remains essential, complementary to the IIMA, and its continuation is critical.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative, Sivicus.

Mr. Vice President, Sewaka Senpohana Foundation welcome the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, highlighting the serious violation in the country over the last five years by the Taliban. As noted by the Special Rapporteur, there has been a tightening of restriction affecting freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We remain deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrest, ill treatment, and intimidation of human rights defenders and journalists. Women and girls have been completely excluded from public life. tentamount to gender apartheid. The new criminal code passed in January 2026 further exacerbates this repression, and the crackdown on protests in Herat in June highlights the ongoing dangers for those trying to speak up. Despite this, small acts of resistance by activists persist. We call on the Council not to engage with the Taliban in a way that legitimizes or normalizes their systematic oppression. Instead, it should support efforts to ensure the independent mechanism set up by the HRC in 2025 is fully resourced and is up and running quickly so that it can begin to collect, prepare, and preserve evidence and build files on those responsible for international crimes. We also call on the Council to urgently provide protecting to Afghan civil society, especially women, HRDs at risk in the country and in exile. Thank you.

Thank you.

That was the last speaker that we could accommodate for the list today, because there is also a delegation that has asked to exercise its right of reply with respect to statements that were delivered previously. I give the floor to that delegation, which is the United Arab Emirates. You have three minutes.

Mr. Vice President, we'd like to exercise our right of reply, given the baseless allegations by one warring party in Sudan in this room. We refuse these allegations. The UAE is not party to a conflict, and it has never delivered military equipment or arms to any party in Sudan since the inception of the war in April 2023. Mr. President, it is regrettable that the COI's report is completely neglected by this party. It documents the violations that have been perpetrated against civilians. And this party refuses to constructively engage with the COI. The reality is clear. The report has reaffirmed the cooperation of the UAE with it, and there was no responsibility on behalf of the UAE, no conviction, no responsibility, no accusation. The role of the UAE has been highlighted as constructive in terms of cooperation with the COI. The party that is expressing allegations is not responding to the allegations against the armed forces in Sudan, as documented in various reports, including attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and extrajudicial execution, and gender and sexual violence, as well as child recruitment. Mr. Vice President, this party accuses others, but it doesn't respond to facts. It talks about responsibility and accountability, but it evades them. it expresses allegations but refuses to face facts. This party obstructs independent investigations at a time where the severity of the allegations require clear accountability and robust investigations. Obstructing humanitarian assistance for needy civilians, despite the dire situation that the population is living, is also a testament of that. How can a party that tries to brag about rights prevent humanitarian assistance. Evading responsibility cannot be a substitute for accountability. The Sudanese people deserve the protection of civilians, a halt to the war, and a free flow of humanitarian assistance, and ensuring accountability as to all of the violations and we'd like this Council to take a definitive position in favor of accountability and justice and in favor of the Sudanese people and in solidarity with their plight thank you there was.

No other request for the floor than to exercise right of reply with that therefore we the session is will be adjourned excellencies we've reached the end of this meeting. We will meet again tomorrow morning at 10 am to continue and conclude the interactive dialogue with the special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, followed by an oral update on item 2 and a continuation of the general debate. With that, the meeting is adjourned.