33rd Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council

Pour aider à transmettre les messages de manière précise et complète, les orateurs sont cordialement.

Invités à ne pas parler trop vite.

Speakers are kindly reminded to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to ensure complete and quality interpretation.

Il est rappelé aux orateurs qu'ils doivent présenter leurs déclarations à un rythme raisonnable afin de garantir une interprétation complète et de qualité.

Se ruega a.

Los oradores que pronuncien sus declaraciones a un ritmo razonable para garantizar una interpretación íntegra y de calidad. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I hereby declare open the 33rd meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. And first, I have the absolute honor to give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Sjoerd Schurman, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Excellency, you have the floor.

Very much. And my friends, drones striking a maternity ward in Sudan, Lebanese aid workers and journalists being killed in Nabatieh in Lebanon, too little humanitarian aid being allowed into Gaza. The way war is being waged today is appalling, and civilians and aid workers are paying the price. The very instruments of peace that we have at our disposal are being neglected, being ignored, or even openly mocked, and we must restore respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. We must ensure the protection of civilians affected by conflict, and we must ensure the safety of aid workers, journalists, and human rights defenders. Because we must act humanely, and we must protect humanity, always, and especially in times of war. Now, I'm here today as the Minister of Trade and Development, and I'm here because No development without human rights and no human rights without development. That means we have to defend all human rights. The right to food, to water, to housing. The right to express yourself. Equal rights for women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people. The freedom to choose your own religion or belief. Human rights, we believe, the Netherlands believes, are the foundation of our freedom and our prosperity. and of our shared humanity, which we, States, NGOs, survivors and aid workers protect here in the Human Rights Council. And that's also why we strongly support the High Commissioner's Global Alliance for Human Rights, and we encourage others to join. Let us also recall the commitments in the Pact for the Future to ensure adequate, predictable, increased and sustainable financing for human rights. Human rights programs are seriously underfunded, also at the UN, where they are an essential part of the mission, and to this end, The Netherlands is increasing both its financial support to human rights and humanitarian budgets, and we hope this might inspire all of you. Secondly, we must collect the evidence of violations. In Lebanon, I met aid workers who were concerned about falling victim to double-tap strikes while they tend to those in need. And one of the Red Cross workers told me, "The very emblem on our vest that used to protect us now paints us as a target." The same holds true for journalists, and these violations are unacceptable and they happen far too often. The Netherlands will therefore contribute an additional 2.5 million euros to the efforts of the Human Rights Office to investigate human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including against aid workers. As we speak, negotiations are ongoing to renew the mandate of the UN's fact-finding mission for Sudan, and I call upon all members of this Council to support this renewal so the mission can continue its vital work. But evidence alone is not enough. Collecting evidence without imposing consequences is adding insult to injury to victims. So thirdly, And finally, we must use this evidence to ensure accountability, to pursue prosecutions, to ensure crimes committed during conflicts do not go unpunished. We need to support international courts and tribunals, including and especially the International Court. We must strengthen cooperation between states in investigating and prosecuting international crimes, and this requires a solid framework for cooperation and the exchange of evidence, and we've established this through the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention. We will support its secretariat, and we call upon countries to ratify the treaty so that we can move decisively from gathering evidence to prosecution. As our term on this Council comes to an end, I can assure you that human rights and the protection of civilians in armed conflict will remain key priorities for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We hope to serve again on this Council in 2029. Madam Vice-President, speaking in this Council in Geneva can perhaps feel far removed from those affected on the ground, people in Gaza, in Sudan, in Lebanon, in Ukraine and elsewhere. Still, those whose rights have been violated are counting on everyone here in this room. They are relying on us to defend the human rights that protect them. And we must act, because actions speak louder than words. We simply cannot sit back and allow norms and laws to die in silence. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Excellency. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we will now begin the general debate on the agenda item 8. And let me remind you that requests for eventual right of reply will be accommodated exclusively at the end of the general debate. I would also remind all speakers to comply to the allocated speaking time, which is one minute and a half for all. As is the practice, full statements can be uploaded on the portal. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes, and we will start with a list of members of the Council. And first, I have the honour to give the floor to Bangladesh on behalf of a group of countries.

Madam Vice President, I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of a group of like-minded countries. We reaffirm our commitment to the VDPA as a landmark consensus and cornerstone of the international human rights framework. We reiterate that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated, and must be treated in a fair and equal manner on the same footing and with the same emphasis. Madam Vice President, we underscore the importance of international cooperation, constructive dialogue, mutual respect and non-selectivity in advancing human rights. The promotion and protection of human rights must be pursued in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. We further emphasize that civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, are mutually reinforcing. The realization of the right to development requires strengthened international cooperation and a more equitable international economic environment. We also underline the importance of technical assistance and capacity building responsive to the needs and priorities of states concerned in translating international commitments into tangible improvements in people's lives. Finally, we call for renewed commitment to the full implementation of the VDPA through genuine multilateralism, international solidarity and constructive engagement. I thank you.

I thank you. The next speaker is Pakistan on behalf of Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Pakistan is absent. So next I give the floor to European Union on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom align themselves. The VDPA remains a cornerstone of the international human rights framework. Its affirmation that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated is not an abstract principle. It is a commitment that must guide us, especially when human rights come under pressure. Across regions, we see fundamental freedoms restricted, civic space shrinking, human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society actors threatened or silenced. Discrimination and inequalities persist. Accountability for serious violations too often remains elusive. Established human rights norms and institutions are increasingly questioned, weakened, or selectively applied. We are also confronted with profound transformations whose consequences for human rights demand effective human rights-based responses. In this environment, the principles of the VDPA cannot be taken for granted. Universality must not become negotiable, nor human rights subordinated to political expediencies, security considerations, or assertions of cultural particularity. The EU remains firmly committed to a strong and independent international human rights system. The HRC must be able to address violations wherever they occur, uphold accountability, protect those who engage with it, and preserve meaningful space for civil society. The promise of Vienna remains unfinished. Our task is not only to restate its principles, but to ensure their full and effective realisation in practice. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Venezuela, on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Vice-President. We make this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. The Group of Friends reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. We attach the utmost importance to the promotion and protection of all human rights. They are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. And we believe that their promotion and protection is strengthened on the basis of dialogue and cooperation. in taking into account all of the principles and obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, including the right to refrain from intervening in matters that are essentially within the jurisdiction of states. The Group of Friends rejects double standards and manipulation of human rights for political and interventionist purposes against certain countries, reiterating the urgent need to eliminate any type of action that's contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and international law and adversely affects the promotion and protection of human rights. The Group of Friends expresses full conviction that there is no other option than respectful dialogue, constructive cooperation, compromise and national ownership in any process whose genuine objective is the strengthening of human rights. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Uganda on behalf of Movement of Non-Aligned Countries.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of NAM. NAM reaffirms the importance of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which is an important reference point in guiding our collective efforts to protect and promote human rights. We recall the commitment of all States made in the Vienna Declaration on fulfilment of the obligations to promote universal respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments relating to human rights. The NAM re-echoes the recommendation in the VDPA and based on the final outcome document of the 19th Summit of NAM held in January 2024 in Kampala, Uganda, that encourages states to adopt national action plans to improve the promotion and protection of human rights. We also note with concern that the global human rights challenges, including ongoing and protracted conflicts, terrorism, unilateral coercive measures, inequality, poverty, and racial and other forms of discrimination are still on the rise around the world. Despite being unanimously recognized as a separate human right in the VDPA by all states, we see highly divisive international discourse and attempts to misinterpret the concept of the right to development. including for taking advantage of structural inequalities in the global markets. Therefore, NAM stresses the need to reinvigorate the implementation of the right to development as an inalienable right. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to China on behalf of the Group of Countries.

Madam Vice-President, it is a great honor to speak on behalf of 71 countries on improving global human rights governance. The international community is experiencing profound transformations. On the 20th anniversary of the Council, we reaffirm our commitment to build a just, equitable, and inclusive global human rights governance system. We advocate, first, a people-centered approach. It is up to the people of each country to assess and improve their own human rights situation. We stay true to the original mission of human rights governance, respond to people's practical needs, pursue shared development, and support comprehensive progress in human rights. Second, sovereign equality. All countries shall participate, decide, and benefit on an equal footing. The voices and aspirations of the South deserve greater consideration. We stand for fairness, objectivity, and non-selectivity, and favor constructive dialogue and cooperation grounded in mutual respect. Third, equity and justice. We oppose the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights and take an integrated approach to all human rights. We should advance UN human rights reform prudently. and support multilateral human rights institutions and experts in discharging duties objectively and impartially. Fourth, respect for international law. We champion the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, ensure international law is applied equally and consistently, reject double standards and interference in internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, as well as imposing our own standards on others. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Switzerland on behalf of the group of countries.

Madam Vice President, I have the honor to deliver this joint statement on behalf of a group of more than 80 countries. The human rights treaty body is a cornerstone of a human rights architecture. Today, it stands at a crossroads. The ongoing liquidity crisis has brought to light preexisting structural fragilities. As State Parties, we reaffirm our commitment to an efficient and adequately funded treaty body system. At the same time, we share concerns about aspects of its current functioning. Pragmatic reform within existing mandates can and has to address these structural fragilities without undermining treaty body independence, reopening the treaties or weakening the protection of rights holders. We call on the committees to intensify the ownership of the strengthening process by accelerating harmonization of working methods, presenting solutions to reduce the backlogs of reviews, improving consistency of recommendations, and operationalizing the inter-committee advisory mechanism. We also call on the Office of the High Commissioner to strengthen its ownership of and support for this process and encourage the further development and implementation of its working paper, including through pilot project. We look forward to continued dialogue among states, treaty bodies, OHCHR, and civil society for a strong, universal, predictable, and fit-for-purpose treaty body system. I thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Costa Rica on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. I deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 35 countries. Five years ago, this Council recognized the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Despite this achievement, those who are at the front line protecting and advancing this right are still amongst the most targeted. Environmental human rights defenders, EHRDs, including women and indigenous EHRDs, are amongst the most at risk. For their brave work, they often face grave risks, including to extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention, and criminalization. This also includes strategic lawsuits against public participation, creating a chilling effect. Moreover, we are concerned that some defenders are facing reprisals for engaging in international climate fora, as indicated in the latest Secretary-General report. The HRTs do incredibly important work to protect the environment from biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Just as the environment must be protected, those who seek to defend it must also be protected and empowered. This Council should step up its effort to better protect and empower EHRDs. They should also be able to safely participate in other UN fora, including international environmental conferences on biodiversity, climate change and pollution, including COP31 in Turkey, the first international conference of the Global Framework of Chemicals in Switzerland, and COP17 in Armenia. and their situation and agency should be recognized in the host country agreements and the outcome documents of these meetings. We urge all States to play an active role to guarantee their safe and inclusive participation. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Liechtenstein on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. I deliver this statement on behalf of over 40 States who strongly condemn the continued and escalating use of the death penalty in Iran. Recent statements by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Iran, and the findings of the independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran have highlighted the sharp rise in executions and death sentences, particularly in cases linked to protests and the exercise of fundamental freedoms. At least 31 protesters have been executed following January's brutal crackdown by security forces, with dozens of protesters sentenced to death and at imminent risk of execution, including women and children. The use of public execution is particularly alarming. We note the findings of UN experts that the death penalty is being used to instill fear, suppress dissent, and deter peaceful expression and assembly. We're also concerned by reports that individuals have been sentenced to death following proceedings that appear to fall short of international fair trial standards, including allegations of closed hearings, denial of due process guarantees, torture and ill treatment, and forced disappearances and coerced confessions. No one should face the fear of execution for exercising their rights or seeking to make their voice heard. Iran must immediately halt its apparent use of the death penalty. Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Ukraine, on behalf of a group of countries.

Madam President, this statement is delivered on behalf of 42 States. We recall the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, which reaffirms the need for effective international measures to protect the human rights of people under occupation. These principles were reiterated at the sixth summit of the International Crimea Platform on 23rd September this year. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. No territorial acquisition resulting from the threat of use of force shall be recognized as legal. We strongly condemn Russia's recent so-called State Duma elections conducted in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. We condemn human rights violations, including unlawful detention, torture, enforced disappearances, as well as deportation and forcible transfer, illegal adoption, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children, and call for their safe and unconditional return. We reaffirm the urgent need to protect Ukrainians, the Crimean Tatar people, and other indigenous peoples of Ukraine and their cultural and religious heritage. The international community must not allow occupation, repression, and forced assimilation to become normalized. We demand that Russia cease its aggression and withdraw all its troops from Ukraine. Restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity is essential for protecting human rights. I thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Estonia on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of 35 states. Children and youth are affected by challenges, including those posed in the digital environment, climate change, mental health issues, social polarisation and armed conflict. Meaningful child participation is grounded in the rights and obligations set out in Article 12 of the CRC and contributes to better policy making. Children are rights holders and children's rights relating to participation are well established. The challenge is how to translate existing commitments into consistent practice. Children should have meaningful opportunities to influence decisions. Participation must be inclusive and accessible to children of different ages and backgrounds. Children should receive information on how they influence the outcome. Civil society organisations play an important role in enabling child participation. Experiences show the value of children's contributions to policy-making and to international human rights processes. We encourage States to follow good practices, including enabling children to submit their own reports to the CRC. We encourage States and the UN to build on child-led initiatives such as recent Include Us, and ensure that children's participation is safe, inclusive, accessible, and genuinely influential and meaningful. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Pakistan on behalf of Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. The OIC reaffirms its collective aspirations to promote universal respect for human rights and dignity of all without any distinction in line with our commitment to Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Persistent poverty, racism, discrimination, and denial of the right to self-determination, among other challenges, continue to deprive millions of the full enjoyment of their fundamental rights resulting in unfulfilled promises made in Vienna three decades ago. Madam Vice-President, the situation in occupied Palestinian territory stands as a stark manifestation of the erosion of the European Declaration on the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian people continue to endure occupation, displacement, destruction, restrictions on humanitarian access, and grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, with entrenched impunity. Israel, the occupying power, must be held accountable for its egregious violations of international law. International standards must not be applied selectively. The OIC also remains deeply concerned over the incidence of religious hatred and particularly Islamophobia. Provocative and hateful actions under the guise of the right of free speech need to be stemmed. The group also underlines the importance of objectivity, non-selectivity and non-politicisation in the Council's work. In this context, we caution against using the Council to advance contested concepts that lack universal consensus. I thank you.

Thank you. The list of speakers is now closed. And next, I give the floor to Iraq.

Thank you, Mr. President.

The World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna

Thank you, President. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, within that document, the World Conference on Human Rights expresses rejection of human rights violations, in particular those that take the form of genocide and ethnic cleansing. And it condemned them and reiterated the call for the punishment of the perpetrators and for the cessation of such practices. In particular, with the special situation of peoples under colonialism, foreign domination or occupation, steps must be taken to uphold the legitimate right to self-determination. The denial of that right is a violation of human rights. The declaration recalls that effective international measures must be taken to ensure the implementation of human rights standards for populations under foreign occupation and ensure effective legal protection against violations of the human rights of such populations in accordance with human rights standards and international law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention and other applicable rules of international humanitarian law. In this light, Iraq calls on all States to respect their relevant international obligations and to bring to an end the genocide and famine in the Gaza Strip, which are one of the most egregious violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people, and to work to end the occupation and support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state. Thank you.

One minute and 30 seconds. Next, I give the floor to India.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action affirms that human rights and fundamental freedoms are birthrights of all human beings, and that States are duty-bound to promote and protect them. The general debate offers a valuable opportunity to reflect and reaffirm our commitment to its objectives. We also take note of SG's report on national human rights institutions. The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights led to unanimous adoption of the VDPA, strengthening the foundation laid down by UDHR. Its recognition of the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and its call to treat civil, political and economic, social, cultural rights equally remain as relevant today as ever. India reminds reaffirms the VDPA's recognition of the mutually reinforcing relationship between democracy, development and human rights, and its strong emphasis on the right to development and the rights of women, the girl child, minorities, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. We also share its concern that terrorism gravely undermines human rights and threatens the security and integrity of States. Guided by the welfare and technology enabled development vision, India remains committed to ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights for all. We call on the international community to sustain cooperation and solidarity to achieve substantial continued progress on.

And next speaker is Egypt.

Thank you, Vice President.

The Egypt reiterates its commitment to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which the international community commits itself to the universality, independence, complementarity and indivisibility of human rights. The right to development requires a need to establish fair international economic relations and take serious steps to reform policies. For over 30 years, the Vienna Declaration carried the noble hopes and goals of promoting the equitable enjoyment of human rights by all peoples, and yet we continue to see injustice and do not see universality or complementarity of those rights. Violations are not treated equally, and double standards indeed prevail. The human rights situation in Gaza and the West Bank requires that the international community address its responsibility to ensure the universality, interdependence and complementarity of human rights, including the right to self-determination, and to ensure that the goals of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action are attained. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Ethiopia.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Ethiopia recognizes that independent, effective, and adequately resourced national human rights institutions, consistent with the Paris Principles, can make an important contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. They can also serve as valuable bridges between national, regional, and international human rights mechanisms. We attach particular importance to strengthening national ownership, institutional capacity, and constructive engagement with international human rights mechanisms. Technical assistance and capacity building, upon the request of states, remain essential tools for translating international human rights commitments into sustainable national action. Ethiopia further emphasizes the importance of ensuring that national human rights institutions operate within appropriate national legal frameworks and are able to discharge their mandates effectively, including through monitoring, reporting, public awareness and engagement with relevant stakeholders. We welcome the cooperation between OHCHR, national human rights institutions and other international partners and encourage continued support for capacity building, including for developing countries. In closing, as we advance the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Ethiopia calls for continued dialogue, cooperation and exchange of good practices, with full respect for national ownership and priorities. I thank you, Madam Vice-President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Gambia.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. The Gambia aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the groups we belong. More than three decades after its adoption, the VDPA remains a fundamental framework for the promotion and protection of all human rights. Yet its promise of universality, indivisibility and equal treatment of all rights remain far from fully realized. For the Gambia, these principles guide our national reforms, including efforts to strengthen accountability, access to justice and civic participation, alongside investments in education, healthcare, social protection and other essential infrastructure. Emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence, the widening digital divide, climate change, and mounting economic pressures threaten to deepen existing inequalities, particularly in developing countries. We therefore believe that the international community must recalibrate its approach to implementing the Vienna commitments, ensuring equal attention to all categories of rights and giving greater practical meaning to the right to development. For LDCs in particular, this requires meaningful international cooperation, adequate financing, technology transfer and sustained capacity building. Ultimately, the success of the VDPA must be measured not only by our commitments, but by tangible impact on people's lives. All national efforts must be complemented by meaningful international cooperation. Thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Indonesia.

Madam Vice President, Indonesia remains committed to the follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. With armed conflict multiplying and grave violations increasingly going unpunished, the declaration remains as relevant and urgent as ever. The declaration called for an end to impunity for such violations and affirmed that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. Yet, its implementation still lacks consistency and objectivity. This is most evident in the occupied Palestinian territory, where Israel's illegal occupation continues with impunity to deny Palestinians their rights, including the right to self-determination. The principles of universality, objectivity, and non-selectivity lose their meaning without a constructive approach based on dialogue, while taking into account national, historical, and cultural context and each state's own trajectory. Equally important is the principle of indivisibility. All human rights must be treated on the same footing, with the same emphasis. The right to development is integral to this principle. Every state must have the opportunity to pursue development and improve its people's well-being, free from barriers. Indonesia, therefore, calls for the full, balanced and consistent implementation of the declaration. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Pakistan.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, a cornerstone of the international human rights architecture. Regrettably, the promise of Vienna remains unfulfilled for millions, particularly in situations of illegal occupation. The VDPA unequivocally affirms the right to self-determination. However, this fundamental right continues to be systematically denied to the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. For over seven decades, Kashmiris have endured foreign occupation while awaiting implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolution. Indian occupation forces continue to employ extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, collective punishment, and severe restrictions on fundamental freedom to suppress legitimate Kashmiri voices as documented in OHCHR's and other reports. India's illegal actions seek to unlawfully alter the demography, political and religious character of the occupied territory and disenfranchise Kashmiris in their own homeland. We urge the High Commissioner to continue monitoring and reporting the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, call for the reversal of all illegal actions and the restoration of fundamental freedoms of the Kashmiri people, including their inalienable right to self-determination. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Cuba.

Madam Vice President, the declaration and programme of actions are of greater relevance due to the growing threats to international law and the UN Charter. The declaration should be respected in terms of urging states to avoid adopting unilateral coercive measures and not to use food as a weapon of war. The trade, financial, economic blockade and the energy stronghold placed by the United States on Cuba undermines the main provisions of the document. This policy of genocide and collective punishments reflect are reflected in the agony of a Cuban mother that is losing her son because there are no medicine. Our older persons do not have ambulances in cases of emergencies. There are cuts in electricity supplies, access to food, water, and other basic services. Cuba is under the threat of military aggressions. does not provide any justifications for attacking our country or inhuman, inrational, coercive measures that have a devastating impact. This undermines international law and makes our planet less safe. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Albania.

Mr. President.

Albania aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.

More than three decades after its adoption, the Vienna Declaration and the Program of Action remains a cornerstone of the international human rights system. Albania remains firmly committed to its full implementation. and to the principle that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. At the national level, my country has continued to strengthen its human rights framework and independent institutions. In recent years, we have significantly increased the financial and human resources to people advocate Albania A status of.

National human rights institution and strengthening cooperation between public authorities and independent human rights body.

We welcome the report presented under this agenda item and the attention given to the essential role of national human rights institution. Albania will continue to support strongly the independent human rights institution and meaningful cooperation with the international human rights system.

I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Kuwait.

Thank you very much, Vice President. The State of Kuwait reaffirms its commitment to the VDPA. This is a crucial framework for the promotion and protection of human rights in their universal, interdependent, and indivisible dimensions. as a very important tool to strengthen the spirit of dignity, and this requires the continuation of dialogue at the international level on the basis of mutual respect between states, while taking into account national priorities and specific cultural features. This can only strengthen the efforts deployed to strengthen human rights at the national level. This is how the State of Kuwait has modernized its legislative framework and its training programs, and also multiplied the different programs in order to implement the commitments that our country took and implement the instruments that we are party to. We will continue our efforts in that direction. My country reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation to provide assistance to countries to honor their commitments in the area of human rights. And this is how we should all continue our cooperation to strengthen further human rights. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to South Africa.

Madam Vice-President, South Africa aligns with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which remains a foundational framework for the promotion and protection of all human rights. The Vienna Declaration is unequivocal. All human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and must be treated on an equal footing and with the same emphasis. South Africa therefore rejects attempts to create a hierarchy between civil and political rights on the one hand and economic, social and cultural rights on the other. The full realization of human rights requires addressing poverty, inequality and underdevelopment while ensuring the protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all. We further reaffirm that the right to development is an integral component of the human rights framework. Development and human rights must be mutually reinforcing, supported by international solidarity, cooperation, adequate resources, and meaningful participation. As we mark the continued relevance of the VDPA, South Africa calls for renewed commitment to its full and effective implementation, including through strengthened multilateral cooperation by addressing persistent gaps in the enjoyment of human rights. We remain committed to working constructively with all States to ensure that the promise of Vienna translates into tangible improvements in the lives of all people. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Malawi. Malawi is absent. So next, I give the floor to China.

Vice-President. At present, the world is undergoing changes and turbulence with prolonged geopolitical conflicts, widening development gap, and emerging global challenges. The international community should join hands to practice true multilateralism and address all kinds of challenges in solidarity. All parties should uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, practice a vision of common, integrated, collaborative, and sustainable Security, use dialogue and consultation to resolve differences and disputes. Two, respect human rights development path independently chosen, do away with politicization and double standard, not to impose one's model or to interfere in internal affairs. Third, following the VDP, we should attach equal importance and balance to promote all kinds of human rights, view the right to subsistence and development as basic human rights. China stands ready to practice the Global Development Initiative and work with the international community to forge consensus and contribute to achieving the 2030 agenda. Thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker on the list of members, and we continue with the list of observers. And I give the floor to Armenia.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

The VDPA stands as a milestone of global significance, recognizing that democracy, development, and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are deeply connected and mutually reinforcing. Over 30 years on, the principles of universality, indivisibility, and inalienability at the heart of the UDHR and VDPA.

Continue to guide us, proving just as vital today, both offline and online.

As we continue implementing these principles, we welcome the Secretary-General's report highlighting Armenia's progress under HRC Resolution 57/23.

Through cooperation with the OHCHR, UNDP and the.

Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Armenia's NHRI has modernized its compliant handling and case management systems by deploying centralized digital platforms. The amendments and changes have been made to the law on the human rights defender within the framework of which the provisions on the functions of the human rights defender to promote the alignment of the legislation and its application in Armenia when international human rights standards were codified. This includes conducting studies and continuous monitoring of the conformity of Armenia's and its application with the international human rights standards, as well as promoting the ratification and accession of international treaties by Armenia and harmonization of national legislation and its application with the international obligations undertaken by the Republic of Armenia. In conclusion, Armenia reaffirms its pledge to work in a good faith and in the spirit of international solidarity so that human rights and the birthright of all human beings are fully realized for all.

I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Sweden.

President, the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action proclaimed that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. It made clear that, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, all States must promote and protect all human rights. This remains as valid today as it was then. Every person, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, has the right to live free from violence, persecution, discrimination, harassment and stigma. Yet, many LGBTIQ persons are still denied the full enjoyment of their human rights. Across the world, their safety and dignity remain under threat. And discriminatory laws, policies and practices are on the rise. We will never accept this. The pushback we see globally against gender equality, SRHR and the human rights of LGBTIQ persons is a source of deep concern and is contrary to the pledge made in Vienna. Every state has a duty to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of all persons without discrimination. Let us honor that duty. Thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Sierra Leone.

Madam Vice President, Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African group. We welcome the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the VDPA, which remains one of the most significant milestone in the evolution of international human rights framework. Its enduring value lies in its holistic vision of human dignity, recognizing that civil, political, and economic rights are mutually enforcing and must be advanced in a balanced and integrated manner. The VDPA has been central to strengthening of national, regional, and international human rights systems. It has guided efforts to mainstream human rights across public institutions, advance equality and non-discrimination, provide and promote the rights of women and children, and support the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions. We believe that the principles set out in the VDPA continue to guide our efforts to consolidate democracy and promote and protect human rights. In light of the numerous interconnected challenges facing the world, we urge all Member States to continue to draw on the principles of commitment set out in the VDPA when addressing contemporary human rights issues and building society based on justice, equality, and respect for human rights and dignity.

And I thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Algeria.

I thank you, Madam Vice President. 33 years after its adoption, my delegation reiterates its unwavering commitment to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and to the principles that continue to underpin the international human rights framework. We recall, first and foremost, that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. Civil and political rights cannot be regarded as superior to economic, social and cultural rights. In this regard, development should not be viewed merely as a policy objective, but as a human right essential to the full enjoyment of all other human rights. Madam Vice President, the Vienna Declaration recognized that foreign occupation impedes the full enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and human rights. It further reaffirms the fundamental right of all people to self-determination. These principles remain as relevant today as they were at the time of the declaration's adoption and should continue to guide our collective efforts to advance human rights in a comprehensive, balanced, and principled manner. I thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Maldives.

Madam Vice President, the Moldus reaffirms its commitment to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action for its importance in realizing that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated. In an era where the regression of human rights threatens to become commonplace, the declaration is more relevant than ever. We thank OHCHR for its continued efforts to keep its principles at the center of the Council's work. Madam Vice President, as a small island developing state, the Maldives values the emphasis that the VDPA places on the mutually reinforcing relationship between human rights, development, and the environment. Addressing coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and flooding protects our country's natural infrastructure and is also a vital precondition for realizing human rights and pursuing long-term social, cultural, and economic development. The Moldes remain steadfast in integrating these principles into our domestic and multilateral decision making. Guided by the same principles of universality and justice, we call on the international community to redouble its efforts to end the persistent persecution of and discrimination against the Palestinian people and to uphold accountability and their fundamental rights.

I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Bangladesh.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Bangladesh reaffirms its commitment to the VDPA, which recognizes all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated to be treated on an equal footing and with the same emphasis. For Bangladesh, democracy, development, and human rights are mutually reinforcing. Vienna's implementation, hence, must encompass civil and political rights, as well as economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to development. Bangladesh remains committed to strengthening national institutions, accountability, the rule of law, and inclusive participation. Madam Vice President, the adverse impacts of climate change, poverty, inequality, and successive global crises continue to constrain development prospects, particularly for least developed and climate-vulnerable countries. International cooperation must therefore provide adequate financing, technology transfer, and capacity building while respecting national priorities and creating an enabling international economic environment. We stress that engagement between states and UN human rights mechanisms should be guided by dialogue, cooperation, objectivity, and non-selectivity with respect for the UN Charter, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international human rights obligations. Better coordination across the UN system and efficient utilization of resources are equally essential. Finally, Bangladesh calls for renewed international solidarity and balanced implementation of the Vienna commitments, placing people at the center of efforts to realize all human rights for all. Thank you.

I think I give the floor to Peru.

Thank you very much, Madam Vice President. I would like to thank the presentation of the report on national human rights institutions, GANHRI, we recognize the important role that these institutions play in the promotion and protection of human rights through the prevention of violations and ensuring reparations. Peru also recognizes the importance of the process of GANHRI to ensure that the Paris Principles are implemented and implementation of SDG 6. National human rights institutions should be independent and effective in this framework. We especially praise the Accreditation Committee of GANHRI as given category A to the human rights institutions of Peru. This means that it can fully implement its mandate for the protection and promotion of human rights. We also praise the efforts aimed at improving accessibility, equality of the process of accreditation, including the incorporation of translation and interpretation services and a greater participation of the relevant institutions. We believe that it is important to preserve a rigorous process that is based on verifiable information. Finally, Peru reaffirms its commitment to the Paris principles and the strengthening of NHRIs. Their independent and effective work contributes to consolidate the protection of human rights, the rule of law, and robust institutions. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Iran.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its commitment to the VDPA and stresses the importance of its full balance and non-selective implementation. Vienna reaffirmed that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. It's also recognized that the right to development as a universal right that cannot be taken away and emphasized international cooperation, objectivity and non-selectivity. Importantly, the Vienna Declaration called open states to reaffirm from unilateral measures contrary to international law and the UN Charter that obstruct the right and impede the realization of human rights, including access to medical care and essential services. Madam Vice President, more than three decades later, unilateral coercive measure, economic pressure, foreign interference, and the use of force continue to undermine the enjoyment of human rights and development. Vienna cannot be implemented selectivity. Its legacy must not become a menu from which a state choose principles according to political preferences. Its implementations require genuine international cooperation and equal respect for all its principles free from politicization, selectivity, and double standards. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Venezuela.

Madam Vice President, the declaration and program of action of the UN that represent a universal, broad international consensus achieved by the international community for protection of all human rights. Now, three decades after its adoptions, the peoples of the world continue to look forward to the implementation of the provisions that inspired the Human Rights Conference, an international order that is based on the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, respect of international law, the free self-determination of peoples, the sovereign equality of states, and international development corporations. Nevertheless, the full realization of these objectives is facing serious challenges, continued selective focuses instrumentalization of human rights, unilateral coercive measures, undermine multilateralism and international law. This moves us further away from the spirit and letter of the declaration, but also creates obstacles to the creation of the necessary conditions to promote and protect all human rights, including the right to development. In this context, Venezuela believes that it is necessary for the Council to preserve its impartiality, independence, the strict compliance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter in order to implement the hopes that we have placed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Azerbaijan.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action remains a cornerstone of our collective efforts to protect and promote human rights. By adopting it, the international community affirmed that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. At the same time, we believe that peace, security and development provide an essential foundation for the full realization of human rights. Yet peace alone is not enough. Much remains to be done to heal the scars of past conflicts. In this regard, we recall the importance that the VDP attach to finding lasting solutions to questions related to internal displaced persons, including their voluntary and safe return and rehabilitation. In this spirit, after liberation of its territories, Azerbaijan has undertaken large-scale restoration and reconstruction works, along with humanitarian demining efforts. and launched a great return program to create the necessary conditions for former IDPs to exercise their fundamental human rights, including the right to a safe and dignified return to their homes. As a result, today, more than 9,000 people live, study, and work in these territories. Beyond this, Azerbaijan continues to translate the principles of IDPA into tangible progress through a national process that will promote universal growth. social justice, human capital, development, innovation, and sustainable development as set out in Azerbaijan 2030, national priorities for socioeconomic development. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Vashan Fedorov.

Madam Vice President, In furtherance of the right of peoples for self-determination, the UN Charter, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action contains a norm that recognizes the right of peoples to take any legitimate steps to implement this inalienable right. Exactly four years ago, the citizens of DPR, LPR, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblast availed themselves of this legitimate right for self-determination and during a referendum, took the decision to join the Russian Federation. And for this honest, open, democratic choice of the citizens of Donbas and Novorossiya, the Kyiv regime takes revenge through terrorist acts and war crimes against children, women, and older persons. For four years of these criminal acts by Ukrainian formations, more than 9,000 peaceful citizens have died and 25,500 have been wounded, or more than 300 children were killed, 1500 children were wounded and maimed. Their blood is on the conscience of Zelensky and their entourage, but not only them. It's on the conscience of those who allocated 90 billion euro to continue the bloodshed, who puts weapons in the hands of terrorists, who pays for their crimes. Madam Vice President, we call upon Ukraine and its Western sponsors to remember the spirit and letter of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, recognize the choice of the citizens of the Crimea, Donbas and Novorossiya, and to continue this and to stop this criminal bloodshed. Thank you.

Thank you. And I would also like to call upon all speakers to uphold UN standards when referring to countries. And next, I give the floor to Afghanistan.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. In 1993, the Vienna Declaration affirmed that the human rights of women and girls are an integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. 30 years later, Afghanistan under the Taliban was the only country in the world where the girls are barred from their basic rights. This exclusion is written in law. The Taliban have closed secondary schools, the universities to women, barred them from medical training, and even criminalized the sound of their voice in public. Despite these edicts, the women and girls of Afghanistan continue to teach in secret classrooms, document abuses, and speak out with great personal risk. They have not abandoned the rights affirmed in the Vienna Declaration. This Council must not abandon them either. Therefore, implementing Vienna Declaration for Afghanistan requires four concrete steps. Number one, fully support the independent investigative mechanism established by this Council. Number two, support CEDAW's proceeding against the Taliban violations in ICJ. Third, press the reversal of ban on women and girls, including those working for United Nations and aid agencies, so aid could reach women and girls in Afghanistan. And the fourth, make engagement with Taliban conditional to measurable rights benchmark with women and girls on the table. Madam Vice President, the bars are pushed so low in Afghanistan, and that's why we only stick to the fundamental rights of women and girls. And I thank you very much.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Sudan.

Thank you, Vice President. At this time where human rights violations are on the rise because of conflicts and internal and external factors, my country is facing terrorist militias launching wars against our people, supported by a country that you all know. And these criminal militias carry out crimes and human rights violations. They carry out most of the crimes banned in the Anti-Terrorist Convention. We call for this to end. These militias are complicit in the crimes carried out. Sudan reconfirms its commitment to justice. Its judiciary and legal authorities make every effort and have always cooperated with the OHCHR. We will continue to do that to ensure that our country's sovereignty is respected. The Declaration and Programme of Action were a milestone in the protection and promotion of human rights. Two decades have gone by, and it is crucial to focus on the right to development.

The representative of Bahrain

Thank you, Vice-President. We reaffirm the importance of the VDPA, which is a pillar of international human rights standards. It brings together all rights and fundamental freedoms, strengthening the principle of human dignity, so that efforts may be made nationally and internationally to support them. We are continuing efforts to strengthen national institutions, ensuring civil, social, cultural and economic rights and the right to development through a human-centered development process. My country affirms that the VDPA require constructive cooperation internationally with exchange of experience taking into account national particularities and complementing the efforts of states to protect human rights. Thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Tunisia. Tunisia. They seem to be absent. So next, I give the floor to United Republic of Tanzania.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered by NAM on this agenda item. Tanzania reaffirms that the promotion and protection of human rights should remain people-centered, responsive to the practical needs of our people, supportive of inclusive and sustainable development. We further underscore the importance of sovereign equality and the equal participation of all states in the international human rights system. In this regard, Tanzania supports the statement delivered by the delegation of China on improving international human rights governance, particularly its emphasis on fairness, objectivity, non-selectivity, constructive dialogue and cooperation, as well as the need to avoid the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights. We believe that dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect remain essential to strengthen confidence in the multilateral human rights system. As we continue implementing the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Tanzania remains committed to a fair, inclusive and effective international human rights system that promotes cooperation, mutual understanding, dignity and the well-being of all people. I thank you, Madam Vice-President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Lithuania.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We reject the substance of the statement of the representative of the Russian as a false narrative aimed at justifying Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We recall the relevant U.N. resolutions reaffirming Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its right to self-defense against Russia's aggression. We condemn Russia's atrocities in Ukraine, as well as human rights violations within Russia. We express deep concern over the systematic and deliberate targeting by Russia of Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure, resulting in increasing numbers of civilians killed. The Commission of Inquiry has concluded that such attacks amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The torture, enforced disappearances, murder, and forcible transfer of population have been also committed by the Russian Federation. We reject the participation at today's Human Rights Council session of the individual representing Russia who is directly responsible for supporting actions and policies that undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. This person is under European Union restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine. Between 2014 and 2022, Russian representative was a politician of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic, and after annexation of the territories, he became instrumental in spreading the narrative to justify Russia's war against Ukraine in the media and international events. Such speakers have no place in deliberations of the Human Rights Council, that is the UN main body to advance the protection and promotion of human rights. I thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Ukraine.

Thank you, Madam President. Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action continues to provide an essential foundation to the international human rights system. At its core lies a fundamental understanding: human rights cannot be separated, selectively applied, or placed in a hierarchy. For Ukrainians, this is not a matter of abstract principle, it is a reality of cities subjected to relentless Russian drone and missile attacks, where the rights to life, security, health, and education are threatened day after day, and nowhere, it's felt more than in occupied territories of Ukraine. In Oleshky, for example, civilians are trapped in an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation, deprived of adequate access to food, medicine, water, electricity, and medical care, while safe evacuation and humanitarian access remain severely constrained. We therefore call on the international community to translate the principles of Vienna into action. Finally, we would like to express our concern regarding the composition of the Russian delegation, which includes an individual who is under sanctions of Ukraine and the European Union. The participation of such individuals raises serious questions about commitment of the Russian Federation to uphold international law and respect the decisions of international community, especially when those individuals are trying to elaborate about any legal actions, but we will elaborate on this in our right of reply. I thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker on my list. So we now move on to the list of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. And first, I give the floor to Child Rights Connect for a joint statement.

Madam Vice President, Child Rights Connect delivers this statement on behalf of 40 ECOSOC status organizations and with the support of another 142 civil society organizations. On 7 and 23 September, the High Commissioner warned that the work of the UN treaty bodies, the legal backbone of the UN human rights system, is endangered by chronic underfunding and the ongoing liquidity crisis, and issued an urgent call for help and support. However, the challenges are not purely financial. OHCHR and the treaty bodies themselves have made several proposals through the treaty body strengthening process, which could be piloted on how to move towards greater predictability, harmonization and digital transformation. We call on the States to reaffirm their political and financial commitments for a strong, fully accessible and effective treaty body system by: ensuring sustainable funding through the UN regular budget, allowing to reduce review backlogs and ensuring foreseeability for stage reviews sufficiently in advance, providing dedicated resources for hybrid modalities that enable meaningful participation by civil society and other stakeholders, and investing in accessible digitalization tools without further delay. We call on all parts of the UN to coordinate and overcome any administrative obstacles to treaty body strengthening. Not acting decisively in this direction is disengaging from human rights protection when it is needed the most. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Amnesty International for a joint statement.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Yes, please.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. Action Canada delivered this statement on behalf of 353 organizations. 33 years in the States reaffirm the commitment to universal human rights in the Vienna Declarations. Access to safe abortion care remains far from a reality of a million people around the world. Abortion restrictions are a barrier to bodily autonomy, equality, and human dignity. Today, as we are commemorating International Safe Abortion Day, we are highlighting the shared roots of all rights violations related to gender, reproduction, and sexuality. From restrictions on abortion to the discriminations of sex work, to the attempted erasure of trans people from public life, fight for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy are deeply connected. States have a duty to uphold the human rights principle of universality and equality, particularly as related to gender, sexuality, and reproduction, so that we can all exercise our rights to bodily autonomy and make our own decisions about our own body, gender, sexuality and life. Thank you.

Thank you. And this was, of course, Action Canada for Population and Development. But the next joint statement will be read out by Youth in Technology and Arts Network. They are absent, so we move on. And next, I give the floor to Centre d'Etudes Juridiques Africaines by video.

Vice President, distinguished delegates, distinguished colleagues, our organization recalls the fundamentals of the DDEPA. All human rights are universal, interdependent, interrelated. 33 years on, there is still a gap between this principle and its effective realization, particularly with regard to economic, social, and cultural rights, which are not mere aspirations. Indeed, the rights to health, education, housing, food, and social protection are component parts of human dignity. Unfortunately, in many African countries, as elsewhere, inequalities and difficulties in accessing essential services continue to hinder their effective enjoyment. The CEJAP believes that the indivisibility of rights must be reflected in public policies and budgets, measured in access to essential services and verified in the daily lives of populations. We call on States to strengthen monitoring of the realisation of these rights through measurable concrete indicators, disaggregated data and the effective participation of populations concerned. The best tribute to the VDPA is to transform the principles into a lived reality for all. I thank you.

Next, I give the floor to International Disability Alliance.

Thank you, Vice President. I speak on behalf of the International Disability Alliance. IDA contributed to the first civil society statement delivered calling for a strengthened and fully supported treaty body system. This 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The first United Nations disability strategy was adopted in 2019, and this year an update on this 2.0 took place. Nevertheless, in 2025, national sign language interpretation for dialogues between the CRPD Committee and the State Parties to the CRPD was discontinued. In February, UNOCH's conservation measures jeopardized the availability of international sign and captioning for the Human Rights Council panels on disability rights and for the CRPD Committee session. The direction should be that of increased availability of conferences and events of the Human Rights Council and of all UN treaty bodies to allow for participation of all persons with disabilities and also benefiting other people. Looking forward, IDA calls States, the OHCHR and UNHCR to remain attentive to this issue and the availability of related funds as conversations related to treaty values and potential reforms, pilot activities and alike evolve, with a view to ensure full accessibility of the physical environment, communication and information, and broad civil society participation- Thank you.

And next, I give the floor to Association Caritative Etudiante pour la Jeunesse.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. It's a privilege and honor to speak about the enduring vision of Vedatri Maharishi, a vision rooted in the belief that the path to world peace begins with the transformation of the individual. Maharishi envisioned a peaceful and harmonious world in which individuals, families, societies, and nations recognize their fundamental interconnectedness. His message can be distilled into one powerful principle, world peace through individual peace. The Aliyah Declaration of 2002 expresses this vision through eight broad principles. The seventh, human rights, affirms the dignity and fundamental rights of every human being, regardless of nationality, religion, caste, gender, or other divisions, and recognizes respect for human dignity as fundamental to lasting peace. Magrisi emphasized that political and economic measures, although important, cannot be themselves guarantee lasting peace. scientific, material and institutional progress must be complemented by spiritual development and inner transformation. This perspective resonates with the international development agenda, which recognizes health, education, women empowerment, poverty reduction, rural development and environmental protection as essential to human dignity. Madam Vice-President, at a time of divisions, inequalities and conflicts, Magrisi's vision calls upon us to begin with ourselves to cultivate inner peace, inspire those around us, and extend the spirit to our families, communities, and society.

I thank you. And next, I give the floor to Association Jeunesse Insertion Solidarite. I'm told they are absent. So next, I give the floor to Association d'Entraide Medicale Guinee by video.

Thank you.

More than three decades after the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the protection of the right to life, respect for the rule of law, accountability and the preservation of human dignity remain a real challenge. test, especially in countries affected by armed conflict such as the Sudan,

the interpreter regrets that the sound quality is not good enough to ensure accurate translation or interpretation.

Cet incident souligne une nouvelle fois l'urgence de protéger les civils, de respecter le droit à la vie, de mener des enquêtes indépendantes et efficaces sur les violations et de garantir l'établissement des responsabilités. Nous appelons les autorités soudanaises à respecter leurs obligations en matière de droits humains, à garantir les libertés fondamentales et l'espace civique, et à sérieusement s'engager dans un processus visant à mettre fin à la guerre et à ouvrir la voie à un régime civil démocratique fondé sur l'État.

De droit et le respect des droits humains. The implementation of the principles of Vienna requires effective protection of civilians.

The accountability of the authors of violations and the guarantee of the rights of the Sudanese people without discrimination.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next, I give the floor to the International Humanitarian Society for Development Without Borders.

Madam President, I draw this Council's attention to Pakistan's use of air powers against civilians in Balochistan. On 12 August 2026, Pakistani forces carried out an airstrike in Surabs. Six civilians were killed, including women and two-year-old Jalal. Nine others were injured, most of them young children. Pakistan claimed that the casualties were caused by a vehicle carrying explosives. However, photographs and the footage from the area shows missile fragments bearing serial numbers and the damage consistent with the aerial bombardment. The Surab attack was not the first. Before this strike, Pakistani forces had also used air powers in Zehri and the Chiltan area of Quetta. Madam President, these attacks caused civilian casualties, including innocent women and children. The growing use of fighter jets, drones, and helicopter gunships in populated areas places thousands of lives at risk. Therefore, we call for an independent international access to Balochistan. The United Nations must also recognize and support the Baloch nation's fundamental right to self-determination. I thank you.

Thank you. Let me recall that it is important for the speakers to contextualize interventions according to the theme of each agenda item. Let me remind you that we are currently discussing item 8 of the agenda, which is following up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Next, I give the floor to Association Hazetoyra.

The Vienna Declaration affirms that human rights are universal and must be applied with regard to each nation's culture, history and religion. Nowhere does this matter more than in the education of our children. Today, international programs are directly affecting what our children are being taught. UNFPA influences governments. It writes the plans that some ministries of education implement. and seeks to do the same everywhere. And this is where the danger lies. Many of these plans promote so-called comprehensive sexuality education and contested ideas about gender that can reach classrooms without real debate and without parental involvement. This is how a UN document ends up in a child's classroom. Children must be educated and not subjected to ideological indoctrination. Parents must not be cut out of what their children are being taught about sexuality, the human body and identity. Their involvement is not an obstacle to be removed. It is a fundamental right. Article 26.3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is clear. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that their children receive. International organizations must respect that right, and governments must not use public funds to implement programs affecting children's education without transparency and, above all, parental participation. The Citizen Globe Group calls on governments to protect children, respect parents and defend national sovereignty in all forms of education. Thank you, President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Maloka Internazionale. They are absent. So next, I give the floor to Human Rights and Democratic Participation Center.

Thank you, Madam Vice President.

Champs Center recalled that the Vienna Declaration was not adopted merely to proclaim human rights, but to ensure.

Their universal and effective protection.

Today, that promise is being tested into two cases rooted in one policy, discrimination against Palestinian under Israeli occupation.

First, in March.

Israel adopted a law making a death penalty by hanging the default sentences for Palestinian only, imposed by military courts.

That convict in overnight 99% of cases, clemency is abolished and execution must follow within 90 days.

This is racism written into law.

Can the right to life depend on identity?

The Vienna Declaration answers clearly, no.

Prevention must come before execution, not condemnation after it. Second, Bedouin communities, the most vulnerable under occupation, face killing, demolition, settler violence, and forcible transfer.

According to OCHA, since.

2023, more than 120 Bedouin communities have been displaced.

The UN Human Rights Office has warned that such forcible transfer is a war crime. a war crime?

We call on this Council, the High Commissioner and the relevant special procedures to demand the law's immediate repeal and to ensure the effective protection of Bedouin communities against forcible transfer and settler violence.

The Vienna Declaration cannot remain words on paper. No accountability, no universality.

Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Center for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy. They are absent, so we move on and next I give the floor to United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation.

Madame Vice President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the credibility of a commitment is measured by results. The DDPA calls for Indivisible human rights. Our responsibility is to translate these principles into tangible action to achieve justice. These measures must be measurable. Women must not only benefit from policies, but be part of design. I wish to point to three priorities: firstly, national implementation plans must have measurable goals. There must be effective access to education, health and justice as a priority for people facing exclusion, and there must be North-South and South-South cooperation based on capacity building and training of civil society. I call on states and partners to transform the declaration into tangible action for all, upholding human dignity. Thank you.

Next, I give the floor to Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health.

Present, the Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health emphasizes that women's economic empowerment is fundamental to human rights, equality, poverty, reduction of the realization of the right to development. India's experience demonstrated the potential of combining financial inclusion, digital access, entrepreneurship, skills development and social protection to expand women's economic participation. Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and MUDRA provide examples of how access to banking and credit can strengthen women's economic autonomy and support livelihoods. However, financial access alone is not sufficient. Women continue to face structural barriers, including unequal access to education and skills, unpaid care responsibilities, discrimination in employment, unequal remuneration, and limited participation in decision-making. We therefore call on Member States to strengthen women's access to finance, decent employment, digital technologies, skills and social protection, while ensuring privacy, non-discrimination and accessibility. Women must not remain merely beneficiaries of development. They must be recognized as active participants, decision-makers and agents of development.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to International Career Support Association, also by video.

Gambling industry in Japan, especially pachinko, is vast, with a market size of 100 billion US dollars in 2025. As a result, gambling addiction is a growing crisis. The rate for men is 2.8%, far above the global average. Gambling-related crimes, poverty and suicide are escalating. The gambling industry contributes minimally to addiction prevention.

I thank you. Let me recall that it is important to contextualize interventions. according to the theme of each agenda item. And currently, we are discussing the agenda item eight, which is following up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. So with that, we move on. And next, I give the floor to Les Caribous Liberes.

Madam Vice President, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action affirms that the protection of vulnerable groups, including minorities, is central to the international human rights system. India's treatment of Sikhs stands in stark violation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which obliges states to uphold universality, accountability, and protection from arbitrary detention and extrajudicial violence. India's own judicial records acknowledge thousands of enforced disappearances and secret cremations of Sikhs during the 1980s and 90s, with Bhai Jagwant Singh Kaler exposing thousands of cases of confirmed state involvement in custodial killings and illegal cremations of Sikh youth. Today, this pattern persists. UN experts have condemned India's prolonged arbitrary detention and psychological torture of human rights defender Jiktar Singh Johal from the UK. International human rights bodies further document India's transnational repression, including surveillance, intimidation, and assassinations of Sikh activists abroad, such as by Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On June 3, 2026, five special mandate holders of this Council issued communication reference ALCAN-3-2026, warning that threats against Sikh activists, including myself, appear to be a part of a "broader pattern of transnational repression by Indian authorities against Sikh activists in different countries, including Canada." In the spirit of the Vienna Declaration, we urge all Member States to publicly raise concerns over India's systematic use of arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings and transnational repression against Sikhs who will continue to pursue their freedom and self-determination in the form of Khalistan. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Khushbu, Chaine de l'Espoir Nord-Sud.

The Vienna Declaration reaffirmed that all human rights are universal. However, since 5 June, reports have emerged of a crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee in Azad Kashmir. These include extrajudicial killings, excessive force by the security forces, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, blockade of food and medicine, and total communication blackouts. All cases of extrajudicial killings, including Shahzab Habib, Fath Birkat, Usman Nazeer, Dr. Usama Jamil, need impartial investigations. Shahzab Habib's body is still withheld by the authorities. Young Kashmiri Wahid Bakhsh went to CMS Rawalpuri to donate blood where he was assassinated. His family continues to demand the return of his body. My hometown Rawalpuri is under siege since June 5th and locals are being forced to flee their homes. We call for immediate return of all withheld bodies, disclosure of whereabouts of missing persons, and release of Shaukat Nawaz Mir and all detainees. We urge the authorities to fulfill their promises made to Joint Awami Action Committee, compensate families, resume dialogue, and end blockade and restore communication. The UN should call on Pakistan to fulfill its international obligation and send a fact-finding mission to Azad Kashmir to investigate the situation and help protect the lives of the millions of Kashmiris. I thank you, Honorable President.

Next, I give the floor to China Ethnic Minorities Association for External Exchanges.

Dear President, this year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Over 60 countries have adopted national human rights action plans. China has implemented five successive plans, the only P5 country to do so continuously. The declaration stresses that the right to development is inalienable. During our visit to Xizang, we saw this first hand. Last year was the 60th anniversary of the Xizang Autonomous Region. Over those 60 years, its GDP grew from 300 million to 300 billion yuan, and life expectancy rose from 35 to 72. Roads, railways, and over 200 air routes. now connect Xizang to the world. Rural areas have safe drinking water, heating, electricity, and 5G networks. People's sense of well-being has risen significantly. These achievements are the clearest answers to the spirit of the declaration. Yet, certain hegemonic countries apply double standards and interfere in other internal fires under pretext of human rights, undermining international cooperation. We call for resolute opposition to all forms of neo-colonialism and respect for every country's right to choose its own development path. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. MAACT welcomes the two reports of the Secretary-General on national human rights institutions and on the activities of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, as well as the conclusions contained therein. Mr. President, MAACT notes that only 12 countries in the Arab region have national human rights institutions that comply with Paris Principles through either A status or B status accreditation. This calls for capacity building for the remaining national human rights institutions in the Arab region to enhance their effectiveness. MAD also considers it necessary to strengthen the role of national human rights institutions in the UPR process and to grant them broader roles, being that of an observer during the review process, especially as the UPR fourth cycle draws to a close. In light of the global and regional challenges facing national human rights institutions, strengthening their independence and increasing their resources have become an urgent necessity that can't be deferred. MAD therefore recommends that the OHCHR provide adequate resources to support the activities of the GANRI in accordance with HRC Resolution 57/23 and in a manner that enables national human rights institutions to engage with the international human rights system. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Ingenieurs du Monde.

Mr. President, As a Muslim, I listened carefully as Muslim countries lectured on human rights, and I have a few questions for them. I asked the Islamic Republic of Iran, if you care about injustice, why did you open fire on Iranian protesters, massacring tens of thousands of people who called for freedom? Qatar, if you care about genocide, why did you harbor and fund the Hamas terrorists who actually attempted genocide on October 7th? Syria, if you care about peace and security, why are you slaughtering your Alawites and Druze and other minorities? Pakistan, if you care about religious freedom, why did you sentence a Christian woman to death, Shagufta Kiran, for allegedly sharing a WhatsApp message about the age issue in Islamic marriage? And Mahmoud Abbas, if you seek a democratic Palestinian state, why are you now in the 22nd year of your four-year term? Mr. President, Israel did not deny Iranians their freedom. Israel did not slaughter Syria's minorities. Israel did not cause Abbas to rule as an unelected president for life. These governments did that to their own people. Yet in this hall, they point their fingers at Israel and demand that we look away. I grew up in Yemen. I know how our Arab leaders teach us to blame all of our problems on Jews and Israel. But our problem in the Middle East is neither Israel nor the Jews. It is the Islamist dictatorships that brutalize our people.

Thank you. Before we move on to the next speaker, I would like to remind once more that it is important to contextualize interventions according to the theme of each agenda item. And currently, we are discussing agenda item eight, which is following up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. With that, we move on and I give the floor to the Inclusivity Project by video.

Mr. President, discrimination based on work and descent continues to affect millions of people in very concrete ways. It determines where people can work, where they can live, whether their children have equal access to education, and whether they can participate fully in the society. At the same time, the way this discrimination appears is changing. We are seeing it not only through traditional forms of social exclusion, but also through online hate speech, discrimination in employment, barriers to public services, and discrimination that intersects with gender, poverty, migration, and other forms of inequalities. Our international standards need to reflect these realities. We call on states and the Human Rights Council to explicitly recognize discrimination based on work and descent, including caste and analog system of inherited status as a form of structural discrimination requiring targeted human rights measures. We call on states and the Human Rights Council to strengthen systematic attention to discrimination based on work and descent across relevant Human Rights Council mechanisms, including special procedures, the Universal Periodic Review and the treaty bodies. We need a framework that recognizes that discrimination is not just part of the past. It is still happening today and it is taking new forms. Thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to Sikh Human Rights Group.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action remains one of the most important commitments of the international community to human dignity and universal human rights. More than three decades later, however, persistent violations remind us that commitment and implementation do not always synchronize. The Sikh Human Rights Group is suggesting that the Council consider a Vienna II review, not to reopen universal rights, but to examine what is working, where implementation remains weak, and what approaches may strengthen the original spirit of Vienna. Two areas worthy of greater reflection is the relationship between rights, responsibilities and duties, as well as nurture and protection of family, as articulated in Articles 29, 12, 16 and 25 of the UDHR. In many civilizations, dignity is supported not only through individual rights, but also through reciprocal responsibilities towards family, community and society. The Sikh Human Rights Group suggested that these traditions may complement the rights-based framework. Responsibility should never be used to restrict or condition human rights. Rather, they may help create the social conditions in which rights are respected in practice. If Vienna II could explore this plural approach while reaffirming the universality of human dignity and rights. Thank you.

I thank you. Next, I give the floor to International Service for Human Rights for a joint statement, and it will be by video.

In a room here in Geneva sit 11 women human rights defenders who came together for a week of solidarity and exchange. From distant countries, speaking vastly different languages, they share the same vocabulary of war. They describe the very same machinery of violence. Decades of conflicts are driving families from their safe homes, young girls out of school and into survival sex and early marriage, raising a generation marked by trauma. Indigenous women are being stripped of their customary lands, forests, rivers, seas in the name of development and energy transition, erasing their identities, cultures and way of life. Women and communities are fighting the extraction of critical minerals and the domination of our lands and oceans, paying the price with their health and lives. Weapons and mines are spreading across Indigenous and rural territory amid struggles over natural resources. Trillions of dollars are poured into militarization while our world burns. These are a symptom of a broken system. We are living through a crisis produced by a political and economic disorder that places profit and power over people and the planet. How many more statements will we make in these halls? The greatest danger lies in our desensitization that we normalize a darkness fueled by patriarchy, militarization, extractivism, corporate capture, and our inaction. We must follow the money. We must follow the power. We must stop the violence and dismantle the machinery that keeps producing it.

Thank you. Unfortunately, the poor sound quality didn't allow the interpreters to interpret this intervention. Next, I give the floor to Humanist International by video.

Mr. President, as we mark International Safe Abortion Day this week, the gap between human rights commitments in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the lived realities of people seeking to exercise their reproductive rights is stark. Over the past few decades, more than 60 countries and territories have liberalized their abortion laws. However, recently, we have also seen significant backlash and an emerging anti-rights movement leading to four countries backsliding on sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are increasingly seeing funding flow from the US and Europe into Africa, Asia, and Latin America from conservative anti-rights organizations opposing abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, and LGBTI+ rights, which civil society in Africa has referred to as neocolonialism. These groups have also been involved in drafting the African Charter on Family, Sovereignty, and Values, which asserts that African values and culture are under attack from foreign ideologies and urges the state to withdraw from any agreements which promote gender equality and protect the reproductive and health rights of women and girls. We call on all states to act on their obligations under international human rights law to guarantee safe access to SRHR around the world and recognize that sexual and reproductive health is indivisible from other human rights.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Development of the Local Community Association at Gajrat, Beba, by video.

Madam Vice President, the VDPA stresses that human rights are universal and interdependent and that the protection of civilians during armed conflict is a legal and ethical obligation. In Yemen, humanitarian concerns are increasing in the city of Macha and the western coast as a result of the combat and the displacement of thousands of civilians in parallel with military expansion by the.

Houthis.

We express our grave concern regarding the Houthi seizure of the headquarters and some possessions that are owned by the Joint Humanitarian Relief Movement in Macha that is run by UN bodies, in order to provide vital assistance to the most vulnerable. This is a gross violation of the IHL and relevant Security Council resolutions. Hence, we call on the Human Rights Council and the international community at large to take urgent actions to exert pressure on the Houthis to put an end to those violations and to make sure that civil and relief infrastructure is being protected and unhindered access is provided and to hold the perpetrators accountable. Thank you.

Next, I give the floor to Ima, Mali's Popular Students Relief Society.

The VTPA remains a milestone in reaffirming the universal right to life and human dignity. In his recent report to this session, the SG highlighted a horrific Searching capital punishment worldwide, out of a recorded 2,707 executions in 2025, an appalling 2,159 took place in Iran alone. The Islamic Republic of Iran executed 48 women in 2025, a 55% increase. We are witnessing an escalation in death sentences handed down to peaceful dissidents who participated in demonstrations or voiced their opposition on social media. Women protesters are being targeted within this wave of repression, among them Mojdeh Hashemi, whose arbitrary death sentence demands immediate international intervention. Prior to her arrest, Mojdeh was the only caregiver for her elderly, blind, and ailing mother. Executing her is effectively a dual death sentence. We raise our voices in urgent warning for Maryam Ekhodovan, Lilo Abolhasani, Taron Rahimi, Najme Amini, Sooda Ebrahimi, and Zaro Tavari. We call on the international community and the Human Rights Council to act decisively, hold the Iranian regime accountable, and halt this machinery of death before more innocent lives are lost. Thank you.

Before we move on to the next speaker, I call once again upon all speakers to uphold UN standards when referring to countries. And the next speaker is Association Mondiale pour la Justice et le Droit des Victimes.

Thank you, cheers. 33 years after, Vena Elam's Tamils are still waiting for its promises to reach them. Elam's Tamils are a distinct people with a homeland in the island's northeast. In 1948, Britain transferred power to the majority without the consent of the Tamil people. This was not genuine decolonization. Tamils were denied a voice in deciding their future. For decades, military occupation has continued, Tamil land is seized for military and religious projects, while farmers and fishers lose their livelihoods. Families of the disappeared continue searching for their loved ones, yet those responsible remain unaccountable. Freedom of expression is also denied. Those who mourn, build memorials, or speak about Tamil identity face monitoring, questioning, and arrest. Fear is used to enforce silence. The Vienna Declaration affirmed the rights of all peoples to self-determination, yet Eelam Tamils have never been able to exercise their rights. Justice cannot wait. We call on the Council and member states to: 1. Recognize the Eelam Tamils as peoples entitled to self-determination. Second, ensures international justice, including referral to the International Criminal Court. Third, end the occupation and protects freedom of expression. Thank you.

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

Vice President. The Vienna Declaration reaffirmed by consensus the right to development as a universal and inalienable right. It is a holy human right specifically mentioned in the General Assembly resolution establishing the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Yet, the declaration has not received the recognition it deserved at international and national levels. We are concerned over the disproportionate undermining of development issues in the OHCHR by major staff reductions. The Development and Economic and Social Issues Branch is not the only branch that is deprived of having a chief of branch at the senior level, although it has been decided by the General Assembly. Instead, that funded and existing senior chief of branch position has been used for other purposes in the Office. As we are now in the year of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Human Right to Development, we call on all States and actors to commit to building support for its full implementation. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Aide citoyenne et développement concert, by video.

We draw the Council's attention to the plight of Tamil refugees living in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. Many fled the war and persecution in the north-east of Sri Lanka. Some have lived in exile for more than 40 years. They have no valid travel documents. They cannot travel, return home or resettle in a safe third country. Without papers, they live in fear of arrest and detention. Many cannot work legally. Children face barriers to school and health care. Families are often separated across borders. Whole generations have grown up with no country to call their own. The Vienna Declaration and Programme Action action states that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent. It recognizes that human rights stem from the dignity of every person. And it calls for protection of refugees. 33 years later, these refugees are still waiting. Return is impossible while the Tamil homeland remains under military occupation and justice is denied. Sri Lanka has failed to deliver truth, accountability or a political solution. We call on the Council to first, urge host states to give refugees legal recognition, identity papers and safe access to work, education and healthcare. Second, urge host states to stop arbitrary detention and deportation. Third, ask UNHCR and the international community to find durable solutions, including resettlement. Fourth, address the root cause of the displacement, including the right of the Tamil people to self-determination. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to QIAM Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture. They are absent. So next, I give the floor to Youth Parliament for SDGs by video.

President, the Youth Parliament for SDG welcomes the growing.

Recognition that access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is essential to the realization of the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights.

India's renewable energy experience demonstrates how national action can be combined with international cooperation. Through the International Solar Alliance, India has helped advance technology sharing, capacity building, investment, and affordable solar energy, particularly across developing countries. We also welcome initiatives.

Such as One Sun, One World, One Grid, which seek to strengthen renewable energy connectivity and cooperation.

However, the energy transition must remain inclusive and rights-based. Developing countries require greater access to climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building, while rural communities and vulnerable populations must not be left behind.

We therefore call on the Human Rights Council and Member States to strengthen international and South-South.

Cooperation, facilitate equitable access to clean energy technologies and finance, and promote the exchange of successful experiences. Renewable energy is not only a climate solution, it is an opportunity to advance human dignity, reduce inequalities, and.

Realize the right to development.

Thank you.

Next, I give the floor to Institut International pour le Droit et le Developpement.

Vice President, the Vienna Declaration made the fight against impunity and accountability a priority.

33 years later, the problem is not merely insufficient progress, we have gone backwards. Today, the credibility and effectiveness of international law are at stake. It took decades of relentless effort to consolidate, and we were meant to strengthen it, not dismantle it through favorite treatment for certain states. Selective application has become a pattern. Russia was isolated and sanctioned within the first month of its war on Ukraine. Yet, after three years of genocide in Gaza and tens of thousands of lives lost, there are no comparable measures against Israel. Coercive measures target Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, and Sudan. Yet the Emirates, whose role in enabling the RSF's atrocity is extensively documented, faces neither sanctions nor an arms embargo. The same goes for international justice. The ICC cases are overwhelmingly African, while the powerful states remain beyond reach. Every unpenished crime is a green light for the next one. Because of impunity, our era will be remembered as the most advanced, yet the most inhuman. We call on all states to end double standards and enforce accountability without exception, so that the rule of law continues to prevail over the law of jungle. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to China Foundation for Human Rights Development by video.

The Vienna Declaration reaffirmed the universality and indivisibility of human rights and called for stronger recognition.

Of social, economic, and cultural rights.

Together with Articles 1 and 15 of ICER, it also highlights the collective vision of cultural rights for states and communities. Over the past three decades, this understanding has increasingly extended to cultural heritage, including access to and enjoyment of heritage. But this raises a simple question, what happens when that relationship is broken by armed conflict, colonial looting, or other forms of historical dispossession? We believe restitution should be seen not only as ownership issue, but also where we appropriate as a.

Way to restore cultural rights.

This is already emerging in national practice. Some states now allow other states or communities to seek the restitution of unlawful or unjustifiable acquired cultural property so that peoples may reclaim fundamental elements of their heritage. We therefore call on states to establish permanent and transparent restitution mechanisms centered on affected states and communities, and to access claims not only by legal ownership and title, but also by cultural significance and impact on cultural rights. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to International Muslim Women Union.

Our organization calls for the full and effective implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, particularly its commitment to the universality of human rights and the protection of women and children affected by conflict. In Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri women and girls continue to face serious and lasting consequences. In 2023, 509 cases of missing minor girls were reported in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, while 300 remained unaccounted for, according to figures presented in India's Parliament. More than 10,000 Kashmiris have also reportedly remained missing since 1989, leaving over 3,000 women living as half-widows, without knowing the fate of their husbands. These circumstances have profound consequences for women's mental health and well-being. An MSF survey found significant mental distress among 45% of elders in Kashmir Valley, with probable depression at 41%, anxiety at 26%, and PTSD symptoms at 19%. Women have also been found to experience higher psychological distress in conflict-affected communities. We urge the Council to strengthen implementation of the Vienna commitments by ensuring effective protection, accountability and support for women and girls affected by the prolonged conflict. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Rencontre Africaine pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme.

Vice President, 60 years on from the adoption of the two international covenants on human rights and 33 years since the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, It is not the right time to be affirming commitments to the promotion and protection of human rights, but rather to be ensuring they are implemented through the adoption of effective national policies and strategies. However, the financial crisis affecting the UN must in no way be used as a pretext to undermine the gains that have been made after several decades of struggle. It is in this context that RADO calls on states to renew their political and financial support to the OHCHR to enable it fully to fulfill its mandate. In addition, RADO expresses its deep concern about serious human rights violations in Tunisia, including the independence of the judiciary, the dismissal of magistrates, restrictions on freedom of expression and the press, and the persecution of opponents, human rights defenders, and civil society actors who defend migrants and fight racism. In conclusion, we call on the United States to respect its obligations under human rights and international law. It calls on all African states to denounce the migrant admission agreements signed with the United States.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to the Association of Horse for Youth and Development in Kenya.

Perpetrated by the Houthis with conscription of children. This situation runs counter to United Nations commitments on the Vienna Declaration. The protection of children must be ensured. attacks on the west coast of Yemen means that children are suffering the most. They are suffering displacement, interruption of their education, loss of basic services and exploitation. We are concerned that the Houthi group continues to recruit children even after signing a plan of action with the United Nations to end child recruitment in 2022. There is a need to implement these commitments. We call on the Council to commit the Houthis to stopping recruitment and use of child soldiers and ensure their rehabilitation and return to their families and schools. We also call on the international community to support programmes for children affected by the conflict in Yemen. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Association ARC by video.

Against the spirit of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Azerbaijani Turks in Iran increasingly face underhand obstructions that dilute the effective enjoyment of their rights. While cultural initiatives relating to Azerbaijani language, literature, and identity are sometimes permitted, they are limited and constrained. At the same time, activists and independent organizers are frequently subjected to intimidation, administrative obstruction, and criminal prosecution. As a result, an appearance of cultural freedom is created while practically it remains restricted. Community organizers, cultural activists, and advocates for linguistic and cultural rights continue to face arbitrary pressure, including arrest, prosecution under broad national security allegations, lengthy prison sentences, and barriers to peaceful cultural expression. Out of numerous examples, we note Mr. Abbas Lissani and Yurush Mehrali-Beyli. This undermines confidence in the rule of law, weakens the protection of fundamental freedoms, and reduces human rights to symbolic gestures. The spirit of the Vienna Declaration requires that cultural rights, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and participation in public life be enjoyed in a genuine and meaningful manner, free from coercion, discrimination, or fear of reprisal. We therefore call upon Iran to ensure that Azerbaijanis in Iran can peacefully exercise their linguistic, cultural, and civic rights in full accordance with its international human rights obligations. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to. I'm told they are absent. So next, I give the floor to.

Thank you, Vice President.

Declaration of program of action reaffirmed the commitment of all states to fulfilling their obligations to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons on an equal footing in line with the United Nations Charter. This implies the adoption of more tangible measures towards equality and equity including strengthening the protection of the rights of women and girls. Vice-President Toca, Pross International is concerned that the worsening situation suffered by many women worldwide. In Africa, in particular, women continue to suffer from marginalization and inequality. Many face significant difficulties related to stereotypes, Others are victims of discrimination and forced displacement, sexual violence, early marriage, and are even used as weapons of war. Vice President, our organization calls on this distinguished council to demand more from states, to propose more effective measures to protect women's rights and to respect international law in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination and impunity, and to combat discrimination, sexual exploitation and stereotypes against women in Africa.

Next, I give the floor to the Shaanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association.

Madam Vice President, delegates, I'm the founder of the IPPO. We advocate loving one's own country without hurting the interest of other countries. Over the past 30 years, the rights stipulated in the VDPA has not been realized, especially as a result of long-arm jurisdiction, and unilateral use of force. This is a violation of the UN Charter and the Vienna Declaration.

Therefore, we would like to suggest the.

Establishment of assessment mechanism of the right to development to ensure the national right to development.

Second.

The policy of national right to development should be assessed in a cross-border way so that the policy can be implemented. Third, civil society participation. The NGO should participate in the assessment and not exclude it. National right to development is the inalienable right of all countries and peoples. the unilateral use of force must be reviewed in this light. Lastly, I sincerely invite all of you to participate in our side event on the 1st of October.

Al-Baram Association for Charitable Work.

Madame Vice President. Under item 8, I wish to draw the Council's attention to the situation of Baloch women and girls, whose fundamental rights continue to face serious violations carried out by the Pakistani authorities. For years, Baloch women and girls have endured the consequences of serious human rights violations in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial killings, and restrictions on peaceful political expression. Women and girls in Balochistan have also faced the consequences of these violations by Women have played a prominent role in peaceful movements for justice and accountability, while many have been left to bear the emotional, social, and economic consequences of enforced disappearances and the killing of their family members. Their voices, rights, and participation in public life must be protected and respected. This pattern, carried out by Pakistani state authorities, amounts to what we describe as state terrorism. We call upon this Council to treat the situation in Balochistan with the seriousness it deserves through independent monitoring, transparent investigations, and protection for those who peacefully document and challenge abuses. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to World Muslim Congress by video.

Mr. President, we are here in this council to expose a calculated policy of systematic discrimination in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. What is presented as a reservation system for social upliftment is, in reality, a weapon of disempowerment, designed to sideline Kashmiri Muslims in every walk of life. The numbers tell a story of deliberate exclusion. 80.4% of reservation certificates are concentrated in Jammu, while the Kashmir Valley is left with a mere 19.6%. This is not an accident; it is political engineering. By slashing the merit quota to just 30%, the Indian administration has effectively slammed the door on professional aspirations of Kashmiri Muslim youth. Let us be clear, this is the price people are paying. This exclusion is a punitive measure for their refusal to surrender their struggle for right to self-determination, a right enshrined in various UN resolutions to decide their own political future. By sacrificing merit for the sake of communal engineering, the occupying power is stripping a majority population of their dignity and their livelihood. This is a clear violation of fundamental human rights. We call upon this Council to hold the occupying power accountable for using administrative quotas as a tool of ethnic and religious marginalization. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker is International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development by video.

Vice President, we affirm that Vienna Declaration and Program of Action requires human rights to be protected universally, without discrimination. In Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, recent land policies raise serious concerns about the right of the local communities to housing, property, and livelihood. On 23 September 2026, Reports stated that expired state and nazarul land leases will not be renewed under the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grant Rule 2022. The administration has also issued eviction notices to the occupant in Srinagar, including Polo View, Rajbagh and Karan Nagar. Official figures presented in the Legislative Assembly shows 9,877 canal of nazarul land, while 5,619 canals has been leased for the commercial purposes across the territory. around 80 leases had expired by August 2019. These measures can have serious social and economic issues for the families and businesses that have occupied or used such properties for decades. We urge the Council and relevant UN mechanisms to monitor these developments and ensure that any land or convention measures respect due process, non-discrimination, adequate housing and livelihood rights. with meaningful consultation and effective remedies for affected communities.

Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Association pour la Prevention et la Solidarite Internationale by video.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Vienna Declaration affirms the rights of all people to self-determination and calls on states to end impunity for gross violations. Eelam Tamils have been denied both. In April 1988, Anna Poojithi, a Tamil mother from Batticaloa, undertook a fast unto death to protest violence against Tamil civilians. After 31 days, she died. Her nonviolent sacrifice expressed the Tamil people's yearning for peace, dignity, and freedom. Her call went unheard, as Tamil calls for protection have gone unheard for decades. Those calls ended in Mullivaikal in May 2009, where tens and thousands of Tamil civilians were killed within months. INSIGHT declared no-fire zones, while hospitals were shelled and food and medicine were blocked. Mullivaikal is a symbol of the genocide of Eelam Tamils, the culmination of decades of massacres, structural discrimination, cultural destruction, and military occupation aimed at destroying people. 17 years later, no perpetrator has been held accountable. Domestic mechanisms have repeatedly failed victims. Families of the disappeared still wait for the Tamil land continues to be seized and commemoration is obstructed. Mr. President, we urge the Council and Member States to refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court or establish an ad hoc international criminal tribunal. Second, strengthen and fully fund the accountability project's evidence gathering mandate and support universal jurisdiction prosecutions. Third, recognize the genocide of Eelam Tamils and uphold the right to self-determination. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Organisation Internationale pour les Pays les Moins Avances.

Madame Vice President, Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action affirmed that.

Prevention of conflicts and the protection of human rights are inseparably linked.

Conflicts do not begin with the first shot. They often preceded by root causes including poverty and inequality, marginalization and discrimination, weak governance, human rights violation, political exclusion, competition over.

Resources, as well as external interference and geopolitical rivalries.

The United Nation was established to save succeeding generation from the scourge of war.

Yet, its ability to prevent and end conflicts continue to face serious challenges, including geopolitical divisions, the use of the veto in the Security Council, weak implementation of international decision, and insufficient political will for early and effective action.

More than three decades after the Vienna Declaration, the international community must.

Move from reaction to prevention, and from addressing the consequences of conflict to addressing their root causes. OIPM therefore calls for stronger early warning mechanisms, preventive diplomacy, accountability and inclusive participation, and for placing human.

Rights at the heart of UN efforts to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

I thank you. And next, I give the floor to GISO Youth Organization.

Madam Vice-President, I want to raise serious human rights concerns about Dr. Charlie Baloch, central organization of the Baloch Women Forum and other human rights defender in Balochistan. Reports describe enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, and limits of peaceful activists. women and minors are also reportedly affected. One case is Mashabine Baloch, a polio survivor. She was reportedly possibly disappeared and her whereabouts are unknown. They're also concerned about other Baloch women and minors and about the detention and prosecution of well-known activists. Dr. Shali Baloch reportedly faces serious pressure because of her work. Her name is reportedly on Pakistan's fourth schedule. Her identity, documents, and bank account are restricted. She also faces criminal cases. Madam Vice President, we ask the United Nations to examine these allegations closely, ask where the disappeared persons are, and support independent and impartial investigation. We also call on Pakistan to respect its international human rights obligations, protect human rights defenders, ensure due process, and give effective remedies to affected families. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Association Paix pour la lutte contre la contrainte et l'injustice. They are absent. So next, I give the floor to Promotion du développement économique et social by video.

Interpreted as affirmed in paragraph 10 of the Vienna World Conference, the right to development is a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights. Despite Algeria's acceptance of recommendations to promote sustainable development and improve living standards, the chain of camps have remained excluded from the host country's development plans. They lack essential services needed to ensure the enjoyment of economic and social rights and the decent standards of living. Algeria's authorities continue to treat the situation in the camps as if it falls outside of their responsibilities and international obligations. Achieving sustainable progress in realizing the right to development requires effective national policies, including in the context of camps, as well as equitable and solidarity-based international relations, as outlined in the Vienna Programme of Action. Furthermore, in light of the global refugee crisis, concerned countries and specialized organizations must engage in developing strategies for effective protection and assistance. This effort should address the specific needs of women and children and work towards durable primarily voluntary repatriation in conditions of dignity and security and as recommended by the Vienna Declaration. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to New Sunshine Charity Foundation by video.

As an independent, New Sunshine Charity Foundation welcomes the continued efforts to promote and protect human rights, including the right to health and the rights of vulnerable groups. Health is a fundamental human right. However, for children living with serious diseases like childhood leukemia, the barriers including high medical costs, psychological challenges, and the difficulty accessing continuous care may prevent them from fully enjoying their rights to health, education, and development. Through our associate law program, NeoSunshine supports children with cancer and their family by providing financial help for medical care, social support for patients, and advocating for better healthcare services and policies. Our experience shows that protecting the rights to health take not just medical treatment, but also inclusive system that addressed the social and economic challenges facing patients and their family. We call for stronger operation among government, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to make sure that vulnerable children and patients with serious disease are not left behind and can join their rights with dignity. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to Alba Share Foundation for Development.

Thank you, President. Today, we discuss Article 8, item 8, but All questions must remain within the purview of the Council, including Western Sahara. United Nations bodies have already raised questions regarding the situation with restrictions on basic freedoms and the situation of human rights defenders. There had been calls for the OHCHR to have access to Western Sahara for independent monitoring of grave violations. We call this body to ensure that all regions and all cases are placed before the Council so that there can be more cooperation in order to allow access to that region to assess the human rights situation objectively. We call for interaction with political detainees to ensure the rights of the Sahrawi people, including the right self-determination under international law. The human rights situation must be assessed, including the possibility for those who have no voice to be heard.

I speak today not only as a representative of civil society, but as an Indian young woman from a minority community. For me, inclusion is not an abstract policy. It is a difference between being heard and being overlooked, between opportunity and exclusion, between hope and uncertainty. India's diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Six officially recognized minority communities benefit from wide-ranging initiatives in education, skills, livelihood, infrastructure and social protection. Millions have received scholarships, skill training, community infrastructure, and concessional finance, helping expand opportunity, dignity, and community independence. Across minority communities, India's constitutional promise of equality continues to inspire progress toward a more inclusive and empowered society for all. Mr. President, behind every figure is a human story. I see myself in the girl entering a classroom, the young woman developing a skill, and the family building a more secure future. In this experience, remain as that minority rights must more than protection. They must mean participation, opportunity, dignity, and belonging. When every community rises, the nation rises with it.

Thank you. That was the last speaker we could accommodate for this debate. And with this last intervention, we have concluded the general debate under agenda item 8. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I understand that certain delegations have requested to exercise their right of reply in relation to statements made under agenda item 8. And I first give the floor to Ukraine. You have three minutes.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. Ukraine is compelled to exercise its right of reply to yet another unfounded allegations made by the delegation of the Russian Federation. Let us be absolutely clear. There was no legitimate choice, and there were no legitimate referendums. The UN General Assembly has already spoken unequivocally. The so-called referendums organized by Russia in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions were illegal and have no validity under international law. The same applies to Crimea. General Assembly resolution 68/262 explicitly affirmed that the 2014 referendum has no validity and cannot serve as a basis for changing the status of Crimea. There is no free expression of the will of the people under military occupation. There are only falsified numbers of those Russians who have conducted them and counted them against Ukrainian and international laws. The UN itself stated that the so-called referendums held during an armed conflict and under Russian occupation cannot be regarded as a genuine expression of popular will. Occupation does not create sovereignty. Coercion does not create consent. A vote at gunpoint does not create legitimacy. Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea remain parts of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Russia's attempts to change those borders through force have no validity under international law. We also express our strong protest regarding the participation of Mr. Radeon Miroshnik, who for years has been directly involved in supporting Russia's actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine. Between 2014 and 2022, he held positions within the structures of so-called Luhansk People's Republic, including serving as its so-called ambassador to the Russian Federation. Against this background, Ukraine considers the participation of such an individual in the work of the HRC session deeply troubling and directly affecting the credibility and integrity of this Council as the UN principal human rights body. Ukraine therefore places on record its unequivocal protest against the participation of Mr. Miroshnik in this session and calls upon the Council to take due account to these circumstances in safeguarding its credibility and integrity. Such statements by such persons even more regretful today, at the moment when Ukraine and its partners are desperately looking for the ways to stop this Russian war of aggression and to start real peace negotiations. I thank you.

Thank you. Next, I recognize the Russian Federation. You have equally three minutes.

Bogdanov.

Thank you, Vice-President. We have to use the right of reply because of the statement by Ukraine. Right now, we have seen the use by the Kyiv representative of the HRC to use lies and provocation, organised supposedly to protect the residents of Oleshka. all. Everything that has been said is manipulation. In fact, for over two years, Ukrainian fighters implementing the criminal orders by Kyiv have been carrying out genocide and making life impossible in certain places where Russian citizens live. The city is suffering shelling by Ukraine. Not only are the energy and water systems being destroyed, but there are attacks on emergency services that are trying to restore infrastructure. Ukrainian drones have besieged the town, mining entrances, and stopping civilian transport. for those trying to leave this area. Ukrainian drones have attacked more than 15 emergency vehicles and struck the hospitals, bombarding the produce market, killing and injuring civilians. Vice President, Ukraine must stop these lies. The Human Rights Council and other human rights bodies must see an impartial version of the actions of Kyiv, including in Oleshka. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, I give the floor to India. And you have equally three minutes.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. I take the floor to exercise India's right of reply in response to the cynical and habitual mischaracterization advanced by the representative of Pakistan under agenda item 8 today. It is deeply ironic that your state, whose governance is antithetic to democracy, should lecture the world's largest democracy on the VDPA when Pakistan stands in violation of the very letter of the declaration. Through this Council, let me remind Pakistan, at the cost of repetition, that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India and will remain so. Madam Vice-President, Pakistan has repeatedly sought to weaponize the concept of self-determination to advance its territorial claims. Let me remind Pakistan that part one, paragraph two of VDPA itself makes clear that the right of self-determination cannot be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action that would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent states. VDPA, therefore, cannot be selectively invoked to provide political or legal cover for Pakistan's territorial designs. Pakistan would do well to read declaration in its entirety, rather than selectively quoting from it. Madam Vice President, Pakistan would address the legitimate demand for rights and dignity of people under its own control. The violent suppression of peaceful protest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in deaths, injuries, and more. detentions exposes the stark gap between Pakistan's rhetoric and its conduct on human rights the vdpa calls for the promotion and effective protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities in Pakistan however Madam vice president systematic persecution is a state policy the draconian blasphemy laws are routinely weaponized to incite mob lynching and extrajudicial executions repeated attacks on Hindus Christians, including attacks on places of worship and relating to forced conversions, have been normalized in Pakistan. Madam Vice-President, Pakistan should first confront its own record of repression, discrimination, and denial of rights, rather than misusing this Council to deflect attention from its failure by casting unfounded allegations against my country. I thank you, Madam Vice-President.

Thank you. I recognize Pakistan. You have three minutes, sir.

Thank you, Madam Vice President. This is a familiar pattern, Madam Vice President. When confronted with uncomfortable facts, India does not answer them. It changes the subject, invokes Pakistan, and hopes the original questions disappear. They will not. Let me make it clear to them, for the umpteenth time, Jammu and Kashmir is not and has never been an integral part of India. It is a disputed territory as recognized by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Repeated denials and unilateral measures cannot alter this reality. For 70 odd years, India has run from the one vote that will settle this, a free and an impartial plebiscite under UN auspices. India provides excuses. A state confident in its claim would not fear the people it claims to govern. Madam Vice-President, OHCHR has documented extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and torture of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces. For decades, India's draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act has shielded its occupation forces from prosecution without government approval. When the state alone decides whether its forces face justice, is that not a license for impunity? Since August 2019, India has introduced a slew of illegal measures, including changes to domicile and land laws in Kashmir. Hundreds and thousands of domicile certificates have been issued to non-Kashmiris. The purpose is clear. Dilute the indigenous Muslim population, then present the result as settled. Let me tell them, Kashmir cannot be resolved by changing who Kashmiris are. And since India has decided to lecture this Council on democracy and particular minority rights. Perhaps it can answer a few simple questions. From Babri Mosque to Ujjain, Muslim places of worship have been destroyed under state patronage by BJP and RSS goons. And such acts, by the way, are celebrated as a revival of Hindu culture. India also enacted the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019, introducing a so-called religious-based pathway to citizenship. citizenship for migrants. So please tell this Council, how many Sikhs have received citizenship under this law? How many Christians? How many Buddhists, Jains and Parsis? Let me tell this Council, it's only one community, the Hindus. The BJP, Madam Vice-President, has been in power since 2014. Let me ask the Indian delegation, and I hope they will answer, how many Muslim MPs were lectured by the BJP in 2014? Zero. In 2019, how many Muslim MPs were elected? Again, a zero. In 2024, in the current Lok Sabha, how many Muslims were elected? Zero. And this is essentially their record on human rights, a big zero. Thank you.

Thank you. I understand that Ukraine has requested a floor for a second time, for a second right of reply. So please, I give the floor to Ukraine. You have two minutes.

Vice President, we deeply regret that this session has once again been misused by the delegation of the Russian Federation as a platform to disseminate disinformation and to attempt to legitimize its ongoing violations of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the norms of international law. Our delegation wishes to emphasize that this Council have once again became a stage of a familiar and deeply concerning Russian tactic, namely the attempt to shift responsibility by blaming the victim for crimes committed by the aggressor. Such rhetoric not only distorts reality, but also undermines the principles upon which this Council is founded. These actions are incompatible with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and erode trust in multilateral institutions. The UN General Assembly has already made clear what Russia must do: cease its unlawful use of force and immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Russia does not need to invent new accusations against Ukraine. All it needs is to comply with the UN Charter, respect international law, withdraw its forces from Ukraine, and end the war it started. I thank you.

Thank you. So I recognize that the delegation of Sudan now asks the floor to exercise right of reply. You have three minutes.

Thank you very much, Madam Vice-President. Wex, reply. In connection to the statement made by Guinea Association, because this statement contained politicized allegations against Sudanese armed forces. These armed forces are professional and independent. They protect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sudan, as well as civilians. Any allegations relate to violations is not based on any robust arguments. This leads to politicization. It is regrettable that this organization presents the situation related to violations committed against civilians, something that was committed by terrorist militia. It also ignores the foreign support that fuels this war and helps militia continue this war. They attack state institutions. And in order to put an end to this war, it is the armed forces of Sudan that are seeking to put an end to the war. And to do that, it is necessary to recall that foreign support and interference should stop. And it is the Sudanese people that have the mandate to decide their own fate, far from anything that can be imposed from abroad. It is high time to put an end to these allegations, especially by this NGO. that simply repeats allegations and rumors instead of carrying out an independent and impartial analysis. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any other delegations wishing to exercise a right of reply?

Play all songs of the Kapil Sharma Show.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, we will now hold the interactive dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I have the pleasure to give the floor to Ms. Isabelle Mamadou, Chair of the Working Group, to present the report.

Thank you, Your Excellency, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, fellow mandate holders, colleagues, it is a pleasure to address the Human Rights Council in my capacity as chair of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. Today, I will present our activities over the past year, including the findings, conclusions and recommendations of our 2026 thematic report on racialization and global migration, and the reports of our visits to Suriname and Mexico. Since our last report to the Council, we held our 37th and 38th sessions in Geneva. Our discussions covered migration and human mobility, the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and recent developments in the global reparatory justice agenda. We also held an expert consultation on the land rights of people of African descent, which will be the thematic focus of our 39th session in November 2026. The working group remained actively engaged with member states, United Nations human rights mechanisms, civil society, and other stakeholders, with particular attention to promoting the implementation of the second International Decade for People of African Descent and strengthening cooperation with the other United Nations anti-racism mechanisms. Excellencies, our thematic report, "Crossings and Journeys: People of African Descent in Global Migration and the Enduring Architecture of Racialization," is the result of extensive consultations during our 37th session. I thank the experts, member states, civil society, and other participants for their written contributions and valuable insights. These contributions highlighted that human mobility is not experienced equally. For Africans and people of African descent, the freedom to move continues to be shaped by racial hierarchies with deep historical roots. This legacy continues today as some people are welcomed as expatriates, while others are treated simply as migrants. Some are seen as part of the circulation of talent, while others are presented as a crisis to be managed. The working group found that precarity in migration is not accidental, but the result of policy choices. The loss of life and liberty among Africans and people of African descent on the move remains a serious concern. Racism deepens their vulnerability. It increases the risk of trafficking, racial profiling, denial of protection, deportation, sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation and abuse. Technology is also creating new challenges. Artificial intelligence, biometric systems and digital surveillance are increasingly used to control migration. Instead of reducing inequality, these technologies can reinforce racial discrimination. Deportation can also cause serious harm. It is often preceded by detention and can lead to the loss of possessions, wages and dignity. It can separate families, disrupt lives and cause lasting trauma. The working group concluded that deportation should not be the default response to irregular migration. In this context, regularisation should not be seen as an exception or a privilege. It is an important way to correct systems that themselves produce irregularity. It should be based on dignity, security, legal certainty and full participation in society. The working group stresses the need for a more humane approach to migration. To humanize migration is to confront the violence that shapes perceptions of mobility and determines whose suffering counts and whose does not. The working group made several recommendations, including the following. Member states should ensure that migration and border policies are based on human rights, dignity, and racial justice. They should prevent racial profiling and expand safe and regular migration pathways for Africans and people of African descent. The working group also calls on states to recognize that the legacies of enslavement and colonialism continue to shape the experiences of African and Afro-descendant migrants. Migration should therefore be included in discussions and actions on reparatory justice. Migration policies should move away from criminalization and exclusion and instead focus on healing. States should ensure that migrants can access healthcare, education, labor protection and justice without fear of arrest or deportation. Special attention should be given to women and girls who are more at risk of abuse along migration routes. Finally, the Working Group recommends stronger safeguards for the use of artificial intelligence and other technologies at borders. These systems must respect international human rights standards and be used with transparency, monitoring and accountability. I now turn to the Working Group's visit to Suriname at the invitation of the Government. During the visit, we met with government officials, national institutions, civil society organizations, and Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities. The Working Group thanks the Government of Suriname for its cooperation, and all the communities and organizations that shared experiences and testimonies with us. We identified several positive developments and welcome efforts to advance reparatory justice and establish an independent national human rights institution. However, serious concerns came up during the visit. Land rights remain one of the biggest challenges. The collective rights of Maroon communities over their lands and resources still lack legal recognition. The implementation of judgments of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights remains slow, while mining and logging activities continue on traditional territories without adequate consultation and consent. Gold mining has also contributed to deforestation, river pollution, and severe mercury contamination. The working group saw significant inequalities affecting people of African descent across the country, particularly in the interior, where access to adequate housing, employment, health care, and other essential services remains difficult. We were especially concerned about the situation of children, including the high rates of early pregnancy among girls as young as 12 or 13. Children of African descent also face racial discrimination in access to education. The working group heard that some Rastafari students were denied access to schools simply because they wear their hair in locks. Significant gaps in disaggregated data make it difficult to develop effective policies. In the criminal justice system, we heard about the overrepresentation of Afro-Surinamese men and boys in detention. They also reportedly face more severe penalties than others. We received reports of reprisals against activists, including incarceration for defending their collective rights. Based on these findings, the working group made several recommendations, of which I will highlight a few. The working group calls on Suriname to move from commitment to action. This includes accelerating progress on the collective rights of Maroon communities and guaranteeing free, prior and informed consent in decisions affecting their lands. We also recommend comprehensive legislation against racial discrimination, including stronger protection against racial profiling and racist hate speech. Access to healthcare, adequate housing and employment should be improved, particularly in the interior. In education, we recommend stronger measures to prevent discrimination against children of African descent, as well as including the history of slavery, colonialism and the contributions of people of African descent in school curricula. Finally, greater protection and support are needed to women and girls against sexual and gender-based violence. We also call for measures to address the high rates of early pregnancy, including comprehensive sexual education and access to family planning. The working group encourages Suriname to implement these recommendations in close cooperation with people of African descent and the communities concerned, and we stand ready to support these efforts. I will now turn to the working group's visit to Mexico. For colleagues in interpretation, I will now continue in Spanish.

We visited Mexico, where we met with different representatives of the government, organizations of civil society, and AFRO. American communities. We thank the government of Mexico for its cooperation, as well as all the individuals, communities, and organizations that shared their experiences and testimonies with us. The Working Group recognizes the important progress made by Mexico, particularly the constitutional recognition of Mexican peoples and communities in 2019, strengthened through the 2024 constitutional reform, as well as the improvement of their statistical visibility and ongoing efforts to advance equality and non-discrimination policies. We also take note of the different initiatives presented to us by the authority aimed at strengthening inclusion, participation, and access to services for Afro-Mexican communities. However, significant challenges remain to ensure that this recognition translates into the effective enjoyment of human rights. Also, important gaps remain in areas such as political participation, migration and asylum, access to justice, disappearances and deprivation of liberty. Racial profiling remains another serious concern, linked to the persistent association between blackness and foreignness. We received testimonies alleging arbitrary detentions and migration checks based on physical appearance, and skin color, including cases in which Afro-Mexican were asked to sing the national anthem to prove that they were Mexican. At the same time, we note the information related to water contamination that may relate to serious health problems, and also the insufficient responses in the face of national And in Cordova, Afro-descendant families associated with the Patio de los Estre reportedly face harassment, institutional persecution, and risk of eviction in the context of gentrification. Afro-descendant women and girls also face intersecting forms of racial and gender discrimination. We're particularly concerned about obstetric violence. Some women explained that the stereotype that Black women can endure more pain may result in delay and discriminatory treatment during pregnancy and childbirth. We also received information about increasing violence against LGBTIQ+ persons, including the killings of human rights defenders, as well as persistent impunity and limitations in investigations. I would also like to remember Sael Silva Cisneros, an Afro-Mexican lawyer, activist, and human rights defender, whom we met during our visit and who was killed just weeks later in Guerrero. The Working Group condemned his killing and called for a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation to establish the facts and determine responsibility. I did not want to conclude this presentation without remembering him. Based on these findings, the working group made a number of recommendations, of which I highlight a few. MEX should ensure that the constitutional recognition of Afro-Mexican peoples is accompanied by legitimate representation, effective participation, and data that make discrimination visible. We should also adopt differentiated responses and ensure that African People with African descent can access justice without discrimination. Should combat racial profiling. Access to education, healthcare, housing, water, and other essential services should be guaranteed on an equal basis. This includes preventing racist bullying in schools, obstetric violence, and discriminatory treatment in healthcare services. Mexico should protect the territorial and environmental rights of Afro-descended communities, ensure their effective participation in decisions that affect them, and protect them from forced evictions, displacement, and gentrification. The working group recommends advancing a national strategy on memory, truth, and reparations that recognizes the legacies of enslavement and anti-Black racism and support initiatives such as the proposed National Museum of African Mexican People. The working group stands ready to continue working with the government of Mexico to support the implementation of these recommendations. Madam Vice President, this concludes my presentation, and we look forward to hearing from delegations. Thank you.

Thank you very much. According to our practice, we shall start by hearing the delegations of the countries concerned. And I, uh, now give the floor to, uh, the distinguished representative of Mexico, you have five minutes.

Thank you, Vice-President. Mexico welcomes the presentation by the Working Group on People of African Descent and recognises the work done to give visibility to the challenges facing people of African descent and strengthen their full exercise of their rights. Historically, Mexico has maintained a policy of openness to international scrutiny in the conviction that dialogue and cooperation with international human rights mechanisms is crucial. to build and make progress on international standards and apply them nationally. Thus, our country received the Working Group during its official visit, recognizing that its experience contributes to identifying opportunities and strengthening public policy. Mexico wishes to make some comments on the process which led to the development of the report before us. The Government of Mexico in agreeing to the official visit, made a significant institutional effort to meet the requests of the working group and facilitate a broad substantive agenda. At the request of the experts, we met many institutions of the three branches of power and the various levels of government in order to provide direct information on the legal framework, public policy and action on the rights of people of African descent. However, as a consequence of logistical errors arising from the working group, Mexico regrets that some of the meetings that had been agreed upon were not able to happen. Those meetings would have made it possible to provide context and details for a comprehensive assessment of the national situation, contributing to a better understanding of the institutional efforts and the comments made would have had greater objectivity and been more balanced. While the state of Mexico values the diversity of the perspectives stated during the visit and recognised the importance of directly hearing the experience and priorities of civil society and Afro-Mexican communities, broad dialogue with national institutions is also an important non-secondary element in providing the working group with comprehensive information on the legal framework, public policy, and the actions implemented. Mexico takes note of the recommendations in the report and will take them into consideration with the due relevance and attention. Its analysis and follow-up requires participation by the relevant entities of the different levels of government and essentially, cooperation with civil society and with the people and communities, the Afro-Mexican communities. This commitment, it builds on the major progress made by Mexico in recognizing, guaranteeing the rights of people of African descent, including constitutional recognition as part of the pluricultural composition of our nature and the strengthening of policies and actions designed to combat discrimination and historic inequalities. The Mexican State will continue to work on strengthening the legislative framework in order to render these rights effective, particularly through the development of secondary legislation, which contributes to implementation of constitutional provisions. Mexico notes that the Working Group has stated that this represents significant progress in the recognition of these rights within the Mexican legal order. At the same time, we note that there are ongoing challenges and that consolidating substantive equality requires ongoing efforts, and thus we reaffirm our readiness to continue working constructively with the working group and international human rights mechanisms, since Mexico is convinced that their work contributes positively to the efforts. Hence, we call for future interactions to be carried out on a principle of reciprocal co-operation, ensuring dialogue with all involved parties, including the perspectives of communities and civil society, and information and experience gained from the institutions responsible for implementing public policy. Mexico will continue to work to ensure that people of African descent can fully enjoy their human rights on an equal footing and free from discrimination. We welcome the valuable inputs of the working group. Thank you very much, Vice-President.

I thank you. And I now give the floor also to the distinguished representative of Suriname. You have equally five minutes.

You, Madam Vice-President. The Republic of Suriname profoundly thanks the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for the week-long visit to my country in March of this year and for its elaborate report containing the results of the visit. Rather to waste than to surrender, a quote from Bonny, the Maroon leader who in 1765 led the freedom movements by slaves who had fled the plantations in my country. Bonny was not a guerrilla, as mentioned in many books of history dictated by the colonizer, but he was a freedom fighter of the early hours of my country. The Maroons became that part of the African descent in Suriname that would later differentiate itself as tribal besides the indigenous people. The descendants of the enslaved are commonly called the Creole. Of course, urbanization has in today's world somehow blurred the difference between Maroons and Creoles. Nonetheless, both are peoples of African descent. In Suriname, slavery was abolished much later than in other parts of the world. After the abolition of slavery, the plantations were equipped with indentured laborers from Indonesia and British India. Suriname's population consists of ethnically, culturally, and religiously diverse groups coexisting peacefully. And I thank the working group for acknowledging this unity of diversity of my country. With regard to the report, please allow me to transmit a few points of feedback from my capital. The working group met with NACS and received a good view of the societal circumstances of the people of African descent. The General Bureau of Statistics was able to provide data to the working group of experts and the Bureau of Statistics acknowledges that equal opportunities such as access to public services requires open and constructive dialogue. The 2024 population and housing census by the Bureau of Statistics was provided to the working group of experts. The Ministry of Oil and Gas of Suriname has, in addressing the pollution, adverse impact of mining and climate change, referred information to the working group of experts in which the developments towards strengthening environmental management and policy in Suriname are demonstrated. However, the institutional capacity and improvement of environmental legislation is a work in progress. In the introduction on the three of the report, the name of the Central Penitentiary Institute should be corrected in Santoboma instead of Santaboma, so I request the working group of experts' attention for this point. The landmark jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as mentioned in the report, have been acknowledged by Suriname. In times when implementing these judgments were off and on politicized, time did not wait on my country, and the working group has marked the noncompliance in its report, which again may catalyze attention of policymakers and legislators to enact upon the judgments. The current government of Suriname has in its best efforts revive the national dialogue on the compliance with the judgments of the court. The government of Suriname thanks the working group of experts for the transparent and critical reporting, and Suriname will take support from the report and its recommendations safeguarding cultural heritage of specifically the Maroons in enhancing the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of the African of the people of African descent in Suriname. I'm looking forward to indeed a fruitful interactive dialogue. Thank you.

I thank you very much. I will also mention that the list of speakers is now closed. And, excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of this meeting. I thank also the interpreters who allowed us to work a couple of more minutes. And we will reconvene this afternoon at 3:00 PM to continue the interactive dialogue with the working group on people of African descent, to be followed by the interactive dialogue with the permanent forum on people of African descent. the presentation of reports and the general debate under agenda item 9. I hereby close the 33rd meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. Bon appetit.