32nd Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council

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Message important. Important announcement.

Anuncio importante.

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Deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to ensure complete and quality interpretation.

Напоминаем ораторам, что для того, чтобы устный.

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Excelencias, distinguidos colegas, declaro abierta la 32a sesión de la 63a sesión del Consejo de Derechos Humanos. We will now continue the general debate under agenda item 7. We continue with the list of members of the Council. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Brazil appreciates the High Commissioner's update to the database of business enterprises involved in the expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. We call on business enterprise to exercise due diligence to avoid contributing to grave human rights violations. We are deeply concerned by the coordinated efforts between the Israeli government and settlers to expand illegal settlements. in complete disregard of international law and rulings by the ICJ. Brazil condemns in the strongest terms the recent progress towards a new settlement in the E1 region. This project would split the West Bank, isolate East Jerusalem, compromise the territorial contiguity of the State of Palestine, and render the two-state solution unviable. We are appalled by the escalating settler violence in the West Bank, as well as the continuity of Israeli attacks and killings in Gaza, despite the ceasefire. We urge Israel, as occupying power, to ensure the protection of Palestinians and conduct independent investigations into all human rights violations in the OPT. Brazil remains committed to a two-state solution. I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Mr. President, 81 years ago, the UN was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and ensure that people live in larger freedom. Yet for the Palestinian people, they are neither saved from the scourge of war, nor are they living in larger freedom, as the occupying power, Israel, continues to violate international law with impunity. Despite the purported ceasefire, the death and destruction continue. The victims are the targets of a campaign, a genocide in Gaza, aimed at erasing the Palestinians as a group. This campaign has metastasized into the West Bank, where illegal settlements grow, displacing Palestinians from their ancestral land. We have a responsibility to act to bring an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people. We have the tools at our disposal, as the legal framework is clear. All that is required of us is to implement it. No state is exempt, nor should preferences of the powerful override our obligations. Corporate entities too have obligations, and we therefore welcome the update to the database. It is within this context that the Hague Group was formed, providing a platform for action to implement international law, end Israel's occupation, and to support the Palestinians' right to self-determination. We must act now. Tomorrow will be too late, with irrevocable consequences for our shared humanity. I thank you.

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

Vice-President, the Democratic Republic of the Congo would like to reaffirm its unwavering support for the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, the respect of international humanitarian law, and the universal promotion of human rights, which should guide our discussions at all times. My delegation is following very closely the development of the situation in the Middle East. True to our diplomatic doctrine of peace, we are convinced that only a just, sustainable, and negotiated political solution will bring stability to the region. In this regard, we would like to reiterate our firm support for the two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side within the safe and internationally recognized and guaranteed borders in accordance with the relevant resolutions by the United Nations. This solution is the only one that can preserve peace both for Palestinians and Israelis. In the face of all the difficulties that affect women and children in particular, we would like to call on all parties to make dialogue, restraint and peace a priority. It is essential to look for a peaceful settlement. We support all relevant UN mechanisms and the Office of the High Commissioner in the efforts to support, to continue their mandates in a spirit of impartiality and objectivity in order to effectively support the efforts towards peace and the efforts of the international community. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice-President, Vietnam aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Philippines on behalf of ASEAN. Vietnam remains deeply concerned about the serious humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Nearly a year after the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, civilians, especially women and children, continue to endure severe hardship and remain in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Vietnam consistently supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination. We affirmed our support for the two-state solution and the establishment of a sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. We call for sustained efforts to consolidate the ceasefire, protect civilians and civilian infrastructures, ensure full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and guarantee rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access. We now underscore the importance of restraint, constructive dialogue, and negotiation to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East. and stands ready to contribute to these efforts. I thank you.

Thank you. We shall now proceed with the list of observers of the Council, and I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Malaysia.

Mr. Vice President, Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered by ASEAN, OIC and NAM. Mles strongly condemns Israel's continued violations against the Palestinian people in the opt in Gaza the ceasefire must be fully respected and lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities Israel must immediately end all attacks against civilians and comply fully with its obligations under international law Malaysia also calls for unhindered humanitarian access and an unimpeded operation of UNRWA and other humanitarian actors. The protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel must be upheld at all times. In the West Bank, the expansion of illegal settlements, including the advancement of the E1 settlement project, land seizures, demolitions, and escalating settler violence are creating coercive conditions for the de facto annexation of Palestinian land. The killing and displacement of children is deeply disturbing and utterly unacceptable. Malaysia calls for an immediate end to the settlement expansion and settler violence and for full respect of the ICJ advisory opinion. We also reiterate that the occupation must end, Israel's impunity cannot prevail, and accountability must be ensured. Thank you.

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

President, one year after my country recognized the state of Palestine alongside 10 other states, the situation remains alarming. Although there is a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, it is not respected. Israeli strikes continue and humanitarian aid remains impeded. In the West Bank, the escalation of settler violence and inaction or even support from the IDF are clear, in particular through the demolitions in Bir Zeit and Nablus and the seizure of one of UNRWA's centres in Qalandia. The announcement of a call for tenders for the E1 settlement project marks a new acceleration of the settlement policy. In the face of this situation, my country is preparing national measures prohibiting all imports of goods from the settlements. We thank the Office of the High Commissioner for the presentation of the updated database, and you can count on our ongoing support in this regard. Luxembourg also supports all other measures at the European or international aimed at upholding respect for international law by the Israeli Government. We regret that, once again, the Palestinian delegation has been prevented from taking part in the UN General Assembly. In the run-up to elections in Israel and Palestine, it is essential to preserve open channels for dialogue with both parties. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Thank you, Vice President. The expansion policies of Israel are ongoing in gross violation of international law. This is also undermining the two-state solution. We strongly condemn Israel's practices aimed at imposing illegal, unlawful sovereignty and at enshrining settlements and changing the nature of the West Bank in a definitive way. We are against all practices aimed at violating the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. We oppose all practice that aims at dismantling opportunities for peace and coexistence. Regarding the settlers' practices, the Israeli Government is broadly responsible for this, and it should therefore be held accountable and must combat impunity in this regard. We stand ready to step up efforts in order to come to the aid of the brother Palestinian people in Gaza and also to contribute to the Council of Peace. We are opposed. We support all efforts aimed at finding peace on the basis of the two-state solution in order to break the cycle of violence and ensure that there is a sovereign Palestinian state that can live and coexist in peace and security with the state of Israel. I thank you.

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

Say the race. Mr. Vice President, the Sultanate of Oman is following up on the ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza. This includes ever increasing humanitarian needs as well as displacement and destruction. This requires an immediate response in addition to the escalation of illegal entry, settler violence and evictions and displacement in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. We denounce the ongoing occupation of the Syrian Golan as well as the incursions in the Israeli aggressions in Syria lately, and we insist upon the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. The challenges faced by the Palestinian people require an international stance that goes beyond the denunciation to real measures that lead to accountability. We cannot talk about sustainable peace within a framework of impunity, and international law cannot be selectively applied. The Sultanate of Oman reaffirms that respecting human rights is not just about condemning violations. We need to ensure accountability and applying the law on everybody without exception. This will preserve human rights and further anchor the rule of law and the credibility of the international system. In conclusion, the Sultanate of Oman calls upon the international community to shoulder its responsibility and safeguard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, leading to a durable solution, including the exercise of self-determination and the establishment of their state based on international resolutions that are widely agreed upon. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Bangladesh strongly condemns the continuing attacks on Palestinian civilians and the grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory. Nearly a year after the ceasefire took effect, Israeli strikes continue to claim Palestinian lives. With widespread displacement, severe food insecurity, and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure, Gaza remains devastated. Bangladesh calls for full implementation of the ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, restoration of essential services, and protection of humanitarian and medical personnel. We also reject all measures aimed at annexation or altering the demographic character of the occupied territory. We will continue our advocacy for the Palestinians' aspirations of peace, dignity, and justice. Mr. Vice President, Bangladesh calls for full implementation of the provisional provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice related to Palestine, and respect for international judicial processes, including the work of the International Criminal Court. Impunity for crimes against humanity must not be allowed to persist. Finally, we reaffirm our unwavering support to the Palestinian people's legitimate struggle for self-determination till the establishment of an independent, viable, and sovereign state of Palestine based on the two-state solution and pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We meet once again to discuss this agenda item and we have to be fully aware of the gross violations taking place as well as its repercussions. We see that the occupier is trying to destroy the Palestinian state relentlessly despite the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. There is accelerated annexation as well as terrorist acts in the West Bank and forced displacement ongoing in Gaza and the West Bank alike. Hence, Our responsibility and that of the international community is not just condemnation, but to act in order to prevent such policies to be turned into reality. What is based on an illegal basis remains illegal, and hence we should not take a part in it economically or in any other way. Palestinians have the right to have their independent, viable state, and this can never go away, no matter how much time lapses. Thank you.

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

In the name of God, the mighty and the merciful, we would like to send a clear message to this esteemed Council, which is that the Council should, within its mandate, protect the victims within the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. We welcome the efforts of the High Commissioner in updating the database and we reaffirm the importance of maintaining this database, updated year after year. It is essential to ensure that these business enterprises do not help perpetuate the violence and the occupation. We commend the measures taken by some Member States to address the settlement practices and activities by Israel. The Golan is an occupied Syrian territory, and we reject any measures aimed at annexing it or modifying its legal status. The occupation of the Golan should end in accordance with the relevant resolutions, in particular Resolution 497 of 1981 of the Security Council. It is essential to preserve the rights of the Syrian lived in the occupied Golan. And in conclusion, we believe that ending the violence, protecting civilians, and any occupation are sine qua non conditions which will make it possible to establish a sovereign, independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. Djibouti aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the groups to which Djibouti belongs, and we strongly condemn the intensification of the plan to annex Palestinian territories, as well as the continuation by Israel and settlers of their brutal aggression against innocent civilians in Palestine, in gross violation of international law. We also call for an end to all aggression, to the opening up of all crossing points, as well as the lifting of any impediment to the delivery of humanitarian aid so as to prevent any further deterioration of the already disastrous sanitary and humanitarian conditions which unprecedented in the history of humanity in Gaza, and also in order to ensure the conditions for sustainable peace are met. Djibouti would like to call on the international community, and in particular the Security Council, to shoulder its responsibility and to immediately end the killings, to open up the border crossings, and to ensure delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and also to protect innocent civilians as required. Djibouti would like to reiterate its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the creation of an independent state on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem for capital. Djibouti reaffirms its strong rejection of any plan aimed at deporting Palestinian populations and seizing their land, and we support the establishment of an accountability mechanism for holding people accountable about the violations of the Palestinian people's most basic rights. Thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, we condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing aggression by Israel on the Gaza Strip, and we insist on the importance of maintaining the ceasefire and protection for civilians. We also express our strong condemnation of the expansion in settlement activities. as well as settler violence, and we reject any measures to displace the Palestinian people forcibly or any attempts to change the geographic or demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory. In this context, we value the steps that have been undertaken by a number of states to recognize the State of Palestine. and what follows most recently in promoting the measures of accountability by forcing restrictions on trade with the settlements. Mr. Vice President, a year has passed since the New York Declaration. We reiterate the declaration of the international coalition for the two-state solution. Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are a Palestinian geographic unit, and occupation must end. In conclusion, The Kingdom reiterates that the only path for a sustainable and comprehensive peace is the two-state solution and supporting the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Thank you, Vice President.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. The position of Venezuela on the Palestinian question is based on clear and unchanging principles, respect for the UN Charter, for international humanitarian law and for the unalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Almost 80 years on from the beginning of the displacement of the Palestinian people and the ongoing occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory, this remains one of the most long-standing pending questions of the multilateral system and a permanent challenge for the enforcement of international law. Venezuela would like to express its deep concern about the grave humanitarian consequences affecting the civilian population, which well reflected in the conclusions of the United Nations mechanisms that continue to document violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. In the same vein, Venezuela rejects intimidation or reprisals against special procedure mandate holders who, in the exercise of their mandate, scrutinize the human rights situation in Palestine and the other occupied Arab territories. Venezuela would like to reaffirm its solidarity vis-a-vis the Palestinian people, and we reiterate our support for their right to self-determination and aspiration to a just and lasting solution based on international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. I thank you.

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

Vice President, We note a dangerous trajectory of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. There could be even worse consequences for both parties to the conflict. Events in recent months have shown that there is a lack of progress on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, and there is suffering and death among the civilian population. The Efforts aimed at humanitarian assistance in Gaza have been trying to prevent bloodshed in Gaza, but unfortunately there are violations of the ceasefire and killings of civilians there, and this continue despite the agreement coming into force some 10 months ago. We also note the negative development in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where the Israeli authorities consistently wage a policy of strengthening their administrative and legal control We are alarmed also by the ongoing raids of the IDF aimed at preventing the Palestinians from accessing basic services. We believe that the basis for peace and equal security lies in dialogue between the opposing parties on the basis of broad international legal basis. We are ready to co-operate with all interested partners in order to redress the historic injustices and to ensure a prosperous and flourishing Middle Eastern region. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. We would like to affirm that technical assistance and capacity building for the State of Palestine under agenda item 10 should never replace the request for full and complete accountability, given the violations of the rights of the Palestinian people. We would also affirm that the brother state of Lebanon has the right to recover its occupied territory. The continuation of the Israeli aggression and occupation, the targeting of civilians, and the systematic destruction of Palestinian infrastructure all undermine efforts at capacity building. And all this should compel the international community and the Human Rights Council to shoulder their legal and moral responsibility to put an end to these crimes and to immediately ensure accountability for the perpetrators. We reaffirm that genuine technical assistance should begin by putting an end to the occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and to establish their independent state, with East Jerusalem as capital. We also call for there to be logistical and financial support. This is urgent, so as to ensure that Palestinian institutions can become more resilient and protect human rights. We call for the lifting of the embargo. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The delegation of Afghanistan condemns the systematic and flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by the state of Israel. and affirms its traditional and consistent position in support of the Palestinian state and the people and its effort to realize the legitimate right of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right of self-determination and end of occupation. This position is firmly grounded in international law. The ICJ found that Israel's policies in the OPT violates international law and renders continued occupation unlawful.

As the occupying power, Israel bears clear obligation under the Hague and Geneva Conventions.

Accountability for its crime against humanity, particularly against the civilians, women, and children in Gaza, must be ensured. This Council, Security Council, and General Assembly have consistently affirmed these principles. Security Council Resolution 2334. reaffirms that the settlement established since 1967, including the East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitute a gross violation of international law. Mr. Vice President, Afghanistan calls upon Israel, the occupying power, to stop its occupation and to fully respect the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. We urge the international community to sustain its political, economic, and humanitarian support to the Palestinian people. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Sovereign Order of Malta condemns the deteriorating human rights situation in the OPT, with continued hostilities, violence, violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief, as well as lack of access to humanitarian aid and healthcare. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. Last June, in cooperation with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, we were finally able to establish a clinic in Gaza City, providing primary healthcare to up to 100 people every day. Since 2023, we have delivered tons of life-saving supplies reaching thousands of people. In the West Bank, the situation is equally critical. Checkpoints are completely closed for days and persistent settler violence rendered the functioning of our maternity hospital in Bethlehem and our medico-social services extremely difficult. The Christian village of Taybeh endures daily assaults and is effectively under siege, highlighting a grave danger: the imminent

disappearance of the Christian community from the Holy Land.

In this environment of fear, the rights to worship freely and the status quo of holy sites are being systematically violated. Mr. Vice President, the Order of Malta reiterates the absolute need for respect of IHL human rights law. We firmly oppose any forms of forced displacement. All parties must abide by their legal international obligations. The ceasefire must be implemented, and this is essential to ensuring a lasting peace where the people of Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace, security, and tolerance.

Thank

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

Mr. Vice President, in Gaza, the world witnessed a genocide. West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is being emptied by design. Upholding the ceasefire and accountability for the crimes committed remain essential. We call for a concerted international effort to ensure that all UN humanitarian agencies can operate freely and at the scale of the needs. In the West Bank, relentless attacks by settlers, with the support of the Israeli authorities and in full impunity, have become instruments of coercion against Palestinians. Settler terror cannot and must not be normalized. We take note of the High Commissioner's updated database. The international community must take concrete measures against activities that sustain and expand illegal settlements. Israel's expansionist policies extend beyond the occupied Palestinian territory, with continued attacks and violations of sovereignty in Syria and Lebanon, threatening peace and stability across our region. Israel, as the occupying power, cannot dictate the status of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem. International community has to adopt a firm stance. Political rhetoric rejecting the two-state solution driven by domestic political considerations is unacceptable. The only viable path to lasting peace remains the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice President. We reviewed the report of the High Commissioner that shed light on the role of businesses in supporting settler activities that are unlawful, including the data therein, as well as the recommendations. We reiterate the importance of the responsibility within international law that befalls business enterprises, including the facilitation of unlawful economic activities. These companies need to stick to international human rights law. We call upon countries to exercise oversight as well as serve justice when it comes to the negative impacts on human rights by companies. We strongly condemn all forms of violations against civilians including the unlawful control of land, destruction of homes, and targeting livelihoods, and engaging in enforced displacement. We are engaged in a lasting solution for the Palestinian cause. in all its aspects. And we call upon the occupying power to comply with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including the respect for the rights of prisoners and the vulnerable, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Thank you, Vice President.

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

Yes, Vice President. Nigeria aligns with the statements delivered by the African Group, OIC, and NAM. We remain concerned by the continued occupation of Palestine and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The situation highlights the need for renewed efforts towards a just, comprehensive, and lasting solution in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions. Nigeria affirms its support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination. We underscore the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the crisis, uphold international humanitarian law, and protect civilians. As Vice President, Nigeria strongly condemns all forms of violence against civilians, particularly women and children. We call for full respect for the ceasefire and for all parties to exercise restraint, uphold their obligations under international law, and support efforts towards lasting peace.

Safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza must also be guaranteed.

Finally, Nigeria remains convinced that the only sustainable path to peace lies in a two-state solution with an independent state of Palestine existing side by side with the state of Israel in peace, security, and mutual prosperity. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr.

Mr Vice President Brunei Salam align itself with a statement made by asan oic and nam the situation on the grounds have deteriorated further as a result of the persistent aggression by the by the occupying Powers including widespread attack in the Gaza Strip as well as expansion of illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank where settler violence have reached unprecedented level Brunei remain gravely

concerned by the false

displacement and deprivation of essential humanitarian assistance of Palestinian the occupying power must abide by international law on the protection of of civilian and ensuring the safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance. We also call on the international community to take urgent and effective measure to end this impurity and uphold human dignity. In this regard, we thank the High Commissioner for the update on the UN database of business enterprise involved in settlement-related activity. We urge all stakeholders to make constructive use of the database and ensure the activity do not contribute to

unlawful policy and practice consistent with international law and the 2024 ICJ advisory opinion.

Mr. Vice President, a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through the two-state solution. We therefore reject all attempts to undermine Palestinian statehood. We reiterate our unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and for an independent and sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 border with East Jerusalem as a capital. I thank you.

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

Vice President, Senegal thanks the High Commissioner for the report presented. Ongoing settlement is a serious and unjustified attack on the most basic rights of the Palestinian people. It is urgent to work towards respecting obligations stemming from international law as set out in the advisory opinion of the ICJ in July 2024, including the regulation of businesses. The figures are undeniable. In Gaza alone, 94% of the population is in need of housing or assistance to cover their basic needs, and 97% of agricultural land is harmed. damaged. Since the ceasefire, over 14,000 deaths have been identified, whereas humanitarian action remains hampered by persistent financial and operational constraints. We note, furthermore, the restrictions placed on the financial situation of the Secretariat in implementing the mandate entrusted through resolutions 31/36 and 53/25 of the HRC. We encourage the OHCHR to continue to promote transparency, equity, and open in-depth exchanges with the businesses concerned. It is also important to ensure that the UN inquiry mechanisms integrity is preserved, as well as that of humanitarian players. Lastly, while restating its appeal to pursuing efforts to guarantee the protection of civilians and lasting peace in Palestine, Senegal reaffirms its steadfast support to the just cause of the Palestinian people in their legitimate quest for a viable, free, and independent state.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eritrea via video.

Eritrea reiterates its firm principled commitment to agenda item seven as an indispensable mechanism for addressing longstanding systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan. The ongoing expansion of illegal settlements, land confiscations, home demolitions, and severe restrictions on the Palestinian people are not isolated events. They are direct consequences of a decades long illegal occupation and entrenched culture of impunity. True and lasting peace cannot be achieved through political expediency or to normalize denial of fundamental rights. It demands strict adherence to international law and respect for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereign statehood. We reaffirm the Palestinian people's inalienable and non-negotiable right to self-determination and to an independent sovereign state. Anything short of ending the occupation is not a solution. It is a continuation of injustice. Eritrea calls on the international community and this Council to move beyond rhetoric, enforce systemic accountability, and reject all forms of double standards, while reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for justice and freedom. I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Mr Vice President, Libya fully supports the Palestinian people and strongly condemns the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip and the aggression by settlers on the West Bank, as well as the restrictions imposed, which is a gross violation of all international conventions and laws. And we welcome the database on the businesses that are involved in illegal settlements, and we call upon everybody to abide by them and to not recognize the legal status resulting from occupation and taking all measures to put an end to the activities of corporations in settlements or that encourage the expansion of settlement activities. And we also condemn its illegal activities in Syria and Lebanon, and we call upon ceasefire and full and immediate withdrawal and to provide unhindered humanitarian access and to protect hostages and refugees and to provide reparation and compensation. And we support the right of Palestinian people, inalienable rights, especially the right of an independent, viable, sovereign state based on the borders of the 4th of June 1967. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President. Morocco, under the auspices of His Majesty Mohammed VI, is convinced that lasting peace in the region depends on the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, those living alongside an Israeli state in peace and security. We renew our appeal to respect the ceasefire in Gaza to guarantee the unhindered supply of humanitarian aid which must be sufficient. In addition, we reassert that there is a need to support the Palestinian Authority and to support the reforms that they are trying to undertake within its institution. There is also a need to continue to support UNRWA. Morocco voices its major concern at the latest developments in Jerusalem and in the West Bank. These have infringed the current status of the Palestinian occupied Palestinian territory through certain laws and this opens the path to further settlement. In addition, we condemn the systematic violence by settlers against Palestinian citizens. These measures must end because they aim to compromise the efforts establishing a Palestinian state, the integrality. All of our statement, rather, will be uploaded onto the extranet.

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

Mr. Vice President, the Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its firm position in favor of the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent sovereign state on the 4th of June 1967 borders. with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. We insist upon the need to adhere to IHL, international human rights law, as well as protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure and serving the two-state solution. We hail the ever-growing support for the two-state solution, and we affirm the importance of building on the outcomes of the high-level event in concert with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, and continuing the international efforts to establish the right and serious environment for a sustainable and just peace. The Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its call for an immediate end to the violations of the ceasefire in Gaza and releasing all the prisoners as well as the hostages and to press ahead with reconstruction efforts and we reiterate our categorical rejection of any effort to displace the Palestinian people from its land and to ensure that it can translate its aspirations for dignity and peace into reality thank you

thank you I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia is

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Tunisia once again strongly condemns the genocide and the gross violations that have been endured by the Palestinian people in Gaza and the remaining occupied Palestinian territories. And we stress the importance of the database to expose the violations of the businesses involved in activities in the settlements on occupied Palestinian lands. And we stress to the importance of providing sufficient resources to implement this mandate. And we stress that all states need to abide by the non-recognition or contribution in the unlawful situation resulting from the continuation of the occupation of Palestinian lands. And we call upon the international community to shoulder its legal and ethical responsibilities away from double standards. to provide international protection to the Palestinian people, and to act immediately to put an end to genocide, forced displacement, torture, starvation, and to abide by the legal consultative opinion of the ICJ, and to put an end and dismantle settlements and to apply Palestinian right to self-determination. And we stress the importance that the perpetrators by the occupying power responsible for such crimes be prosecuted for their -- and the Vice President interrupts.

I now give the distinguished representative of Mauritania.

Thank you, Vice-President. In the name of God, the merciful, the almighty. Mauritania associates itself with the statement made by the groups that we belong to. We welcome the update of the database on business enterprises involved in activities related to illegal Israeli settlements established in occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The report shows that this settlement structure is not only based on construction areas, but on an entire financial transport system, services, and economic resources. Vice President, the judgment of the ICJ of 2024 is clear. It compels states that they must not recognize the illegal status of these settlements and not accept occupation. That is why we call upon all states to take legislative and regulatory measures which make it possible to prohibit all enterprises from working with Israeli settlements and settlers. We firmly condemn the genocide conducted by the occupying power, Israel, against the Palestinian people in Gaza. We condemn intimidation, terrorization by the settlers of the Palestinian people, including in East Jerusalem. And we renew our full support to the rights of the Palestinian people, which are inalienable to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group. As we remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, we wish to recall that the United Nations was established to maintain international peace and security, promote friendly relations among nations, and uphold the principles of sovereign equality and self-determination of people. Guided by these objectives and our foreign policy principles, the United Republic of Tanzania reaffirms its longstanding support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable rights to self-determination and a negotiated two-state solution. We underscore the responsibility of states and business enterprises to exercise appropriate human rights due diligence particularly in conflict-affected situations, ensuring that economic activities neither contribute to human rights violations nor undermine prospects for peace. In this regard, we note with serious concern the report's assessment that the involvement in settlement-related activities may adversely affect the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The United Republic of Tanzania reiterates that durable peace requires respect for international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, dialogue, and genuine commitment to a negotiated solution that guarantees the rights, security, and dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, Sri Lanka remains deeply concerned by the persistent threat to civilians and civilian infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory. Sri Lanka is deeply troubled by the severe operational constraints of UNRWA to deliver lifesaving essentials and educational support to severely traumatized and displaced children. Sri Lanka stands firmly behind UNRWA, which remains an indispensable lifeline for people in Gaza. As the chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of Palestinian People, Sri Lanka remains alarmed by the persistent violence. Enduring stability in occupied Palestinian territory can only be built on a framework of genuine political

will, constructive diplomatic dialogue, and respect for international law based on the two-state solution established on the 1967 borders. Towards that end, Sri Lanka remains a steadfast advocate for Palestine's full membership within the United Nations. While fully acknowledging the legitimate security imperatives of both the Israeli and Palestinian people, we demand an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire, accompanied by the safe release of all hostages and detainees on both sides.

The international community can no longer afford to stand by as passive observers to this catastrophe.

We must take decisive actions to hold the violence and finally close this dark chapter of collective suffering. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the League of Arab States.

Mr. Vice President, The League of Arab States reiterates, as did the Secretary General, that the Palestinian cause is the top cause in the balance of positions, and we welcome the updated list of business enterprises linked to activities in settlements. We call for providing the necessary resources for the OHCHR as well as following up on the 2024 ICJ judgment that obligates states not to recognize the illegal situation in the OPT and not to contribute to its prolongation. The ceasefire is not respected and children and civilians are paying the price every day. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, there is settler violence and terror in an attempt to change the geographic and demographic character of the territory. This is something that we reject, and it is an Arab and international responsibility to address this situation. The violations must stop and accountability must be held, as well as a redress and the attacks Levies must be returned to the Palestinian Authority, and the two-state solution must receive more momentum and translate into real-life solutions that embody an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Thank you, Vice President.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We note the updated OHCHR database. However, accountability should not stop at documentation.

Those involved in this

criminal enterprise, which are protected and supported by the genocidal regime of Israel, must be held accountable. United States and some European countries must stop shielding Israel and ensure that accountability applies without double standards. Israel's genocidal campaign in Palestine shows no sign of stopping and the plight of the Palestinian people stands today as the most tragic manifestation of racial oppression in our time. Palestinians, including women and children, endure systematic discrimination and apartheid under policies that the ICJ has confirmed violate Article 3 of ICERD and constitute apartheid within the meaning of Article 2 of the Apartheid Convention. The same pattern is unfolding in southern Lebanon, through the systematic destruction of homes, agricultural land, water infrastructure, and essential services, alongside measures preventing civilian return. Such conduct must be examined under Article 2 of the Genocide Convention. As the deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of a protected group, history will not forgive silence for such crimes. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Vice-President.

The outbreak of regional conflict across the Middle East has compounded the grave human rights situation facing Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory. In Gaza, crisis levels of hunger and immense hardship persist, with the entire population confined to an overcrowded one-third of the territory. recovery has been negligible, Israel must immediately lift restrictions on aid access. Ireland condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Israeli government to publish tenders for the construction of more than 3,400 housing units under the E1 settlement project. The E1 settlement poses a fundamental threat to the prospect of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state. Recent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and communities, in some cases alongside Israeli Defense Forces, form part of an alarming and escalating pattern of violence by extremist settlers that is terrorizing Palestinian communities. More than 2,500 Palestinians have been displaced this year due to demolitions, access restrictions and settler attacks. On 23 September, a fourth village in Masa'fa Yatta was targeted with demolition, impacting 26 households. As the occupying power, Israel has an obligation to protect the Palestinian population under its control. In Ireland, the Israeli Settlements Act 2026 was commenced on 15 September to prohibit the importation of goods from Israeli settlements. Ireland also continues to press, including at EU level, for appropriate collective action in response to egregious Israeli breaches of international law and human rights. Thank you.

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

Mr Vice-President, the Maldives thanks the High Commissioner for his report. Across a number of mandates of this Council, the findings point to one reality: Palestinians continue to endure systematic violations of their fundamental rights. Yet, the international community has repeatedly failed to act. Eleven months after the ceasefire, Israel continues to kill Palestinians in Gaza while restricting humanitarian assistance. Palestinians remain denied their fundamental rights and the basic conditions for survival. In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israel continues to accelerate settlement expansion and possible displacement. This year alone, Israel approved 34 settlements, while settler violence is on trajectory to reach more than 2,000 attacks by the end of the year. The Modi's rejects Israel's attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians, annex Palestinian land, or alter the geographic and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory. These actions further undermine the viability of a Palestinian state. Continued violations cannot be met with continued inaction. We call for unhindered humanitarian access, accountability for Israel's violations, an end to impunity, and decisive international action to bring the occupation to an end. The Maldives stands unwavering with the Palestinian people in their pursuit of justice, self-determination, and an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Lebanon thanks the High Commissioner for his report and the condemnation and recommendations. We welcome the latest update on the database on businesses, and we call for its regular update and to provide it with necessary resources for it to continue and to enhance the mechanisms of accountability. monitoring in accordance with the relevant Human Rights Council resolutions. We stress that the respect of human rights and international law requires the corporations to practice due diligence and to take all necessary measures to put an end to the violations of the international law. We strongly condemn the flagrant violations carried out by the occupying power against the Palestinian people on Palestinian lands, especially in the Gaza Strip. And we stress the importance of providing humanitarian access safely without any obstacles in accordance with the international law. We stress our full support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, especially the right to self-determination and the establishment of its independent sovereign state. Regionally, We stress that the respect of human rights and the achievement of peace and stability require to put an end to the Palestinian occupation of Arab land, including the Syrian Golan, and to respect the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and territorial integrity as well. Thank you.

Thank you. That was the last speaker on my list. We shall now turn to the list of national human rights institutions, and non-governmental organizations. And now I give the floor to the representative of Institute for NGO Research, intervention by video.

Mr. President, OHCHR's database and report continues to distort and weaponize international law and the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights. It is meant to illegally intimidate and harass companies into adopting BDS. Contrary to its claims, this blacklist is not independent, impartial, objective, credible, or professional. It violates the UN Charter. It violates the Oslo Accords witnessed by the UN.

It is aimed at

criminalizing the provision of civilian infrastructure, including water and food, in violation of IHL and human rights law. It engages in religious and national origin discrimination. There is no due process for the companies defamed by this report. It provides no evidence for its claims and tars all companies with the same rush. Indeed, the report admits that it does no review of previously listed companies in its update. The list is based on secret submissions provided by BDS groups. Laughably, the report claims it is not meant to have legal effect. Yet, this is the precise purpose of the database. Contrary to the UNGPs, which are non-punitive, require engagement, and case-by-case review, those behind this list hope it will be adopted wholesale by governments and companies to impose BDS.

Mr. President, because of these gross failings

its legally dubious foundation. Many governments, ESG analytic firms, and companies have wholly rejected any reliance on this discriminatory list. Moreover, any companies labeled by this database have the right to take legal measures to defend against this abuse. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of the Palestinian Return Center Limited.

Mr Vice President, Israel's death penalty for a terrorist bill institutes two capital offenses on the national law and West Bank military law.

Operating with the ICJ found Israel's presence and penal authority unlawful, the military system explicitly excludes Israeli citizens and residents. Both offenses cover intentional killing meeting Israel's terrorism definition. The national offense additionally

requires an aim of negating the existence of the state of Israel, which would most likely only apply to Palestinians.

By implementing these requirements, Israel breaches Palestinian rights to self-determination through acts aimed at ending territorial dominion and apartheid. This extends to efforts to realize the legal right of Joint liability constitutes a quintessential form of unlawful racial discrimination within the broader system of apartheid and genocide. Imposing no age limit, the law would permit child executions contrary to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, compounding the ongoing military detention of Palestinian children without charge. This bill expands decades of weaponized mass detention, systemic

oppression, and entrenched fair trial and torture violations, supplementing military action with judicially sanctioned executions.

As the UN committee noted, its adoption coincides with escalating settler violence on

unpunished killings and accounts of

torture across the occupied Palestinian territory, we call on Member States to take immediate concrete measures to halt state-sanctioned killings and systematic human rights violations against Palestinians and secure the bill's immediate repeal. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man.

Mr. Vice President, The UN Charter begins with a promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, reaffirm human rights, uphold international law, and promote social progress. As this Council convenes its 63rd session against the backdrop of three years of Israel's devastating genocidal campaign in Gaza, that promise rings hollow. Al-Haq has pursued every available avenue for accountability, drafting urgent appeals, communications to UN mandate holders, and extensive submissions to UN special procedures and committees. We have consistently engaged this Council through statements, oral interventions and side events, and held frequent meetings with UN bodies. Yet the situation in Palestine continues to deteriorate. The besieged population in Gaza is subjected to repeated mass forced displacement and deprivation as Israel extends its control over the Palestinian territory.

In the West Bank, Israel's genocide takes a different form.

One that employs daily attacks by Israeli authorities, state-sponsored settler crimes, torture, and mounting restrictions, raids, arrests, demolitions, and dispossession to displace and destroy the Palestinian people. The UN system has documented these violations extensively. The ICJ and ICC have made unprecedented legal findings on the illegality of Israel's conduct. But this has failed to generate any meaningful political consequences, revealing a structural and moral crisis that demands effective mechanisms to ensure compliance with international law. The credibility of our international system and the promise of the UN Charter depend on it.

Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Palestinian Center for Human Rights.

Mr. Vice

President, PCHR welcomes the updated UN database of businesses involved in activities related to illegal Israeli settlements and reiterates

its call on member states to ensure that companies under their jurisdiction do not contribute or benefit from the settlement enterprise. Mr. Vice President, nearly three years into the live-streamed genocide in Gaza, the evidence is overwhelming. To this date, senior Israeli officials continue to publicly declare their genocidal intent towards Palestinians. Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights organizations, legal scholars, UN mandate holders, and the UN Commission of Inquiry have all reached findings of genocide in Gaza. Why then has the High Commissioner for Human Rights still not acknowledged this reality for what it is? The High Commissioner is not merely another voice. His office carries significant legal authority and moral weight within the international human rights system and the wider international justice system. A clear acknowledgment from the High Commissioner would carry considerable institutional weight, reinforce the urgency of the obligation to prevent genocide, and exert pressure on states to act to end the ongoing atrocities in Gaza in line with their obligations under the Genocide Convention. We therefore call on the High Commissioner to simply act as his predecessors rightly did in relation to other situations, to acknowledge that situation in Gaza as one of genocide, and to make preventing further genocidal acts and ensuring accountability for them central to the office's response.

I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of European Union of Jewish Students. Intervention by video.

Soon, we will mark another anniversary of October 7th, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. In a single day, more than 1,200 lives were taken by Hamas. Hundreds more were abducted into Gaza and never left captivity alive. Families were destroyed, and an entire society was left with a trauma that will live on for generations. But the violence unleashed that day did not end at sunset. Years of war have brought immense suffering to people across the region. Israeli society continues to carry the wounds of October 7th. Palestinians in Gaza have endured devastating conditions, living with little prospects for a better future while under the Islamist rule of Hamas. There is no victory for anyone in all of this. And there will be no sustainable peace through one-sided condemnations, hatred, or further dehumanization. Peace requires two people to have a future. It requires security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike, confronting Hamas and other terrorist groups while rejecting radical forces within the Israeli government. And it requires the international community to confront the wider forces destabilizing the region, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and its support for terrorist proxies. Condemning Israel will not bring peace. Protecting human rights requires something harder: defending civilians, confronting extremism, and working towards a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in security, freedom, and dignity.

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

Mr. Vice President, SHAMS Center. Shams Center called this council to confront a systematic pattern of Israeli violence, discrimination, and displacement affecting Palestinians across the occupied territory. Palestinian Bedouin are being attacked, killed, injured, and forcibly displaced. Their tents are demolished, their livestock and property are attacked, and their access to water and grazing area is restricted. Settler violence is forcing entire communities from their land. We demand immediate international protection and an end to this forced displacement. Palestinian refugees face military raids, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and prolonged displacement, particularly from Jenin.

Tulkarm, and North Shams refugee camps.

We demand their immediate and safe return. Palestinian Christians face attack and harassment, restriction on movement and worship, attack on church and religious sites, and increasing pressure threatening their continued presence in Jerusalem and Holy Land. We demand the protection of Palestinian Christians. Finally, we demand the immediate repeal of Israeli death penalty law targeting Palestinian prisoners. The law is discriminatory by design. It applies to Palestinians while excluding Israelis. It denies the right to appeal and provides for execution by hanging within 90 days after the sentences become final. It's a discriminatory system of punishment based on identity. We demand its repeal, accountability, and concrete international action. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of United Nations Watch.

Mr. President, world leaders have spoken. President Macron says Hamas was never very active in the West Bank. Tell that to the family of Netanel Shukron, murdered in Neve Tzuf just over a week ago. Tell that to Ambassador Leitner, whose son Neria was just mowed down near Beit Horon. Hamas has murdered Jews in Judea and Samaria for decades. The British Prime Minister declares an unlawful ban on products from Jewish communities. And meanwhile, Britain gave a known Hamas terrorist a passport, which he used to plan attacks across Europe, banning award-winning wine from Judea, but not the terrorists plotting to kill Jews. Spain accused Israel of genocide. That is a lie and an inversion. It was Hamas that carried out a genocidal massacre. But then it is President Sanchez that has honored the only UN official in history to be condemned for Holocaust inversion. Australia's Penny Wong lied when she said that more than 15,000 children were driven from their homes in the West Bank. It is a lie that seeks to justify the ethnic cleansing of Jews, which UN bodies call for. And if President Erdogan really cared about the oppressed, he would not jail his political rivals, silence journalists, and deny the Armenian genocide. Let the record show this institution is being abused to promote falsehoods and subvert international law.

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

Thank you.

As the genocide in Gaza enters its third year, Palestinians across Palestine continue to face killing, destruction, and displacement. Recent UN reporting documents a sharp rise in settler violence and displacement. This violence is visible in the West Bank, where settler attacks have escalated on the under Israeli army protection. On September 23, 24 homes were destroyed in Mas'aferyat near Hebron, displacing their families. In occupied East Jerusalem, the assault extends beyond land to identity and expression. Alongside settlement expansion, surveillance, and arrests over solidarity with Gazan people, silence Palestinians, while restrictions on Palestinian curriculum and national symbols reach into their schools. Nor are Palestinians in the lands of 1948 spared. Settlers have attacked land in Majd al-Krum, and an Israeli minister had made the Judaization of the Galilee and the Naqab parts of his election campaign, promoting Palestinian displacement. From Gaza to the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the land of 1948, these attacks threaten Palestinian lives, land, and identity. Their continuation, despite repeated UN resolutions, raises urgent questions about impunity and the erosion of international law. We call on the international community to provide urgent protection for the Palestinian people from the ethnic cleansing and the genocide, safeguard Palestinian rights to life and self-determination. We need an immediate actions. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Association Mona for Human Rights and Immigration.

Thank you. Almost a year after the ceasefire framework, Palestinian survival is not promised. In Gaza, widespread destruction and shortages continue to deprive Palestinians of basic necessities. According to OCHA, since the ceasefire, 1,381 Palestinians have been killed, 4,757 injured, and more than 8,000 people are estimated to remain missing beneath the rubble. Children continue to be among those killed and injured, bearing a devastating share of this crisis. the crisis in Gaza must be confronted through the framework of the Genocide Convention. In 2025, the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel committed four of the five genocidal acts with the requisite specific intent to destroy the Palestinian people in Gaza in whole or in part. We must acknowledge that yet again, we are witnessing a genocide and yet again, fail to act. Furthermore, displacement is not confined to Gaza. Coercive conditions continue to displace Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Now is the time for the international community to act. We must exhaust all resources possible to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis throughout the region. Thus, we emphasize the demand for accountability and enforcement of ICC arrests for Israeli leaders. We must uphold humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence while prioritizing Palestinian survival. The legitimacy of our practice depends on it. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of InternationalLawyers.org.

Thank you. What does it mean to be Palestinian today? To live under the threat of bombs, the grip of hunger, and the fear of never returning home. The genocide against Palestinians continues through relentless killings and the destruction of essential infrastructure. In the occupied West Bank, under the protection of the Israeli occupying forces, settler attacks have escalated by demolishing houses, forcibly displacing families through violence, intimidation, and arson. In occupied Jerusalem, settlement expansion, the displacement of residents, and the silencing of Palestinians under emergency laws imposed for years now, alongside forced displacement and home demolitions, reflects the continuation of a policy of dispossession aimed at erasing their identity, suppressing voices and driving them from their homeland. And in flagrant violation to the principle of the United Nations, the Palestinian voice is silenced there. The Palestinian president is denied the opportunity to address the assembly, while the perpetrator of the genocide and who should be arrested, according to the ICC, warned, Benjamin Netanyahu is granted the platform. The suffering at the prison gates does not end. Palestinian detainees face reports of beatings, humiliation, severe food deprivation, and the systematic denial of medical care. The introduction of a death penalty law targeting Palestinians raises further grave concerns about discrimination and the right to life. Palestinians deserve more than survival. They deserve freedom, justice and dignity. And this can't be achieved without the ending of the occupation. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Jerusalem Institute of Justice, intervention by video.

Mr. President, on October 7, while this Council is still in session.

The world will mark three years since Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups invaded southern Israel and committed acts of appalling brutality, murdering civilians in their homes, mutilating bodies, committing sexual violence, and abducting 251 men, women, and children into the Gaza Strip. These atrocities are well documented, and yet this Council's program offers no dedicated moment to remember them or to recognize their suffering. A Council entrusted with defending human rights cannot treat their suffering as a footnote. Your silence is deafening. It is a choice, and it will remain a stain on this Council's history. Under item 7, this Council has made scrutiny of Israel a permanent fixture of its work. Yet, on the anniversary of October 7, it cannot spare even a single moment to name Hamas's crimes or honor those who suffered them. The message to victims and survivors is unmistakable. Your pain is less worthy of recognition. Mr. President, impartiality is measured by whom this Council remembers when remembrance is inconvenient. Members of this Council, you still have time to honor the victims, condemn these atrocities, and demand accountability. Fail them again, and you betray the principles you are here to defend. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Midline for Human Rights, intervention by video.

Mr. President. Midline for Human Rights speaks today to shed light on the flagrant, systematic violations inside Israeli detention centers and prisons. We affirm that Palestinian detainees and prisoners are protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention and international human rights law. The torture and ill-treatment inflicted upon them constitute a blatant breach of the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We are alarmed by the expanding use of administrative detention based on secret files, a practice that functions as collective punishment and denies detainees the most basic guarantees of a fair trial.

We further condemn the legislative.

Efforts to enact the death penalty, which would amount to arbitrary execution outside the bounds of due process. We hold that the policy of "slow killing" deliberate medical negligence and denial of treatment constitutes a fully realized crime and that full criminal responsibility for it falls on prison authorities and on the medical personnel complicit in it. We therefore call on this Council to: Press immediately to end the policy of administrative detention and to secure unimpeded access for international committees to inspect detention conditions. Mandate an independent international investigation into deaths resulting from medical negligence in the prisons. And finally, ensure urgent international protection for prisoners and detainees in accordance with international humanitarian law. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of B'nai B'rith. Intervention by video.

My name is Kobi Falki, founder of Orphan Clan. For 35 years, I have used music to build bridges between Israelis, Muslims, and Palestinians. My band has toured with Muslims and Palestinian musicians, shared awards with Palestinian artists, and received five awards for peace. Over the years, something extraordinary happened. Muslim fans across the Middle East embraced our music. Some even tattooed our lyrics on their bodies. Others have paid a terrible price. Some were imprisoned simply for having contact with us or for possessing our albums. We have spent decades proving that music can cross borders that politics cannot. Yet, in Barcelona, in 2024, I was treated differently simply because I am Israeli. A boycott campaign pressured the club where we were scheduled to perform. Eventually, the concert took place, while a pro-Palestinian demonstration was held outside. I respect the right to protest, but I ask you: Why would Israeli artist who has spent 35 years building bridges be judged by his nationality rather than by the bridges he has built? My band and our fans believe that we are part of the solution, not the problem. Music cannot solve every conflict, but it can remind us that the other side is human. This is the message I have devoted my life to. With wishes of peace, I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights. Intervention by video.

Under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention, states have an obligation of conduct to employ all means available to prevent genocide.

The prohibition of genocide is recognized as a peremptory norm.

It cannot be deferred or derogated from by any state or corporation.

The obligation requires every state party to act to prevent genocide and extends extraterritorially to include duties to avoid complicity and punish perpetrators.

Political deadlock within the UN Security Council cannot paralyze the independent legal duties of individual states. The ICJ's provisional measures, strengthened by the findings of UN commissions, experts, and special procedures, require sanctions. States are not permitted to defer their obligations for a final ICJ verdict or a Security Council decision. And yet, as the Israeli regime's genocide is about to enter its fourth year, states maintain genocide denial.

Not only failing to take meaningful action, but also enabling the genocide through military assistance, political and diplomatic backing, economic cooperation, obstruction of humanitarian and multilateral systems, as well as promoting.

Propaganda and disinformation.

Every state must act now to end their complicity and stop the genocide through comprehensive sanctions against the Israeli regime.

Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to the representative of International Bar Association. Intervention by video.

President, we should no longer remain silent as Palestinians face genocide in Gaza, as also confirmed by the COI, and as we witness escalating displacement, dispossession, and de facto annexation in the West Bank, where expansions, demolitions, property seizures, arbitrary detention, and violence are driving Palestinians out of their homes, away from their livelihoods. This is not isolated violence. This is systematic and intentional erosion of Palestinians' existence and the rights to self-determination. Businesses also bear serious responsibility. Companies, professional entities, banks must not contribute to, facilitate or profit from genocide in Gaza and from settlement expansions, dispossession and forced displacement in the West Bank. We welcome the UK recent sanctions against individuals and entities financing and enabling settlers violence and we urge all states to do so. In addition, Ebari also calls on states to impose an arms embargo on Israel, adopt targeted sanctions against Israeli officials responsible, to suspend bilateral agreements with Israel, commit to enforce all ICC arrest warrants, ban all trade and business with Israeli legal settlements, and recognize Israel crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians. This has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. This is about accountability for the most serious crimes. This is a temple of human rights and we should all commit to accountability and not to impunity. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Shanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association, intervention by video.

President, Special Rapporteur, delegates, I'm the founder of the IPPO, advocating loving one's own country without harming other countries' interest. I support the work of the Special Rapporteur. The human rights crisis in the OPT shows that when powerful states replace international law and multilateral cooperation with unilateral military actions, then pillars for global peace and human rights are facing collapse. The U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran under the pretext of national security violate the sovereignty of other states and undermine the international order. Such actions outside the Security Council's authorization exacerbate regional instability, also set a dangerous precedent. These actions put power above rules. We call the Council to establish an investigative mechanism on the humanitarian and human rights crisis caused by the U.S. and Israel. Only by practicing the international patriotic pact can we break the cycle of violence and build a new international order based on mutual respect and fairness justice. To this end, I invite you all to attend the side event on human rights in the U.S. on 1st October 17 our in Concordia 1. I look forward to debate also with you on the right to development, and I look forward to your presence. Thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, CIVICUS and the Palestinian Working Women's Society for Development.

Remain gravely concerned by settlement expansion, shrinking civic space, and OPT. OHCHR's 2026 update added 61 companies to the database, while 255 businesses still remain to be assessed, and major cloud and AI providers remain absent. Project Nimbus is Google and Amazon's cloud contract with Israel. Israeli procurement documents list the settlement division among entities required to use Nimbus cloud services. This must be assessed under paragraph 96. The human rights impacts of digital surveillance are already documented. Amnesty International documented facial recognition at Hebron checkpoints, scanning Palestinians and collecting biometric data without consent. Yet the companies behind such systems are not always publicly identified. We also documented surveillance reaching women's intimate spaces and women human rights defenders facing surveillance and prosecution.

This affects all Palestinians.

But its impact is not gender neutral. Surveillance adds another layer of repression on women and paralyzes the work of women-led civil society. We call on this Council, all Member States and OHCHR to ensure completion of the outstanding assessments and further examine cloud and AI services. Where companies meet the criteria, states should pursue accountability, including lawful targeted sanctions. Home states must also hold companies under their jurisdiction accountable. Accountability mechanisms cannot lag behind technologies that sustain settlement related control. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of APG 23.

Mr. Vice President, we relaunch with deep concern the words of Mr. Walker Turk in relation to the situation in the West Bank, and I quote, "Israel annexation is unfolding, unobstructed, despite the clear ruling of the International Court of Justice. What more it will take for states to take action to prevent the entrenchment of occupation? Indeed, Israeli settler violence against Palestinians is increasing dramatically. In areas such as Mazafar Yatta, a staggering number of attacks by Israeli settlers and occupation forces have been recorded, targeting entire villages and vulnerable people like pregnant women, children, older persons, and people with disabilities. The scope of violence has further expanded and raises the specter of ethnic cleansing, as denounced by the UN Secretary General. Forced eviction, fires of inhabited buildings, and demolition of homes and entire villages are on the rise, along with the destruction of source of income, especially through grabbing all of our stock and whole flocks. Solidarity is also under attack. Local and international activists are increasingly targeted through detentions, expulsion, and entry bans.

EPG.

23 appeals for supporting Palestinian people and communities which resist in a nonviolent way to ethnic cleansing and unlawful occupation. The international community must urgently commit to stopping violence and impunity and fully applying UN resolution and international law to build sustainable peace. Thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, On August 18, the Israeli government opened a new tender for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the illegal E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. A month later, despite condemnation and flying in the face of international law, Israeli authorities posted an additional tender for 2,147 housing units in E1. For the current Israeli government, this behavior is not the exception, it's the norm. Since taking office, they have nearly doubled the number of illegal settlements in the West Bank. At the same time, they have overseen an increase in state-backed settler violence to all-time highs. According to OCHA, Israeli forces and settlers have displaced nearly 50,000 Palestinians and killed 1,333 in the West Bank since the start of their term. OHCHR's database of businesses involved in illegal Israeli settlements is an important tool for holding companies accountable for their complicity in human rights abuses and for countries to uphold their obligations under international law as spelled out in the advisory opinion of the ICJ. It is up to all states to ensure that there are legal and reputational consequences for this complicity and to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to that effect. We welcome the decisions made by a growing number of states to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, including most recently the UK, France, and Canada. But there's much more to be done. And we call on states to act to prevent further atrocities, including by imposing targeted sanctions.

Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Rausam Human Development Center. I understand they're absent. I give the floor to the representative of Youth Parliament for SDG, intervention by video.

The Israeli occupation have killed my husband, and now there's another crime against us, denying our right to bury him in a dignified manner. For years, the Israeli occupation has used the remains of Palestinians as a tool for humiliation. Israel is still refusing to deliver over 1,200 corpses of Palestinians. Mr. Vice President, the international community cannot give up on us twice, once by allowing Israel to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide against people and medics with impunity. And secondly, by hijacking the bodies of the victims and depriving their families from the right to say a final goodbye to them. We call upon the international community, including the membership of this Council, to exercise every pressure on the Israeli authorities to deliver the remains of Palestinians. We're not asking for something impossible to achieve. We're simply asking for our right to be respected. Thank you.

The interpreter apologizes. The sound was of poor quality.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of World Jewish Congress.

Thank you, Mr. President. The World Jewish Congress reiterates its longstanding opposition regarding the continued existence of item 7. No other member state than Israel is the subject of a dedicated standing agenda item. This exceptional treatment undermines the principles of universality, impartiality, and equal treatment that should guide the work of this council. We remain concerned that the mandate relating to the database of business enterprises has become a divisive mechanism that does little to advance dialogue, peace, or the enjoyment of human rights by either Israelis or Palestinians. Rather than fostering cooperation, it deepens polarization, discourages economic engagement that can contribute to stability and coexistence, and tears both sides further apart. We're particularly concerned about the potential impact on both Israeli and Palestinian workers and communities who benefit from economic cooperation and shared commercial activity. The World Jewish Congress, therefore, calls on this council to uphold the principles of fairness and non-selectivity and to immediately cease this database, as well as all other discriminatory measures, including this item, which casts a shadow on the reputation of the United Nations as a whole. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of MAT for Peace, Development and Human Rights Association. Intervention by video.

The human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

We regret that up until the 23rd of September last, the database we have just discussed has not been made available on the OHCHR website. Vice-President. We would like to thank the company Adidas for the apologies made in 2026 following the inclusion of an Israeli soldier in one of its advertising campaigns. However, we have examined a video whose authenticity has been verified, which shows the president of the Oracle software company boasting about the services provided by Oracle to the Israeli occupation during the Gaza invasion. And this has increased the suffering of the Palestinians at that time. We condemn the cooperation between international companies and the Israeli occupying power. We call on Oracle to respect the principles of responsible investment and the guiding principles of the United Nations on business and human rights. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Human Social Care Foundation.

Respected President and distinguished delegate, The United Nations expert and treaty body have documented serious allegations of torture, severe physical and psychological harm, inhuman treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, and killing of Palestinian children in the military detention. We echo the call that every child in the contract with the justice system must be treated with the dignity, care, and respect at all time. If the serious violation of the international law and the UN Charter are not addressed, they may undermine the credibility of the international system and encourage further violations elsewhere. Therefore, I urge all UN member state member to act collectively, uphold the UN Charter, protect human rights, and work toward peace and justice for the humanity and its future. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Amman Center for Human Rights Studies.

Mr. Vice President, the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies welcomes today's debate and the opportunity to speak to the Council. The human rights situation in Palestine and the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, is neither new nor isolated crises. It is a ruthless occupation that has been ongoing for nearly eight decades. The so-called Israeli death penalty for terrorists laws enacted this year is yet another gross symptom of the diseases called colonialism and occupation, grave affronts to international law and order, as well as a departure from fundamental human decency. Palestinians suffer the effects of occupation. which are systematic discrimination, dehumanization, and the silencing of Palestinians under the false pretext of securitization. A daily risk it is that of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, torture, collective punishment, repression of freedom of speech and expression. Accountability is a necessity. Our center recommends that one, Israel repeals the death penalty law. Two, Israel ceases all human rights violations and end genocide. And three, call on Israel to comply with international law and to return to a respectful world order. Finally, the council should support independent investigations for documenting and preserving evidence. And we urge all Member States of the international community to condemn the State of Israel to protect Palestinian lives. Thank you.

That was the last speaker on my list. With this last intervention, we have concluded the general debate under item seven. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. Is there any request to exercise the right of reply in relation to statements made under agenda item seven? I see none. With this, we'll take a short technical break before starting item nine. Oh, okay. We have just have to say that with this last intervention, we have concluded the consideration of agenda item 7.

Thank you.

You've written it. Excellencies, distinguished participants, I now declare open agenda item 9, entitled Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance: Follow-up to the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. We will now hold the enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner and International Independent Expert Mechanism to advance racial justice and equality in law enforcement. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I have the honor to welcome Ms. Awa Dabo, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, who will deliver the opening statement. Let me also welcome our distinguished panelists, Ms. Tracey Casey, Chair of the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement; Mr. Angelo Kamufingo, Civil Society Representative; Ms. Mary Luz Barragan Gonzalez, Civil Society Representative; The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I now have the honour to give the floor to the Deputy High Commissioner for her statement. Madame, you have the floor.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, good afternoon. Five years ago, the killing of George Floyd sparked a global movement for change. Today, we are living a completely different moment. Powerful leaders are fuelling overt racism as institutions, laws, and policy frameworks are weakened and dismantled. We are deeply concerned by efforts to roll back diversity and inclusion policies that were designed to create a level playing field after centuries of systematic racism, colonialism, and misogyny. Hate crimes, restrictions on civic space, repression, and the criminalization of dissent are increasing. Our latest report, informed by 34 submissions from around the world, paints a disturbing picture. It gives examples of the impact of racism across all areas of life, including segregation and unequal access to housing, education, employment, healthcare, land, social security and justice. Women and children of African descent face specific challenges. While refugees and migrants of African descent, LGBTIQ+ people and those with disabilities are subjected to compounded and overlapping discrimination. Meanwhile, racist and white supremacist movements are expanding into the mainstream. Some of these movements are even attempting to redefine racism in a cynical distortion of historical facts and long-standing power dynamics. Mr. President, systemic racism shapes law enforcement and criminal justice for Africans and people of African descent around the world. Racial profiling continues to be reported in a number of countries. Unfortunately, major data gaps can lead to a perception that racial discrimination only affects certain parts of the world, which is false. This is a global phenomenon. The report gives examples of disproportionate use of force against people of African descent and their overrepresentation in detention facilities. These disparities are exacerbated when armed representatives of the state, including the police, law enforcement, and immigration personnel, are empowered by hate speech from leaders. The report calls for accountability in several countries for the excessive use of force, including killings. that disproportionately impact Africans and people of African descent. We are also alarmed by reports about the assault, detention and surveillance of human rights defenders and journalists working to protect the rights of people of African descent. Mr. President, since the High Commissioner's last report to this Council, States and others have taken some initiatives towards racial justice and equality. Some governments have gone some way towards addressing the legacies of enslavement, the trade in enslaved Africans and colonialism. The European Union adopted its anti-racism strategy 2026 to 2030. The Supreme Court of Brazil ordered the government to develop a national plan to combat racism in public security, healthcare and education, and to provide reparations. However, this is not enough. The report calls for a paradigm shift towards political and financial investment in racial justice and equality with concrete steps as set out in the agenda towards transformative change. These should include comprehensive national action plans and strategies to combat racism, the collection and use of disaggregated data, meaningful representation and participation of people of African descent in public life, strengthening, monitoring, reporting and accountability, and delivering reparatory justice for the legacies of enslavement and colonialism. We also need increased solidarity and partnership across equality movements. Our new Global Alliance for Human Rights is a place where governments, civil society, academia, religious leaders, and more can unite against the distortions and propaganda spread by anti-rights movements. We need to go on the offensive against racial hate, speech, and disinformation. Our office continues to work with civil society organizations to engage with the United Nations processes regarding the rights of people of African descent. At the international level, we consistently call for global reforms to correct the historic underrepresentation of African countries in multilateral institutions, including in the United Nations. Together, let's work with all stakeholders and Member States throughout this second International Decade for People of African Descent to deliver recognition and justice for people of African descent and for Africans. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Ms. Kissi for her presentation.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President and Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, distinguished speakers, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I'm honored to return to this esteemed council to exchange views on racial justice with member states, international and regional organizations, and civil society actors, including those advancing the rights of Africans and those of African descent. During the past year, the expert mechanism to advance its anti-racism mandate through country engagements, advocacy and institutional outreach. We conducted a country visit to Colombia and held our fifth annual session, including public consultations that informed our fifth annual report. We sent letters to states on specific incidents. And through participation in international regional forums, including the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the European Commissions Against Racism and Intolerance, we help shape discussions on racial justice, policing, drug policy, alternatives to incarceration, and report to re-justice. With furthermore, strengthen our coordination with other UN anti-racism mechanisms through regular meetings and bilaterals. Turning to this year's reports, our fifth annual report examines the intersection between drug policy enforcement and systemic racism and its impact on Africans and those of African descent. Our report has four main components. First, it examines the historical and structural roots of racial discrimination in drug policy, tracing how the legacies of colonialism and enslavement, the racialization of drugs, the militarization of drug control strategies, and the so-called wars on drugs have shaped contemporary drug enforcement systems worldwide. Second, it analyzes how racial discrimination manifests itself across the entire drug control criminal justice continuum, documenting disparities in police stops, searches, arrests, prosecution, sentencing, detention, post-conviction consequences. The report finds that racial profiling over policing of black communities, excessive use of force, and unequal criminal justice outcomes are persistent features of drug law enforcement. Third, it explores the intersectional dimensions of discrimination, highlighting how race interacts with factors such as gender, age, migration, socioeconomic marginalization, and often resulting in compounded human rights violations. Finally, the report identifies promising practices and emergency policy approaches that can advance more equitable rights base. It based in evidence, response to drug use and drug related activities, and through our collaborations with UN bodies and special agencies, we've also access to new frameworks to view this work, such as substantive legal effectiveness or SLE. This assesses whether laws and institutional measures are effective and responsive to the lived realities of affected communities. Mr. Vice President, racial discrimination and drug policy enforcement is systemic rather than incidental. We call for a fundamental shift away from punitive and militarized approaches toward policies grounded in racial justice, human rights, public health, accountability that center community and community participation. Our concrete recommendations can be grouped into six clusters, legal and policy reform, including decriminalization and the review of drug laws, policing and criminal justice reform, including the elimination of racial profiling, strengthen oversight mechanisms, and greater accountability, alternatives to detention with increased investment in health and community-based responses, Data monitoring and transparency, including the collection and disaggregated data to identify and address racial disparities. Participation, ensuring that African and people of African descent and affected communities are actively involved in policy design and implementation. And finally, redress and reparative measures aimed at addressing the long-term harms caused by discriminatory drug enforcement. We urge all member states to implement these recommendations. Moving on to our country report, we'd like to thank Colombia for the genuine cooperation extended throughout our visit conducted in May. The mechanism recognizes the serious security challenges facing Colombia. Nevertheless, predominantly punitive and militarized approaches have resulted in serious human rights violations in the past, including a disproportionate impact of Afro-Colombian communities. Any expansion of security operations to address violence and drug trafficking must remain firmly grounded in international human rights law and must not reproduce longstanding patterns of exclusion, racial profiling, and criminalization. We welcome Colombia's recognition of systemic racism and its initiatives on dialogue during protests, historical memory, and reparatory justice. We call on all government to preserve the gains and to use the report's recommendations as a roadmap for advancing racial justice equality. We look forward to continuing our cooperative with Colombia. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Mr. Kamufingo for his presentation.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President, distinguished panelists and participants, good afternoon. I am an expert and policy advisor on racism and institutional change in Europe. While I speak from a position of relative privilege, I'm grateful to be here today and to draw on both my professional expertise and personal experience, while also honoring my father's legacy. His efforts to build a better life for himself and a safer one for me have taught me that individual effort alone cannot overcome systemic barriers. Those barriers, as we heard, take many forms, including the criminalization and racist policing of Africans, people of African descent, and black people. Both reports presented here today highlight once again anti-black racism, including in law enforcement, is neither a collection of isolated incidents, nor merely the result of individual misconduct. It is a manifestation of systemic racism embedded in historical and structural conditions that continue to shape who is perceived as suspicious, dangerous or in need of protection. It is important to acknowledge that these realities exist worldwide, including in Europe. Evidence from the Fundamental Rights Agency, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, and many more continues to show anti-Black racism across multiple areas of life in Europe, including law enforcement and its links to the legacies of colonialism and slavery. At the same time, many places still lack the data necessary to make this truly visible and meaningfully measure progress, not only in policing, but also in education, employment, housing, healthcare, and more. Law enforcement is a particularly visible lens through which we can see how anti-Black racism operates across different areas of life. The histories behind those experiences continue to shape assumptions about who's considered a threat, who's met with suspicion, and who's disproportionately subjected to institutional control. We need to recognize two interconnected dynamics. First, racialized assumptions mean that black people are more frequently subjected to surveillance and criminalization regardless of their actual behavior. Second, poverty, social exclusion, precarious residence and working conditions, and other forms of structural inequality can expose people more strongly to criminalized social and economic environments. These dynamics do not emerge in a historical vacuum. Particularly in the context of migration to Europe, we must consider that the long-term effects of colonial exploitation, global inequalities, and unequal access to resources. Neither being black nor migration produces criminality. Rather, these dynamics can create a cycle in which marginalization increases exposure to state control while criminalization further deepens that marginalization. One perspective often missing from this dialogue is the local level. This does not shift states' human rights obligations onto cities, but cities are often where abstract rights become concrete realities. through schools, healthcare, social services, and depending on the context, law enforcement. They are also close enough to communities to identify where trust is being lost or access to services remains unequal. A multi-level governance approach should therefore not only ask what cities can implement, but also what national and international policy can learn from existing local knowledge, practices, and relationships. This approach is particularly important in our current political climate. With a rise in racist rhetoric, political setbacks, and attacks on DEI, Black people cannot become projection surfaces for political debates about migration, crime, security, or wider social crises because these narratives do not remain abstract. When Blackness is repeatedly associated with danger, migration, or criminality, it affects institutional decision-making, and states should not participate in this kind of discursive shift. What we need is structural change. Concrete action plans, human rights based equality data, independent oversight, meaningful participation of black people in political decision making, equal access to public services, and sustained investment in the organizations and communities carrying this work for decades. Addressing anti-black racism must therefore be understood simultaneously as preventive, responsive, and reparative work. Transformative change requires more than responding to the next viral incident. Precisely because anti-Black racism has shaped social and institutional structures over centuries, efforts to address it cannot function solely in a reactive manner. We need lasting structures that protect the rights of Africans, people of African descent, and Black people at the international, national, regional, and local levels. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Ms. Barragan Gonzalez for her presentation.

Good afternoon and many thanks for having invited me to the Human Rights Council for this interactive dialogue. My name is Mari Luz Barragan and I am the Deputy Director of Dejusticia, a center for social and legal studies in Colombia, and I'm speaking as a member of civil society. I will be referring to the intersection between between drug policy and racism in America. Drug control does not fail in a random way, it fails in a structured way, and this structure can be seen in how the burdens and benefits are distributed. Burdens fall to certain units and certain specific territories. The benefits land elsewhere. Sometimes it works through vague norms and broad discretion, and sometimes through the decision as to where force will be applied. The impacts of law enforcement in urban environments are well known. For instance, in some countries where there are no objective criteria for distinguishing between a drug user and a drug trafficker, the mechanism has already expressed its concern about brutal police operations which have left dozens of dead in their wake and in some cases more than 100, most of them people of African descent. I would, however, today like to dwell on something that's not been as well documented, the impacts of the application of drug policies in rural environments. And for Colombia, this ties in with a serious human rights crisis. Due to pressure from countries that are home to cocaine markets, Colombia is being pushed to eradicate at all costs. We are the only country in the world that sprays chemical pesticides from the air on illicit crops. For 15 years, a national program sprayed around 2 million hectares with glyphosate, a substance which has been classified as probably carcinogenic by the International Agency on Research on Cancer. Caught up in this chemical war are rural populations, mostly indigenous peoples and people of African descent. This is not just a matter of history. My country has just authorised a pilot project for aerial spraying of glufosinate ammonium, a substance on which there is even less available evidence. The resolution that repealed the suspension of chemical sprays recognises itself that this repeal is not just, doesn't amount to an automatic resumption. The conditions set by a constitutional court for resumption, that is to say scientific evidence that the substance causes no harm to health, environmental safeguards and community participation, have not yet been publicly satisfied. We are aware of the very serious security situation in the region, but illicit crops are not just a matter of criminal policy and criminal law, it is a matter of rural development. This is where our concern is more urgent. Paragraph 38 of the report points out that redefining drug trafficking as terrorism will expand military deployments and anti-terrorist frameworks, with the result being an excessive use of force and the weakening of procedural guarantees. We know full well that drug trafficking and criminal groups pose serious security risks and have serious implications for human rights, and the Colombian state has the constitutional obligation to address these problems. Our objection here is of the legal realm. When drug trafficking is treated the same way as hostilities, nuances are lost and the person who is on the lowest rung stops being a rights holder and starts being a military target. And very often that person, according to the report, is likely to be a person of African descent or an indigenous person. I'd like to focus now on emerging approaches that are being piloted and which are worthy of attention. Colombia has created a form of alternatives to incarceration for women heads of households who have been convicted for minor drug offences. This does not have an ethnic or racial approach, and this is our point. The region has already proven that it knows how to identify a group that is disproportionately affected and to adapt the state response accordingly. that it has not done so with people of African descent is not a technical limitation, it is a political decision and political decisions can be reversed or reconsidered. We are asking two things. We ask the mechanism that in its follow-up to its visit, it include developments that have taken place since May, such as the resumption of aerial spraying and the reclassification of drug trafficking as terrorism. And we ask States that they provide disaggregated data, disaggregated ethnic and racial belonging of communities affected by anti-drug policies. For instance, it is important to know the ethnic and racial makeup of a territory before resuming aerial sprays. And of course, all this action needs to be embedded in human rights guarantees. Thank you.

Thank you. The list of speakers is now closed. In accordance with our practice, we will now hear from the delegation of the country concerned. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia. You have five minutes.

Thank you, Vice President. One of the first tasks of the government of the president who took a position in August was to provide a response to the visit report of the mechanism, which was sent on the 19th of September to the mechanism. The response recognizes the existence of challenges and highlights the commitment of the new government to promote and protect human rights, racial equality, the fight against all forms of discrimination, and guarantees of the rights of persons of African descent, as well as the ethnic communities of the country. At the same time, the president was committed that in the exercise of the sovereignty of the state and complying with the obligation to protect the population, to adopt measures to grapple with armed and criminal organizations who benefit from drug trafficking, extortion, abduction, illegal mining, smuggling, and other illicit economies affecting the safety and security of the people and the exercise of their rights. This reality affects several Afro-descendant communities, and thus the effective protection of their rights. requires professional security institutions which respect human rights and are able to guarantee the presence and authority of the state. Security and human rights are not opposite goals. All policies and measures that are adopted when it comes to security and the fight against illicit economies and transnational threats will be developed within the framework of the constitution, the law, and the rule of law. Colombia notes the information set out in the report. At the same time, we note with concern that there are some assessments set forth in the recent report as regards the announcements of policies and measures of the current government based on situations that were analyzed before it began. The mechanism visit took place in May 2026. Colombia believes it vital to draw a clear distinction between the findings found, the concerns that are preventive in nature, and assessments on effectively implemented policies. And these assessments are based on verifiable evidence and on specific outcomes. We acknowledge that manifestations of racism and racial discrimination continue, which require a sustained response on the part of the state and also within the law enforcement. However, security policies are not in and of themselves incompatible with racial equality or with international human rights obligations. The National Police has made significant strides forward in adopting a human rights-based approach. This is can be seen in the establishment of the CENEP, the Centre for Standards of the National Police, and the CEDE, the integrated human rights system. When it comes to public demonstration and social protest, the unit on dialogue and law enforcement was established. This was designed as a specialized body to afford protection during the right of assembly and demonstration. Colombia rejects any form of discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin and reaffirms that the actions of the national police must be governed by the principles of equality, human dignity, non-discrimination and respect for human rights. Thus, any new policy capacity or security operation must be assessed based on its legal framework, on institutional checks, its effective implementation and its outcomes, and not based on assumptions as to its possible effects. Turning now to temporary detention centres, Colombia recognises the existing structural challenges and must point out that these centres are exceptional and temporary in principle. Colombia is grateful for the fact that, as regards the situations, reports or cases mentioned in the report, that additional information could be shared with us, making it possible to identify, analyze and contrast these with available institutional registers, and, when necessary, to adopt the measures that are required. Colombia will study the recommendations in line with its constitutional system, the competencies of its institutions, and the specific circumstances of the country. We reaffirm our commitment to stamping out all forms of racial discrimination, to strengthening institutional accountability, to affording effectively the protection of human rights, and building trust-based relations between public institutions and communities who have historically been affected by racism and exclusion. We will continue to comply with human rights international obligations, and we will have a constructive dialogue with universal human rights mechanisms. At the same time, we will fully exercise our duty-bound responsibility to protect the population against armed groups, drug trafficking, and criminal organizations who threaten their rights, their security, and their freedom. Thank you very much.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Defensoria del Pueblo de Colombia for a video statement. You have three minutes.

UNICEF welcomes the reports of the High Commissioner and the expert mechanism.

I give the floor to Defensoria del Pueblo de Colombia. You have three minutes.

Clearly, their attention to the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by children of African descent.

Heightened.

I understand that they're playing the wrong video. So we will continue with the next, with the interactive dialogue and we'll come back to the video. I now invite interested delegations to put questions to the panellists and to make comments on their statements. Let me remind you that the speaking time is limited to one minute and 30 seconds for each intervention. So I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

The Nordic-Baltic countries thank the High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism for their reports and for their continued contribution to advance the full enjoyment of human rights of people of African descent worldwide, including in law enforcement. We remain firmly committed to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all their forms. We are concerned that structural inequalities, injustice and discrimination when it comes to law enforcement continue.

To affect people of African descent in many societies, including in our own.

In our view, lasting change will depend on a systemic approach across critical pillars of society. We welcome the High Commissioner's focus on legal and enforcement framework for racial justice and equality.

We also note the suggestions by the Independent Expert Mechanism and recognize.

The need to prioritize public health and harm reduction.

President, what measures do the High Commissioner and the Independent Expert Mechanism consider most effective for ensuring that racial justice and equality in law enforcement are translated into the concrete improvements?

Of the lives of people of African descent? I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The European Union welcomes the High Commission's report and its focus on transformative change for racial justice and equality for Africans and people of African descent. We take note of its findings on structural racism in law enforcement and criminal justice, and on the report's recognition of the EU anti-racism strategy as an initiative aimed at combating racism in all its forms. The EU also welcomes a report from EMR on systemic racism in the enforcement of drug laws and policies, and agrees with its focus on the need for law enforcement responses grounded in human rights, non-discrimination, objective decision-making and effective oversight. The European Union is addressing these challenges through its anti-racism strategy. It places particular emphasis on strengthening the enforcement of anti-discrimination law addressing and preventing discriminatory profiling and racial bias, improving the availability and use of equality data, and ensuring the meaningful participation of people of African descent and civil society in shaping policies that affect them. In parallel, the EU drug strategy promotes an evidence-based, balanced, multidisciplinary, and human rights-based approach. Together, these frameworks underline the EU's commitment to ensuring that efforts to address crimes are effective, rights-based and non-discriminatory. Esteemed panelists, what concrete policing reforms have proven effective in preventing racial profiling? And how can these reforms better incorporate an intersectional gender perspective? I thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the African Group.

Mr. Vice President, the Africa Group thanks the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for presenting the report. We particularly note the report's focus on the intersection of drug policy with grounds of discrimination, such as gender and race, that can increase the risk of human rights violations. It is concerning that across regions, punitive drug control frameworks have disproportionately impacted Africans and people of African descent, not because of higher rates of drug use or drug-related activity, but because of entrenched patterns of racial discrimination embedded in law, policy and practice. The Africa Group notes the observation of the mechanism that systematic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system is pervasive, deeply entrenched and reinforced at every stage, from initial policy contact to post-conviction procedures. The Group supports the view that contemporary drug control systems cannot be fully understood without reference to systemic root causes, which continue to reshape stereotypical for tralises and perceptions of criminality and notions of security and social control. In this regard, States must address the underlying socioeconomic conditions that contribute to vulnerability to drug involvement, including poverty, inequality, exclusion, lack of access to services, and historical marginalization. The full statement will be posted on the extranet. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. South Africa thanks the High Commissioner for this instructive report. We align with the Africa Group statement delivered by the colleagues from Kenya. My delegation welcomes the efforts by the High Commissioner in highlighting the links between systemic racism, drug policy and law enforcement, as well as the disproportionate.

Human rights impacts on racialized groups, particularly Africans and people of African descent. South Africa welcomes the examination in the report of the intersection of drug policy with other grounds of discrimination, such as gender, highlighting intersecting forms of discrimination which can increase the risk of human rights violations. South Africa supports the view that contemporary drug control systems cannot be fully understood without reference to systemic.

Root causes, which continue to shape stereotypical portrayals and perception of criminality and notions of security and social control.

South Africa's response is guided by the National Drug Master Plan, which promotes a balanced, integrated, and evidence-based approach to reducing both supply and demand of drugs, grounded in human rights and dignity. The plan recognizes the role of.

Poverty and inequality in shaping substance use and emphasizes the shift from punishment to care, including equitable access to health services for all people, including those in correctional facilities. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, the State of Palestine thanks the Deputy High Commissioner and the panel and expresses its full solidarity with Africans and people of African descent and their struggle against systematic racism, racial discrimination, and enduring legacies of colonialism. The report reminds us that racism is not only expressed through words or individual acts. It's reproduced through institutions, laws, policing, exclusion, and impunity. And it calls for confronting colonial legacies through accountability and reparatory justice. It also shows that consequences of racism are cumulative and structural, discriminatory policing, unequal access to justice, violence, exclusion from public life, attacks on human rights defenders, and the persistence of harmful stereotypes that can normalize further abuse. The Palestinian people know this reality painfully well. What we are facing is not discrimination in the abstract. It is a system that places Palestinian life under constant threat. continually uproots the Palestinian presence and denies basic rights and protections, a system whose most horrific manifestation is the genocide in Gaza, while ethnic cleansing, dispossession, and forced displacement continue across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Dehumanizing rhetoric and incitement against Palestinians have accompanied and enabled these policies, alongside racist tools of domination, including state-sponsored settler terrorism against the Palestinian communities. Our struggle is therefore inseparable from the global struggle against racism and colonial domination. Palestine stands with all people resisting racial hierarchy and dehumanization. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the University for Peace.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. On behalf of the University for Peace, I thank the Deputy High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism for their reports. This year's expert mechanism report is a sobering reminder that the so-called war on drugs has never been racially neutral. From its colonial roots to today's militarized enforcement, it continues to entrench profiling, over-incarceration, and violence against Africans and people of African descent. At the same time, the High Commissioner's report documents troubling rollbacks in racial equality commitments in several states, even as other states move forward with promising rights-based reforms. The University for Peace believes these findings point to a shared root cause. Durable change requires not only accountability after harm occurs, but prevention through education. It requires the training of law enforcement, justice officials, and future peace builders in non-punitive, human rights-based approaches from the outset. We therefore urge States to fully implement the expert mechanisms recommendations, to invest in disaggregated data collection, and to resist the rollback of institutions built to protect racial equality. We thank the panelists for their statements and look forward to their guidance on translating today's dialogue into lasting and victim-centered change. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Brazil thanks the High Commissioner and the expert mechanism to advance racial justice for their reports. We agree that racial discrimination in drug policy enforcement is a manifestation of systemic and structural racism that places people of African descent as a persistent at a persistent disadvantage, reinforcing patterns of vulnerability. The Brazilian government is taking decisive action to address this issue through a coordinated approach aimed at embedding a racial equality perspective across all sectors. Key initiatives include the Living Black Youth Plan, which targets a reduction of little violence and structural racism, and Pronaci Youth, which works to prevent violence associated with illicit drug markets among black and marginalized youth in vulnerable territories. We also support the High Commissioner's call for global reform to address historical exclusions. Contemporary reparations must tackle ongoing harms rooted in historical legacies, which disproportionately affects young people of African descent and marginalized communities. We must actively guarantee the conditions for black youth to live with dignity, pursue education, move safely, and participate meaningfully in decision-making processes. I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Mr. Vice President, racism has no place in Indonesia. Our history, including under colonial rule, shows us how race-based segregation and division breed hatred and threaten national unity. Since 2008, discrimination based on race and ethnicity has been formally prohibited and continues to be reinforced by our new criminal code.

This further solidified our commitment to non-discrimination and equal treatment as enshrined in our constitution and ratification of the CERD.

Contrary to what the expert mechanism suggests, Indonesia stands on the principle that everyone is equal before the law. Our criminal justice system applies to all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion, and to every offense within our.

Jurisdiction, whether drug trafficking, terrorism, or illicit financial activity. Enforcement follows the conduct, not the identity of the accused. We will keep strengthening this principle through rigorous law enforcement, institutional oversight, and accountability mechanisms, including against arbitrary profiling and disproportionate treatment. At the same time, we will urge the expert mechanism to exercise greater caution against inaccurate reporting and generalization, particularly where the claim underlying data dates back to 10 years ago. Indonesia takes note of the reports and remains committed to constructive dialogue with the High Commissioner and the expert mechanism. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, the Council of Europe expresses its appreciation for the work of the Independent Expert Mechanism and underlines the excellent cooperation with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, ECRi. Recent exchange between ECRi, the chairperson of the mechanism and other UN bodies on issues related to preventing and combating racial profiling and other forms of racial discrimination in policing is a good example. Police and prosecution services play key role in advancing racial justice and equality. They address bias, prejudice and structural discrimination within their entities and develop regular dialogue with victims. Preventive and educational policies and disciplinary measures are essential for identification and effective response to any biased behavior on the part of law enforcement. The Council of Europe is currently developing a manual on effective investigation and prosecution of criminalized hate speech. Police officers and prosecutors are closely involved in the drafting process for this manual, which is planned to be issued next year. We stand ready to continue our cooperation with respective UN bodies and mechanisms to advance racial justice and equality. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Gambia thanks the Deputy High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism for their updates and for highlighting the discriminatory impact that the enforcement of drug laws and policies can have on Africans and people of African descent. We are concerned by findings that racial stereotypes may influence who is stopped, searched, arrested, or detained, and that Africans and people of African descent may be associated with criminality because of their race, nationality, or migratory background. Law enforcement must always be based on individual conduct and evidence, and must respect the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination. At the same time, prevention must begin much earlier. Fear and prejudice often grow from unfamiliarity. States should therefore create opportunities, particularly for children and young people of different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, to learn together and understand one another. education, sport, community programs, and cultural exchanges can help challenge stereotypes before they become entrenched and reflected in institutional behavior. Addressing racial profiling, therefore, requires accountability when discrimination occurs, but also long-term investment in societies where difference is understood and equal human dignity is respected. And I thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of India.

Mr. Vice President, India thanks the Expert Mechanism and the High Commissioner.

For their reports on advancing racial justice and equality in law enforcement and takes note of their findings and recommendations.

Law enforcement responses to drug-related offenses must be non-discriminatory, evidence-based, and firmly anchored in due process and the rule of law. India reiterates its long-standing and principled stand that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are fundamentally incompatible.

With full enjoyment of human rights by all.

Our Constitution upholds equality as a core value and unequivocally prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race.

India supports concrete, nationally led and internationally coordinated efforts towards the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as we mark the 25th anniversary of its adoption. India strongly supported and voted in favour of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 80/26. 250 adopted in March.

This year, which officially recognized the trafficking and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

India remains committed to the principle of equality, human dignity, and non-discrimination that underpins international fight against racism.

I thank you.

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

Vice President. China takes note of the reports of the High Commissioner and the expert mechanism and expresses deep sympathy and regret regarding the systematic racism faced by Africans and people of African descent in the implementation of drug laws and policies. We're deeply concerned with the situation in the U.S., U.K., France, Sweden, Netherlands, and Canada, where systematic racism and discriminations still exist. Minority groups such as people of African descent, Asians, Muslims, and indigenous people are subject to unreasonable searches, excessive sentencing, discrimination, violence in prisons and other unjust treatment in law enforcement with the rights seriously violated. Certain countries cling to a colonial and hegemonic mindset. Instead of squarely facing their own problems, they use human rights as a pretext to smear and tarnish other countries, attempting to divert the international attention away from their own human rights situations. Such acts run counter to the international efforts to eliminate racial discrimination and to protect human rights. China urges relevant countries to scrutinize and reform the discriminatory laws, practices, and policies, and more importantly, profoundly reform the law enforcement and judicial systems, thoroughly investigate the violence cases, hold accountable the responsible for injustice, and provide reparation to the victims. I thank you, Vice President.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Belgium aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the High Commissioner and the members of EMRLER for their reports. Belgium is concerned by the persistence and resurgence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance worldwide. We remain firmly committed to combating racism, both at home and internationally. In this regard, we reiterate our call on all States to ratify without reservations the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which remains a cornerstone of the international framework against racism. The fight against racism remains a priority for Belgium. We recognize that this requires sustained efforts across society, including within law enforcement institutions. Belgium is currently developing an ambitious inter-federal action plan against racism, discrimination and intolerance, complementing existing initiatives at different levels of power. We also continue our efforts to prevent and address racial discrimination within our police services through training on human rights, diversity and non-discrimination, as well as via the work of independent oversight and complaints mechanisms aimed at ensuring accountability, transparency and public trust. Finally, Belgium remains fully committed to combating all forms of racism and discrimination and to promoting strong, inclusive societies. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of UNICEF for a video statement.

UNICEF welcomes the reports of the High Commissioner and the expert mechanism.

Particularly their attention to the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by children of African descent.

UNICEF echoes the mechanisms findings on the impacts of punitive.

Drug policies on black children, including heightened exposure to racial profiling, excessive use of force by law enforcement and criminalization.

These harms stemming from the lasting legacies of enslavement and colonialism can extend beyond direct.

Contact with the justice system, affecting children's education, access to social services and future opportunities.

The 2026 UNICEF PAHO report documented over 53,000 child and adolescent homicide.

Victims between 2015 and 2022 in the Latin America and Caribbean region, home to large Afro-descendant populations.

Children have a right to be protected from.

Violence, while policing itself must respect children's rights and refrain from racial discrimination.

Consequently, our work to strengthen child protection systems, systematically train police, and ensure children's access to justice continues.

We echo the High.

Commissioner's call to end impunity for human rights violations by law enforcement officials, strengthen accountability, and dismantle systemic racism in all its forms.

For children, transformative change for racial justice and equality also requires access to child-friendly justice systems that uphold their rights and place non-discrimination at the core while ensuring their voices are heard and acted upon.

UNICEF stands ready to support.

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

Vice President, the Togolese delegation thanks the High Commissioner and the Mechanism of Independent Experts for their respective reports on human rights and the fundamental freedoms of Africans and persons of African descent. We note the good practices highlighted in these reports on measures to combat manifestations of systemic racism, within the context of law enforcement, the accountability of perpetrators of violations and reparation for victims. Togo also notes with concern the backsliding in the search for equality and racial justice. And we agree with the High Commissioner who calls upon States to undergo a paradigm shift and deliberate investment so as to eliminate stereotypes and racial prejudices through education, repression and social justice, and this following the spirit of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. For its part, my country will continue its advocacy in this regard and would call for pooling of efforts, enabling us to attain the goals of the Second International Decade of Persons of African Descent, 2025-2034. Thank you.

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

Senor Vice President. In the world, racist rhetoric and discriminatory rhetoric is on the rise in the media and through political figures, particularly in developed countries. It's also of concern to see the weakening of legislative frameworks to protect diversity, equity and inclusion. States must comply with their obligations to eliminate racial discrimination against Africans and persons of African descent. Cuba maintains a principled position against all forms of racism and racial discrimination. Our Constitution identifies human dignity as the supreme principle and protects from racism. We have a law which has the participation of civil society organizations and others. We have implemented the vast majority of recommendations of the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Cuba accepted all of the recommendations on racial topics and is committed to implement them. Our country co-sponsors four of the resolutions of the African group presented under agenda item 9. Of course, we face challenges. We need to be able to fine-tune our statistics and information systems. We will continue to improve our policies against discrimination. We support the appeal of the High Commissioner for a global reform, which will contribute to rectifying historical exclusions. Also, Cuba advocates for the adoption of a United Nations declaration on the full respect of the human rights of Africa-descendant people. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice-President, we welcome the holding of the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue and we take note of the reports submitted. We express our concern regarding the forms of racial discrimination, racial profiling and the excessive and disproportionate use of force against Africans and those of African descent, as well as the challenges regarding accountability and effective reparation for the victims. We reaffirm the importance of abiding in the law enforcement organs by the principle of non-discrimination. We are also concerned regarding the abuse of modern technology in the context of law enforcement in a manner that could enhance bias and racial discrimination. We stress the importance of combating all forms of racism in the criminal justice system and enhance programs of training and capacity building for law enforcement officers in order to promote and protect human rights for all without discrimination. We stress the importance of the need to fully and effectively implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as it is the comprehensive international law to fight discrimination and racism. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ethiopia welcomes the report of the High Commissioner on the transformative change of racial justice and equality. Ethiopia attaches profound importance to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without discrimination. We remain concerned by persistent systemic racism, racial discrimination, extensive use of force, racial profiling and restrictive on civil space affecting African and people of African descent. Meaningful progress requires moving beyond commitments toward these concrete and measurable actions.

These include.

Ensuring effective remedies and repatriation for victims, improving disaggregated data, and guaranteeing the meaningful participation of people of African descent in decisions affecting their rights and dignity. The report attaches particular importance to confronting the enduring consequences of racism, the enslavement the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. We support constructive international efforts toward this recognition, justice, and development, coexistence with the second International Decade for People of African Descent. In closing, Ethiopia calls for strengthened international solidarity and genuine partnership in advancing racial justice and equality. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. Understand they're absent. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Understand they're absent. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon.

Thank you, Vice President. Cameroon would like to associate itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African group and thanks the High Commissioner and the Mechanism of Independent Experts for their reports. Mali delegation remains concerned by the fact that racial profiling is still ongoing, as well as the excessive use of force and disproportionate effects of certain criminal justice and drugs policy practices on Africans and persons of African descent. We attach major importance to responsibility, effective remedies and the participation of concerned communities. To provide a lasting response to racism, Cameroon believes that it is vital to address the historic and structural causes, particularly the consequences of slavery and colonialism, whilst ensuring that restorative justice is done. With respect to drugs policies, any reform must uphold human rights, be based on evidence, and must take account of legal contexts and national security contexts. Experts, in your view, What type of international cooperation would make it possible to effectively prevent racial profiling and excessive use of force, whilst at the same time maintaining an effective fight against the illicit trafficking of drugs? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group, and I thank the Deputy High Commissioner for the important update. We reaffirm our commitment to equality and non-discrimination, human dignity, and the protection of human rights for all, including Africans and people of African descent. Tanzania recognizes the continuing challenges of racial discrimination, systematic inequalities, and historical legacies, and emphasize that meaningful participation of affected communities is essential. We support African solidarity and international cooperation alongside human rights education, inclusive institutions, access to justice, protection of civic space and participation in decision making, including for women, children and persons with disabilities. In the context of drug control systems, we emphasize that law enforcement must be lawful, proportionate, non-discriminatory, with equality, access to justice and accountability. The United Republic of Tanzania supports continued international cooperation towards human rights-based, public health-oriented, and evidence-informed approaches, while respecting national circumstances and legal frameworks that support constructive discussions towards an international declaration on the promotion, protection, and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. My delegation thanks the panelists and International Independent Expert Mechanism for its important report on systematic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the enforcement of drug laws and policies. We also value the mechanisms, bilateral and multilateral efforts aimed at combating and ultimately eradicating racism and racial discrimination against African and people of African descent. Iran welcomes the report's recognition that racial discrimination in drug control has deep historical and structural roots, including in the legacies of colonialism and enslavement. These legacies continue to influence law enforcement policies and practices in many parts of the world and require sustained attention and effective remedies. Iran strongly condemns Afro-phobia and all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including against Muslims and indigenous people. In this regard, the tragic and unforgettable death of George Floyd in the United States highlighted continuing concerns surrounding racial discrimination, excessive use of force, and unequal treatment in law enforcement underscoring the need for effective accountability and structural reforms to prevent recurrence such discriminatory structures and practices must be dismantled their adverse human rights consequences addressed and effective reparation and remedies provided to victims I thank you Mr. Vice President.

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

Thank you Mr. President We affirm that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance are not isolated violations. Together, they constitute a denial of the purposes of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and directly undermine the principles of equality and non-discrimination, which are cornerstones of international human rights law. In this context, we express our reservations to the mentioning of a discrimination-based policy against migrants in our country in the High Commissioner's report. My delegation affirms that Libyan law enforcement applies equally to all, pursuant to the residency law and the national laws regulating the entry and departure of foreigners. It also affirms that work is underway to promote safe migration pathways through official, regular platforms launched by the Libyan authorities, in order to prevent migrants from falling into the hands of human traffickers and to ensure lawful entry in accordance with the requirements of the Libyan labour market. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Durban Declaration and the Programme of Action remain a firm framework for joint efforts, emphasizing the collective responsibility in combating racism that requires addressing its root causes, rejecting hate speech, raising awareness and supporting international cooperation to ensure human rights for all. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. And that was the last speaker on my list. We now move to the list of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. And I give the floor to the representative of Defensoria del Pueblo, the Colombia concerned country intervention by video.

The Ombudsman's Office of Colombia accompanied the visit of the International Mechanism of Experts for Justice and Racial equality. This was a visit in which it set out the key findings documented on discrimination and racism against the black Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquera people. The conclusion is clear. In Colombia, structural systemic racism persists, and it is not expressed in isolated events, but rather it permeates the way in which the state carries out its functions. It monitors, investigates, judges, records and provides reparations for violations affecting the ethnic peoples and this population. One of the findings that we are most concerned about is racial profiling. This pattern is seen in the excessive use of force against young persons of African descent and in subpoenas and transfers which are applied in a discriminatory fashion. In rural areas, the situation is even more serious. Entire communities face extreme violence by armed groups, whilst the state is almost not present. We also find something which seems to be technical, but it is not. We don't know how many persons of African descent are deprived of their liberty in our country. And this happens because, generally speaking, in Colombia, this population needs to be properly accounted for. The lessons learned are combating systemic racism based on human rights. We need to strengthen initiatives of recognition, truth about the consequences of enslavement. We must eliminate and prohibit racial profiling and define it in our legislation and in police protocols. We must ensure that the public, law enforcement and legal practitioners are trained with an ethnic-racial approach, which would incorporate human rights protection standards of ethnic peoples and Afro-descended communities. in the Ombudsman's office, we shoulder our commitments. We are going to continue to support and to follow up so that these recommendations are not simply empty words, because racial justice is not a favor, it is a right and a duty. And above all, it is the guarantee of a good future for persons and Afro-descendant peoples of Colombia.

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

Mr. President, We welcome the report and its important analysis of systemic racism in the enforcement of drug laws and policies. The report shows that racial profiling is often reinforced by stereotypes associating Africans and people of African descent with criminality and drug activity. Such assumptions can influence who is stopped, searched, arrested and subjected to force. Legal safeguards, oversight and accountability are essential. However, discrimination does not begin only when a law is broken. It can begin earlier, in the attitudes and perceptions through which individuals and communities are viewed. For this reason, law enforcement institutions should not only prohibit racial profiling, but also promote positive programs that make officers familiar and comfortable with the diversity of the communities they serve. Affected communities should participate meaningfully in shaping these programs and institutional practices.

The Sikh Human Rights Group therefore reiterates its proposal for a declaration on diversity, complementing legal protections.

With preventative policies aimed at changing attitudes, reducing prejudice, and building institutions in which diversity is understood as normal, positive, and enriching. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Skills International Board. Understand they're absent. I give the floor to International Service for Human Rights.

Thank you, Vice President. This is a joint statement. UNAC welcomes the report submitted by EMLA and the High Commissioner. Today, we demand justice for Dono Balanta. an African-Colombian who died on 20 September in police custody after being hit and given electric charges. His case is not an isolated one. As documented by AMBRE, the Colombian police use racial profiling against persons of African descent, who are detained, searched and fined as a social monitoring mechanism, despite the fact that illicit drug consumption has very similar rates The law enforcement focus disproportionately on persons of African descent at all stages of criminal proceedings have less access to harm reduction treatment. The report of the High Commissioner denounces the mistreatment of persons of African descent, we urge States to protect them and to create solutions with the participation of Afro-descendant communities. We would ask the Colombian State, what specific measures will you adopt to prohibit, record and sanction racial profiling and provide reparations to persons affected? And to all States, we would ask, how will you move towards drugs policies based on harm reduction, human rights, ethno-racial approach and the effective inclusion of persons of African descent.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of American Civil Liberties Union.

We thank EMILAR for their recent report and important work to advance racial justice and promote.

The rights of people of African descent.

The ACLU would like to uplift the troubling issue of a series of suspicious deaths of black.

People in the United States.

This issue is highlighted in the Legal Defense Fund's August 24th letter to the Special Rapporteur on Racism and EMR.

According to LDF and the Southern Poverty Law Center, over the past.

Decade, an alarming number of Black people have been found dead, hanging or drowned, without sufficient investigations of their cause of death, including at.

Least six in just the last year, especially in Southern states that have a dark history of racialized lynchings.

Local law enforcement that investigate these deaths have a long history of racial bias and violence. Medical examiners responsible for determining the cause of death often do not take the necessary time and attention to make informed and accurate conclusions.

The current U.S.

Federal government shows no concern about these.

Deaths and actively promotes anti-Black racial animus and a revisionist history that denies American racism.

The United States is failing to meet its human rights obligations to fully and independently investigate unlawful deaths.

We urge EMILAR to conduct thorough, impartial, transparent, and effective investigations of these killings.

And other human rights violations, particularly given the troubling history of lynchings and racial bias in the United States. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Harm Reduction International.

Harm Reduction International and the consignatories welcome the report of the expert mechanism, which highlights that racial discrimination in drug policy is not accidental. It is rooted in colonial legacies, the racialization of sustan and drug use, and the global expansion of prohibitionism and militarization. The so-called war on drugs has failed to deliver sustained reduction in drug markets or consumption. Instead, it has fueled excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, overcrowded prisons, death sentences, and executions, and barriers to healthcare and social services, with particularly severe consequences on marginalized communities. Across regions, African and people of African descent, particularly women, are disproportionately stopped, searched, arrested, detained, and imprisoned. They are also disproportionately sentenced and executed for drug-related offenses. Punitive drug control is not inevitable, but a policy choice. A state must advance harm reduction and alternative to incarceration while reviewing and reforming policies and laws that perpetuate racial discrimination and stigma and inequality. We call on a state to urgently divest from punitive approaches to drug control and invest in social justice, including by decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal use and implementing comprehensive, voluntary, and non-discriminatory harm reduction services. We call for the end of abolish mandatory minimum sentence and the death penalty, and provide legal aid and effective remedies. We finally call on the Council to adopt a new resolution on drug policy. We thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of IDPC Consortium, intervention by video.

Statement on behalf of IDPC and three other organizations. We welcome MLAs new report on systemic racism in drug law enforcement and the recognition that it is systemic and rooted in the legacies of colonialism, enslavement, racially discriminatory policies and systems, and the globalization of punitive drug control. Historically, criminalizing substances like opium, cannabis, coca, and cocaine has been a tool for social and racial control over city communities, including Black and populations and indigenous people. These racialized and colonial laws were then exported worldwide, producing discriminatory enforcement patterns, from over-policing to mass incarceration and extrajudicial killings that persist today. While UN drug control bodies in Vienna have remained silent on this issue, the Human Rights Council and EMRLA have been instrumental in putting it on the political agenda. We call on EMRLA to, first, Press member states to publish drug policy data disaggregated by race and end discriminatory practices in drug law enforcement. Second, press the independent panel of experts established to review the drug control systems to address this critical issue. And third, we urge both EMMLA and the Council to continue to document the racialized impact of punitive drug control, including a new Council resolution dedicated to drug policy.

Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Peace Brigade International.

Thank you, Vice President. The historical conflict of land faced by the Garifuna community in Honduras has been made acute this year with legislative reforms that have favoured evictions. On the 6th of July, there was a violent eviction in the San Juan Tela community and five persons who were from the African descent community were accused of illegal squatting. As a response, in August, an organization set up camp opposite the Supreme Court of Justice. The Garifuna people is requesting the release of the detainees. the closing of the criminal case, and compliance with the sentences of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which recognizes the rights of the people to their ancestral territory. The similar event took place in Cayos Cochinos, where a Garifuna community denounced the recording of a Spanish TV program. within the context of evictions. As pointed out by CERD in the concluding observations in August, these events are not isolated. The Garifuna community faces a pattern of structural racism, criminalization and defamation which jeopardizes their safety. We request that these recommendations are followed up on and to urge the Honduran state to step up its efforts and to comply with the rulings of the Inter-American Court. And ensure that the Afro-indigenous communities have protection from forced evictions. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Association Caritative. Absent. I give the floor to the representative of ROSAM Human Development Center. Absent. I give the floor to the representative of International Presentation Association, intervention by video.

The International Presentation Association, inspired by the vision of Venerable Nano Nagel, works to advance the well-being of women and children, indigenous and tribal peoples, and the earth through grassroots action and global advocacy. The report of the International Independent Expert Mechanism shows that racism in drug laws and policies is connected to historical and structural inequalities, including the legacies of colonialism. Historically, drug laws were often shaped not only by the effects of substances, but also by the association with particular racialized communities. Today, punitive drug laws continue to have a disproportionate impact on Africans and people of African descent. This discrimination is especially visible in policing, where Black people are more likely to be stopped, searched, and criminalized. These inequalities are even greater for women and girls, migrants, children and young people, people living in poverty, and other marginalized communities. Women of African descent are particularly affected by the criminalization of low-level and nonviolent drug offenses. We therefore.

Call on Member States to reduce reliance on incarceration and expand alternatives such as diversion programs and community-based interventions.

That support rehabilitation and reintegration. We also call for fair access to community-based healthcare for marginalized communities, including people of African descent. This should include prevention, harm reduction, voluntary treatment, mental health, and recovery services. These services must protect the dignity, autonomy, and informed consent of every person.

Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker we are able to accommodate during this debate. We are granted a few additional time to conclude this enhanced interactive dialogue. So I now give the floor to the panelists for their concluding remarks. kindly ask them to advance to allocate to remain in the allocated time. You have three minutes each. I give the floor to Ms. Barragan Gonzalez. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Vice President. I'd like to wrap up my intervention with three ideas. Firstly, we know that this is a complex topic, and we don't want to simplify it. Drug trafficking and criminal groups do create serious security risks, and they have produced a terrible human rights crisis in our countries. States have an obligation to tackle this, but the state's response cannot worsen this very crisis for people of African descent. And that is the risk of a framework of drug terrorism that favors the military response almost exclusively without also taking the presence of the state seriously through social policies and policies of rural development. The second is that there is a constitutional duty to tackle crime, but that is not incompatible with human rights standards. Anti-drug policies must safeguard the right to health, environmental conservation, the right to food, and meaningful participation by communities. And this is not an impediment for the state. It is a condition for making their drug action policy and activities legitimate. And we're not alone in saying this. In our case, the Colombian Constitutional Court has said it, and EMLE also recalled this during their visit in May. Thirdly, none of this is corrected without an ethnoracial approach. Today, states either don't know or don't own up to who the collateral damage falls on with these policies. And without knowing that, there can be no diagnosis. And without diagnosis, there can be no redesigning of policies. The fact that there isn't such an approach is not a technical limitation, it's a decision. And decisions can be changed. So we ask states to review these policies and measures now while they're still taking shape and not in five years time when we'll be taking stock of the damage caused. I'd like to be quite emphatic here, we are not asking for less security or for states to give up control over illegal markets or to let them run wild, but we are asking for anti-drug policies to factor in human rights as well as security and this will avoid having and that approach has to be integrated in a decisive way the human rights approach and that means that we can avoid the security mandate from being built at the cost of those who are most in need of it thank you.

Thank you I give the floor to Mr. kamufingo you have the floor 3 minutes.

Thank you Mr. Vice President and thank you for all the interventions The points and nuances of a lot of what we have heard today highlight one thing I continue to consider distinctly important. Systemic racism means that we are not looking at one institution or issue in isolation, but at patterns that can run through different institutions and different areas of life. The lesson should not only be that policing needs reform, while law enforcement can also be understood as an indicator here. So I can't stress enough, racial justice needs us to look at the conditions surrounding, for example, the encounters with law enforcement. So access to housing, education, employment, health, social protection, and political participation, as all these things relate to one another. We also heard disaggregated data keeps being mentioned. And despite its importance, I think it's also important to stress that Europe, as well as other places in the world, do not need to wait until every data gap has been closed before taking action here. We already have substantial evidence of structural inequalities, and at the same time, better equality data is essential to identify patterns, to establish accountability, and also to measure whether policies are actually working. At the same time, there is an opportunity now with the before mentioned new EU anti-racism strategy and other initiatives, but also simply with people being desperate to feel protected and cared for in times like this. The many tragedies and incidents that have shaken the world should have taught us to care about people right now and not later. If transformative change is our aim, progress cannot be measured only by how institutions respond after a violation. It also must be measured by whether those institutions are becoming better at preventing unequal outcomes in the first place and are willing to examine how their own structures, practices, and cultures may reproduce it then. Africans and people of African descent should not only be consulted after policies have already been designed. Their knowledge and lived experiences need to shape priorities, implementation, and evaluation. And on top of that, I continue to advocate that if we are serious about systemic racism, we need systemic governance. That includes that institutions should not only respond to discrimination, but be willing, like I said, to examine how their own structures, practices, and cultures may reproduce it, and to collaborate more constructively across different levels of governance and with civil society. Thank you.

Thank you. Miss Kissi, you have the floor.

Thank you, Vice President. I want to make sure that we reiterate through EMLAR that those of you who have submitted questions and who have lived questions during the interactive, we'll be responding to those in writing. And we think it's important to continue the conversation that we have. I also want to reiterate again, thank you to those of you who have hosted us on those country visits and have taken our recommendations seriously and are moving forward with that. I also want to identify, too, that we had, I believe it was the ACLU mentioned that the Legal Defense Fund, an organization that is in the United States, has lifted the issue of deaths by lynching. I want to thank them for their interaction with EMLER and for our conversation and we look forward to moving forward on determining how we can assist you with this work. I also like to remind folks that EMLER is not an investigative body. We do have investigative bodies that can assist with issues such as this, but we recognize that because of the history and because of the interactions with law enforcement in that history, that there is also a need for a conversation. So again, Thank you to all who have been here today and for you sharing all of your, not just your compliments, but your comments. And the panelists here, we are very much in coordination. And thank you for your work on these issues.

Thank you. Ms. Awadabo, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thank you, of course, to the delegation and civil society representatives for the very useful remarks. And thank you to Dr. Tracy Keesey, as well as to Ms. Barragan-Gonzalez and Mr. Kamufingo for your very useful, very important interventions. Five years ago, this Council took concrete steps to strengthen the response to the systemic racism faced by people of African descent. Today, the governments the world over are at a critical juncture to either stand by while progress is questioned and delayed or even reversed, or to stand up for racial justice and equality. The International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, together with the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, the High Commissioner's agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality, and the recommendations of EMR and other UN anti-racism human rights mechanisms set out key actions that are needed to bring about tangible change in the lives of people of African descent. In terms of law enforcement, an area raised by a number of delegations today, these include reimagining policing and the criminal justice system by supporting and implementing community-driven models for dignity and collective safety, that protect and serve all members of communities without discrimination. What is needed are reforms to restrict the use of force and to prohibit racial profiling. We also need to collect and publish data, disaggregated by victims' race or ethnic origin, on interactions with law enforcement. What also remains are concrete measures by states, fully implementing their international human rights law obligations. developed and implemented with the meaningful participation of people of African descent. Our office stands ready to continue supporting States to advance racial justice and equality. We also remain steadfast in our support to ensuring that civil society organizations, who are at the forefront of this crucial work, can continue to contribute safely and in all of their diversity. Thank you.

Thank you. And this brings us to the end of this enhanced interactive dialogue. I would like to thank the Deputy High Commissioner and all the panelists for their participation. Excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of this meeting. We will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to have the dignitary address by His Excellency, Mr. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and to hold the general debate under item 8, followed by the interactive dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. Let me take this opportunity to appreciate, to thank the interpreters for their flexibility. I hereby close the 32nd meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council.