6th Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council

Excellencies, distinguished representatives, I hereby declare open the sixth meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. We will now proceed with the interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons. Let me welcome the new mandate holder, Mr. Zvezdan Pirtosek. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. And I now give the floor to Mr. Pirttosaar to present his report. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to address the Human Rights Council for the first time as independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. I assumed this mandate on the 1st of May conscious of the responsibility entrusted to me and grateful for the important work of my predecessors. I have since participated in the first substantive session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Human Rights of Older Persons, and I look forward to its second session in October. I also thank the Government of Spain for inviting me to undertake my first country visit in November of this year. Mr. President, Today, I present the first report to the Council on cognitive impairment and the continuing exercise of human rights by older persons. At this pivotal moment of global aging, cognitive impairment is a phenomenon that grows increasingly frequent, touching the lives of many older persons and their families. The longer we live, the more different from one another we become, whether in health or other outcomes. Yet older age is still too often seen chiefly through vulnerability, dependency and decline. Once that lens takes hold, it can quietly shape expectations, services and even the way people are spoken to. My report asks what happens to the exercise of human rights by older persons when cognition changes and that change is met by ageism or assumptions of incapacity. While cognitive impairment is not confined to older age, it may carry particular human risks in later life. A diagnosis can begin to speak louder than the person. Others may assume that a voice counts less, that choices can be taken over, or that participation is no longer needed. I'm grateful to all those who contributed to this report. One message emerged clearly. Cognitive impairment does not diminish personhood, human agency, or entitlement to human rights. As a neurologist, I have spent much of my professional life with people whose memory, language, or ability to make complex decisions was changing. One lesson has stayed with me. What changes in the brain and what remains of the person are not the same question. A person may lose words and still express trust or refusal. Someone may need help with a decision and still have values, preferences and a life recognizably their own. The human rights problem begins when cognitive change is interpreted as loss of personhood, when diagnosis becomes a shortcut to incapacity, when an older person is spoken for rather than listened to, or when relationships and preferences are treated as if they had ceased to matter. Human rights do not become less universal when their exercise has become more difficult. That is precisely when their universality matters most and is most profoundly tested. International human right is a law is clear. Equal dignity, non-discrimination, recognition before the law, respect for will and preferences, participation and free and informed consent continue to apply. Where support is needed, it should help the person remain present in decisions about their own life. Autonomy is too often equated with complex independence, yet none of us lives autonomously in isolation. Throughout our lives, choices are made within relationships of care, trust and support. Cognitive impairment does not create this reality. It makes something fundamental about the human conditions more visible. In the right form, such support helps a person continue to shape their own life. This may require more time, familiar people, or adapted ways of communicating. Agency may be expressed in a gesture, a refusal, a habit, a look, or in a preference known over many years. Families, professionals, and institutions must learn to hear the forms in which a person can still speak. Participation is also made of ordinary choices. where to live, whom to see, how to spend a day, whether to go out, whom to trust. These are not small matters. Together, they make up a life. Mr. President, the enjoyment of human rights cannot depend solely on the goodwill of families, caregivers, or professionals. Families often provide indispensable support. that cannot relieve states and public systems of their own responsibilities. Those responsibilities must be translated into what I describe in the report as rights-realising systems. The responsibility of states must be visible in law and in everyday practice. States have positive obligations to create conditions in which older persons living with cognitive impairment can continue to exercise their rights to the greatest extent possible. Health and long-term care services should be organized around the person rather than the disease. Their success should be measured not only by clinical outcomes, but also by whether people retain meaningful influence over their own lives and relationships. In my report, I call on States to examine laws and practices that restrict rights on the basis of age, diagnosis or cognitive functioning. I also call for stronger support to decision-making and accessible communication, meaningful participation and inclusion, action against ageism and stigma, and effective monitoring and remedies when rights are denied. Older persons living with cognitive impairment must also have a place in shaping the policies and services that affect their enjoyment of human rights. Ultimately, the test is practical. Do laws and policies, institutions and everyday practices allow a person to continue to exercise their rights to the fullest extent possible as circumstances change and years pass? In short, Our task is to make sure that an older person's need for care and support when living with cognitive impairment never becomes a reason to see less of the person or to violate their enjoyment of human rights. I look forward to our dialogue and to hearing experiences and good practices of States and other stakeholders. I thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you. I now invite interested delegations to ask questions to the independent expert and make comments on his report. The speaking time is one minute and 30 seconds for all. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Thank you, Mr. President.

On behalf of the European Union, I congratulate the independent expert to his appointment and thank him for the report. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation. Mr. President, older persons are the most heterogeneous of all age groups. While many live autonomously and independently, others require assistance or depend on care. The report concludes that cognitive impairment does not diminish personhood, human agency or entitlement to human rights, but changes how they are exercised and what is required of states to enable their continued enjoyment. This rights-based approach is consistent and chimes with the EU's commitments under the CRPD and with relevant EU policies. For instance, the European pillar of social rights affirms the right to affordable long-term care of good quality, concretised in the European care strategy and the relevant Council recommendation on long-term care. Moreover, the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disability 2021-2030 guides efforts towards independent living and community-based support. The European Commission addresses mental health of older persons through a comprehensive life course approach, complemented by EU action on neurological conditions and disability. Many EU Member States have adopted legislation to ensure human rights-based approaches for older persons with cognitive impairment and to implement policies that give effect to the person's will and preferences across relevant policy fields. In closing, a question to the independent expert: how can States better support older persons with cognitive impairment in exercising their autonomy and legal capacity? Many thanks in advance.

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

The GCC states thank the expert for the important report on cognitive impairment and the exercise of human rights by older persons. We reiterate that cognitive impairment does not affect the dignity of older persons and their role in society, and the need for support should not mean the enslavement of those in terms of the decisions that affect their lives. In this respect, the GCC states have taken empirical step, including the adoption of legislation that protect the rights of older persons to live normally and providing safeguards for support in institutions. and the way they deal with their funds. There are also mobile clinics and care centers for them. We have the GCC indicator for the quality of life for older persons. That provides data that can be measured. The GCC states reiterate that family as the natural unit of society does not affect the dignity or the well of older persons, but it is the first environment to safeguard their dignity and protect them against exploitation. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia on behalf of a group of countries.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Human Rights of Older Persons. This year, we mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our group, which has grown into a diverse cross-regional coalition. We work closely with United Nations agencies and civil society. We share the conviction that older persons must fully enjoy all human rights on equal basis with others. On this anniversary, we reaffirm our strong support for the mandate of the independent expert. Regular dialogue with the mandate is at the heart of our work group here in Geneva. Over the past decade, the mandate has made a decisive contribution to advancing the human rights of older persons, deepening the understanding of key issues, and anchoring the rights of older persons more firmly within the United Nations human rights system. Through country visits, thematic reports, and constructive dialogue, it has provided valuable support to States. As population ages in all regions, This work is more relevant than ever. We encourage all states to cooperate fully with the mandate. Mr. Independent Expert, how can states best support the mandate in ensuring tangible change for older persons? Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq on behalf of the Arab Group.

Thank you, President. The Arab Group would like to thank the independent expert for his report, for the findings and recommendations to strengthen all of the rights of older persons, including the cases of cognitive impairment. The Arab Group reaffirms that the dignity of older persons and their rights must be safeguarded through all stages of life, and we reaffirm the importance of respecting their preferences and independence and providing them with the necessary support in an adequate fashion and making sure they have access to social and healthcare and spare them any form of discrimination or exclusion. The family has a critical role to play as the fundamental building block of society because the family plays a central role in providing care and psychosocial support, as well as it increases solidarity among generations and ensure that older persons do not live in isolation. Those families require assistance to be able to help them perform that role. The Arab group would like for policies and programs related to older persons to take into account the cultural and social specificities and the family values of various societies in line with the international obligations pertaining thereto. In conclusion, the Arab Group calls for increased international cooperation and an exchange of experiences and expertise in supporting all countries, especially developing countries, and ensuring better social care that guarantees for older persons a more meaningful participation within their families and societies. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia. Oh, sorry. to the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the African group. My apologies.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African group. The African group congratulates the independent expert for his appointment and for his report focusing on the human rights of older persons in the context of cognitive impairment. We agree that main issue that the main issue lies not in cognitive impairment itself, but in the capacity of states and society to create the conditions enabling this category of older persons to continue exercising their rights. A human rights-based approach that prioritises the inherent dignity of every person and their personal autonomy as a rights holder is therefore necessary. In this regard, the Group welcomes the entry into force in 2024 of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa. This major instrument requires States Parties to ensure that, in cases of incapacity, older persons receive social and legal assistance to make decisions in their best interest and for their well-being. These States must also adopt measures that enable older persons to express their opinions and participate in social and political life. The African Group takes note of independent expert recommendations and wishes full success to the mandate. Thank you.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia. Before doing that, just to announce that the list of speakers is now closed. Slovenia, you have the floor.

Mr. President, we thank the independent expert, Dr. Pirtosik, for his first report and commend him for excellent work advocating for human rights of older persons in the UN framework and beyond. Dr. Pirtosik. In your report, you address and analyze how cognitive impairment impacts enjoyment of human rights of older persons. We fully agree with your assessment that cognitive impairment does not diminish personhood, human agency, or entitlement to human rights. We acknowledge your call for more positive action by States in order to create conditions in which every person can continue to exercise human agency, participate meaningfully in decisions affecting them, and remain a full member of society. Through our national legislation, Slovenia is aiming to strengthen the autonomy of older persons with cognitive impairment by increasing accessibility of community-based services and assuring greater choice between institutional care, home care, family care, and financial benefits. Dr. Pirtosic. In light of the ongoing process towards a legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons, how should the question of cognitive impairment be incorporated into the new instrument? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President, my delegation welcomes the independent expert, thanks him for his report, and we agree on the need for states, private sector and society as a whole should stop perceiving cognitive impairment as a limitation on their ability to exercise their rights, but rather to create conditions to facilitate the full exercise, adapting new circumstances without undermining the support for respect, dignity, autonomy, and agency of older persons. Ecuador as a state party to the Inter-American Convention on Older Persons, and on the basis of its constitutional framework and public policies, has tools consistent with the decade for healthy ageing 2021-2030, with a vision that prioritises the well-being of older persons, their abilities, integration, participation and full and effective inclusion. The reform to the organisation of older persons provides for a 50% reduction in internet and telephone subscriptions, basic services, public transport shows and tax exemptions. We've also created centres for residents and centres for older persons. day care centres for older persons, home help for persons with a disability, without disability and spaces to provide for socialisation with community support. Question: how can you concretely turn into legally binding obligations this need to address cognitive impairment in older persons? Thank you.

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

Much appreciated, Mr. President. Uruguay is thankful to the independent expert for the presentation of his report and welcomes especially the approach centered on the dignity, autonomy, and agency of older persons. We share the premise whereby cognitive impairment should not reduce their condition as rights holders and cannot justify in itself restrictions to their autonomy or their participation in this respect. It is fundamental that we avoid situations in which greater needs for support give rise automatically in fewer possibilities for them to enjoy their rights. On the contrary, what must happen is we need to provide necessary support to older persons so that they can continue to express their wishes and preferences in those decisions that affect their lives. We'd like to ask the independent expert the following question: How can states ensure that the growing needs of care and of protection of older persons who have cognitive impairment be addressed without displacing their will, their preferences and their participation? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr.

President. We support also by the African group and we thank the independent expert for the presentation of his report devoted to the exercise by older persons and protect those living with cognitive impairments of all human rights. Djibouti recognizes the fact that all older persons fully enjoy their rights and should be able to exercise these, especially through the expression of their will, their participation to those decisions concerning them, as well as through keeping them within their family and within their communities. Djibouti also supports the need need to prevent all forms of infantilisation, overprotection and exclusion from decision-making processes, and to ensure that protection measures do not systematically deprive older persons of their rights or of their ability to participate in the choices pertaining to their daily life. My delegation considers that ageism and discrimination based on age, when associated with cognitive impairment, incapacity, dependence and the perception of loss of social value, can give rise in certain circumstances to discriminatory practices institutionalised by policy and legal frameworks based on deeply rooted stereotypes. Minister, independent expert, I question for you what specific measures could, according to you, be set up to go in to ensure that older persons who have cognitive impairment to be not only protected and supported, but especially associated to those decisions concerning them and recognised as rights holders. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Holy See.

and the report draws attention to a serious risk, namely that when cognitive capacities are impaired, the person may increasingly be spoken for rather than listened to. The fundamental dignity of each person is neither acquired nor earned, nor does it need to be justified by capacity. A person is not defined by his or her consciousness, intellect or abilities. These qualities may weaken or even disappear, but the person's dignity does not fade with them. The recognition of such dignity takes place above all within the family and the community, where every person is heard and supported. Dignity is God-given. Dependence and frailty do not negate or obscure such dignity. Rather, they are a manifestation of the human condition. The measure of our humanity is not given by what we can achieve, but by our ability to let ourselves be loved and, when necessary, even helped. Consequently, older persons living with cognitive impairment continue to hold and exercise their rights, often through supported and relational forms. It is precisely for this reason that the response should not be substitution, but dialogue, understanding, and accompaniment. This will enable them to remain active members of society, able both to receive and to contribute. Thank you.

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

Thank you, President. Gabon aligns itself with the statement made by the Africa Group, and we congratulate the independent expert for the very pertinent report. In compliance with the practices of international law, as illustrated in the report, cognitive impairment should not be interpreted as a limit to personality, the capacity to act or exercise the human rights of older persons. It is rather an opportunity. to update the conditions in which the rights can still be exercised, notably through care, protection or accompaniment provided to vulnerable persons. My country has taken a number of measures to help older people to recognize their autonomy, participation, personal enjoyment of life and dignity. infrastructure such as the Melen Gerontology and Geriatric Center was created to provide social and medical support for people losing their autonomy. A national day of the older person and the retired persons was instituted to highlight their contribution to the country's development and for outreach on the issue of aging. According to our traditions, solidarity and respect for older people are sacred. The family remains the first institution supporting older people. We believe that assistance to people in one's family circle with training is vital and necessary. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Ireland aligns with the EU statement and welcomes the independent expert as he begins his new role. We thank the independent expert for his report. Ireland is strongly committed to protecting the human rights of older persons, including those with cognitive impairment, to respecting their autonomy and to supporting their independent decision-making. We note the report's conclusion that cognitive impairment does not diminish personhood, human agency or entitlement to human rights, but can change the conditions under which those rights are exercised and the responsibility of states to enable this exercise. Ireland has legislated to establish a new legal framework to support decision making and maximise the capacity of adults with cognitive impairments to make decisions about their own lives, including decisions regarding their personal welfare. Under the auspices of the Mental Health Commission, the decision support service has been established to promote the rights and interests of people who may need support with decision making or who wish to plan ahead. Our model of care for dementia in Ireland aims to promote the autonomy of people with dementia by supporting individuals to articulate their will and preferences where possible and to support individuals to work towards goals identified by them. Independent expert, could you identify some best practices for the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons with cognitive impairment? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. We welcome the independent expert on his role, and we thank him for his report. Cognitive impairment must never be treated as diminishing personhood or autonomy, nor as justification for denying legal capacity. Yet older persons with cognitive impairment are too often spoken for rather than listened to and excluded from decisions concerning health care, finances, living, and community life. Older persons remain right holders. They must be supported to communicate their will and preferences, make their own choices, and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives. Safeguarding their agency is a human rights obligation. In Cyprus, our first national strategy for active ageing for 2025-2030 and the accompanying action plan promote social inclusion and participation, healthy ageing and the elimination of age discrimination, while strengthening older persons' involvement in decision-making processes. They also include concrete measures to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of older persons. Support must enable rather than replace their choices, with effective safeguards against abuse, coercion and undue influence. Independent expert, what practical measures can States take to safeguard agency as cognitive impairment progresses and the support needs of the elderly evolve? Thank you.

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

Mr. President, the Moldus thanks the independent expert for the report. As demographic transitions accelerate, greater attention must be placed on ensuring that older persons are recognized as right holders with dignity and autonomy to participate meaningfully in all aspects of society. This requires a human-based approach to aging, grounded in equality and non-discrimination across the life course. The Maldives is advancing this approach through our national policy on aging, launched in 2025, which provides a comprehensive framework spanning health and well-being, income security, protection, and lifelong learning. We are complementing these measures by expanding dedicated healthcare services for older persons and creating an enabling environment for more accessibility. Efforts are also underway towards the enactment of an elderly bill. As a SIDS, the Maldives recognizes that geographic isolation and disparities in access to services can compound vulnerabilities experienced in an older age. Climate change and environmental risks may further exacerbate these challenges. These realities underscore the importance of approaches that are responsive to varied national circumstances. Against this backdrop, the MOLDIS calls for a strengthened international protection framework for older persons, including through a legally binding instrument that reaffirms existing rights while addressing protection gaps specific to older age. I thank you.

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

Mr. President, we have examined with great interest the report of the independent expert on older persons and its recommendations. Here, we'd like to reaffirm that cognitive impairment does not diminish the status of older persons or their status within society or the family. Their needs does not mean their lack of capacity to take decisions about their lives and welfare. In this framework, the Kingdom pays great attention to older persons based on the Sharia law and the values of Islam, and based on our belief as to their important role in society, their ability to give and support families and societies. This has been translated in various regulations and national programs and policies that gave a priority to the rights of older persons as a social and cultural priority. Older persons must be living in families, and families must be supported and the necessary assistance and support must be made available, and we have adopted programs in this regard that enable them to live in environments that preserve their rights and dignity. And we encourage older persons who can work to be able to find employment, and we work with the employers in this regard, and we try to rehabilitate social centers as well as mosques and dedicated places for them in various national and community initiatives and celebrations. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. The Sultanate of Oman expresses its appreciation to the independent expert for his report. that deals with a very important subject on the exercise of human rights by older persons with cognitive impairment. We appreciate that the report focuses on the fact that cognitive impairment does not reduce human dignity or capacities or rights. We believe that protecting the rights of older persons must take into account the specificities of the society and the cultural aspects. And we reaffirm that the Islamic societies highly revere older persons and give them a very important place in society. family has an important role while preserving the preferences and rights of the older person to take decisions that affect him, keeping the dignity. In this context, we would like to ask the independent expert, how can countries invest in positive cultural practices that reinforce the role of the family and the society while making sure that family care does not replace the will of the person or human rights guarantees. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Malta aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the independent expert for the report, especially its clear recognition that cognitive impairment neither diminishes personhood nor negates an individual's human rights, agency and inherent dignity. Coordinated action across multiple sectors is important, including social protection, transport, digital technologies, community services and health and long-term care. It also requires continued efforts to address ageism and reduce its associated stigma. Creating age-inclusive and dementia-inclusive communities is fundamental to ensuring that older persons remain visible. Older persons living with dementia should continue to be recognized as active participants in society and in decisions that affect their lives. Malta supports moving beyond approaches that automatically connect cognitive impairment with incapacity and instead advocates for models of support that uphold and augment independence and autonomy. The report also highlights the importance of person-centered and community-based approaches. These are vital as they safeguard human rights and extend beyond the provision of healthcare alone. It requires creating environments in which older persons can sustain meaningful relationships, participate fully in community life and remain visible, included and valued members of society. Independent expert, how can states effectively address the intersection between ageism and stigma associated with cognitive impairment, particularly within health and long-term care settings? Thank you.

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

Mr. President. Vietnam thanks the independent expert for his report on cognitive impairment and the continuing exercise of human rights by older persons. We reaffirm that older persons are equal rights holders and valuable contributors to society. Cognitive impairment must not diminish their dignity or prevent their meaningful participation in decisions affecting their lives. We support approaches that promote autonomy, accessible communication, decision-making support, and quality care, while addressing ageism, abuse, and neglect. States bear the primary responsibility, supported by families and communities. Developing the silver economy will be a major priority for Vietnam in the coming years. These endeavors should advance older persons' rights through accessible products and services, inclusive technologies, and opportunities for participation. Older persons, including those living with cognitive impairment, should benefit from and contribute to this development with appropriate support. Vietnam remains committed to international efforts to strengthen the protection of older persons' rights. We stand ready for technical cooperation and exchanges of good practices to translate these principles into practical outcomes. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. The Jamaican delegation thanks the independent expert for his report, which affirms that cognitive impairment does not diminish personhood, human agency, or entitlement to the full enjoyment of human rights. Having noted the report's recommendations, my delegation wishes to highlight some of the efforts made by Jamaica in this regard. Jamaica's constitution guarantees respect for the inherent dignity of the individual, and our Disabilities Act 2022 guarantees non-discrimination, accessibility, and participation, extending to older persons whose cognitive impairment constitutes a disability. Through the National Council for Senior Citizens or network of senior citizens clubs enables older persons to remain connected to their communities and sustain the social roles the report identifies as protective against isolation. The Ministry of Health and Wellness's care program advances a community-based, person-centered approach through caregiver training, pilot clinics for older persons, community health aides, and home help services to support aging in place. Guided by our 2021 national policy for senior citizens, Jamaica is further advancing legislation on the care and protection of older persons. Mr. Independent Expert, where care is delivered primarily by families rather than institutions, how can states best incorporate supported communication into caregiver training? Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Federated States of Micronesia. Distinguished representative of Micronesia. In that case, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. President, my delegation has reviewed with great attention the report of the independent expert. We welcome that he stresses that cognitive impairment does not reduce the rights of older persons or their dignity. The older persons facing cognitive problems does not mean that they cannot participate in decisions that affect them. They need the support needed to express their will and to exercise their rights independently and with dignity. In the UAE, this is reflected in Law No. 9 of 2019 on the rights of older persons. It consecrates the respect of their dignity and autonomy and enhances their participation in the society. In addition to protection from any mistreatment or exploitation or neglect, our policy reinforces the importance of improving their quality of life through connecting them to the society and guaranteeing their participation and safety. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to continue using a national approach that guarantees dignity and autonomy to older persons and their participation in the society while guaranteeing their human rights and guaranteeing their participation in the development process. Thank you.

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

Mr. President. We would like to welcome the independent expert and thank him for his report. We agree with the independent expert when he says that the dignity of older persons, their humanity and rights, must remain a priority regardless of their age or change in their capacities or their health or cognitive status. Qatar attaches high importance to older persons, and we use the term "persons of high standing" in recognition of their status and contribution to society. Cognitive impairment does not affect their rights negatively. On the contrary, the State has a legislative and comprehensive health system to protect their rights. The protection and promotion of human rights for older persons in Qatar is based on the constitution, on Qatar's Vision 2030 and strategies, in addition to our religious, cultural, and social values. We have also adopted necessary legislations, such as Law Number 9 of 2022 that reaffirms the rights of the older persons and reaffirms the responsibility of the state, family, and community in their protection. Thank you.

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

Thank you, President. The Democratic Republic of the Congo aligns itself with the statement by the African Group and thanks the independent expert for the report as presented. The issue of human rights for the older persons is something which speaks to the very collective identity of us elderly The older generation in our country has a sacred position in our society, but they are often subjected to stigmatization and sometimes negligence, given the economic vulnerability and instability. Therefore, my government has reaffirmed its commitment to build an inclusive society for all ages, integrating protections for older people in our national healthcare policies and social structures also overcoming discrimination. We agree with the expert that cognitive impairment should not be a reason for the loss of sovereignty or autonomy for older people. Early reactions are required to help older people. This needs broader cooperation and sharing of best practices to give developing countries modern infrastructure and systems for response. We have committed to binding policies to help older people in our country. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of North Macedonia.

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the independent expert for his report. We fully align with his view that cognitive changes must never diminish a person's dignity or status as a rights holder. We support the whole of society approach to creating conditions that enable older persons with cognitive impairment to fully.

Exercise their rights.

At the national level, North Macedonia has established a broad legal and institutional framework addressing the rights of older persons, including persons with cognitive impairment. Support includes social security and healthcare benefits, allowances and access to home-based and institutional care. We also adopted the Active Ageing Action Plan, which identifies three priority areas: promoting healthy lifestyle and active participation in social life, reducing the negative impact of social factors on health, and strengthening the institutional capacities. The government and other stakeholders are providing valuable support to families and caregivers of persons living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. We would like to ask the independent expert.

What key steps?

Should States take to ensure the full respect of non-discrimination, participation and equality for older persons with cognitive impairment? Thank you.

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

Mr. President, Angola lends itself to the statement of the African Group. I'm going to welcome the independent expert for presenting his report. Global demographic aging calls for deep reflection on social protection, health and care systems, ensuring that older persons can age with dignity, autonomy and full participation in society. Older persons should not be seen as mere beneficiaries of assistance, but as rights holders and fundamental pillars of family cohesion and of the transmission of values and historic cultural identity, a role that is particularly significant where the extended family remains the primary source of care. Mr. President, the loss of physical or cognitive abilities should not entail a diminishment of the rights, dignity or decision-making capacity of the other person. Mechanisms for supported decision-making that respect the person's will and preference must be promoted. We also welcome the progress made by the Open-ended Working Group on Aging and consider that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons could help close existing gap and strengthen the international protection of these rights, particularly for developing countries. In conclusion, we would like to ask the independent expert what particular recommendation would he suggest to strengthen community and family-based care in developing countries, safeguarding the autonomy and dignity of older persons with cognitive decline without placing excessive burden on families and informal support networks. Thank you.

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

Mr. President, we welcome the independent expert and the Important report on challenges related to older persons and their conditions of life, Libya in October 2024 launched a national strategy for national protection till 2029. It aims at limiting poverty, providing social care throughout the life of these persons, as well as digital approaches. Over 150,000 of older persons receive retirement benefits, and more than 73% of men and 42% of women receive services after the age of 60. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to improve the living conditions of the Libyan citizen, to protect their dignity. Dignity is a pillar of all our national policies. Thank you.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished representatives, colleagues, this was the last speaker that we could accommodate for now. and this interactive dialogue will continue on Friday and we will continue with our distinguished colleague from Kuwait and member states, observer states as well as NHRI and NGOs and with Mr. Pistorche. Excellencies, colleagues, Now I understand that certain delegations have requested to exercise their right of reply, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China. You have three minutes.

Mr. President, in this morning, certain NGOs fabricated lies and maliciously smearing China's economic cooperation with UN special procedure mandate holders, which we firmly reject. China has always constructively cooperated with the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, and fulfilled our obligations. Recently, China has paid in full its 2026 assessed contribution to the UN, contributing over 20 percent of UN finances. China practices what it preaches, including to support the UN-centered multilateral system. We cannot but ask, compared with a certain major country that refuses to pay its contribution, thereby exacerbating the financial crisis of the UN, hampering the normal functioning of the UN system, including the Council, why China's goodwill has not been cherished, but instead distorted and maligned? China has repeatedly reaffirmed that Taiwan, Xinjiang, Sichuan, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs. They concern China's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. The Chinese Government and people are best placed to speak on these issues, and this brooks no interference by any country or external forces. China is a unified multiethnic country, and the relations between ethnic groups are that of equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony. Enhancing the rule of law will help better protect the legitimate interests of all ethnic groups and enhance unity and promote joint development. We attach great importance to protecting the culture of ethnic minorities and the languages and the spoken language of ethnic groups. Our practices and achievements have been widely acknowledged and supported by the international community. We urge the NGOs to stop spreading false information and political maneuvering in order to play a positive rather than a negative role in international human rights cooperation. I thank you.

Thank you. This was the last speaker on my list. Is there any other delegation requesting to exercise right of reply in relation to the statements made today. I see no such request. We will now take a short break before holding the panel discussion on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities. Excellencies, distinguished representatives, we will now begin the panel discussion on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities, held pursuant to Council resolution 60/14. It is my honour to welcome to the podium Mr. Volker Turk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, who will deliver an opening statement. It is also my honor to welcome our distinguished panelists, His Excellency Mr. Gui Dejie, Permanent Representative of China to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland; Ms. Laura Chinchilla, President, Club de Madrid, who will deliver a video message; Ms. Penelope Hawkins, Head of the Debt and Development Finance Branch, United Nations Trade and Development; and Ms. Melissa Akir, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia or SUHAKAM. Excellencies, distinguished participants, the list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I encourage all speakers to intervene in an interactive way, present comments, and ask questions that reflects the panelists' intervention and the discussion. The speaking time limit is one minute and 30 seconds for all and a maximum of 40 speakers will be accommodated. Delegates inscribed on the list of speakers who cannot take the floor because of time constraints can upload their statements to the online system to be posted on the HRC portal. And I now have the honor to invite the High Commissioner for Human Rights to deliver the opening statement. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished co-panelists and distinguished participants. Over the course of these weeks, this Council will hear about wars, repression and horrific violence. Our discussion today invites us to look at another kind of violence, and it's the countless quiet wars people endure every day in every part of the world against poverty, hunger and exclusion. These crises may differ in nature and scale, but beneath them runs a common cause, an insatiable competition for power, whether that is military, economic, political or technological. Over the past five years, about half of the world's countries have increased their military budgets. While every country has a duty to defend its people, it also has a duty to meet their essential needs. Increases in military spending often have direct consequences for education, housing, healthcare and social protection, and direct benefits for the military-industrial complex. Economic inequalities are soaring. the G20 Global Inequality Report found that since 2000, the richest 1% has captured 41% of new wealth and the poorest half of humanity, just 1%. In a world of trillionaires, more than one third of humanity lives perilously close to extreme poverty. A similar share lives in inadequate housing, and more than half fear losing their jobs. Our international economic and financial systems are grotesquely out of balance and in need of a major upgrade. Some 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments than on either health or education. Rising debt burdens combined with inequitable international tax rules, tax evasion and avoidance, and illicit financial flows leave many developing countries with virtually no fiscal space to provide basic services for their people. Least developed countries and countries affected by conflict and climate change are hit particularly hard. These funding gaps put people everywhere at risk. Underfunded health systems, for example, have made recent cholera and Ebola outbreaks harder to contain. Despite trillions being spent on advanced weaponry, few could credibly call the world I've just described secure. We are being sold an outdated, narrow vision of security which is more effective in protecting wealth than people. Mr. President, policies and choices that perpetuate poverty and inequality and fail to address the climate emergency are a form of oppression. Economic, social, and cultural rights are not merely about salaries. They are about freedom, agency, and autonomy, all of which are being steadily taken away from people. Extreme fortunes bring the ability to influence policy, direct public discourse, restrict competition, shape taxation, and shield controversial business models from public scrutiny. The same G20 report found that highly unequal countries are seven times more likely to experience democratic decline. My office's own data shows the growing suppression of civic space around the world, environmental defenders and journalists investigating corruption are often the first in the line of fire. Less transparency and undue restrictions on participation and peaceful protest are meant to close off ways for people to challenge unjust and corrupt systems. But those who impose them are building a dam. Unless they change course, That dam will eventually burst under growing pressure as people's grievances spill over into unrest. In many countries, people, especially young people, are already losing trust in their governments and taking to the streets. Mr. President, human rights are about redistribution of power. That is what makes them radical and threatening to those who would rather keep power to themselves. My office supports governments around the world in implementing inclusive policies that empower their people through education, opportunities, infrastructure, and more. An educated voter can participate more fully in public life. A digitally connected person can access information, services, and jobs. A woman with a secure income can be less dependent on an abusive partner. Empowered people make society stronger. And we have already seen it in many places around the world. Spain, for example, boasts social enterprises that employ thousands of people with disabilities and generate billions in profit. The country is now investing in its care and support system to promote autonomy and inclusion. In cities in Brazil and India, Greater participation has strengthened local governance, made policies more responsive, and reinforced accountability. We need a fundamental rethink of our economic approaches and systems to turn them towards fairness, equal participation, and human rights at every level. We need to wake up and stop pretending that economic models are working when they are destroying our environment, heating our climate, and fueling unsustainable consumption. We are running up an enormous debt to our planet and future generations, so it's really time to start paying it back. That is the basis of my office's work to promote sustainable economies that tackle inequalities and deliver for everyone. At a time of dwindling development aid, a human rights economy can help countries mobilize domestic resources through fair taxation, smarter spending, and more effective and transparent institutions. In Bangladesh, for example, we are supporting the tax reform process, including efforts to shift the tax towards more progressive taxation. We worked with civil society and media workers in Uzbekistan to strengthen their capacity to monitor and assess budgetary decisions. We need more cooperation, more political and financial support, more resolve and more creativity to take this work further. How wealth is distributed should be one of the key measures of economic progress. There is momentum at the international level which we need to leverage. I welcome initiatives to reform international financial institutions, to tax multinational corporations and high net worth individuals more effectively, to ensure developing countries have a seat at the table in debt discussions, to advance universal social protection, and to address climate-induced loss and damage. My office will continue working to ensure that the future UN tax convention has a strong human rights anchor. By working together, including through the Global Alliance for Human Rights, we can advance the human rights economy, and translate its principles into concrete policies and practices worldwide. I firmly believe this approach has the potential to deliver greater security and more sustainable prosperity than all the military might in the world combined. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now give the floor to the distinguished panelists for their initial presentations. And I give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Githa Gya. You have the floor, Excellency.

Distinguished High Commissioner, Mr. President, guests and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It's a great pleasure to to see the 60th anniversary of the International Covenant of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and see or attend the convening of the panel held pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 60/14 to discuss together progress, challenges, and opportunities in the field of economic, social, and cultural rights. China, together with other members of the core group, has introduced resolutions on the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural rights in the context of addressing inequalities. Progress has been made in promoting cooperation in this field. First, panel discussions have been held at the Human Rights Council to pool ideas, build consensus, and inject fresh impetus into international cooperation on economic, social, cultural rights, ESCR rights. Second, a mandate was established for the creation of a new mechanism. The Knowledge Hub for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, established by the Office of the High Commissioner, represents a major international institutional innovation and cooperation has been conducted with over 45 countries, effectively helping them strengthen their capacity. And the platform provides over 100 examples of good practices and 300 knowledge products to users worldwide. Third, international cooperation has been encouraged. China and OHCHR have jointly organized two training programs on ESCR. Representatives and experts from more than 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania Participated in the training, which provided practice support for professional training and capacity building in the field, China, as a member, as a party to the International Covenant of ESR, attach great importance to the promotion protection of the rights and promoted progress in the protection, we fully… protected the adequate level for living standards of people and historically eliminated absolute poverty. We achieved the level goal 10 years ahead of schedule described in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. We actually protected the ESR, right? The nine-year compulsory education have achieved to the extent of 91 percent. And the Higher education has achieved 61% coverage. We have the world's largest medical insurance coverage. The average life expectancy reached 79 years, and the right to health has been better protected. Over the next five years, guided by its fifth National Human Rights Action Plan, China will take further practical measures to safeguard economic, social, cultural rights, and the rights and interests of special groups. Not long ago, in his global update, the High Commissioner mentioned that only four years left before 2030 agenda has expired, only a small percentage have been achieved, economic, social, cultural rights have long been ignored. in the context of financial crisis in the UN, the financial allocation is not balanced and many people in the world are not able to fully exercise their rights, which exacerbated inequalities within and among countries. Given the above challenges, all parties should make efforts. We propose that country should place the realization of economic and social cultural rights at a higher level of priority on the multilateral agenda, and we should let people feel the difference that human rights make in their life and increase their confidence in. First, we should revitalize global cooperation, and all parties should honor their commitments under the Convention and reject marginalization of economic, social, cultural rights. We should meet the expectations of countries and vulnerable groups and reduce inequalities among countries. We call on developed countries to provide more technical and financial support to developing countries. Second, we should foster global governance and safeguard multilateralism and strengthen global human rights governance by increasing the representation of developing countries. and give due attention to their needs in the field of economic, social, cultural rights. We should uphold the right of people in all countries to independently choose their own paths of human rights development, oppose interference in internal affairs, and oppose unilateral coercive measures. Reform measures in the international human rights field must not result in disproportionate cuts to resources allocated to economic, social, cultural rights. We must achieve balance between two categories of human rights. Third, we must Third, we must enable HCHR to play its full role. We support the office in fully exercising its coordinating role in promoting protected rights. We have just heard the role that his office has already played in this regard. We support his office in further broadening the reach of the Knowledge Hub on economic, social, and cultural rights and providing a wider range of resources, guidance and tools, strengthen engagement with member states so as to provide targeted technical support based on their real needs. The office should also strengthen professional networks, establish regular cooperation with the universities and research institutions. China stands ready to continue to support through voluntary contributions. We are ready to work with all parties to continue advancing the equal and full exercise of economic, social and cultural rights by all. jointly steer global human rights governance in the right direction of healthy development of the international human rights cause. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Ms. Laura Chinchilla for a video message.

Thank you, President, High Commissioner, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It's an honor for me to speak to you this afternoon as president of the Club de Madrid, the largest global organization bringing together former heads of states and government who were elected democratically, who share their experience and their leadership to promote inclusive, responsible, and people-centered democratic governance. From this perspective, we also approach economic, social, and cultural rights. Today, there is greater recognition that social protection, health, education, care, and access to water and sanitation are important. But there is a growing and increasingly growing gap between recognized rights and those rights which people actually enjoy. Figures show this clearly in 2024. 2.1 billion people, that is one in every four people on the planet, lacked access to drinking water safely managed. 3.4 billion did not have safe sanitation and 1.7 billion did not have basic sanitation services in their home. These gaps have deadly consequences. In 2019, at least 1.5 million people died because of preventable causes linked to unsafe water and deficient sanitation. And just in 2024, over 560,000 cases of cholera in 60 countries were reported. Structural inequalities, as well as discrimination, continue to condition the few opportunities that millions of people have extreme concentration of wealth, uh, attests to this reality in 2025, the 10% most wealthy in the world, uh, owned 75% of global, uh, wealth, whereas the… poorest 50% only owned 2% of global wealth. These gaps are not only economic in nature, they also affect our democracies. The Global Commission on Democracy and Multilateralism, which was set up by the Club de Madrid, underscores that economic, social and cultural rights are not merely outcomes of good governance. Rather, they are indispensable conditions for the full exercise of citizenship. Without economic, social and cultural security, democracy runs the risk of just becoming a mere formal exercise. We should also address the serious problem of corruption, which negatively impacts enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. For example, in the sector of health, corruption gives rise to greater avoidable mortality, lower immunization coverage, people paying more out of their own pocket, affecting the most vulnerable. Off-the-book payments, bribes, workplace absenteeism, institutional negligence and fraud contribute to health inequalities and act as health social determinants. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the other covenants and the other international human rights treaties remind us that human rights are indivisible. civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, the right to development, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. All of these together make it possible for effective democracy to take place and human development to take place. We cannot uphold some rights and neglect others. If states want to implement these principles, they need to have the real means to do so. The Club de Madrid has defended fairer, more predictable debt mechanisms, greater concessional and countercyclical financing, safer tax systems and more inclusive international financial governance. But to have resources is not enough either. What you need to do is translate these into effective rights and see social protection as an investment and It is the backbone of our democracies' infrastructure. In that respect, we must absolutely strengthen compliance with commitments under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and encourage states to consider ratification of the optional protocol to the ICESCR, given that many of the factors that condition the enjoyment of those rights transcend national borders and call for collective responses. All of this strengthens the importance of the multilateral system. More than ever, we need to bridge gaps between international commitments and the implementation of international commitments. This is exactly where the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights can, plays, or does play a fundamental role. As former heads of state and government, we know that to convert commitments in outcomes is one of the main challenges of governmental action. In the current context, where in which budgets are being cut, it's important that we preserve the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to support states and to strengthen national capacities. You can rely on the Club de Madrid. We will continue to be an ally in this constant effort to keep economic, social and cultural rights at the heart of the global agenda and to ensure that their enjoyment is fully guaranteed and effectively enjoyed, that these rights are fully guaranteed and effectively enjoyed, which is essential if we want to create societies that are fairer and ensure that our democracies are sounder. Thank you very much.

Thank you. And I now give the floor to Ms. Penelope Hawkins. You have the floor, madam.

Thank you very much. At UNCTAD, we believe that public debt is an essential tool for development. And the problem is not debt itself, but indeed the conditions under which it was contracted and is being serviced. Increasingly, what we see in the developing world in particular is high borrowing costs and debt service obligations that are reducing the fiscal space available for governments to invest in the very areas that underpin economic, social, and cultural rights, particularly health, education, and essential public services. From a human rights perspective then, debt is not separate from the realization of these rights, as the cost of finance affects what governments are able to deliver to their people. I'd like to share with you a few of our recent findings. And one of the key things that underpins this in recent work we've done in the last couple of months is that debt is becoming more and more costly and less accessible as a source of development finance for developing countries. If one takes the span of two and a half decades between 2010 and 2025, you see that developing countries, excluding China, paid an average interest rate that was almost three times higher than that of the average paid by developed countries. So this trend over two decades is really showing us a systemic issue, and it reflects how markets and creditors assess the risks associated with developing countries. In 2025, developing countries paid almost US$1 trillion away in interest. This is just interest on public debt. This is not the repayment of debt itself. We see that 94 developing countries are paying such high rates that if they could access markets at the same rates as developed countries, they would save some 500 billion US dollars a year. I'll give you an example of what $500 billion a year can pay for. It can pay for 375,000 schools. It can pay for 1.6 billion children to be fed every day for a year. So we are not just talking, when we talk of interest, about financial cost. We are talking about opportunity cost, the resources that go into servicing interest on debts means that we have children that have to forego education or in fact undergo inadequate nutrition and/or inadequate health services. We see that between 2022 and 2024, developing countries excluding China transferred more resources to external public creditors than they received in financing. That simply means that all new debt or new loans, new financing, new investments that come into developing countries are being equal or exceeded by interest costs. So it seems that this external financing is no longer a reliable source for development. In the public sector, we can now say that 25 developing countries spend more on interest than education, and 49 spent more on interest than health. In total, in 2024, 3.7 billion people lived in developing countries where interest spending exceeded public spending on health and/or education. What we see at the same time, of course, is that other sources of external assistance for developing countries has fallen away. Official development assistance has fallen from 0.37% of combined gross national income from the Development Account Committee to 0.26% in 2025. all the time moving away from the UN target of 0.7% of GNI. So what is it that the UN can contribute? First of all, we believe that there is room for strengthened integration of debt and macroeconomic policy with human rights conditions and considerations. We believe that UNCTAD, working together with the Office of High Commission on Human Rights, could actually help develop more fulfilled and complete policies. Second, we believe that there is space always for continued technical assistance and national institutional capacity. UNCTAD's Debt Management and Financial Analysis System, also known as DMFAS, currently allows 65 countries to be enabled to produce sound debt management, debt data transparency, and institutional capacity. And in addition, we think that there is room to reinforce the UN's convening role to strengthen the voice of borrowers and facilitate peer learning. At the launch of the Borrowers' Platform in April this year, UNSG Guterres said, "I believe the creation of the Borrowers' Platform is an essential instrument in order for there to be change in power relations, and this change is essential for us to have fairness in the international financial architecture." If we work together, we can ensure that finance finance development on sustainable and affordable terms is not only possible, but can also support economic, social, and cultural rights. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor now to Ms. Melissa Aguirre. You have the floor, madam.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. It is a great honor to participate in this discussion today. As a commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, or SUHAKAM in Malay, I am especially pleased that this panel coincides with the 27th anniversary of SUHAKAM as an NHRI. For more than two decades, SUHAKAM has worked to promote and protect human rights in Malaysia through monitoring, investigation, human rights education and awareness, law and policy engagement, and cooperation with partners. So HAKAM has consistently recommended to the Malaysian government to accede to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, henceforth ICESCR, including through studies on the compatibility with Malaysian laws. Last month, through the Asia Pacific Forum's high level dialogue, SOHAKAM has identified ICESCR as the most strategic priority for ratification. We sustain engagement with government institutions across Southeast Asia and crucial stakeholders to translate human rights standards and recommendations into concrete policies, institutional mechanisms, and improvements in the enjoyment of rights. However, as we have heard, in the context of human rights pushback, in a world where inequalities continue to deepen, despite significant advances in human rights standards and development, allow me to share a few key lessons from the Malaysian experience. First, progress on economic, social and cultural rights requires sustained engagement, clear evidence-based action, partnerships and institutional long-term commitment. One example in Malaysia concerns the right to health under Sustainable Development Goal 3, clean water and sanitation in places of detention, as well as addressing deaths in custody. Through monitoring, published research and sustained engagement with authorities, including with the Royal Malaysian Police and the Ministry of Health in Malaysia, our work contributed to the establishment of custodial health units within police lock-ups. While great challenges remain, this experience serves as a positive example of how sustained monitoring, evidence-based action, and constructive engagement with duty bearers can help transform a human rights concern into concrete institutional reform that improve the lives and dignity of all the rights holders affected. Secondly, economic and cultural rights through the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, or NAP-BHR, Far from being business as usual, since 2025, Suhakam was among the earliest institutions in Malaysia to advocate for this process, beginning with research on the human rights impact of business activities, including particularly in logging and plantation industries. The adoption of the NAP-BHR signifies Malaysia's commitment to integrating the UN Guiding Principles and Sustainable Development Goal targets into the national policy and governance framework. Crucially, the NAP-BHR recognises the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and highlights the need to institutionalise the principle of free, prior and informed consent in practice. Our experience with the NABHR has taught us that advancing rights is often a long-term process of sustained engagement, institutional continuity, and improved collaborations. Second lesson, that meaningful participation is essential to reducing inequalities and advancing human rights in a meaningful manner. This has guided SWACAM's work with indigenous peoples, particularly women, children, persons with disabilities and others facing discrimination and exclusion. Earlier this year, SWACHAM organised a national forum on the rights of indigenous peoples with the support of OHCHR. The discussions built upon the national inquiry into the land rights of Indigenous peoples, and reaffirm that customary land rights, the preservation of culture and identity, and participation in decision making are central to the overall well-being of Indigenous communities. A particular highlight was on cultural identity through the mapping and preservation of Indigenous oral tradition, storytelling, and languages. to preserve that and through the role of the state assemblies in Malaysia to preserve indigenous rights. As Suhakam is the chair of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum or CNF, we continue to nurture stronger strategic collaboration among Southeast Asian and HRIs to advance the rights of indigenous peoples, strengthen their communities, initiate monitoring of corruption and promote business practices that center indigenous rights and culture. Similarly, in our engagement on sexual and reproductive health rights and ending harmful practices, among others, with UNFPA, women and girls are not merely beneficiaries of policy decisions, but are active participants in shaping their rights in their daily lives. The same principles underpin our efforts to promote human rights cities in Malaysia. which have received support within the Department of Federal Territories. OHCHR's guidance and in-person support from the ESCR section have been useful for the promotion and strategic collaboration with Parliament, as well as the Malaysian Bar, followed by government officers under the Minister of the Federal Territories. We are excited to move forward with the state, with the support of HCHR, towards advancing human rights in the local government level and ultimately supporting the federal territories in becoming human rights cities. However, at the same time, significant challenges remain. Structural inequalities continue to affect access to healthcare, education, housing, land, social protection, and decent work. Indigenous peoples, women and girls, migrants, refugees and persons living in vulnerable situations continue to experience disproportionate barriers in their enjoyment of their rights. We are also witnessing increasing pressure on public resources and institutions tasked with protecting rights. In many countries, including across the Asia-Pacific region, human rights institutions navigating challenging circumstances, especially economically, as well as resource constraints. In this context, it is important to mention the unique value of collaboration between SWACAM and OHCHR. The relationship and engagement have been long-standing, particularly with the Regional Office for Southeast Asia and recently the ESR Knowledge Hub. So, Hakam will develop a context-specific ESCR monitoring tool with the technical support and collaboration of OHCHR to assess the government commitments towards fulfilling our human rights obligations. Let me end with a concrete recommendation. Greater investment is needed in national human rights institutions so that we fully comply with the Paris Principles. and HRIs are critical partners in monitoring implementation, generating evidence, supporting dialogue with authorities and the United Nations in order that the experience of rights holders truly inform public policy and contribute to regaining rights. At a time of widening inequalities, strengthening OHCHR's capacity to provide technical assistance and capacity development on ESCR is essential to supporting implementation on the ground. So, Hakam remains committed to explore collaborative opportunities towards substantive equality and amplifying the Paris principles to advance human rights for all. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished representatives and members of the panel, we will now proceed with the first segment of the list of speakers. All interventions from the floor are limited to one minute and 30 seconds. The list of speakers is now closed. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iceland on behalf of a group of countries.

Mr. President, I have the honour to deliver the statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States. We reaffirm that all human rights are universal and intertwined, and that economic, social, and cultural rights are central to leaving no one behind. We remain concerned by growing inequalities, which are further amplified by overlapping global crisis and their disproportionate effects on people in marginalized and vulnerable situations, including women and girls. Women and girls continue to face these barriers in access to equal pay, healthcare, education, and social protection. We stress the importance of nationally defined social protection floors and equal pay for work of equal value, which remains as one of the essential tools to close these gaps. In this context, the ongoing challenges and constraints faced by the Office of the High Commissioner are worrying, risking its capacity to deliver on its mandate. We reaffirm the need for predictable and adequate resourcing for the UN human rights pillar, including this Council and respectively OHCHR, to deliver its mandated work and underline the importance of gender balance and equitable geographical representation across its work. We look forward to continued cooperation with the Office and stakeholders to ensure economic, social and cultural rights frameworks deliver equally for all. Thank you.

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

Mr. President, the EU welcomes today's dialogue advancing the work of this Council on economic, social and cultural rights. The EU addresses economic, social and cultural rights and systemic inequalities by combining domestic legislative frameworks, intersectional equality strategies and human rights policies. Our Member States lead on a number of HRC resolutions in this area, such as the right on safe drinking water and sanitation, tabled at this Council session. Other resolutions are on key issues such as education, adequate housing, mental health, sustainable development and extreme poverty, as well as the omnibus resolution on the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights. The EU follows a human rights-based approach to ensure that no one is left behind and that development is rights driven and transparent. Through the Global Gateway strategy, we promote public and private sustainable investment in building and strengthening health, education, and research. We commend the office for its work in this field and encourage the High Commissioner to continue his work. We appreciate that the knowledge hub on ESCRs has evolved into an interactive, practical tool for global use. Distinguished panelists, what main trends do you identify in successful rights-based national practices aiming at providing quality public services for the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights? Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Venezuela on behalf of a group of countries.

Gracias.

Thank you, Mr. President. We deliver a statement on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations. The Group of Friends reaffirms that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and must be treated on an equal footing and with the same emphasis. In this context, the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights is an indispensable condition for ensuring human dignity, promoting social justice, and advancing towards more just and equitable societies. We note with deep concern the persistence and deepening of economic and social inequalities which affect millions of people and continue to manifest themselves both within our societies and in the profound gaps that persist between developed and developing countries. Overcoming these inequalities requires addressing their structural causes and advancing towards a more just. UCMs deepen inequalities and undermine the ability of States to guarantee full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights of their peoples. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of New Zealand on behalf of a group of countries.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia, Canada, and my own country, New Zealand. All human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights, are fundamental to building resilient and prosperous societies. They are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated, and apply to all without discrimination. One set of rights cannot be fully enjoyed without the other. The universal enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights faces persistent challenges, as we have heard from the panel. These include conflict and humanitarian crises, weak governance, and discrimination against marginalized groups. States bear the primary responsibility for fulfilling all human rights. Effective implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights requires practical solutions and measurable outcomes, the full, equal, and meaningful participation of all sectors of society, as well as evidence-based decision-making. Good governance and effective institutions are also vital. UN human rights mechanisms are key to supporting states to fulfill these rights through technical assistance and capacity building and in holding states to account. We call for predictable and sustainable funding for the human rights pillar and encourage states to support efficiency and rationalization efforts at the HRC. International cooperation remains critical to strengthening the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights for all. We welcome continued dialogue to improve outcomes and to strengthen accountability.

Thank you.

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

Thank you. We reaffirm that all human rights are interrelated. Economic, social, and cultural rights are integral part of the human rights system. They deserve the same attention as civil and political rights. Mr. President, these rights are increasingly important in the face of inequalities and their roots, such as conflicts and climate change, as well as varying technological progress, we must help States to abide by their commitment and to fully implement these rights. In this context, we express our concern at the impact of financial restrictions on the human rights pillar and the response to requests for technological assistance. We must have equality in the distribution of resources. We reaffirm that coordination and cooperation cannot replace proper resources. Within the current situation, how can the OHCHR enhance cooperation with regional organizations to improve their capacity to respond to requests for technical assistance? Thank you.

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

The Africa Group welcomes the convening of this important panel. Thank you, Mr. President. Economic, social, and cultural rights are not aspirational objectives. They are legally recognized human rights, indispensable to human dignity, equality, and sustainable development. Their effective enjoyment must remain at the center of international efforts to address inequalities. Across Africa, states have made important progress in advancing these rights. Nevertheless, significant inequalities persist within and between countries. These inequalities are reinforced by historical injustice, discriminatory structures, unequal access to finance, limited fiscal space, and gaps in infrastructure and technology. Women and girls, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and persons living in poverty continue to face disproportionate barriers to the enjoyment of their rights. The continent is also confronting multiple and mutually reinforcing crises. Debt distress and high debt servicing costs are constraining public investment in essential services. Climate change is intensifying food and water insecurity and livelihood loss. Conflict, instability and humanitarian emergencies are undermining access to healthcare, education, housing, food and decent work. Shrinking development assistance and rising financing costs further limit the capacity of developing countries to fulfill their human rights obligations. To this end, the international community must support greater access to affordable and predictable development finance. I thank you.

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

Mr. President, Sierra Leone aligns with the African Group's statements and welcomes this timely panel discussion on promoting and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights in addressing inequalities. The history of international human rights system reminds us that all rights must be viewed as a whole. The division of the International Covenant framework into civil and political rights, economic, social, and cultural rights, against the background of the Cold War, contributed over time to an artificial perception of hierarchy between rights. 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action provided an important reaffirmation that all human rights are equal, indivisible, independent, and must be treated fairly and equally. We affirm that economic, social, and cultural rights and civil and political rights are equally important. The realization of one category is inseparable from the realization of the other. We recognize that progress has been made in advancing economic, social, and cultural rights, yet persistent challenges remain. Inequality, poverty, debt, and limited development resources continue to undermine these gains. Addressing these issues requires appropriate national ownership, efficient institutions, sustainable budgeting, and meaningful participation of all stakeholders. We ask the panelists, how does the repayment of debt hinder the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights, while also intensifying inequality? And I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Portugal thanks all panelists for their insightful interventions. We started presenting a resolution on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights in the Human Rights Commission, even before this Council was established. Back then, the idea of the existence of a hierarchy of rights still prevailed, misconception that time and our joint efforts came to demystify. However, we should not take these rights for granted, especially in times of poly-crisis exacerbated by pre-existing social, gender, and economic inequalities with a disproportional impact on persons in vulnerable situations. Like several speakers said, many countries trapped by debt burdens are unable to fund essential public services and social protection, as well as to address climate change. And in this regard, realizing economic, social, and cultural rights is essential to address inequalities, eliminate discrimination, and achieve the SDGs. Amongst other key initiatives at national level, Portugal advances these rights through the decent work agenda, strategies to combat poverty, investment in the health sector and education reforms. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action underlines that all human rights must be treated in a fair and equal manner on the same footing. For this, The Office of the High Commissioner needs to be adequately funded for its ESCR-related work, including normative guidance and capacity building and technical assistance. Portugal reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting the Office in this regard. I thank you.

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

Thank you very much, President. We welcome the efforts of the authors of this initiative and the views to which we are holding today's discussion. Comprehensive, universal recognition with respect to exercising economic and social cultural rights is vital for achieving sustainable development. Belarus has integrated measures in this direction, our national strategy for achieving and monitoring the achievement of the SDGs. This ensures a comprehensive approach and targeting of the necessary resources. We consider that progress in achieving the human rights is demonstrated by the improved well-being of the population, including expanded rights to dignified labour, universal access to healthcare, social protections, access to education and sport. Belarus is constantly increasing our funding for the social sphere, investing in the development of our economy, despite the pressure and sanctions blackmail. We are managing to improve the well-being of specific persons and categories of the population who, more than anyone, need stimulation and support. We call for promoting best practices in this forum for achieving economic, social, cultural, as well as political and civil rights, and assist and facilitate further coordination for general comprehensive development for our peoples. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Thailand attaches high priority to the promotion and protection of economic, social, and cultural rights. We believe that their effective realization is fundamental to reducing inequalities and ensuring that no one is left behind. At the national level, Thailand has adopted the multidimensional poverty index, which looks beyond income to assess deprivation across areas such as health, education, living conditions, and access to basic services and welfare. This helps us better identify vulnerable groups and develop more targeted policies and assistance. Our 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan also places particular emphasis on reducing intergenerational poverty and strengthening adequate and appropriate social protection throughout different stages of life. At a time of severe liquidity crisis and constraints, technical assistance and capacity building must not be overlooked. Thailand, therefore, calls for adequate attention and resources to technical assistance for economic, social, and cultural rights on an equal footing with civil and political rights. The indivisibility of human rights must also be reflected in how we allocate our resources and support implementation. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation is thankful to all the panellists for their presentations. I would like to highlight in particular Ms. Hawking's statement on the real impact of debt on economic, social and cultural rights of millions of people. Thank you very much to you. For Ecuador, reducing inequalities is a priority for our public policy. And this is because of the constitutional obligation the state has to generate conditions for to provide holistic protection to citizens throughout their lives, focusing in particular on the vulnerable. To achieve this, Ecuador has adopted a human rights approach to base to measure multidimensional poverty, measuring matters pertaining to education, work, social security, health, water, food, housing and healthy environment through 12 indicators. This approach is based on the comprehensive social protection system, which combines monetary transfers and non-contributory pensions, such as the Human Development Allowance and a pension called My Best Years, with healthcare services, which are served through the organization called Humane Care Rights. Without prejudice to the above-mentioned, this comprehensive protection calls for better international cooperation, and this is being affected by cuts So we ask the OHCHR what technical operation mechanisms will be more viable to support states to help them implement their human rights-based social protection systems. Thank you.

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

Mr. President, Zambia welcomes this timely discussion and affirms that economic, social, and cultural rights are indispensable to human dignity and sustainable development. Our experience demonstrates that addressing inequality requires deliberate policies that expand opportunity, particularly for those historically constrained by poverty or geography. Zambia has made education free from early childhood through secondary school, significantly widening access for children whose education might otherwise be determined by household income. Through the expanded constituency development fund, resources have been brought closer to communities to support classrooms, health and water infrastructure, secondary and skill development bursaries, and empowerment initiatives for women and youth. These measures complement strengthened social protection and Zambia's broader decentralization agenda, aimed at ensuring that development reaches communities and responds to locally identified needs. However, progressive realization of these rights requires adequate physical space. Debt burdens, climate shocks, and constrained access to development financing undermine even strong national commitments. Zambia, therefore, calls for national efforts to be matched by an enabling international environment that leaves no country behind. I thank you.

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

Mr. President, Bangladesh thanks the panelists for their insights. The realization of economic, social, and cultural rights is indispensable to human dignity and development. Progress has been made globally in many areas, yet inequality persists and in many cases, widens within and among states. Developing countries are facing growing and emerging challenges, including debt burden, limited fiscal space, climate change, technological divides, and unequal access to finance and economic opportunities, undermining their efforts to address inequalities. Conflict, economic uncertainty, and external shocks further constrain their capacity to realize human rights. Mr. President, addressing inequality requires action at both the national and international level. National efforts must be supported by international efforts. stronger international cooperation, including through financing, technological transfer, and capacity building. Reform of the international financial architecture is essential to addressing financing gaps, debt burdens, and other development challenges. Digital and technological transformation must serve as an instrument of inclusion and must benefit all. Mr. President, we encourage enhanced cooperation among among relevant UN entities and international financial institutions to support member state efforts to advance the realization of human rights. I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Inequality is not measured by income alone. It is experienced when a child cannot enjoy the full scope of children's rights, including the rights to food, health, education, or social protection. Multiple and interconnected crises are deepening inequalities and placing increasing pressure on the realization of children's economic, social, and cultural rights. Conflict, economic instability, and rising debt burdens can have far-reaching consequences for children, particularly for those already facing the greatest barriers. A recent UNICEF report highlights how the conflict in the Middle East, in addition to its devastating impact on children in the region, generates economic shocks that extend far beyond, with consequences for children's rights worldwide. The report estimates that up to an additional 23.4 million children could fall into monetary poverty by the end of 2026 as a result. Promoting and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights requires deliberate action to reduce inequalities and protect investments in essential services. States should strengthen child-sensitive social protection, protect essential social spending during fiscal adjustments, and pursue equitable fiscal policies. Fiscal policy is a human rights instrument, and public resources must be allocated to ensure that no one is left behind. Transparency and accountability are essential to ensuring resources reach those most in need. UNICEF calls on states to prioritize efficient and equitable social spending and to ensure that economic and fiscal policies advance equality and fulfill human rights obligations. Thank you.

Thank you. I will now turn to the list of speakers from national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. And I give the floor to the representative of Mauritania, Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme.

Mr. President.

Ladies and gentlemen, first, may I thank the President of the Human Rights Council for having organized this session this afternoon. Mauritania has achieved much in terms of human rights protection. The authorities recognize themselves that their promotion and their protection is an ongoing process needing constant effort. Progress has been made in education, in particular with the creation of a pilot in school, for also health coverage for these disenfranchised persons with access to drinking water and social protection programs for the vulnerable efforts reforms have been carried out to the justice system specialized courts to combat slavery in particular Roadmap has been developed with the UN and International Partners is this Roadmap is currently being implemented our commission in addition to these standard activities monitors this carefully in all Independence and transparency authorities reaffirm State Authorities continue to monitor recommendations. This progress needs to be recognised and encouraged. This does not mean that everything has been successfully implemented. Efforts must continue to happen, and in particular for to protect the most vulnerable and whilst respecting the dignity of all. I thank you very much for your kind attention.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Rajasthan Samagra Kalyan Sansthan for a video intervention.

Thank you, Mr. President. Inequality today is not only about who has less. It is also about who remains unseen and unheard and unable to claim rights already promised to them. Conflict, climate stress, discrimination, debt, and technological change are widening old divides and creating new ones. India's ancient wisdom reminds us of "Swarbhavantu Sukhin," "May all be happy and live in well-being." This timeless ideal carries a universal message: progress cannot be meaningful if people are left behind. India's experience shows that development becomes meaningful when policy reaches the last person with dignity. Tribal and minority communities are being connected with education, livelihoods, social protection, cultural preservation, and participatory development. Inclusion works best when communities are treated not merely as beneficiaries, but as partners. Mr. President, we propose three practical steps. First, Local equality audits to identify exclusion. 2. Community-led ESCR innovation labs to test solutions. 3. A global OSCHR knowledge platform to connect effective practices across regions. In times of financial constraint, OSCHR needs stronger partnerships, regional cooperation, and shared expertise. Can we build equality into every decision before exclusion occurs? Thank you. May all live happily.

I now give the floor to the representative of the International Organization for the Right for Education and Freedom of Education.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Education is a co-creative cultural activity. The CESCR recognizes the relationship between the right to education and cultural rights in General Comment 21, stating the following: "The right of everyone to take part in cultural life is also intrinsically linked to the right to education, through which individuals and communities pass on their values, religion, customs, language, and other cultural references." This means that if we want to preserve the right to pass on one's culture in education, those who carry and transmit culture, such as individuals, families, and communities, must have a meaningful role in educational provision. They need to be co-creators of education. And co-creation requires states to allow the establishment of non-governmental schools as provided in the ICSCR and UNESCO's CADE. But formal freedom of choice is insufficient if we let economic circumstances determine who can enjoy it. Requiring families to bear the cost of exercising their normative freedom risks turning the freedom into a privilege of those who can afford it. Dear Mr. President, a generally pluralist education system requires more than permitting diverse educational providers to exist. It requires public financing arrangements that make educational pluralism and freedom of choice accessible to all. So let me end with a question. If a state recognizes cultural participation and educational pluralism as rights, should it not also recognize its positive obligations to ensure that these rights are effectively and equally accessible to all? I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to Central Europe, Diers Mon.

Mr. President, whilst universality, indivisibility and independence of human rights are recognized by all states, ESCRs continue to be neglected. Amongst what needs to be done is the promotion of ESCRs and the lifting of obstacles to the realization of ESCRs. I say this because a better knowledge of ESCRs will contribute to their realization. As to the main obstacles to the realization of ESCRs, we could mention the non-respect of the right to the self-determination of people, as well as the sovereignty of states, as well as a hampering of The participation of people in decision making and lack of international solidarity, colossal investments in arms and propaganda in favour of war, which are prohibited by international standards, also are a major obstacle to the realisation of ESCRs. Today, resources set aside for public services are diverted towards the militarisation of our societies. Should we, we, there's no need for me to remind you that wars give rise to the violation of all human rights and destroy the environment. That is why states must, as a priority, work for peace, move away from the dominant economic model, develop. develop model, strengthen public services, guarantee participatory democracy, ensure that the interests of individuals are not more important than the public interests, and develop international solidarity with the least of the OHCHR to support their states. It must encourage and support states in fulfilling ESCRs. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of Make Mothers Matter.

Thank you, Mr. President. I speak on the situation of Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, where inequality is not...

My apologies. I should have said to the representative of Raison International pour les droits des Lom et les Tadjoua. My mistake. My apologies.

Thank you, Mr. President. I speak on the situation of Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, where inequality is not merely economic, but structural, territorial, and deeply rooted. In the Tamil-majority northeast, economic, social, and cultural rights cannot be separated from continuing militarization, land appropriation, militarized surveillance of civil society, and the marginalization of Tamil language, places of worship, education, and cultural heritage. Military and state control over land restricts access to housing, agriculture, fisheries and traditional livelihoods, while preventing communities from fully returning to and sustaining themselves on their ancestral lands. This occupation perpetuates inequality, not incidentally, but as a mechanism of control. We are concerned that frameworks addressing inequality often treat these violations as isolated development gaps, rather than as consequences of ongoing military occupation and the denial of the right to self-determination of Eelam Tamils. Therefore, I ask the panel first, what accountability measures by this Council should be prioritized to address land militarization and effect on Tamil livelihoods in the northeast? Second, what international mechanisms can ensure that development policies respect the right of Eelam Tamils to self-determination, meaningful participation, cultural identity, and traditional lands? Thank you.

Thank you. Now I give the floor to the representative of Make Mothers Matter.

Make Mothers Matter welcomes this critical discussion. Climate change, natural disasters, wars, debt crisis, inflation, and other crises feed into and amplify one another, exacerbating pre-existing inequalities, starting with gender inequalities. In every crisis, women's unpaid care work increases, directly compromising their rights to health, education, decent work, and an adequate standard of living. The impact is particularly acute for mothers, with consequences that can also affect the well-being and opportunities of their children. Promoting and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights has never been more important. It is about investing in people and unlocking their full potential to contribute to society and the economy. Yet, too many countries are spending more on war, disaster relief, and debt servicing than on care, health, and education. It's time to address one of the root causes of the current situation, a deeply flawed economic system that serves the wealthy and drives inequality while rendering women's unpaid care work and the health of our planet invisible. We call on member states to urgently move beyond GDP and transform our economy so that it serves the human rights and the well-being of people and the planet first. a human rights and well-being economy that puts care at the center and invest in people, beginning with mothers and children. Thank you, Mr. President.

We have come to the end of our first segment of the list of speakers. And now we turn to the second segment of the list of speakers. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Council of Europe.

Mr. President, Economic, social and cultural rights remain an integral, indivisible and interdependent part of universal human rights. The European Social Charter is the cornerstone of the Council of Europe's human rights system, guaranteeing fundamental social and economic rights, including housing, health, social security, employment and protection against poverty and social exclusion. Its role is more important than ever. Economic insecurity, inequalities and difficulties in accessing essential services can disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, weaken social cohesion and ultimately undermine confidence in democratic institutions. Through its monitoring mechanisms, the Charter helps states to identify and address gaps in the protection of social rights and to promote greater equality and inclusion. This is why the Charter is a central pillar of the Council of Europe's new Democratic Pact for Europe. Protecting social rights and reducing inequalities strengthens social cohesion, reinforces trust in institutions and contributes directly to democratic resilience. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the UN in building more inclusive, cohesive, and resilient democratic societies. In this respect, we would like to ask panelists for their recommendations how to strengthen cooperation between universal and regional organizations in protecting economic, social, and cultural rights. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President.

A doctor within reach, a child in school, and protection when income is lost, that is what ESCR mean daily. Indonesia translates these rights into action through health, education, and social protection.

Our health insurance covers 284 million people. Education aid reaches 18.5 million students.

These efforts are essential to reducing inequalities and assuring that no one is left behind in the enjoyment of ESCR.

Our participatory development planning system helps ensure that ESCR policies are not only designed from the top down, but.

Also built from the bottom up and co-created with communities.

At the same time, we realize that global complex challenges like debt burdens, climate-induced.

Losses, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruptions continue to constrain already limited fiscal space, especially of developing countries.

Global financial arrangements should, therefore, help reduce rather than perpetuate inequalities by expanding states' capacity to invest in ESCR. The work of OHCHR.

Should contribute to this objective by sharpening priorities while maintaining a balanced approach across all human rights.

In a resource-constrained environment, closer cooperation with NHRIs and regional organizations also offers a feasible way for OHCHR.

To ensure that human rights continue to deliver tangible results for the people on the ground.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I give the floor to a distinguished representative of Azerbaijan.

Mr. President, we welcome this important panel discussion and reaffirm that the full realization of economic, social, and cultural rights requires inclusive and sustainable development strictly aligned with SDG 10. In post-conflict settings, the reconstruction of liberated territories and the safe and dignified return of IDPs remain key national priorities for Azerbaijan. Our experience proves that reconstruction and rehabilitation are not just about rebuilding infrastructure. They are also about restoring communities and ensuring that people can fully enjoy their economic, social, and cultural rights. This demands sustained investment and effective institutional coordination. Parallel to these efforts, as states seek to enhance the resilience of supply chains and ensure economic growth amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties, Azerbaijan is actively fostering wider regional connectivity by making significant investments in the Middle Corridor, the strategic transport route linking Asia and Europe. These efforts go beyond facilitating trade. They open new markets, create shared economic opportunities, reduce disparities, and foster greater regional independence and stability. Ultimately, our experience demonstrates that building connectivity and economic cooperation and reconstruction are powerful instruments for advancing sustainable development, reducing inequalities, and consolidating long-term peace. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Gambia welcomes this timely discussion and thanks the High Commissioner and the panelists for their insights.

For The Gambia, sustainable and inclusive growth through advancing economic, social, and cultural rights is the central tenet of our National Development Plan 2023-2027. Accordingly, the Government of The Gambia has pursued a coherent package of public financial management reforms.

That speak directly to our discussion on realizing economic, social, and cultural rights.

This is particularly evident in the people-centered budget approach, which focuses on improving citizens' lives through significant investments in health, education, agriculture and social sectors. The Gambia has also launched the Gambia Social Registry, which has supported targeted interventions, including cash transfer programs to four poor families.

This represents an important shift towards a more coordinated, data-informed and equitable social protection system.

However, limited fiscal space, debt pressures and climate vulnerability continue to constrain our ability to sustain social protection coverage. Therefore, we call for strengthening of the global financial safety net and scaling up technical

assistance to developing countries to invest in promoting the economic, social and cultural rights of their people.

Finally, we ask the panellists How can international cooperation better support developing countries to sustainably finance and expand nationally owned social protection systems? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the panelists for their presentations. My country attaches maximum priority to progress on economic, social and cultural rights, nationally and internationally. Multilaterally, Cuba presents seven resolutions in the Human Rights Council that tackle matters pertaining to economic, social and cultural rights. As far as international cooperation is concerned, my country has supported the realisation of many rights. and in particular, the right to health, the right to education. In over 165 countries nationally now, economic, social, and cultural rights are protected by the constitution. Our country has made huge efforts to guarantee universal access to essential services such as health, education, social protection, social assistance, housing, water, food, and culture. we have achieved major successes comparable to countries with greater incomes than ours. Sadly, these efforts are seriously hampered by the impact of the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba, recognised as criminal secondary sanctions as well. This collective punishment must be brought to an end. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President.

Vietnam welcomes this timely panel discussion and commends China and the core group, the Human Rights Council Resolution 64

for their efforts in advancing economic, social, and cultural rights in the Council agenda.

We emphasize that the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights is essential to protecting and promoting human rights, ensuring inclusive and sustainable development, and leaving no one behind. We fully concur with the panelists that it is imperative to strengthen efforts to address inequalities and emerging challenges, including economic uncertainties, debt burdens, climate change adaptation, and technological transformations. Just last week, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution on establishing the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable

Development proposed by Vietnam and a

group of countries with a goal to harness culture's contribution to the economic and social dimensions of development. Finally, we express our support for the continued efforts of OHCHR in discharging its mandate related to economic, social, and cultural right, including through technical cooperation and capacity building to encourage innovative measures to sustain the efforts amid current resource constraints.

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

Thank you, President. We'd like to thank the delegations that presented their resolution 1460, and we thank the panelists for all of the instructive presentations. Sudan reaffirms the importance of the topic at hand because it's tightly linked to human rights. and to such challenges as inequalities linked to the asymmetries of the international financial architecture and the repercussions on developing nations that cannot fulfill their financial obligations to accompany the importance of investing in economic, social, and cultural rights. Social development, including critical social infrastructure, requires such funds that are not in line with what is available in national budgets. This is why national contribution should be in line with access to loans and PPs as well as foreign investments. Here we must indicate the important repercussions of UCMs that are destructive. in developing countries and undermine their abilities and responsibilities towards development and particularly social development. Here we must mention also the grave challenges of armed conflict on the path of development and the enjoyment of human rights. Sudan is among such nations because it faces an armed rebellion and a proxy war. And this is why we call upon your august assembly to condemn all of those destructive interventions which are in contravention to the UN Charter and do not serve the protection of economic, social, and cultural rights. Thank you, President.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. We align with the Africa Group statement and welcome this timely panel on promoting and protecting the ESC rights. The persistent and widening inequalities within and between countries remain among the greatest obstacles to full enjoyment of human rights. For South Africa, ESCR are not secondary rights, they are integral to the universality, indivisibility and inter, interdepartment, interdependence of all human rights and are essential to achieving sustainable develop- development goals, the current challenges including unsustainable debt burdens, constrained fiscal space, declining development resources, climate related impacts, and unequal access to finance and technology. disproportionately affect developing countries and constrain their ability to fulfill ESC rights. We therefore underscore the importance of strengthening international cooperation, development finance, capacity building, and an enabling international economic environment. OHCHR also had an important role in supporting states, particularly developing countries, through technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and human rights-based policy guidance. Resource constraints should not undermine this critical support. We ask, therefore, the panelists, how can we strengthen international cooperation and OHCHR's technical support to ensure that addressing structural inequalities remains central to the realization of ESC rights? I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Costa Rica. Costa Rica. All right. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi.

Thank you, Mr. President. Malawi aligns with the African Group statement and thanks the panelists for their insightful presentations on the progress, challenges, and opportunities in promoting and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities. Malawi continues to promote economic, social, and cultural rights by prioritizing access to education, healthcare, and social protection, including through programs such as free primary and secondary school education, the social cash transfer program, and the farm input subsidy program. However, like many developing countries, our efforts are constrained by debt burdens, the escalating impacts of climate change and shrinking development resources. Mr. President, reducing inequalities is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda. Malawi reaffirms its commitment to work with partners to promote economic, social, and cultural rights and address inequalities. Malawi wishes to ask the panelists, what practical measures can states like Malawi, which face significant resource constraints, take to accelerate the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights, while also addressing inequalities? I thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eritrea for a video presentation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

The realization of economic, social and cultural rights requires more than the adoption of normative commitments. It requires sustained investment in development, adequate resources, effective institutions and an international environment that enables developing countries

to pursue their national priorities.

For developing countries, persistent inequalities are also reflected in unequal access to finance, technology, markets, and development opportunities. These structural constraints can substantially limit national policy space and the ability of states to progressively realize economic, social, and cultural rights. Eritrea, therefore, emphasizes the importance of national ownership, self-reliance, international cooperation, and capacity building in addressing these challenges. Development policies must respond to national circumstances and priorities, while international assistance should strengthen national capacities rather than create dependency or impose externally determined models.

Our question to the panel is, how

can the OHCHR ensure that it supports the states in advancing economic, social, and cultural rights, addresses the structural inequalities and resource constraints confronting developing countries,

while fully respecting national ownership, priorities, and development pathways.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Mr. President, Kenya aligns itself with the Africa Group statement and welcomes the convening of this timely panel discussion. Persistent inequalities remain a significant obstacle to the full realization of economic, social, and cultural rights. While states bear the primary responsibility for the realization of these rights, national efforts increasingly take place against the pressures of debt burdens, climate change, economic uncertainty, and constrained fiscal space. For developing countries, these pressures have direct implications for the resources available for health, education, social protection, and other essential public services. Addressing inequalities therefore requires not only strong national policies and institutions, but also an enabling international environment that supports sustainable development and preserves the capacity of states to invest in their people. Kenya underscores the importance of inclusive social protection, equitable access to the essential services and public policies that respond to the needs of those most at risk of being left behind. We equally recognize the important role of OHCHR in supporting States to advance economic, social and cultural rights, particularly through technical cooperation and capacity building that responds to national priorities. At a time of growing demand and constrained resources, preserving this support remains particularly important for developing countries. In this regard, how can the international community better support developing countries in preserving the fiscal space necessary for the progressive realization of economic, social, and cultural rights, particularly aimed at growing debt and developing pressures? I thank you.

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

Thank you, President. My delegation aligns itself with the statement by the Africa Group. Cameroon considers that economic growth, when it does not benefit the largest number of people, is not enough to guarantee sustainable prosperity or reinforce social cohesion. The fight against inequality therefore requires inclusive public policies capable of driving down inequality, expanding access essential services and creating economic opportunities for the most vulnerable in our populations. From this viewpoint, my country is continuing its efforts to shore up social protection networks, economic inclusion for young people and women, as well as increased participation by people with disabilities in national development. We are working on the basis of decentralization, providing basic social services mainly in rural areas and for vulnerable, with investment targeted also to expanding local economies and entrepreneurship, for example, with support from the African Development Bank. with particular emphasis through our support projects for our women and young people, increasing their employability and integration in a number of growth sectors. For us, sustainable reduction of inequalities requires simultaneous strengthening social protections as well as equitable access to essential services and productive capacities of- for the populations. We encourage the High Commissioner to continue this mandate, building capacities also for better economic, social and cultural rights and integration of these rights, international policies driving down inequalities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. We believe that economic, social and cultural rights are an integral part of the international system for human rights. Their effective enjoyment is essential to preserve human dignity, achieve social justice, and sustainable development, and to build societies capable of being resilient to successive international crises. have revealed the great disparities and the marginalization of the most vulnerable groups. The increasing inequalities inside and between states is one of the main challenges before the international community, since these influence the effective enjoyment of human rights. In this context, Tunisia continues its efforts to promote these rights by putting in place national policies in the field of social protection, education, health, empowerment of women and youth, and to guarantee equal opportunities. This is in accordance with our international commitments and the 2030 agenda. The Dealing with inequalities cannot be only a national responsibility. It also needs enhancing international cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and collective responsibility. In this context, we reinforce the importance of increasing international cooperation and solidarity between states in order to support national efforts. We must also also provide the technical assistance and capacity building and technology transfer needed in order to provide support to developing countries. I thank you.

Thank you. I will now turn to the list of speakers for national human rights. Okay. All right. No, actually, we have one more member state to go to, and that is the Lao PDR. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative.

Mr. President, my delegation thanks the High Commissioners and the panelists for their comprehensive presentation. The Lao PDR affirms its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in the country by improving its legal framework and institutional mechanism in order to create favorable conditions for all citizens without discrimination under the Constitution and laws. We also attach great importance to the realization of economic, social, and cultural rights as essential foundation for the sustainable development, social stability, and the well-being of the people. To reduce the inequality at the national level, the Lao government remain firmly committed to implementing the UN 2030 agenda by fully integrating the SDGs into its successive national socio-economic development plan. which includes expansions of access to basic services, healthcare, social protection to vulnerable groups. Mr. President, the Lao PDR acknowledges the crucial role of OHCHR in providing technical assistance, advisory services and capacity building to member states. particularly supporting their national efforts to promote and protect economic, social, and cultural rights. Therefore, we believe that the technical assistance and capacity building should be guided by principles of national ownership, respect for national circumstances and priorities, as well as through the constructive dialogue. I thank you.

Thank you. Now I will turn to the list of speakers for national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. I give the floor to the representative of Morocco, Conseil national des droits de l'homme.

Thank you, President. The National Council for Human Rights in Morocco has the presence of participating in this discussion. We would like to underscore that without equal guarantees of economic and social rights, inequalities can only get deeper. Our council works to fight inequalities by promoting and protecting economic and social rights on the basis of strategic action increasing the effectiveness of the enjoyment of rights. We harmonise legislative frameworks with international law and also work on monitoring and follow-up reporting and treatment of complaints across the 12 regions of the Kingdom of Morocco. And thanks to regional commissions of human rights, including that of Laayoune, which I have the honour of chairing, Council has noted with satisfaction the process underway currently of a spread and expansion of social security and new measures in the area of the right to education, healthcare and housing. However, there are still challenges, school dropouts, difficulties in access to healthcare and so on and so forth. These continue to hinder full effectiveness of these rights at national level. I have a question for the panelists. What would be the best ways of funding greater effectiveness of enjoying economic, social, and cultural rights in a very difficult international economic context. Thank you.

Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of China NGO Network for International Exchanges for a video intervention.

Mr. President, I'm Chen Li, speaking on behalf of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges. Today, I would like to share a practical initiative implemented by one of our member NGOs, the China Foundation.

For Rural Development.

Launched in 2015, the Smiling Children Program provides nutritious meals and food packages for food insecure children in impoverished regions.

Across developing countries.

Over the past 11 years.

The program has benefited 300,000 children in eight countries. This initiative fully illustrates that civil society organizations can serve as an important bridge connecting vulnerable groups with social resources. They play a vital role in narrowing developing gaps and advancing the realization of fundamental human rights. including the right to education and the right to development. We call upon all states to fully recognize and leverage the unique role of civil society, remove barriers to inclusive development, respect national and local realities, and jointly advance development for all. Thank you.

I give the floor to the representative of the International Federation on Ageing for a video intervention.

Thank you, President. The International Federation on Ageing welcomes this important discussion on economic, social and cultural rights and the inequalities that prevent their full enjoyment.

Inequalities accumulate across the life course.

Disadvantage in education, employment, income, health, and social protection do not disappear in older age. Too often, they describe it. As we advance the Sustainable Development Goals, implement the Seville Commitment, and undertake reviews of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, demographic change must.

Be reflected in decisions on health, social protection, long-term care, and inclusive communities. Cultural rights matter too.

Older persons are important transmitters of.

Knowledge, language, and traditions across generations, including the vital role of Indigenous elders in sustaining Indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage. President, this is why the Convention on the Rights of Older Persons matters. As negotiations advance, we urge Member States to ensure a strong convention that recognizes older persons as full rights holders.

And addresses inequalities through clear obligations and accountability.

Longer lives are one of humanity's greatest achievements.

Those lives must also be lived with rights.

Thank you.

I give the floor to the representative of Shaanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association for a video statement.

Your Excellency, Chair, High Commissioner, Ambassador Jia, I'm the founder of IPPO. I welcome this panel's focus on ESC rights and inequality. Despite overlapping global crises and resource constraints facing the OHCHR, the realization of ESC rights cannot be delayed. There are three pressing structural inequalities. Unilateral economic coercion and debt traps undermine Developing countries, social security, education and public health, shrinking climate and development resources, marginalized the most vulnerable and the absence of civil society oversight left no corrective mechanism. since we launched the initiative, Loving One's Own Country Without Harming Others, in 2022 that was endorsed by 306 NGOs from 68 countries. In October 2025, we adopted the International Patriotic Pact in Geneva and established the Right to Development Review Mechanism, a fully civil society-led, bottom-up, independent review mechanism. This does not replace, but complement state obligations in non-confrontational bridging the resource gap initiative. We are recommendations the Council should in the outcome recognize such review as a partner channel and integrate the principle, our principle, into the national policy and include inputs from the civil society into the substantive report to the Council. Thank you.

You have the floor. to the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain for a joint statement with Al Salam Foundation, an Iraqi development organization, by video.

Thank you. We draw the Council's attention to the continued denial of former political prisoner, Mohammad El-Sheij, in economic social rights. It was arbitrarily dismissed and arrested in 2013. He was deprived from returning to his work after being pardoned. He's unable to find new work at 61. He sought help from the government without response and began set-ins to demand redress. Rather than addressing his demands, the authorities repeatedly summoned and arrested him. In 2026, on the 9th of August, he was arrested during a peaceful sit-in. He was assaulted and insulted, and his arrest and detention, he filed a complaint, but instead of holding perpetrators accountable, Authorities ordered his detention for 22 days on fabricated charges while he faces medical neglect and ill treatment. We urge the Council to ensure his equal access to employment, social protection, and remedies, and to end reprisals against him for peacefully demanding his rights. Thank you.

I give the floor to the representative of the Akshar Foundation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Akshar Foundation is grateful to the members of the panel for their critical contributions.

To address systemic global inequalities and.

Fully realize economic, social, and cultural rights, we must dismantle the colonial legacies embedded within education systems.

For far too long.

Rigid, westernized models of schooling have marginalized local languages, eroded indigenous heritage, and alienated children from vulnerable communities. Decolonizing education is not merely a theoretical imperative; it is a human rights necessity.

Respecting cultural rights requires centering local knowledge, heritage, and mother tongue instruction.

In this regard, we commend the Government of India for its transformative National Education Policy 2020. By prioritizing early education in local languages and mother tongues, Integrating indigenous art, culture, and vocational traditions, and breaking down artificial barriers between academic and practical learning, NEP 2020 serves as a powerful framework for decolonization and educational equity.

At Akshar, we operationalize this vision in indigenous and marginalized communities.

By integrating traditional practical skills, environmental stewardship, and local community leadership directly into the school hub, we show that education is most effective when it honors a community's identity and culture, rather than seeking to replace it. We urge member states to prioritize the decolonization of national curricula, ensuring that education systems globally uphold cultural rights, honor indigenous languages, and serve as true engines of inclusive equality. Thank you.

Thank you. We have exhausted the second segment of the list of speakers. And that was the last speaker that we could accommodate. I wish to remind you that delegates inscribed on the list of speakers who could not take the floor due to time constraints can upload their statements to be posted on the HRC portal. I will now give the floor back to the panelists for their concluding remarks. You have three minutes each.

And I give the floor to His Excellency Ambassador Gui Dejie.

Thank you. We would like to offer our gratitude for your participation in this discussion. We have heard many different viewpoints and some very important comments. I believe that all parties have seen vital words about economic, social and cultural rights and efforts to guarantee them. Everyone who spoke has placed an emphasis on the indivisibility of all interlinked human rights. Developing countries, therefore, must insist on the need of progressively finding a balance between the achievement of political and civil rights and economic, social and cultural rights. All delegations also highlighted that today we need to face many different challenges, for example, international turbulence and turmoil, and this must be faced to achieve these goals. One of the examples of this is the lack of sufficient funding, and climate change is also a source of major challenges too. Furthermore, I think it is important to bring full responses to all the questions that have been voiced. Some of them focused on regional and international organisations, asking how they can play their role to better protect human rights. With respect to regional and international organisations, I believe that, if we are talking about economic, social and cultural rights, we need to shore up public awareness. In addition to this awareness raising, I believe that we can all work to promote and push forward different ideas and suggestions for decision making.

They could give very good policy advice to the policy makers. And also at the same time, it's very important for, no matter it's either it's a national or regional human right organization to have cooperation. And talking about the realization of ESCR rights, I want to emphasize key points. First, to safeguard the multilateralism is very important because here is not the only platform. Issues like to address the conflict, issues like to address climate change, there are many other main channels. So together, safeguard the multilateralism is a first important and also is a first important measure. Even talking about debt relief, internationally, we have some mechanism. We have, like here, we have UNCTAD. we have to make full use of the effective mechanism to do that. And also, colleagues talking about, especially colleagues from developing countries, the question is, what international community could do, could help us? And in this aspect, I want to emphasize realization of ESCR rights. first and foremost is the responsibility of respective countries. International cooperation, international assistance is a secondary. Of course, that depends on the different mechanism. For example, under the climate change mechanism, there is a clear obligation for the developed country to provide technology assistance to have a capacity building for the developing country. And also, okay, I'll stop here. All right.

Thank you. Ms. Benarubi-Hawken, please.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I heard from the countries asking about how can we preserve our fiscal space so that we can deliver on economic, social, and cultural rights. I heard them talk about the reform of the international financial architecture and also about safety nets. If I may say, it is clear that developing countries require stronger financial safety nets, and they also need greater access to concessional and the word predictable came up many times, predictable long-term finance. This is a key example of where we need both national, regional, and international cooperation. because within states are national development banks, within regions are regional development banks, and of course, internationally, we have international systems. This is a particular way where the network of all of those can work together and cascade to support countries. I agree with the honorable ambassador about how, of course, there's responsibility both nationally and internationally. And I would suggest that in terms of dealing with some of these issues, we know that countries can shift from foreign finance to domestic finance, but we do know that that comes at an additional cost. We have a term for it. It's sovereignty premium. So you go to the domestic markets and you pay two to three percentage points more. Why is that? Because the international determinants of risk pricing is also influencing your domestic market. I would say that one of the things you can do as a developing country is to join the Borrowers Platform. We've just had an experience where we've had peer learning. in the Maldives, where countries, first of all, discovered that, in fact, in management of debt, they often face similar problems. They were talking about domestic resource mobilization. One country still goes to its markets every day to raise some money from the banks. That costs enormously, rates of well over 20%. Other countries were able to say to it, there are ways beyond that. You can actually raise funds over a three-month, a six-month, a three-year, a 10-year period. These are some of the things that you can do nationally to start to empower yourselves. Thank you.

Ms. Melis Aghir.

Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, I would like to thank all of the suggestions, especially on addressing the deepening inequalities and how do we address that in terms of working together. Through the example of target 3.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals on health, it is high time starting with my own country, Malaysia, where we need to look to the issues of access to health and no longer make the issue one of xenophobia and to ensure that, for example, those that are most marginalised, asylum seeking, migrant workers, can gain access to real health services. We also must not forget, and I have to mention this in terms of the most immediate attention, in terms of refugees. How do they have affordable access to health without having to pay deposits and excessive fees? And this is where we have to remember Article 2 of the ICESCR in terms of making sure progressive realizations and international cooperation is something real and that is done step by step with all the neighboring countries within a region or subregion. So towards this, I would say whether supporting the development of ESCR monitoring tools, strengthening engagement with international human rights mechanisms, or facilitating exchanges of good practices across regions, this is where we are here together with OHCHR, which plays a catalytic role that cannot easily be replicated. It's time to walk the talk, and this is the time for all of us to put into action what do we mean by international cooperation. We cannot keep going on to say there's limited pieces of the pie and continue with defence or military spending alone. It is time for us to honour our obligations, because without economic, social and cultural rights, the whole social structure of countries of neighboring countries, of regions, of global standards and international fora will fall apart. It is time for us to show this in action. Thank you.

Thank you. This brings us to the end of this panel discussion. I wish to thank the High Commissioner, our distinguished panellists and all participants who have contributed to our discussion. Excellencies, distinguished representatives, colleagues, this brings us to the end of this meeting. 00 a.m. to hold the biennial panel discussion on the right to development and to continue the interactive dialogue with the independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, followed by the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons. And I hereby close the sixth meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. And enjoy the day off tomorrow.