34th Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council

Good afternoon, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. I hereby declare open the 34th meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. We will continue with our interactive dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, and we continue with the list of speakers. The first speaker is the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Madam Chair, we thank you for your report and for the important work the group of experts has carried out this year. The European Union is deeply committed to combating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to promoting pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality. This commitment extends to migration governance in line with national competences, including the protection of the human rights of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants, with particular attention to vulnerable persons and to ensuring the right to seek asylum and respect for the principle of non-refoulement. Migration management must go hand in hand with respect for the rights of all migrants without discrimination, including Africans and people of African descent. The EU's migration policy is human rights based and seeks to balance strong, well-managed borders with the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. Measures addressing difficult border situation must remain necessary and proportionate, including in the context of hybrid threats and the instrumentalisation of migration. Effective, sustainable, voluntary and non-voluntary returns are an essential component of a comprehensive and balanced migration policy. The EU also promotes reintegration and increasing voluntary returns, including through cooperation with African partners and in partnership with IOM and UNHCR. The EU remains committed to ensuring migration fully upholds the human rights of all migrants without discrimination. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Africa Group thanks the working group for the instructive report on the people of African descent entitled, "Crossings and Journeys: People of African Descent in Global Migration and the Enduring Architecture of Rationalization." The Africa Group takes note of the concerning conclusion by the Working Group that many at times violent and discriminatory border regimes, precarious migration pathways and systemic gaps reproduce global inequalities and deny migrants fundamental human rights in many states. The African Group condemns the surge of violent manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance precipitated by scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous ideologies. To correct this trend, states must optimize efforts in recognizing the dignity and equality of all peoples on the move, including Africans and the people of African descent, and the address to rationalize narratives, policies, and practices that devaluate their experience and suffering. States must ensure inclusive, meaningful, and effective participation of people of African descent in migration policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. In addition, the group supports the call to take measures to acknowledge and recognize the African contribution of Afro descent migrants to the social and economic development. Mr. Vice President, the full version of the statement will be posted on. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. Vice President. Jamaica thanks the Working Group of Experts

on People of African Descent for the thematic focus of its work on global migration.

As a host, transit, and destination country, the Jamaican government has long

recognized the importance of ensuring that migration is governed in a manner that protects the rights and dignity of migrants.

The Jamaican diaspora, which is approximately the same size as the population

of Jamaica, plays a significant role for Jamaica as well as for those countries Jamaicans now call home.

In this regard, the Jamaican delegation welcomes the working group's

recommendation that member states take measures to acknowledge the contribution of African and Afro-descendant migrants to the social and economic

development of receiving countries. Jamaica notes observation by the working group that temporary labor migration programs often perpetuate exploitation and racial discrimination.

For this reason, Mr. Vice President, Jamaica has ensured that our labor mobility agreements are routinely reviewed and strengthened to improve working conditions, ensure fair wages, and secure access to social benefits.

Notably, through the Overseas Employment Unit within the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, we have enhanced pre-departure training

programs to ensure that our workers are well informed of their rights and responsibilities.

In addition, Jamaica continues to engage host governments to monitor conditions and address concerns affecting Jamaican workers abroad. In closing, as we advance the second international decade of people of African descent, Jamaica remains committed to the mandate of the working group to promote the human rights of people of African

descent.

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

South Africa, please.

Thank you very

much, Mr. Vice President. South Africa aligns itself with the African Group statement and thanks the working group for its report. My delegation notes the conclusion by the working group that reported violent and discriminatory border regimes, precarious migration pathways, and systemic gaps that reproduce global inequalities and deny migrants fundamental human rights in many states. We share the view that humanizing migration requires recognizing the dignity and equality of all people on the move, including Africans and people of African descent, and addressing racialized narratives, policies, and practices that devaluate their experience and suffering. We maintain that enslavement, The trade in enslaved persons, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, colonialism, and other serious human rights violations inflicted on Africans and people of African descent need reparatory justice. As historic injustices and other serious human rights violations were inflicted on Africans and people of African descent as a group, reparatory justice must accrue to the collective. It must be comprehensive as the legacies of enslavement, The trade, including the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and colonialism, continue to affect all aspects of the lives of people of African descent. I thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, Uruguay would like to thank the working group for the report that it just presented. We find it fundamental to ensure that migratory policies and border management policies respect fully human rights, non-discrimination, prevent racial profiling, xenophobia, and continue to ensure safe and regular pathways. At the national level, the law on migration recognizes migration, family reunification as rights, and the first national plan for the integration of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees will translates this framework into specific steps. Nevertheless, there are still barriers for the effective access of migrants to information, housing, and certain services, as well as inequalities that affect people of African descent in employment, income, and representation. Law 19122 recognizes the historic discrimination suffered by this population and establishes action measures in the area of employment and education. We also praise the special attention given by the report to children and adolescents in the context of human mobility. Their best interests should guide all decisions related to migration, guaranteeing effective access to essential services and moving to put an end to detention of children that are migrants. Finally, we thank the working group if it could share with us best practices and effective implementation of safeguards identified in the report in the face of discriminatory bias and the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Thank you.

I give the floor to the delegation of Gambia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Gambia commends the working group for the report presented and for its continued leadership in confronting human rights challenges of Africans and people of African descent. It is deplorable that Africans and people of African descent continue to face disproportionate profiling and discriminatory border enforcement, a reality that reflects systemic racism in mobility. IOM's 2023 Global Migration Report also reports that while Africans represent only one-fifth of the world's migrant population, they remain disproportionately exposed to profiling, detention, and discrimination along migration routes. Migration among Africans and people of African descent are likely driven by the pervasive legacies of enslavement and colonialism in the countries of origin. Unfortunately, these migrants still find safe and legal migration pathways elusive, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. trafficking, racial profiling, and violent treatment by border control officials during transit and security forces in destination countries. We call on States to show greater respect for human dignity and human rights obligations in migration governance. We underscore the importance of continued international cooperation and technical support to assist national efforts aimed at strengthening monitoring mechanisms and ensuring the full protection of migrant rights. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ghana thanks the working group for its report. We welcome the report's recognition that legacies of enslavement and colonialism continue to shape contemporary racial discrimination, inequality, and exclusion. We particularly know the report's analysis of how these legacies remain embedded in migration governance, mobility regimes, and border practices. Ghana is concerned that restrictive visa regimes, racial profiling, detention, deportation, and inadequately regulated digital technologies can reproduce racialized inequalities and heighten the vulnerability of Africans and people of African descent to trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. We are equally alarmed about the persistence of historical injustices through contemporary structures affecting land rights, natural resources, displacement, economic opportunity, and access to justice. Ghana therefore supports the working group's call for rights-based migration governance, safe and regular migration pathways, and effective oversight. The importance for addressing both historical wrongs and their continuing consequences cannot be overstated. Ghana emphasizes that reparations, decolonization, self-determination, and international cooperation are essential to addressing structural racial inequality, strengthening access to justice, and ensuring the meaningful participation of people of African descent. Mr. Vice President, Ghana asks, how can states move from recognizing historical racial injustice to taking concrete measures that address its contemporary manifestations, including racialized migration, economic exclusion, and land dispossession, while ensuring meaningful participation of people of African descent? I thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice-President. I would like to thank the working group for the presentation of its work that highlights the scale of the difficulties that remain. Benin would like to reaffirm its full determination to contribute to this process. This commitment has been seen through the vote in September 2024 that grants the nationality of Benin to people of African descent that made relevant requests. This all has been translated in May 2026 by the broadening of the competencies of the Foreign Ministry of Benin to ensure the integration of people of African descent. This determination is based on a legal framework that prohibits any discrimination that is based on origin, race, or ethnicity. It also is translated to periodic public awareness campaigns that are aimed at preventing hate speech and ensure peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. Minister, Vice President. renews its support to the working group and colleges that continue work related to documentation dialogue with states in the formulation of operational recommendations to strengthen protection of human rights of people of African descent. In this perspective, what priority measures would you recommend to guarantee the effective participation of people of African descent in decision-making processes, especially at the community level? Thank you.

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

Mr. Vice President, Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group. We thank the working group of experts and people of African descent for their important report, "Crossings and Journeys: People of African Descent in Global Migration and the Enduring Architecture of Resilization." Sierra Leone shares the working group's concern that contemporary migration Governance continues to be shaped by the enduring legacies of slavery, colonialism, racism, racial discrimination, which have a disproportionate impact on Africans and people of African descent who are migrating. Guided by its 2022 national migration policy, a national implementation plan for the global impact for safe, orderly, and regular migration, Senegal impursues a rights-based approach to migration. We attach great importance to regional cooperation through the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, which remains an important framework for promoting safe, orderly, and regular mobility within West Africa. Senegal welcomes the recommendations of the working group and calls for their effective implementation. We also support the working group's call for equitable migration partnerships and the meaningful participation of people of African descent in migration. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Mr. Vice President, 25 years after Durban, commitments to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance have yet to translate into action. People of African descent continue to face systemic exclusion, violence, and inequality, including racism, at every stage of migration, as the working group's report shows. This is not accidental. It is rooted in the legacies of slavery and colonialism, reinforced by policy choices, and demands accountability. Migrants must be recognized as rights holders, not as threats to be managed. We note with concern rollbacks in some countries, including the dismantling of institutions dedicated to combating racism, threatening decades of progress. We are alarmed by rising hate speech online and offline, including on religious grounds, targeting people of African descent and migrants. Such narratives, amplified by the media, have turned the word "migrant" into a racialized label. The media must instead promote inclusion, dignity, and social cohesion, not fear. We welcome the working group's call for migration partnerships based on equality rather than surveillance and control, for safe and regular pathways, including family reunification, and for safeguards against racial bias in border technologies. Finally, we support the elaboration of a UN declaration on the promotion, protection, and the full respect of the human rights of people of African descent, and call on states to engage constructively in this process. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor now to distinguished representative of. They're not in the room. Now I give the floor to University for Peace.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the University for Peace, I thank the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for its report. This year's report on people of African descent and global migration documents how racialized borders and criminalized mobility continue to endanger millions. 40 million people of African descent are international migrants, and Africans and people of African descent are disproportionately represented among identified trafficking victims worldwide. The working group's own country visits this year point to the same pattern. Formal recognition, be it constitutional or statistical, has not yet translated into land rights, protection, or genuinely funded policy on the ground. We were struck by the working group's own call during its deliberations to decolonize education as a matter of migration and racial justice, not only a matter of curriculum. As an institution mandated to train the next generation of peace builders, the University for Peace shares that view. Durable racial justice requires reshaping our future officials, educators, and border and migration authorities are taught to see human mobility. We urge states to act on the working group's recommendations and to make the second International Decade for People of African Descent a decade of implementation, not only of recognition. I thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. Senegal aligns itself with the statement made by the African Group. Now, as we enter the second International Decade of People of African Descent, Structural inequalities continue in many areas, for example, access to education, health services, housing, and economic opportunities, as well as public representation. Systemic racism continues to deprive people of African descent of their full enjoyment of their rights, something that is exacerbated by climate change situation, digital domain, and others. These circumstances are related to continued difficulties related to the implementation of the DPA, and Senegal calls for specific measures to deal with racial inequality and ensure equal access to different opportunities for people of African descent. We praise the efforts taken by the working group and the support that is given to intergovernmental discussions on the elaboration of a draft declaration of the United Nations on respect and protection of the rights of people of African descent. Senegal also calls for the strengthening of economic cooperation and the protection of the most vulnerable. groups, especially women and girls. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President. Spain aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and thanks the recommendations contained in the report of the working group. We share the concern related to racial discrimination and speech that links migration and crime. Spain finds it of particular concern rise in hostile narratives that are fueled by disinformation, stereotypes that present migrants as a threat. This type of speech distorts reality, undermines and weakens democracy and social cohesion. Public policy and public debate should be based on evidence. And the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia carries out fundamental work in this area. Spain defends models of orderly migration and mobility to cover the needs for employment based on cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destination. We agree also on the need to broaden safe and regular pathways, strengthen protection in the face of trafficking and exploitation, give special attention to intersectional forms of discrimination that affect women, girls, and children of African descent, protection of fundamental rights and the effective management of migration are not incompatible. They mutually reinforce each other. We'll continue to work towards it. What good practices would the working group recommend to prevent racial profiling and guarantee the effective participation of people of African descent in the design, implementation and evaluation of these policies? Thank you.

I give the floor to the representative of the Council of Europe.

Honorable Mr. Vice President, on behalf of the Council of Europe, I would like to express my appreciation for the activities of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and for its excellent ongoing cooperation with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, ECRI, on issues of common interest. One example of this cooperation is the exchange of views that the chairperson of the working group of experts held with ECRI at its most recent plenary meeting in Strasbourg in July, during which she, together with representatives of the other UN bodies and mechanisms, discussed state action against racial profiling and other forms of racial discrimination in policing. ECRI greatly valued this exchange. Another illustration of this valuable cooperation is the joint messaging initiative against racist hate speech launched before the summer as part of which the chairperson of the working group of experts joined the chair of ECRE, the chair of the European Network of Equality Bodies, EQUINET, and the chair of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in a joint social media post published on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. We stand ready to continue our engagement in this cooperation. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group and takes note of the report of the working group. Kenya emphasizes that people of African descent should be able to migrate in safety and dignity without discrimination on the basis of race or origin. This protection must extend throughout migration journey, including at borders and in countries of transit and destination. Kenya is particularly concerned about racial profiling and discriminatory treatment that may expose migrants of African descent to arbitrary restrictions, exploitation, and unequal access to opportunities and services. As a country of origin, transit, and designation for migrants, Kenya attaches particular importance to ensuring that migration is safe, orderly, and regular, with safeguarding the dignity and the rights of migrants throughout migration cycle. Kenya therefore underscores the importance of strengthening cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination, including in addressing racial discrimination and other vulnerabilities encountered by migrants along the journeys. Migration should provide opportunity, and human mobility should never become a basis of racial discrimination or exclusions. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Lebanon thanks the Working Group for its thought-provoking work and for bringing a perspective that deserves our close attention. We welcome the reminder that the way we govern migration is ultimately a reflection of how we understand human dignity,

equality, and shared responsibility.

At a time when

migration is becoming an increasingly pressing challenge for many regions, including our own, we must resist the temptation to approach

human mobility solely through the lens of security and control.

For Lebanon, this discussion also highlights the importance of solidarity and addressing migration through cooperation, rather than through approaches that place disproportionate responsibility on countries of origin, transit, or destination.

No country can address these challenges alone.

We have moreover already invested in important multilateral tools, including the GCM, which provide valuable frameworks for strengthening international cooperation and ensuring greater predictability and responsibility in our collective response. The challenge is therefore our ability to translate all these frameworks into meaningful action.

which requires resources, cooperation, and above all, political will. We look forward to continued dialogue on how we can collectively make migration governance more humane, equitable, and effective. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Malawi aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African group and thanks the working group of experts on people of African descent for the presentation of its report. We remain concerned that people of African descent continue to experience racial discrimination, structural inequalities, and disparities in the enjoyment of human rights in different parts of the world. Addressing these challenges requires not only stronger legal and institutional protections, but also sustained efforts to confront their historical and structural causes. Malawi, therefore, welcomes the continued international focus on the rights of the people of African descent and underscores the importance of translating international commitments into concrete measures that advance equality, dignity, justice, and meaningful participation. We further emphasize the importance of international cooperation, education, and awareness raising, as well as the collection of responsible use of disaggregated data in developing effective responses to racial discrimination. What measures does the working group consider most effective in ensuring that commitments made at the international level translate into measurable improvements in daily lives? of people of African descent, particularly in addressing structural inequalities. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group, and thanks to the Open Group for its comprehensive report. Tanzania reaffirms its commitment to equality, non-discrimination, human dignity, and the protection of all persons on the move. Through the legal and institutional frameworks, including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Refugees Act, we cooperate with regional and international partners to combat trafficking and migrant smuggling and promote safe, orderly, and regular migration. Tanzania recognized the need to address socio-economic factors contributing to unsafe and irregular migration, including poverty, limited employment opportunities, and inequalities, through inclusive development, employment creation, social protection, and skills development. We also stressed the importance of combating racial profiling, xenophobia, and harmful stereotypes against Africans and people of African descent. We emphasized that migration, including the use of digital technologies and biometrics, must respect privacy, data protection, transparency, human oversight, and accountability. Tanzania supports strong African regional and international cooperation while respecting national sovereignty and remain committed to safe and a human right-based migration governance that ensure dignity, equality, and respect for all persons on the move. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

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

Thank you, Vice President. Welcome the group of experts, and we take note of the report, and we express our concern about the continued suffering of millions of people from all forms of discrimination on the basis of religion, race, or color, including during migration. We share the concern about the misuse of AI in a manner that would entrench racial discrimination against African migrants and people of African descent through subjecting them to to more scrutiny or exclusion. The use of AI and digital technologies in the context of migration should be based on the international human rights law while taking into account the prevention of any racial discrimination as a result of the use of these technologies. Egypt reiterates the need to fully implement the Durban Declaration Program of Action as a comprehensive framework to address contemporary forms of discrimination racism and we need to continue consultations on the UN Declaration on the respect of human rights for people of African descent. Thank you.

Thank

you. Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Ethiopia

thanks the working group for its report and welcomes its focus on the intersection of migration, racial discrimination, and historical

injustice.

Ethiopia reaffirms its commitment to equality and non-discrimination, human dignity, and international cooperation consistent with the UN Charter and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. We underscore that addressing racism and racial Discrimination requires attention to their historical and structural dimensions. Migration governance should remain human, balanced, and rights-based while respecting national sovereignty and the legitimate interest of states. Utopia supports strengthening international cooperation to expand safe, orderly and regular migration pathways, combat trafficking and smuggling, and protect migrants from exploitation and discrimination, particularly women and children.

At the same time, addressing the

root cause of irregular migration, including poverty, inequality, limited economic opportunities, conflict and climate related challenges. require greater development cooperation, capacity building, and equitable partnership.

In closing, Ethiopia calls upon meaningful African participation in shaping global migration policies and calls for

strengthened North-South and South-South cooperation based on mutual respect and shared responsibility. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Gracias, Filippa.

Thank you. I call on Algeria Ambassador.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, we commended the report of the working group and we share the concern about the escalating policies of racial discrimination and their consequent, uh, results, the, uh, this report, uh, co… finds resonance with our conclusions. Facing discrimination requires a comprehensive approach based on accountability and compensation. And therefore, my country last year organized an international conference on the crimes of colonization in Africa, a conference that culminated in adoption Algeria declaration as a framework to promote the efforts of the African Union to address this critical issue. My country also welcomes the adoption the General Assembly a historic resolution that classifies discrimination, exploitation of people of African descent as a serious crime. In closing, Algeria shares the recommendations of the report vis-a-vis AI. We caution that this technology could entrench racism and new ways, establishing governance for AI is something crucial now. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Iran.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Iran thanks the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for its valuable report on crossing and journeys of people of African descent in global migration. Iran welcomes the focus on the enduring architecture of racialization. The report highlights that current migration governance often fails to respect human rights standards and reflect embedded racist attitudes, including afrophobia through border management. This is further worsened by the criminalization of immigration and the use of AI. We strongly condemn afrophobia in all its forms. The legacies of colonialism and enslavement continue to drive migration by feeding poverty, conflict, and exclusion. We stress the urgent need for the inclusive migration frameworks that uphold human rights and ensure protection for Africans and people of African descent in countries of origin, transit and destination. My delegation has one question. Could the working group elaborate on the specific indicators it considers most useful for distinguishing Afrophobia in border management from other forms of indiscriminatory migration control, particularly where providing risk assessment tools or AI-assisted screening may produce racially differentiated outcomes without explicitly referring to race. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I go on Peru. Peru, please.

Vice President of Peru, thanks to the working group for presenting its report and note the challenges terms of racial discrimination that can affect people of African descent on the move, including profiling. Those challenges point to the need to address racism and racial profiling in public policy to support rights. Our national policy on Afro-Peruvians is the axis of our State action that seeks to improve socioeconomic standards, promote participation, and focus on the needs of Afro-Peruvians. In 2026, we declared our interest in the second decade of people of African descent and established intersectoral mechanisms to bring public services in health and education closer to Afro-Peruvians. using statistics based on self-identification is crucial for differentiated responses and for bridging gaps. Safe, regular migration should help Afro-descendants to access their rights. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Cameron.

Thank you, Vice-President.

Cameroon aligns with the statement by Kenya on behalf of the African Group and thanks the working group for its report. My country reaffirms its commitment to the principles of equality, non-discrimination and dignity enshrined in the DDPA. We share the need to ensure that migration policies and border management fully respect human rights and do not lead to racial profiling nor stigmatisation of Africans and people of African descent. A sustainable response also requires enhanced cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination. In this regard, Cameroon recognises its diaspora as an important component of the national community. In June 2026, the second Cameroonian Diaspora Day enabled public authorities to strengthen dialogue with Cameroonians living abroad and promote their participation in national development, in particular through a diaspora and development project, which consists of the creation of a regulated savings product for both Cameroonians abroad and national residents. Cameroon remains committed to migration governance based on dignity, non-discrimination, and respect for human rights. It will continue to promote at the regional and international levels and enhance cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination in order to prevent racial profiling and stigmatisation, ensure dignified treatment at borders and promote safe, orderly and regular mobility of Africans and people of African descent. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on China.

Mr. President, China welcomes the dialogue between the Human Rights Council and the

working group, and thanks the working group for its report.

Today, people of African

descent continue to suffer from structural racism, economic exclusion, judicial injustice, and stigmatization of their identity in many countries. China knows with concern that some Western countries are seriously violating the rights of people of African descent on the move.

At the same time, AI, as a double-edged sword, provides development opportunities for people of African descent, but also exposes them to digital bias.

China calls upon the countries concerned to

face up to and genuinely shoulder their historical responsibilities, cease infringing upon the human rights of people

of African descent, and take proactive measures to eliminate systemic racial injustice.

It is important to value the use of digital technology to empower people of African descent, bridge the digital divide, achieve digital justice, and ensure that people of African descent

enjoy the fruits of development on an equal footing.

China is ready to join the international community in advancing the effective implementation of the DDPA.

Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Cuba.

Vice President. Cuba welcomes the GA declaration on trafficking in enslaved Africans as a crime against humanity. This is a fair and necessary qualification. The effects of these crimes remain to this day. Racial profiling in visas and police policy on people of African descent the seizure of their lands and resources. All of this is more frequent in developed countries. This is the effect of centuries of racial discrimination. Millions of people of African descent are having to use precarious migration that threatens their lives. Cuba supports the recommendations of the group of experts to create a mechanism to ensure that migration-related data for people of African descent and Africans are addressed through reparatory justice mechanisms based on dignity and inclusion. We will continue to contribute to international efforts to promote and protect human rights of people of African descent. Thank you.

Thank you. That was the last delegation taking the floor on this agenda item and we will move to the NGOs and I call on the representative of the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations. It appears they are not here, so we will call on the International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and other Minorities. They also do not appear to be here. So we shall turn to a joint statement by the, I'm sorry, a video statement by Amnesty International. Amnesty.

Mr. President, Amnesty International welcomes the report by the Working Group on People of African Descent in Global Migration and the Enduring Architecture of Racialization and its finding and recommendations. We share the working group's main conclusion that contemporary migration governance carries echoes of racially discriminatory and colonial historical legacies. Amnesty International research on the so-called tied visa supports the working group finding that temporary labor migration programs often perpetuate exploitation and racial discrimination, reducing migrants to commodities in a racialized supply chain. Amnesty International highlights In particular, the working group conclusion that migration governance should not be centered on deportation and removal, but on right-based alternative, including regularization. The organization joins the working group calls on states to shift migration governance from punitive removal to community-based pathway for regular migration, including regularization, and support systems that prioritize healing and integration. Amnesty International strongly support the conclusion that reparation for enslavement and colonialism are indispensable for addressing the root cause of irregular migration. Amnesty International research support the working group finding on how pervasive legacies of enslavement and colonialism has resulted in exclusion and marginalization and continue to manifest in contemporary human rights violation. Thank you.

Thank you.

I call on Tournay Lapage.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. We thank the Working Group for its work on racial discrimination and colonization. Eelam Tamils in North-East Sri Lanka have faced discrimination for many years, including violence, unfair law, land issue and militarization. Many people were killed and families of the disappeared continue to seek justice. The Prevention of Terrorism Act has also been used for arbitrary arrest and long detention especially against Tamils. Tamil families still wait for justice and answers about their loved ones. Their rights and safety must be protected. A legitimate solution must respect their right to decide their own future. We ask the working group, first, what responsibility does the United Kingdom have for the problems caused by its past colonial rule? Second, Will the working group support the right of Eelam Tamils to decide their own political future through an internationally supervised referendum? Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Thank you. And we will now have a video statement by Action Ecologique Francaise.

Madam President, we thank the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for its report. Eelam Tamils, a distinct people of Sri Lanka's northeast, have endured decades of racial discrimination, discriminatory laws, state-sponsored colonization of Tamil lands, military occupation, and the denial of their identity, language, and homeland. This is the legacy of failed decolonization. In 1948, the United Kingdom transferred power without safeguard for the Tamil nation. More than 75 years later, the consequences remain. The Prevention of Terrorism Act is used to arbitrarily arrest and detain Tamils without trial and is linked to enforced disappearances. In Jaffna, Mothers of the Disappeared organised the Long Road to Justice conference on 30th August 2026. Families still seek truth and the fate of their loved ones. Their courage deserves the Council's attention. First, given more than 75 years of the United Kingdom's failed decolonisation, How will the working group address the responsibility of former colonial powers for the racial discrimination inherited by people such as the Eelam Tamils? Second, will the working group recognize the right to self-determination of the Eelam Tamils as an essential remedy against the racial discrimination? I thank you.

Thank.

You, Aikuran. International lawyers.

We thank the working group for its report and welcome the renewal of its mandate.

The report is clear.

Racial discrimination against people of African descent is structural.

It is rooted in enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism.

Today, it shapes border governance. We see racial profiling, prolonged detention, punitive deportations and discriminatory digital technologies.

Human rights are universal.

Yet, for people of African descent, they too often remain conditional on race, on nationality, on migration status.

We are particularly concerned that these violations continue without accountability.

The United Nations Declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent is a historic opportunity. It can turn these findings into a normative framework.

We urge States to engage constructively and in good faith.

And we ask that the declaration.

First, be anchored in existing binding obligations, including the prohibition of racial discrimination and non-refoulement, and apply them expressly to.

Migration and border governance. Second, recognize reparatory justice, consistent with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Third, provide for follow-up, including disaggregated data and independent monitoring.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We shall hear PDS by video.

Program of Action reaffirmed that racism, racial and religious discrimination, as well as hate speech, represent a direct threat to human dignity and to international peace and security. In this regard, our Organization wishes to draw the Council's attention to the situation of minorities and people of African descent in North Africa and the Sahel.

Several countries of the region, Christians and Amazighs.

In Algeria, Black communities in Tunisia, Tuareg and Toubous and Sub-Saharan migrants in Libya, continue to face discrimination, stigmatization, and restrictions in the exercise of their fundamental rights. At the same time, some positive initiatives deserve recognition. Tunisia's adoption of Law No. 50 of 2018 against racial discrimination, and Morocco's reform of the religious sphere through the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams and Moulhieds, which promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Mr. President, to give full effect to the Durban Declaration in this region, we call upon this Council and the States concerned to: Adopt national legislation criminalizing all forms of racial and religious discrimination. Implement inclusive public policies that ensure the full participation of minorities. Introduce educational and cultural programs promoting diversity, tolerance, and equal citizenship. Strengthen cooperation with relevant UN mechanisms under Item 9. Change is possible when political will and international cooperation converge. Thank you, Mr. President.

That was the last.

Statement, except for the International Commission of Jurists, which is now here.

The ICJ and Human Rights Watch welcome this opportunity to address the working group on the situation of black African migrants and refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia and Libya. Since 2023, in the wake of an agreement with the EU, the Tunisian authorities have subjected black African migrants and refugees to arbitrary detention, ill treatment, sexual violence, and collective expulsions. Concurrently, the authorities have targeted associations supporting migrants and refugees and fighting racism through abusive prosecutions and arbitrary detention of their members. This includes MMTI, whose president, Sadia Mosbah, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment on appeal in June for her human rights work. In Libya, the EU and its member states are furthering support to Western and Eastern authorities despite their practice of widespread abuse, enabling interceptions at sea and forcible returns of migrants refugees who face arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, enslavement, refoulement and unlawful killings. In July, the ICC confirmed charges against Khaled El-Isri for crimes perpetrated at Mitiga prison, finding that black migrants were specifically targeted for enslavement and persecution. In both countries, European policies of border control externalization have exacerbated hate speech and racist attacks on black persons. We call on this Council and Member States to act to from Tunisia and Libya, to uphold the rights of black African migrants and refugees, and to urge European states to stop outsourcing migration control to authorities committing abuses in Tunisia and Libya. I thank you.

Thank you. I will give the floor back to Ms. Mamadou for four minutes to make her final comments. Thank you.

President, Excellencies, I welcome the contributions to this dialogue, particularly the readiness of Suriname and Mexico to adopt the recommendations made and work with the working group to implement them. I want to start with the question as how to strengthen state safeguards against abusive use of AI to control migration. In the context of migration, technology is not neutral. facial recognition and profiling can broaden the existing racialized biases. Migrants must be treated as rights holders and not as data. So technology should reduce and not strengthen inequalities and states must evaluate its impact on human rights and ensure transparency and independent supervision, ensuring that where persons are affected by discrimination, there are reparations available as regards how to ensure the participation by people of African descent in migration policy affecting them. Policies must not be based on criminalization and exclusion, but rather on human rights, dignity, and racial justice, so that migrants feel safe to participate in significant fashion in the spaces where policies and migration solutions are designed without fear of deportation or detention. on Spain's question on racial profiling states must establish laws and policies that prohibit the use of race and ethnic origin as a basis for suspicion and decision making in law enforcement and must train the police in diversity to recognize prejudices and avoid them influencing action as well as based action on international human rights standards. Excellencies, distinguished participants, during this 63rd session, the mandate of the working group will be renewed. I should recall that in these 24 years, it has carried out decades of series. of sessions, carried out many country visits and produced four thematic studies, including the one on global migration that was presented today. There have been some 200 communications to States members and other stakeholders on situations affecting the rights of people of African descent. This progress shows what the mandate can do. And therefore, I encourage States Parties, civil society and other UN mechanisms to strengthen cooperation and coordination with us in order together to amplify the impact of our work 24 years on from our creation. Our determination is the same. Equality must be more than a promise. It must be a reality for all people of African descent. Thank you once more for your participation and for your valuable contributions to this dialogue. Thank you.

This brings us to the end of this interactive dialogue. I wish to thank Ms. Mamadou for her participation. and for her work, as well as that of the other members of the group, to achieve these results. Thank you. We will now take a brief, short break before the interactive dialogue with the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Excellencies, distinguished participants, we will now begin the interactive dialogue with the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. As is per usual practice, the list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. And I give the floor to the Chair of the Permanent Forum, Ms. Gayla Curry, to present the report.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, their colleagues, it is an honor to present the report of the Permanent Forum, "I can't breathe." We remember where those words came from. These words not only captured the horror of a particular injustice, but the enduring reality that the lives, dignity, and human rights of people of African descent continued to be shaped by racial discrimination and inequality. And yet, years later, these words echo in racialized violence, in exclusion, in the denial of equal opportunity, in racist hate online, in the normalization of white supremacist ideologies, in political statements targeting migrants and minorities, and in growing pushback against the very special measures designed to confront racial discrimination. The color line that the Pan-Africanist civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois popularized in his book, The Souls of Black Folk, more than a century ago, has not disappeared. It has survived, adapted, and in some places, is being defended. Today, the tragedy is not only that racism persists. It is that, after all we have witnessed, the space to fight it is now itself being contested. Excellencies, it is precisely in such moments that international commitments matter most. 25 years ago, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action gave the international community a comprehensive framework for confronting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Just two days ago, marking its 25th anniversary, Member States stressed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and called for renewed political will and action. However, for many people of African descent, the promise made in Durban remains unfulfilled. The gap between international commitments and lived realities remains one of the central challenges before us. It is this implementation gap that emerged as a central concern during the fifth session of the Permanent Forum. In our recommendations, we call on Member States to move beyond commitments and adopt concrete institutional reforms, supported by effective monitoring, follow-up and accountability mechanisms. States should also ensure meaningful participation of affected communities and adopt policies informed by disaggregated data and grounded in international human rights standards. It is a time when progress is being challenged in many parts of the world. Our message is clear. Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action must be accelerated, not diminished. Excellencies, A recurring theme throughout our work this year was reparatory justice. In this regard, the recent recognition of the General Assembly of the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized cattle enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity represents an important milestone. Yet recognition alone is not enough. Standard setting and processes leading to their implementation are therefore needed. This is why the Permanent Forum welcomes the adoption of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination General Recommendation No. 40 on reparatory justice. This general recommendation contributes to the growing body of international human rights standards on reparations and provides valuable guidance for states seeking to address enduring consequences of these historical injustices. The Permanent Forum has emphasized that reparatory justice is not solely about addressing historical wrongs. It is about confronting their continuing consequences and transforming the conditions that sustain inequality today. reparatory justice requires measures aimed at restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, guarantees of non-repetition, land justice, climate justice, digital justice, economic justice, and the restoration of dignity, among others. It requires acknowledging that many of the disparities experienced by people of African descent today are rooted in historical systems of exploitation, whose efforts remain visible across generations. Within this broader framework, the Permanent Forum devoted particular attention to cultural heritage and restitution in its annual session. The extraction of cultural property archives, sacred objects, and human remains formed an integral part of colonial domination. Restitution therefore constitutes an essential dimension of reparatory justice and of the realization of cultural rights. This is why the Permanent Forum calls for renewed efforts to facilitate the return of cultural property required during colonialism, to remove obstacles that continue to impede restitution processes, to integrate restitution into broader reparatory justice frameworks, and to ensure the meaningful participation of people of African descent in all decisions concerning the preservation, protection, and restitution of their cultural heritage. Finally, The Permanent Forum welcomes the growing momentum of reparatory justice, including the updated CARICOM 10-point plan for reparatory justice, a manifesto for the coming enlightenment, and the African Union's continued leadership, particularly through its decade of reparations, 2026 to 2036. We stand ready to support all these efforts and to continue placing reparatory justice at the center of our work. To reiterate, the Permanent Forum has recommended and called for a global conference on reparatory justice, an international study on the legal dimensions of reparatory justice, and the eventual establishment of an international mechanism to address reparatory justice. Excellencies, This year, the Permanent Forum also devoted particular attention to the rights and aspirations of youth of African descent. Young people are not merely beneficiaries of public policy. They are rights holders, leaders, and agents of change whose participation is essential to advancing racial justice. Yet many continue to face structural barriers in education, employment, health, political participation, and access to technology. They are disproportionately affected by racial profiling, criminalization, online hate speech, and digital exclusion. They do not want their voices to be the exception. The youth of today said it clearly to our annual session. They are not waiting for the future to lead. They are already contributing to the conversations that will shape it. The Permanent Forum therefore stresses the importance of institutionalizing meaningful youth participation at all levels, investing in youth leadership improving the collection of disaggregated data, and ensuring equitable access to education, technology, and economic opportunities. We also want many more girls, girls of African descent, and young women of African descent to see themselves represented in UN spaces in these halls, including in the Permanent Forum, and to have meaningful opportunities to contribute to its work. For this reason, we recommend strengthening youth participation through more structured and sustainable mechanisms for engagement, including dedicated youth platforms and enhanced digital participation. Excellencies, the Permanent Forum also continued its engagement in contributing to the development of the draft UN Declaration on the respect, protection and fulfillment of the human rights of people of African descent. Throughout the year, we engaged in intergovernmental working group negotiations and facilitated civil society consultations, including consultations held in Brazil last November and earlier this year in Canada. The consultations helped channel the views, aspirations and recommendations of organizations and communities from the ground who are unable to access or with limited access to the intergovernmental processes and discussions here in Geneva. A further consultation is expected to take place in Europe later this year, ensuring that voices from the region also continue to inform this important process, and we are particularly interested in hearing from civil society in Europe. Building on these consultations, and on its own deliberations, the Permanent Forum also submitted additional recommendations on specific thematic areas to strengthen the draft declaration. We urge member states to carefully review and consider our recommendations while advancing the drafting of the UN declaration with the aim of strengthening the global human rights framework for people of African descent, within this second International Decade. Excellencies, allow me now to address what was one of the most important issues that we looked at this year, the future of the Permanent Forum itself. The message that emerged from the fifth session was unequivocal. The Permanent Forum has demonstrated its value. It has become the largest platform within the United Nations dedicated to discussing the human rights of people of African descent. Over its first five years, it has brought together more than 4,000 participants from over 130 countries, generating truly global and inclusive spaces for engagement. Through 329 side events, more than 1,000 statements, and more than 15 thematic discussions, the Permanent Forum has enabled diverse stakeholders from around the world to collectively set the agenda for discussion, identify priorities, shape recommendations, and contribute to a shared agenda for action. It has also fostered strong and growing participation by women of African descent, who represent the majority of participants in the annual sessions. Most importantly, the Permanent Forum has translated dialogue into action, issuing more than 160 recommendations to Member States, the United Nations, and other stakeholders to advance the rights of people of African descent. Our work is to collectively take action to realize these recommendations, and the permanent forum is developing matrix to assess the implementations of its recommendations. But our work is far from complete. At a time of growing backlash against racial justice, diversity and inclusion, and when multilateralism itself faces growing pressures, the response cannot be to weaken the main UN platform dedicated to discussing the human rights concerns of people of African descent. It cannot be the decision to cut or limit the permanent forum in any way. In this regard, we welcome the recommendations of the High Commissioner's report on the modalities of the permanent forum. We encourage the Human Rights Council to take these recommendations into consideration in its evaluation of the modalities of the Permanent Forum, including but not limited to extending its annual session to five days, enabling hybrid participation, strengthening secretariat capacity, and support for stronger youth engagement. We also call on member states to recognize the importance of the Permanent Forum in galvanizing reparatory justice processes. Excellencies, our annual report before the Council is, above all, a call to action. It is a call to move from commitments to implementation, from recognition to accountability, and from acknowledgement of historical injustices to concrete measures capable of addressing their continuing consequences. 25 years after Durban, the persistence of racism can no longer be attributed to the lack of institutions or policies to combat discrimination, but to the failure to address its structural systemic root. What is needed now is action to address this issue at its root. It is time to make the rights, dignity, and equality of people of African descent a lived reality. I therefore invite the Human Rights Council and all member states to support the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report and to reaffirm through concrete actions their commitment to racial justice, equality, and human dignity for all. As Nigerian novelist and poet Chinua Achebe observed, there is a moral obligation not to ally oneself with power against the powerless. That obligation calls on us to ensure that institutions stand with those confronting racial discrimination, not merely in principle, but through decisions that shift power, secure accountability, and produce lasting change. This is how we make the rights, dignity, and equality of people of African descent a lived reality. I thank you.

Now, the list of.

Speakers is now closed. I would like to invite interested delegations to ask questions and make comments and speaking time. will be 1 minute 30 seconds. The first one, Speaker Malmsten, Sweden.

Mr. Vice President, on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries, I thank the.

Chair and the members of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent for the report on the Forum's fifth session and for their.

Continued efforts to advance the full enjoyment of human rights of people of African descent worldwide.

The Nordic-Baltic countries remain firmly committed to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all their forms.

We recognize that structural inequalities and discrimination continue to.

Affect people of African descent in many societies and require sustained, evidence-based and rights-based responses.

We welcome the Forum's focus on young people of African descent as rights holders and agents of change. We agree that inclusive and meaningful participation of young people is essential in order to address the inequalities and discrimination that continue to affect people of African descent around the world. Madam Chair of the Forum, looking ahead at the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, what measures does the Forum consider most effective for ensuring that commitments made under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action?

Are translated into concrete improvements in the lives of people of African descent, particularly young people.

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

The European Union welcomes the work of the Permanent Forum, to which session it participated actively and fully. The EU and its Member States acknowledge the lasting consequences of colonialism, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, and reaffirm the importance to take concrete measures to address these, in line with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which could include the restitution of illicitly acquired cultural goods and human remains to the country of origin, in accordance with bilateral agreements, international and national law. Museums and collections are not neutral repositories. They reflect histories of encounter, including histories marked by enslavement, colonialism, and diverse forms of discrimination, including racial discrimination, which should be addressed honestly and responsibly. The EU also thanks the Permanent Forum for their focus on the role of young people. Youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but active contributors to inclusive, resilient, and democratic societies today. indispensable in addressing global challenges and shaping sustainable futures. The EU would like to invite the Permanent Forum to continue its work, carefully looking at synergy and efficiencies, and we look forward to engaging with the membership on reviewing the modalities of the Permanent Forum in the upcoming evaluation. Madam Chair, the EU looks forward to welcoming the Permanent Forum in Brussels in December for its regional European consultation and continuing our productive exchanges. I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Jamaica delivers this statement on behalf of the CARICOM states in Geneva. CARICOM welcomes the focus on reparatory justice and cultural heritage at the fifth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, which aligns with the 2026 revised CARICOM 10-point plan for reparatory justice, a manifesto for the coming enlightenment. CARICOM Heads of Government reiterated that the return of cultural artifacts, restoration of cultural identity, and support for creative industries and cultural institutions are key elements of reparatory justice. Several CARICOM member states have advanced efforts to promote reparatory justice, including Barbados' hosting of the third CARICOM Regional Conference on Reparations and Jamaica's filing of a historic petition on reparatory justice to Buckingham Palace. notwithstanding these important developments. CARICOM recognizes that the pursuit of reparatory justice extends beyond any single state or region and requires broad international engagement. In this regard, CARICOM welcomed the operationalization in June 2026 of the Joint Mechanism on Reparative Justice between the African Union and the CARICOM Reparations Commission. Mr. Vice President, CARICOM underscores the value of the Permanent Forum's mandate concerning the protection and promotion of all human rights of people of African descent calls on states to support the strengthening and effective resourcing of the forum in the ongoing evaluation of its modalities pursuant to UNGA Resolution 75/314. Thank you.

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

The African Group thanks the Permanent Forum for the effective report on the fifth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, entitled "Expanding the human rights of people of African descent and a second International Decade for People of African Descent". The Group takes note of the achievements of the Permanent Forum at its milestone five-year mark, which include the renewal of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the collection and publication of disaggregated data, and the inclusion of of African descent in various global policy dialogues at the United Nations. It has also outlined a roadmap for reparatory justice. The Group welcomes the cooperation forged by the Permanent Forum with various regional organizations, especially between the African Union and its diaspora. In this regard, we appreciate the Group's acceptance of the invitation from the African Union to co-host the sixth session of the Permanent Forum. The Group further notes the report's recommendation, centered on the 25th year of the Durban Declaration, strengthening global solidarity with people of African descent, and welcomes the reaffirmation of the DDPA as the most comprehensive global framework to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance affecting Africans and people of African descent, and as a vital tool for responding to contemporary forms of racial discrimination, including those that arise from the inappropriate use of artificial intelligence. The full version of this statement will be posted on the extranet.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We align with the statement delivered by Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM. The Bahamas thanks the Permanent Forum for its report, welcomes its recommendations, and commends its chair and members for their leadership. The second International Decade for People of African Descent gives us an opportunity to turn recognition into change that people can feel. The Forum is vital to that effort. It brings the voices of people of African descent into these discussions and helps connect their lived experience to international action. As its modalities are reviewed, we urge all States to support strengthening the Forum and to provide sustained, predictable and adequate resources for its mandate. We welcome the report's attention to the growing movement for reparatory justice. For the Caribbean, the legacies of enslavement and colonialism remain visible, including in unequal access to opportunity and finance. Climate change compounds these inequalities, with consequences for communities already facing structural disadvantage. Reparatory justice must therefore address both historical harms and the conditions shaping lives today. As stated by Prime Minister Davis at the recent UN General Assembly General Debate, we call on the nations that profited to engage seriously with reparatory justice, truth, apology, restoration, and development. The Bahamas looks forward to working with the Forum to make the second decade one of meaningful progress and change for all people of African descent. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by Kenya on behalf of the Africa Group.

South Africa thanks the Permanent Forum for its fifth report and appreciates that the report focused on the DDPA.

We share the view that reparatory justice is essential to the full and effective implementation of the DDPA.

We welcome the recent General Assembly resolution.

Declaring the enslavement of Africans the gravest crime against humanity.

South Africa therefore encourages states to integrate the DTPA.

Into national educational curricula and advocacy campaigns as a tangible implementation measure within the second International Decade for Peoples of.

African Descent.

States should also align their commitments under.

DTPA with a broader international agenda, including the SDGs, the international financial reform agenda, and also climate change, climate action.

To ensure tangible action, South Africa supports the call for the United Nations anti-racism human rights mechanisms to consider convening a session on how.

The draft UN Declaration on Respect, Protection and Fulfillment of the Human Rights of People of African Descent can strengthen human rights standards for addressing systemic and structural racial inequalities within and among countries and their roots in historical injustices.

Sustainable development I thank you.

Thank you I give the floor to distinguished representative of Chad it seems that Chad is not in the room give the floor to the next speaker on my list Barbados.

Mr. Vice President, Barbados welcomes the report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and is especially supportive of its findings on reparatory justice as a means of enhancing the human rights of people of African descent. On that note, Barbados recently hosted the third CARICOM Regional Conference on Reparations, which concluded with the official launch of the newest iteration of the CARICOM 10-point plan for reparations, a manifesto for the coming enlightenment. The historic vote at the United Nations General Assembly on March 25, 2026, on the Ghana-led resolution designating the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity is a truth that we, the people of African descent, have long known. Sadly, the sentiment that governs enslavement remains deeply entrenched today through systemic racism and global economic disparity. Mr. Vice-President, Barbados calls for the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and supports the Second International Decade for People of African Descent to address ongoing racial injustice, as well as the draft resolution on the human rights of people of African descent. This is not a zero-sum game. Global frameworks on reparatory justice will only redound to the benefit of the entire world. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. UNFPA welcomes the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent report on its fifth session and commends its focus on youth as key agent of change. The report highlights persistent health disparities for young women and girls of African descent, particularly regarding maternal mortality and sexual and reproductive health. Intersecting barriers compounded by discrimination, violence and mental health strains continue to undermine their human rights and socioeconomic inclusion. UNFPA notes the forum's findings on digital space risks, including online hate speech and hypersexualization, and reaffirms the need for intersectional policies and disaggregated data to make these disparities visible and actionable. In line with the report's recommendations, UNFPA partners with governments and Afro-descendant organizations to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services, family planning, and comprehensive sexuality education. remain dedicated to generating evidence on structural racism and sexism to inform accountable policy responses. We echo the call for meaningful institutionalized youth participation, ensuring young people of African descent, especially girls and young women, shape the policies affecting their health, rights, and futures. UNFPA remains committed to advance right-based approaches that uphold the dignity, right, and potential of all people of African descent. I thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice-President. The delegation believes that systemic racism and discrimination remain inseparable from the trauma related to the transatlantic slave trade in the colonial period. This is why my country supports the efforts of the Permanent Forum to promote reparatory justice based on the duty of memory, historic memory, and the restitution of the cultural heritage of African countries in particular. This means that reparation of prejudices that have been inherited from the past requires strong and robust actions and mechanisms that are turned to the future that are based on history, research, and the edification of sites related to memory. Benin has already started working in this direction through the creation of the International Museum on Memory and Slavery, the institutionalization and the national plan of the International Day related to the slave trade and its abolition, celebrated the and the continuation of our work to restitute our cultural heritage that we started with France in 2016. Now, but I'd like to reiterate our full support to the permanent forum as it implements its mandate. Thank you.

Thank you.

I call on Guatemala.

Thank you, Vice-President. Guatemala welcomes the presentation of the report of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and recognizes its important contribution to making visible the challenges facing people of African descent. The deliberations of its fifth session highlighted that one of the main challenges continues to be translating international commitments into tangible results. in the face of racism and racial and structural discrimination. Guatemala as a multi-ethnic, multicultural, multilingual country recognizes structural particularities in order to guarantee the full exercise of the rights of Garifuna and Afro-descendant people. We are thus promoting spaces for dialogue with their leaders, recognizing their identity, history, and forms of organization. In the framework of the second International Decade for People of African Descent, we wish to ask what specific mechanisms has the Forum considered to be a priority for its conclusions and international commitments to be translated into national public policy that are measurable, sustainable, and built with the effective participation of the rights holders themselves? Thank.

You.

Thank you. I call on Sierra Leone.

Vice President, my delegation aligns with the African Group statements and welcomes the Forum's reaffirmation of the DDP as the most comprehensive framework for addressing racism. We place particular importance on the Forum's focus on reparative justice. We recognize that meaningful redress requires acknowledgment of historical injustices, restitution, rehabilitation, and measures that address the enduring consequences of enslavement, colonialism, and racial discrimination. We commend the leadership of Ghana and the African Union on reparative justice, and we welcome the designation of 2025 as the Year of Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations. Sierra Leone also welcomes the Forum's recognition of the restitution of cultural heritage as an integral component of reparative justice. The return of cultural artifacts, archives, and heritage assets helps to restore identity, dignity, and historical memory. We acknowledge the recommendations set out in the report and urge the implementation of concrete measures to realize them. We also endorse the Forum's emphasis on engaging with young people of African descent as right holders and agents of change. And I thank you, Vice President.

Thank you. I call on Kenya.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group and welcomes the report of the Permanent Forum. As we advance the second International Decade of People of African Descent, Kenya underscores the importance of translating its objectives of recognition, justice and development into concrete action that improves the enjoyment of human rights by people of African descent. In this regard, Kenya welcomes the report's emphasis on reparatory justice, addressing and enduring consequences of enslavement. The transatlantic trade and colonialism requires measures that acknowledge historical injustices while addressing their continuing effects. Kenya particularly recognizes the importance of restitution of cultural heritage as part of this process. The return of cultural artifacts taken from Africa contributes to restoring cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and advancing meaningful reparatory justice. Kenya further supports continued progress on the United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent as an important contribution to strengthening their protection. The second international decade provides an opportunity to move from commitments towards sustained implementation and tangible progress in the lives of people of African descent. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on the State of Palestine.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The State of Palestine thanks the Permanent Forum for its report. We welcome its reaffirmation of the DDPA as the most comprehensive global framework for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance affecting Africans and people of African descent, and as a vital tool for responding to contemporary forms of racial discrimination. We call for its full implementation. We stand in full solidarity with African states and with people of African descent in their pursuit of justice for slavery, the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and colonialism. The consequences of these crimes and historical injustices continue to shape lives through structural racism, economic inequality, and denial of dignity. We endorse the call for accountability, reparatory justice, including restitution of cultural heritage, and effective remedy for victims. Palestinians know colonial rule and racial discrimination intimately. For over seven decades, the Palestinian people have endured colonialism, dispossession, and apartheid, and for the past three years, genocide. Our struggles are bound by shared principles, equality, dignity, and the right of all people to determine their own future. The State of Palestine will continue to stand with all people confronting the legacies of colonialism and racial injustice, and expresses its continued support for the Permanent Forum in this regard. I thank you.

Thank you. I see that Botswana is not in the room, so I call on Peru.

Vice President Peru thanks the Permanent Forum for presenting the report and recognizes the importance of translating international commitments into public policy with verifiable results for people of African descent. In Peru, the National Policy for Afro-Peruvians seeks to eliminate racism and ethnic and racial discrimination, improve social and economic conditions, and promote participation. It works with representative civil society organisations to bring the policies to the public. In 2026, we declared our national interest in the second international decade on people of African descent and created mechanisms to bring public health, education, justice and employment services closer to the people and bridge the existing gaps. The 2025 census had self-identification as a fundamental tool in order to recognize the reality of the Afro-Peruvian people and provide more relevant public policies. We reaffirm our commitment to the substantive implementation of the second decade with institutionalization, participation, information, and effective access to rights. Thank you.

Thank you. Aiko Longana.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Ghana thanks the Permanent Forum for its report and commends its efforts to advance the rights of people of African descent under the Second International Decade. We particularly welcome the Forum's emphasis on moving from recognition to concrete action. For Ghana, this is central to reparatory justice. Truth must lead to acknowledgment, and acknowledgment must lead to meaningful repair. Reparatory justice must address not only historical wrongs, but also the structural inequalities that continue to reflect their legacy. Ghana has sought to translate this principle into action. On 25th March 2026, Ghana tabled General Assembly Resolution 80/250, recognizing the transatlantic trafficking and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as a grievous crime against humanity. In June, Ghana convened the high-level consultative conference on the next steps towards implementation of the resolution. The conference provided a platform for dialogue on how to translate this recognition into practical measures for reparatory justice. Mr. Vice President, the task before us now is implementation. Repair must address the continuing consequences of historical exploitation, including economic marginalization, unequal financial arrangements, resource extraction, and other structural disadvantages. Ghana, therefore, calls for sustained international dialogue and concrete measures guided by Resolution 80/250, the Accra Outcome Document, the DDPA, and the Second International Decade. Ghana stands ready to work with the Permanent Forum members.

Thank you. I call on Ecuador.

Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation welcomes the report of the Permanent Forum and its work to incorporate the priorities of people of African descent into the human rights agenda. Ecuador agrees with the importance of revising curricula to incorporate a full, truthful history of African civilizations and their contributions. Thus, In 2025, the Afro-Ecuadorian ethno-educational model was made official in our national education system, which recognizes the history, memory, knowledge and contributions of the Afro-Ecuadorian people and promotes culturally relevant pedagogies. This model is implemented in the Guardian of Knowledge educational units located in provinces with an Afro-Ecuadorian presence. Likewise, in 2025, Ecuador declared as a public policy the fulfillment of the objective of the second International Decade of People of African Descent, 2025 to 2034. and the articulation of their implementation. This is complemented by the National Agenda for the Equal Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities. Afro-Ecuadorian people and Montubio people 2025 to 2029 aims. Ecuador would like to continue to support the effective implementation of the Urban Declaration and Programme of Action with special attention to strengthening educational opportunities and consolidating policies against racism and discrimination. Thank you.

Thank you. The interpreters request that the speakers maintain a measured rate of delivery. Togo, please.

Thank you. delegation of Togo thanks the permanent forum people of Africa descent for its report and for its continued commitment to people of African descent Togo reaffirms its full and constant support for the forum and remains resolutely committed to the enhancement of African and afro-descendant heritage in this regard my country organized in December 2025 the 99th Pan-African Congress as part of the decade of African roots at the initiative of Togolese government UNESCO also established the World Day of African and Afro-descendant Culture on 24 January. In addition, at the proposal of Togo, the African Union adopted the decision qualifying slavery, deportation and colonisation as crimes against humanity and genocide against the peoples of Africa. Mr. President, I would like to recall the Correct the Map initiative led by Togo on behalf of the African Union, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 September 2026, which aims to promote a fairer representation of Africa in cartographic representations. In the same vein, TOGA will organize on 12th and 13th October 2026 an international symposium devoted to the establishment of an endogenous calendar and the celebration of the African New Year. My delegation invites Member States to participate actively. Thank you.

Thank you.

I call on Brazil.

Thank you, Vice President. Brazil.

Its extensive engagement with international stakeholders directly strengthens the promotion and protection of the rights of people of African descent, a top priority for Brazil. We agreed that the DDPA remains one of the main tools for combating traditional and contemporary forms of racism, including digital environmental racism, and that its full implementation remains a challenge. We also reiterate the importance of concluding as soon as possible the negotiations of the UN Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent. Brazil welcomes the recommendations on reparatory justice, which address historical and contemporary harms through measures such as guarantees of non-repetition, affirmative action, and climate justice. We agree that youth of African descent are disproportionately affected by structural racism and intersecting forms of discrimination. Defending their rights is central to Brazil's public policies. We highlight the Living Black Youth Plan, Brazil's largest national policy framework, specifically designed to address structural racism, systemic violence, and socioeconomic vulnerability affecting young black Brazilians. I thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Gracias.

Thank you. I call on Cuba.

Vice-President, the Permanent Forum is the right space for promoting the full political, economic and social inclusion of people of African descent without discrimination and for the enjoyment of their rights on an equal footing. Our country participated actively in the fifth session of the Forum and presented tangible proposals on the topics, demonstrating our commitment to the mechanism, in particular Cuba advocated for a plan to implement the relevant resolution of the General Assembly for reparations and comprehensive compensation for the harm brought to people of African descent. We also contributed to the negotiations for the plan on the human rights of people of African descent. We believe that the forum must continue to promote respectful, constructive dialogue. The work of the mechanism must not be manipulated to remove it from the just cause of the rights of people of African descent. We call for the rules of procedure established by the General Assembly to be carried out. We reject racism and racial discrimination in all forms. It is urgent to address, to produce conditions that eradicate these scourges. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on Tanzania.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group. and thank the Permanent Forum for its important recommendations. Tanzania reaffirms its commitment to equality, non-discrimination, human dignity, and the eradication of racism and racial discrimination. We recognize that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as an important global framework for reducing racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance. We underscore that its implementation should translate international commitments into practical measures at national, regional, and international levels. We support the African solidarity and cooperation with the African diaspora in addressing racism, historical injustices, and contemporary inequalities. We support constructive dialogue on reparatory justice informed by international law, historical evidence, national circumstances, and the principle of shared responsibility. The African Union has likewise placed justice and reparations for Africans and the people of African descent prominently on its continental agenda. Tanzania remains committed to strengthening equality, inclusive development, human rights education and meaningful participation, and to contributing constructively to international efforts to combat racism and racial discrimination. I thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Thank you. I call on Egypt.

Thank you, Vice-President. We welcome this dialogue on the report of the Permanent Forum and concur with a large number of recommendations. First of all, the importance of the full, effective implementation of the DDPA. Furthermore, commitments must be aligned with the broader international agenda, including the sustainable development agenda, international economic governance reform and climate action. It is important to guarantee reparatory justice. We agree with the report, which links restitution of cultural heritage to countries and the achievement of reparatory justice. This is important for cultural and identity rights for Africans and people of African descent. international commitments must be reflected in effective measures to combat all forms of racism and racial discrimination, ensuring accountability and providing effective remedies to ensure justice and prevent recurrence. The consultations on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent must be quickly completed. Thank you.

I call on Iraq.

Thank you, Vice-President. We welcome the report of the Permanent Forum and welcome its efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination and to protect human dignity. We agree as regards the second decade for people of African descent, with a topic adopted. And we know that people of African descent face challenges in the world of education and work and in public life. Education is crucial to combat stereotypes and recognize the culture of people of African descent. It also provides an entry to the labour market and helps to combat all forms of discrimination in line with international standards. Policies must be adopted on the basis of evidence and on human rights. We are committed to combating racism and hate speech. We must work together to achieve the goals of the second decade in order to attain justice and equity for all. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on the Russian Federation.

Vice-President, we support the mandate and activities of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. We believe that its efforts aimed at achieving recognition and addressing the problems of people of African descent stemming from historic injustice and the difficult legacy of the transatlantic slave trade are needed in the interests of promoting inclusiveness. and overcoming the populism that is gaining ground in some states, we welcome the participation in the Permanent Forum of civil society organizations which are actively combating racial discrimination. We believe it is important to preserve the existing modalities for the participation of civil society representatives in the work of the Forum, bearing in mind that the annual sessions of the Permanent Forum have traditionally addressed a wide range of issues of importance to people of African descent. including racial justice and reparative justice. It would be appropriate to single out the issue of reparations for people of African descent as a separate area of the work. We believe it would be expedient to take the necessary measures to prepare and adopt a draft United Nations declaration on the respect, protection and enjoyment of the human rights of people of African descent. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you, Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Iran thanks the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent for its valuable report and its clear focus on the continuing impact of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism. Iran stresses that racism is not only a matter of individual prejudice. It is also rooted in structures and international practices that have survived the end of colonial rule. The report rightly points to the gap between the declarations and the lived reality of Africans and people of African descent. We strongly support reparatory justice, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, guarantees of non-repetition and the return of the land, property and cultural heritage. Mr Vice-President, Colonial era legal doctrines must not be used to protect the results of the disposition and injustice. We also welcome the call for greater clarity in international law on reparations and for stronger international mechanisms to address the consequences of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and genocide. The international community must confront this legacy with honesty, equality, and accountability, rather than allowing historical injustice to continue through present structures. Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I call on China.

Mr. Vice President, China takes note of the Permanent Forum's report to the Council. The legacies of racism and colonialism continue to plague societies, subjecting people of African descent to injustice, exclusion, systemic discrimination, and violence. As High Commissioner noted, despite positive international initiatives to protect their human rights in recent years, historical injustices cannot be remedied overnight. Compounded by backsliding in some countries, discrimination against this group remains pervasive across various sectors. We believe that the relevant international legal framework must be improved, historical atrocities and injustices acknowledged, and people of African descent never left behind in the digital age. China remains committed to inclusive dialogue and to preventing and combating all forms of racism. In particular, we oppose excessive racialized law enforcement and racist narratives by politicians and public officials. We support concrete actions to ensure accountability and adequate redress for the legacy of colonialism. Thank you, Vice-President.

Thank you. That was the last speaker that we could accommodate from among the States. We shall now move to the list of non-governmental organisations. I call on the International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and Other Minorities.

Thank you. Good afternoon. Mr. President, the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent has been successful in providing a meeting space for a broad group of civil society organizations dedicated to the rights of people of African descent. The opportunities to organize side events which help to develop cooperation and dissemination information has been valuable. However, questions exist relating to how the 10 expert members of the permanent forum seek to expand their role beyond its mandate and in relation to the role of the original Durban follow-up mechanisms. In the recommendations of the report, from the fifth session of the Permanent Forum make recommendations that its mandate should be expanded to deal not only with people of African descent in the diaspora, but also Africans living in the independent African states. This was further explained by one of the 10 Permanent Forum members, its former rapporteur, that the Permanent Forum must do this in order to be relevant to Africans on the continent. We believe that this matter needs serious attention, and it would mean establishing a mandate that does not consist with the DDPA, as it is applying the working group of people of African descent. I thank you.

Thank you.

I call on the International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations.

It appears he's not in

the room, so I'm going to call on Not in the room either. And I shall call on Association Pan-Africaine.

Vice President,

the Pan-Africa Association welcomes the success of the fifth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. As we begin the second interest decade, our organization calls for lessons to be learned from the first, which did not give the expected results. It is time to create conditions conducive to the achievement of the objectives of the second decade in the light of restorative justice to meet the challenges of the denial of the fundamental rights of victims. In this regard, Panafrica welcomes France's initiative regarding the restitution of cultural property looted during colonization. In this respect, we strongly encourage all States to follow this approach. However, we regret the persistent lack of knowledge about the genocide of the Herero and Nama in Namibia, which persists due to a lack of international recognition. In conclusion, Panafrica commends Ghana for its commitment to restorative justice. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Interfaith International.

Thank you, Vice-President. We thank the working group for its report and support the recommendations. We participated in the 2021 conference and supported the legitimate claims of people of African descent on reparations for crimes against humanity carried out through the transatlantic slave trade and slavery. Thus, we welcome the adoption of the resolution of 2021. 2026 by Ghana, for which there were 123 votes in favour, qualifying the transatlantic slave trade and racialised slavery as the gravest crime against humanity. 25 years on from Durban, racism remains systemic, structural and deeply rooted in today's society. Interfaith recommends strengthening the existing mechanisms to combat racism, In order to ensure that the liquidity crisis does not affect the work of these bodies, our organization calls on states to contribute politically and financially to supporting them. In conclusion, Interfaith invites a participation and effective contribution by victims organizations of people of African descent to the work of the various sessions of the existing bodies. Thank you.

Thank you.

That was the last speaker on the list. And I would like to now give the Chair some moments so that she can make her concluding observations.

Thank you very much. I would like to start by thanking all Member States for the opportunity to engage and for your support. We got quite a bit of that. And for the questions raised, I also would like to thank the European Union for agreeing to have us in Brussels, the Permanent Forum, later this year. We appreciate your hospitality. With respect to the question, I think it was from Sweden, which was concerning young people and how do we engage them with the DDPA, I think that's an important question because we need, as I said in my presentation, we need to make that space for young people. And we think that can be done by providing opportunities for them to join us at these sessions, to be in the UN space. And then of course, for states to do more at the national level to promote the implementation of the DDPA educational processes and that, sorry, that may mean actually revisiting our histories in the terms of how it is currently taught in our schools. So I would like to use the word re or decolonizing, if you will, some of our educational processes to ensure that our youth understand what the realities are for them. Also, with respect to Guatemala, quickly, I will mention four points. We consider education data collection, participation, and the strengthening of national institutions. And I thank you for allowing the Permanent Forum to be here today.

Thank you. With this, we conclude our interactive dialogue. We'd like to thank you, Ms. Kari, for your participation in this dialogue and also being involved in all of the work of the Forum. Now we'll have a brief break before we move to our next segment. Excellencies, distinguished participants, thank you for your patience. We will now proceed with the presentation of the report of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration on its 12th session and activities. It is my pleasure to welcome Ms. Salome Mbugoa, Chair of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts. Madam, you have the floor.

Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's my honor to present the Council the report of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on its 12th session, submitted in pursuit to Council Resolution 57/25. The group held its 12th session from 5th to 8th May, 2026 in Geneva. I had the honor of opening the session as the chair rapporteur, succeeding Mr. Yewell, who I thank for his active engagement with the United Nations human rights mechanism, including presenting our 11th session report to the General Assembly and undertaking an advocacy mission to Washington, DC. The group organized its works around the thematic discussion. The first discussion addressed political parties and actors, securitization, far-right growth, and the increase in racism, xenophobia. This count noted that far-right extremism is catalyzed by exclusionary conception of national, racial, religion, or cultural identity with complex structural challenges reduced to simplified and often racialized explanation. They underscored the interlinkages between far-right, extreme, racism and xenophobia and secularization, whereby migration and social difference are reaffirmed as security threats. Development deeply connected to the enduring legacies of colonization and racial supremacy. Discussant stressed that this rise is not inevitable, but product of choices that can be challenged and called for comprehensive legal, education, and digital strategies grounded in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The second public session commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, taking stock of progress and persistent gaps The International Labour Organization presented new evidence that indigenous people and people of African descent continue to face poorer labour market outcomes and unexplained wages gap consistent with discrimination. The Federation International de Football Association and the World Health Organization likewise illustrated how racism, continue to shape opportunities and access to care. As one panelist put it, 25 years on, progress is not the same as transformation. The third discussion turned into racism in digital spaces and education to safeguard youth. With over 1.2 billion young people worldwide and two-thirds of school-age children still lacking home internet access, Participants examined how digital racism harmed the mental health and well-being of racialized youth. They called for a rights-based response, combining digital literacy, platform accountability, and the meaningful participation of children and youth in digital governance, alongside education systems equipped to encounter racist narratives before they root. The fourth discussion considered artificial intelligence and data collections tools as new opportunity for strengthening the monitoring of Durban Declaration and Programme of Actions. Experts cautioned that artificial intelligence systems trained on historical data can reproduce and intensify the very forms of racism the declaration seek to dismantle, particularly through predictive policing and mass suffering. At the same time, new community-led evaluation tools offer new promises for detecting discriminatory impact at the scale, provided that affected community help define what is measured. Allow me to highlight the group principal recommendations. First, the group urges state to adopt an informed legal framework prohibiting political parties platforms and actors that promote racism, xenophobia, and racial superiority, and to establish early warning systems and community-based preventative interventions, including in digital spaces. Second, the group urged states to move from the rhetoric to reality by translating Durban commitment into measurable policy actions. and to institutionalize mandatory anti-racism education grounded in historical informed curriculum addressing the legacy of enslavement, the transatlantic trade, apartheid, colonization, and genocide. The group retaliates its call upon OHCHR to create an interactive dashboard tracking states' acknowledgement of these atrocities and steps taken towards formal apology. Third, the group recommended that state and private technology companies coordinate actions against racism online and offline. Fourth, the group recommended that states integrate community-led artificial intelligence evaluation into Durban Declaration monitoring, invest in the transnational accessibility that meaningful, Participation requires and prioritizes youth-centered capacity building. Furthermore, this year, on behalf of the group, I had the opportunity to attend two meetings organized by South Africa Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Mr. President, the rise of far-right extreme and securitization of migration and deployment of powerful new technologies without adequate human rights safeguard all risk entrenching racial discrimination further. But there are also new possibilities for accountability, for community-led monitoring, and for generation of youth to determine agent of change rather than its subject. Our group remain deeply alarmed by the growing backlash against anti-racism effort worldwide. At a time when racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to undermine the dignity, rights and opportunities of millions, we reiterate our call on this Council and the General Assembly to systematically mainstream our recommendation into their resolution and to match every declaration with delivery. The measure of our commitment to Durban will not be found in the eloquence of our statement, but in the lives changed by our actions. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Thank you. Now we'll turn to the presentation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary International Standards on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination at its 16th session. It is my pleasure to welcome Ms. Khadra Ahmed Hassan, Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Chair-Rapporteur of the Committee, for the presentation of the report. I invite her to present the report.

Yes, Chairperson, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we are meeting at a sobering time. Across regions, we are witnessing a worsening climate of racism, with the amplification of hate speech including by persons in positions of influence, the persistence of racial profiling, the targeting of those perceived as foreign, and the rapid spread of intolerance through digital technologies. The challenge is evolving faster than our tools to address it. Contemporary manifestations of racism, particularly those intertwined with religion or belief, migration status, or other grounds of discrimination are being amplified by algorithms and artificial intelligence. These challenges were not envisioned when the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted in 1965. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary International Standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, a mechanism that I have the honor of chairing, plays a vital role in confronting new and emerging forms of racism by reinforcing the existing legal framework. Chairperson, distinguished delegates, in a period of resurgence and normalization of the worst evils of humanity, At the time when our political and financial effort should be strengthened, sadly, we are witnessing shrinking resources and political platforms used to disseminate hate. With this sense of urgency, I have prepared a document entitled Draft Elements for an Additional Protocol on Complementary Standard to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This document was presented to the ATO Committee during its 16th session at the symbolic year, the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Chairperson, distinguished delegates, allow me to present the key highlights from our 16th session. The session was held in three segments from 27 to 20, 19 April and from 8 to 11 June, both included in my report. and a final segment yet to be held from 22nd to 23rd October. Firstly, I would like to thank member states warmly for placing their trust in me and for taking part in the discussions, exchanging ideas, sharing the realities of their respective countries, the legal context and the challenges they face. To facilitate consultations in capital, the first segment was undertaken as a preliminary reading of the text, gathering initial reactions. for further discussion, while the second segment in June allowed for a full first reading of the text. Many delegations expressed their commitment to this task and welcomed the introduction of a text to guide substantive discussions. They also highlighted the urgency of complementary standards to address contemporary manifestations of racism and emphasized the importance of taking a holistic approach, focusing not only on criminalization, but also on prevention, education, awareness raising, and the rights and remedies of victims, while other states expressed the view that complementary standards to ISIRD may not be necessary. In discussions of part one of the chair's draft text, which covers criminalization and cooperation, some delegations sought greater legal clarity on how the protocol would operate alongside ISIRD, noting the need to complement complement, but not expand or reinterpret the Convention. Questions were also raised about the boundary between criminal and non-criminal measures included in the draft text. A major point of discussion was the scope of criminalization and whether this should be limited to the articles on hate speech and hate crimes or extended to conduct listed in Article 5, which focuses on incitement to racial and religious hatred. Delegations also debated on the definition of grounds of discrimination included in the draft text. Discussions seeking clarity and precision on the scope of criminal liability and the draft provisions on jurisdictions, extradition, and international cooperation also took place. In these areas, delegations sought consistency across provisions in the draft. greater clarity both in the language used and in the structure of the draft and the order of the provisions, and alignment with existing legal frameworks. There were also questions as to the value of listing sentencing factors within the text. Similarly, while there was broad recognition of the importance of procedural safeguards and victim protection, questions were raised as to whether the protocol should reproduce extensive fair trial rights already contained in existing human rights instruments. There were also debates about the scope of victims' rights, including whether protections in the text should extend beyond criminal proceedings, responsibility in cross-border cases, and how to distinguish state responsibility from obligations to provide effective redress mechanisms. On part two of the text, on prevention and suppression, there was discussion on how to distinguish conduct requiring criminal prosecution from conduct better addressed through prevention, education, awareness raising, and other non-criminal measures, as well as an acknowledgement that non-criminal measures may still apply even when criminal measures are taken. Several delegations questioned the need for detailed threshold criteria in the protocol. Delegation also consider how xenophobia should be defined and positioned in the protocol, including whether some forms of xenophobic conduct should trigger criminal measures. It was also noted that some of the measures to combat xenophobia in the draft text should also apply to other forms of racial discrimination. The debates on grounds for discrimination and inclusion in the protocol continued as the discussion of Article 23 on the definition of grounds of discrimination. It triggered debate over expanding discrimination grounds beyond those contained in ISERT. While several delegations supported broad recognition of multiple forms of discrimination, including gender, others argued that the protocol should remain closely linked to racial discrimination and related grounds, such as religion. Delegations generally supported addressing racial profiling and the impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and cyber space-related harms, and strengthening those provisions. On part 3, the final clauses, there was general acceptance that the committee on the elimination of racial discrimination would monitor implementation of the protocol through existing ISER reporting and communications procedures. Following the conclusion of the June segment, I restructured the text for greater clarity and coherence in line with the comments received during the first two segments of our discussions. This restructured text has now been circulated to all members, and we will discuss the new structure alongside returning to general comments made previously to propose concrete textual amendments. After that, I will make the necessary amendments and proposals, taking into account the comments received from the committee, from the ISERT. I will then recirculate the draft text, giving Member States enough time to consider it properly before our 17th session, which will start in April 2027. Chairperson, distinguished delegates, the committee has moved from general debate to a text-based engagement on a concrete proposal. The stakes are high for victims in need of protection, redress, and an end to impunity. They are also high for societies that are under strain due to the corrosive effects of racial hatred, both online and offline. I call on member states to engage constructively, bridge their differences, and maintain the momentum. I am committed to working with all Member States, regional groups and stakeholders so that we can draw up a strong universal protocol that captures new and evolving forms of racial discrimination in all regions of the world. Above all, we must keep victims at the centre of our efforts and deliver practical, implementable standards that strengthen prevention, accountability, cooperation and remedies.

I thank you for your attention.

Thank you. hear the presentation of the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights under item 9. I have the pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Dimitar Tchelev, Chief of the Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch, to present the report.

Mr. Vice President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I have the honor to present to you the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on education as a tool to prevent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 57/24. The report examines four interconnected dimensions of formal education systems: governance and accountability, educational environments, curricula, pedagogies and educational materials, and finally the training and representation of teachers, authorities and educational personnel. Across each of these dimensions, the report synthesizes and analyzes existing state practices, measures, and challenges, drawing upon 135 submissions from states and to the stakeholders. The report starts from a simple but important premise. Education has enormous potential to prevent, challenge, and ultimately dismantle racism. as recognized by several international human rights treaties and instruments, including the Durban Declaration and Program of Action 25 years ago. At the same time, education systems can also reproduce and perpetuate racism. Indeed, in some contexts, education can be wielded as a tool for division, intolerance, resentment, racial abuse, and violence. and for spreading false notions of racial hierarchies and superiority. The report highlights that racism in education is not confined to isolated individual acts. Rather, it is embedded within educational systems, structures, and institutions. It is reflected in the exclusionary laws and policy, unequal opportunities, distorted curricula and educational content, unsafe school environments, and discriminatory institutional practices that produce unequal outcomes for children belonging to marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Ultimately, racism in education is a structural issue which requires a structural response. For this reason, the High Commission calls for human rights-based, transformative, child-centered and intersectional approach to dismantling racism that may be embedded across educational structures, institutions and systems. To this end, the report outlines some 20 concrete, targeted education-related practices and measures for States to undertake with a view to ensuring an inclusive, equitable and anti-racism education system. The High Commissioner also calls upon States to strengthen inclusive educational governance and accountability. States should adopt and effectively implement laws and policies prohibiting racial discrimination in education. They should also establish robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms, collect and analyze disaggregated data, and ensure the meaningful, safe, and inclusive participation of children, parents, teachers, and affected communities in educational decision-making. Additionally, creating safe, inclusive and child-friendly learning environments through anti-racism policies, reporting, investigation and redress mechanisms in cases of racial incidents, as well as protection and support systems for affected children, is critical. States must transform curricula, pedagogy, and educational materials to promote human rights, inclusion, and anti-racism. They should systematically audit and review curricula, pedagogies, and educational materials to eliminate negative stereotypes, biases, and historical distortion. States should also ensure that the diverse perspectives, histories, cultures, contributions, knowledge systems and agency of marginalized racial and ethnic groups are accurately reflected. The High Commissioner further underscores the importance of strengthening and expanding anti-racism education, multilingual and multicultural education and digital and media literacy. Finally, The High Commissioner recommends States to invest in the capacity of teachers and educational personnel by providing continuous training on human rights and inclusion, anti-racism, child protection and digital literacy. States should also ensure greater representation of marginalized racial and ethnic groups within the teaching and leadership roles. The way forward charted in this report can support Member States in partnership with national human rights institutions and civil society to safeguard the preventative potential of education and thus ensure more inclusive, equitable and anti-racist societies. Thank you.

Thank you for the exhaustive presentation. of the report, also in a concise fashion. So now we'll begin our general debate under agenda item 9. Now, if any of the presenters would like to leave the podium, you can do that. But let me remind you that the requests for right of reply will be accommodated exclusively at the end of the general debate. I also remind all speakers to comply to the allocated speaking time, which is one minute and a half for all. And the full statements can be uploaded on the digital portal. The list of speakers will be closed in 15 minutes. And we'll start with a list of members of the Council. First speaker on my list is the distinguished Ambassador of Brazil.

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay, in addition to my own country, Brazil. Environmental racism is a critical human rights and racial justice imperative. The Belen Declaration adopted at COP30 recognized that historical discrimination, legacies of systemic oppression, and unequal participation in decision making have created profound inequalities in exposure to pollution, climate hazards, and biodiversity loss. Climate risks and environmental harms disproportionately affect people of African descent, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and girls, and other groups in situation of vulnerability. The message from Belane is clear. The global ecological crisis is fundamentally tied to racial justice. cannot achieve sustainable development while these inequalities persist. We call upon all countries to endorse the Berlin Declaration and to translate its principles into concrete policies, cooperation, and action. Let us work together in the fight for climate justice, to eliminate environmental racism, reduce inequalities, and ensure that no community is disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and climate risks. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I call on the European Union on behalf of a group of countries.

Mr. Vice President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU. Albania, Liechtenstein, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine align themselves with this statement. Montenegro. The European Union reaffirms its strong commitment to preventing and combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Equality, dignity and respect for human rights must remain at the centre of our efforts to build inclusive societies. As we reaffirm the need to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, we must translate our commitments into concrete action. We believe that prevention is essential. We thank the High Commissioner for his focus on education in his report, as this has played a particular role, especially in empowering young people to recognize and challenge prejudice, discrimination, and hate speech, while fostering respect for diversity and human rights. We recognize the importance of addressing both contemporary manifestations and the historical roots and legacies of racism, including those linked to the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. This requires sustained action to tackle structural racial bias, promote equal opportunities and ensure effective remedies for victims of racial discrimination. Equally, we should focus on combating racial discrimination against all individuals. With a universalist approach, the EU will continue to engage with the wider membership on how to organise this work more strategically.

I thank you.

Thank you. I call on Czechia on behalf of a group of countries. Ambassador.

Senior Vice President, I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of Austria, Slovakia, and my own country, Czech Republic, with the support of a cross-regional group of countries. Antisemitism, racism, and all forms of discrimination and intolerance continue to threaten democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and social cohesion. The rise of antisemitic incidents, online hate, Holocaust denial, and distortion is deeply concerning. Artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities for innovation and development, but at the same time, it can facilitate the.

Creation and spread of antisemitic content, hate speech, disinformation, and harmful stereotypes at an unprecedented scale. Algorithmic systems can also reproduce and amplify hateful narratives and existing biases, and undermine historical truth and public trust.

We therefore stress that AI must be developed and used in line with international human rights law.

Practical tools, including the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, can help identify and mitigate antisemitic bias.

Today, we reaffirm our commitment to combating antisemitism, Holocaust denial and distortion, and all forms of discrimination and intolerance.

Including in AI-enabled digital environments.

We call on governments, technology companies, and other stakeholders to ensure effective.

Safeguards, transparency, inclusivity, due diligence, human oversight, and accountability throughout the AI lifecycle. Artificial intelligence must serve human dignity, equality, and inclusion. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Venezuela on behalf of a group of countries.

Thank you. Mr. Vice President, we make this statement on behalf of the group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations. From a multilateral perspective, the xenophobia, racism and right intolerance are a denial of the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of equality and dignity of all human beings. The group of friends considers that, in light of the global aspirations reflected in the Charter of the United Nations and throughout the universal human rights system, systemic racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and any related form of intolerance constitute anachronistic manifestations that humanity has already overcome. The 25th anniversary of the Dublin Declaration and Programme of Action should serve as an inspiration for States to redouble their political efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We also call for the second International Decade for People of African Descent to be used to take action on the legacy of slavery and colonialism, deliver justice and fully realise the human rights and freedoms of people of African descent throughout the world. We honour the memory of all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. We also condemn and reject any contemporary manifestation that violates fundamental rights and the dignity and worth of the human person, and encourage all States to improve legal frameworks against any manifestation, act of hatred or segregation based on ethnic or any other grounds. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Uganda on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Vietnam has historically maintained an unequivocal and principled position against all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and any kind of related intolerance. We recall the movement's condemnation of all forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and express serious concern about the resurgence of contemporary forms of such abhorrent crimes in various parts of the world. There is an urgent need to address this crutch with great resolve and political will in all spheres, including the digital sphere of life and in all parts of the world, including all those under foreign occupation. NAM reaffirms commitment to the full and effective implementation of the DT, PA of 2001 and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference in 2009. NAM comments the ongoing process. progress made by the States at the national, regional and international levels, focusing on the comprehensive follow-up and implementation of these documents. NAM notes the importance of the full and effective prohibition of any incitement to national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and implements it through all levels of legislative, policy and judicial measures. In conclusion, we reiterate our call on all states to implement the Dambon Declaration and Programme of Action fully and effectively. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Thank you, Vice President. The GCC states are committed to confronting racism, and these phenomena manifest themselves in digital platforms, and they can spread quickly, and there is impunity. This could threaten the security of individuals and the cohesion of society. We express our concern about the growing Islamophobia phenomenon and desecration of religious symbols. and we reiterate that freedom of expression should be should not be a pretext to incite racism or hate hatred we condemn policies of apartheid and discrimination perpetrated by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people and we call in this respect to promote international cooperation and investment in education and dialogue among religions and cultures and also to prevent the spread of hate content through social media. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on South Africa on behalf of a group of countries.

Vice President, South Africa has the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of a group of like-minded countries to reaffirm our commitment to global efforts towards the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. welcome the 25th anniversary of the DDPA, which remains the most comprehensive international framework in this regard. The DDPA recognizes that no country can claim to be free of racism, which is a global concern. This is especially the case in today's world, where racism in all its forms and manifestations remains a blight on our common

humanity.

Accordingly, we remain convinced.

That the only way to tackle the scourge is to ensure the full and effective implementation of the DDPA. As part of this process, we commend the adoption of by the General Assembly of the resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity, and also emphasized that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs. As such, we call on states to take measures to right past wrongs whose effects are felt across generations.

Indeed, ensuring reparatory justice is key to dismantling systemic racism, transforming the present and future.

For Africans and people of African descent, and crucially, answering calls for accountability and redress.

The full statement has been placed on the digital portal. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on Kenya on behalf of the Group of African States.

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African group. The group welcomes the report presented under this agenda item, including the report on slavery and the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. As the international community marks 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and 80 years of United Nations action against racism, this milestone provides an important opportunity to reflect on progress made and to strengthen efforts to translate the commitments of the Durban into concrete action. The group remains concerned by the persistence and evolution of racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia, including racial profiling, incitement to racial and religious hatred, and discrimination amplified through digital technologies. We therefore reiterate our support for the elaboration of complementary standards to ISAD that responds to contemporary manifestations of racism and strengthen protection and remedies for victims. The group and the declaration on the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity and underscores the need to address the enduring consequences of colonialism, enslavement, the transatlantic trade, apartheid, including through reparatory justice. Education is equally essential. It should confront racial prejudice and historical distortion while ensuring that the histories, experiences, and contributions of Africans and people of African descent are accurately reflected. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on Iraq on behalf of the Arab group.

Thank you, Vice-President. I speak on behalf of the Arab Group. We welcome the 25th anniversary of the DDPA. This is an opportunity to reiterate the importance of fighting racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. We are committed to fully implementing the DDPA, the commitments that it contains, must be reflected by tangible action. Racism can be seen in different ways, and the digital era brings new challenges. The Arab group is concerned about incitement to violence and hatred through technologies, including artificial intelligence. We are concerned that Islamophobia and stereotyping This must be addressed in line with international human rights law. The international community must reiterate its commitment to the DPA and promote dialogue and dignity for all. Thank you.

Thank you. The list of speakers is now closed. I call on the distinguished Ambassador of Pakistan for the Islamic Cooperation Organization.

Mr. President, 25 years after the adoption of the DDPA, its promises remain unfulfilled. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances persist in old and new forms. The OIC Group in this regard wishes to highlight four points. One, exclusivist Political forces are weaponizing religious intolerance, manifesting as repeated public desecration of the Holy Quran, armed attacks on mosques and worshippers, and systemic discrimination against Muslims. Political environment tolerating and promoting Islamophobia for political gain warrant firm admonition by this Council. Two, we note with serious concern selective approaches that prioritize protection for some communities while remaining silent on the others, selective framework that addresses one form of intolerance while overlooking any other. may serve political preferences, but not the universal human rights agenda. Three, freedom of expression does not grant license for hate speech or advocacy for religious hatred. States' obligations under Article 19 and 20 of the ICCPR are clear. Four, new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, have become dangerous vectors of hatred, including through algorithmic biases. Such trend must not go unchecked. In conclusion, the OIC reaffirms the value of Council's resolutions 16/18 and 53/1 in combating intolerance and calls for their full and non-selective implementation.

Thank you. I call on Iraq.

Thank you, Vice-President. Iraq reiterates the importance of the DDPA. This is a major framework to combat racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance. In line with the CERD, it upholds human dignity. The international community has made efforts to combat racism and racial discrimination, as well as xenophobia. However, these manifestations still exist, including Islamophobia, xenophobia, and attacks on sacred places. Freedom of expression must not be used to justify these acts. We must promote human rights without discrimination. That is what Iraq is doing under its constitution. We do not accept discrimination based on race, color, or other criteria. We seek to implement the objectives of the second decade for people of African descent in order to promote coexistence and we call on countries to fulfill their commitments and address all forms of racial discrimination we are committed to the rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the inalienable right to have its own state far from discrimination. Thank.

You.

Thank you. I call on Spain.

Thank you. Spain speaks on behalf of the European Union, on behalf of the European Union statement. 25 years on from Durban, we reiterated our commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. The goals of Durban continue to be at the heart of Spain's foreign and national policy in line with the European strategy against racism. The comprehensive law on equal treatment in Spain has an intersectional component focused on racialized Afro-descendant and migrant women. The National Independent Equality Authority seeks to prevent discrimination structurally and assist victims. with legal actions possible. We have a strategy within our public policy and campaigns for awareness. The anti-hate tool seeks to stop hate speech on online platforms. We are aware that a lot remains to be done and we must address racist behavior and instrumentalization of speech including in migration and in spite we will uphold human dignity equality diversity and inclusive policies based on human rights Spain supports the mechanism of the council with the essential contributions of the office of the high commissioner for human rights thank you

thank you I call on Egypt

Vice President, we are gravely concerned at the exacerbation of racism and discrimination. These outdated practices still exist. They are not individual incidents. We see this in the speech of certain political leaders, their attempts to make excuses for historical injustices, there is increasing xenophobia and Islamophobia. Double standards are being applied as regards combating discrimination. We are concerned at discrimination against migrants, particularly those of African descent, in many countries. Remaining silent in the face of racism is as serious as racism itself. Silence in the face of hate speech normalizes it. There needs to be political will and an approach that adopts effective legislation to guarantee accountability and raise awareness and educate in order to achieve justice. The implementation of the DDPA is a pressing need in order to address contemporary forms of discrimination. Thank you.

Thank you. Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Ethiopia reaffirms its principled support for the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a comprehensive international framework for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The fight against racism must be understood in its historical, structural, and contemporary dimensions. The international community must continue to confront the enduring consequences of slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, and other forms of historical injustice. At the same time, our efforts must address contemporary manifestations of racism and discrimination, including xenophobia, hate speech, stigmatization, discriminatory practices, and emerging forms of discrimination associated with digital technologies. Ethiopia attaches particular importance to the relationship between combating discrimination and achieving sustainable development. As we commemorate the continuing legacy of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Ethiopia calls upon this Council to translate commitments into practical action. Let us move from declaration to implementation. Let us strengthen cooperation over confrontation. And let us ensure that every person, irrespective of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, enjoys equality in dignity and rights. I thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Thank you.

I call on the UK.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The UK remains committed to combating racism, racial discrimination, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and related intolerance and reaffirms our commitment to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The UK proudly embraces the rich diversity that defines our nation. Tomorrow, we will celebrate in the UK Black History Month, honouring the vital contributions of black communities in shaping who we are today. The government is committed to tackling racial inequalities, breaking down barriers to opportunity, and ensuring that everyone has the chance.

To succeed.

No one should face discrimination, hatred, or fear because of who they are. We remain committed to building a society based on dignity and respect. Mr. Vice President, we are deeply concerned by the rise in antisemitism, alongside other forms of hatred and intolerance. Recent attacks on Jewish individuals and institutions reinforce the urgency of action. The Government is clear that antisemitism is racism and has no place in our society. We take a zero tolerance approach and are using the full force of the law to protect Jewish communities and tackle anti-Jewish hatred. We stand firmly against racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance, and look forward to taking further meaningful action domestically and internationally to build a fairer world for all. I thank you.

Thank you. I call on Ghana.

Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Ghana reaffirms that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action remains the central global framework for confronting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 25 years after its adoption, however, implementation remains the principal challenge. Systemic racism has not disappeared. It continues to shape institutions, policies, and international structures, producing persistent inequalities. The international community must therefore move beyond periodic reaffirmation towards measures that address both the manifestations and historical roots of racial injustice. Reparatory justice must be central to this effort. It should not be reduced to symbolic acknowledgement. It must address the enduring consequences of enslavement, colonialism, and racial discrimination through restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, guarantees of non-repetition, climate justice, and the restoration of dignity. Ghana therefore supports concrete action by the international community, including implementation of General Assembly Resolution 80/250, as well as national, regional, and other international mechanisms to advance reparatory justice, strengthen mechanisms for the restitution of African cultural heritage, and effective follow-up and accountability for implementation. The United Nations must also ensure that the voices of affected communities, including women and youth, remain meaningfully meaningfully shape these processes. With the Vice-President, the credibility of our commitment to racial justice will ultimately be measured not by the resolutions we pass, but by the inequalities.

Thank you.

Mr. Vice-President.

Eliminating all forms of racism and ensuring that everyone enjoys dignity and rights on an equal footing are in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter and an embodiment of international fairness and justice.

25 years after Durban, regrettably, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance remain widespread across the world.

While the legacies of colonialism and the slave trade have yet to be eliminated, in some countries, people of African and Asian descent continue to face structural injustices in education, employment, housing, healthcare, and access to justice. A strong supporter and practitioner of the DDPA, China supports the Intergovernmental Working Group in.

Advancing the drafting of a UN declaration on the human rights of people of African descent.

China stands ready to take this opportunity to work with all parties to renew our commitment to the elimination of racial racism and jointly advance the effective implementation of Durban Declaration.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Thank you. I call on Pakistan.

Mr. Vice President, contemporary forms of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance have evolved in the quarter century since the DDPA. They are since being mainstreamed into politics and legitimized by those who claim to uphold human rights. A world free from discrimination must remain our goal, but it cannot be realized while a quarter of humanity is being dehumanized through surging Islamophobia. In many parts of the world, Muslims face aggravated forms of discrimination and are subjected to hostility, hatred, and stigmatization. Caricatures and negative stereotypes maligning Muslims and their faith are no longer confined to the margins of society. They shape public discourse, electoral strategy, and increasingly, state policy. Mr. Vice President, just across Pakistan's border with India, ruling elites demonize Muslims, target centuries-old mosques and shrines, and undercut their political participation in their embrace of as the organizing principle of state policy. and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the occupying power, India, with around 900,000 troops deployed, is engineering forced demographic change by converting the Muslim majority into a minority through fake domiciles and the continued denial of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The promises of non-discrimination made in Durban must be kept to peoples under foreign occupation, including in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Thank you.

Thank you. I call on Cuba.

Vice President, we welcome this 25th anniversary of the DDPA. Cuba reiterates its support to these flagship documents that are still extremely valid. There has been progress, but many challenges remain in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and intolerance. The international community must address the historic debt to Africans and people of African descent, victims of colonial association, transatlantic trade, slave and slavery. And we still feel the effects of these abominable crimes as recognized by the GA as a crime against humanity, the gravest of those. Cuba recognizes this huge decision Decision 8050 must not remain on paper alone. We must establish a comprehensive framework for reparations to address the historic injustices against Africans and people of African descent. Reparations must include a full apology, compensation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. We support the United Nations Declaration on the full rights of the people of African descent and measures to promote and protect these rights. Thank you.

Distinguished participants, it is 6:00 p.m. This is the last speaker that we could accommodate during this meeting. And we will be resuming our work tomorrow at 10:00 to continue the general debate under agenda item 9. I'd like to declare closed the 34th meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council.