General Assembly: 32nd plenary meeting, 81st session
General Assembly
Date: 30 October 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/es/ga/81/32?lang=en
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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GA · Vice-President [15:53]:

The thirty-second plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will continue its consideration of agenda item 65, entitled “The report of the Human Rights Council.” And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.


Bangladesh · Permanent Representative [16:39]:

Mr. President, I thank the President of the Human Rights Council for a very comprehensive report and commend the Bureau for its dedicated work. We welcome the Council's work on anti-racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, transnational justice, climate justice, migrants' rights, the right to development, and the rights of children, youth, peasants, and other marginalized and vulnerable groups. We commend the Council's growing attention to artificial intelligence. Bangladesh co-led, with seven other member states, the first ever resolution on AI and human rights in the Council. We firmly believe AI and new technologies must be guided by the international legal framework, including the fundamental principles of human rights and respect for human autonomy and dignity. Bangladesh is a party to all nine other nine core human rights treaties. We have recently adopted legislation on enforced disappearances and on our National Human Rights Commission. The OHCHR mission in Bangladesh is now fully operational. Mr. President, we appreciate the Council's engagement on critical human rights situation. including Palestine, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Bangladesh expresses its deep concern about the situation in Palestine. We reiterate the call to realize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, and we demand accountability for genocidal crimes and other serious violations of human rights. In our own region, the persecution of the Rohingya continue in Myanmar. Bangladesh hosts over 1.2 million Rohingya who have fled their country. We urge the Council to maintain its focus on this decade-long humanitarian and human rights crisis with a view to promoting conditions conducive to the safe and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya. Mr. President, Bangladesh firmly believes in the universality, indivisibility, and interdependence of all human rights: economic, social, cultural, political, and civil. We call for greater attention from the Council on the political economy of human rights and on strengthened international cooperation to address the underlying constraints and barriers. The structural Inequalities and injustices in the international political, economic, and financial architecture undermine the enjoyment of human rights by all. Following our event in New York last week with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, we see more scope for cooperation between Geneva and New York on how to better address the underlying causes of human rights problems. Mr. President, we support the call for better coordination between the Council in Geneva and the relevant entities in New York. However, rationalization, coordination, or efficiency drives should not hamper the ability of the Council or the General Assembly to fulfill their human rights mandates. In this context, we note with great concern the funding crisis in the UN human rights system. We need more, not less, investment in human rights, including in technical assistance and capacity building of developing countries. Finally, there must be zero tolerance for intimidation or reprisals against human rights defenders and UN human rights mechanisms and mandate holders. While we appreciate the Council's efforts in this regard, we believe that the General Assembly must take this issue more seriously. At a time of unprecedented attack on multilateralism, international law, and human rights, allow me to recall the words of Mr. Kofi Annan: "We will not enjoy security without development. We will not enjoy development without security. And we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [21:21]:

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Bangladesh. And now I give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Switzerland.


Switzerland · Permanent Representative [21:53]:

Mr. President, Switzerland would like to thank the President of the Human Rights Council for his report. This debate contributes to strengthening the links between Geneva and New York, to which Switzerland attaches particular importance. This year, we marked the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council. Over the past two decades, the Council has established itself as a central pillar in the international human rights architecture. It has proven to be a space of dialogue and of action, contributing to strengthening the implementation of existing obligations, responding to violations, to the development of technical assistance, and advancing the international norms. The year 2026, nevertheless, remains marked by grave human rights violations and abuses, a growing number of conflicts, the shrinking civic space, and the persistence of discrimination and inequality. In this context, the Council has demonstrated its resilience and its ability to react to situations involving allegations of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law. It convened extra emergency sessions and debates devoted to the human rights situations in Iran, Sudan, and the conflict in the Middle East. Switzerland reaffirms the importance of the Universal Periodic Review and regrets cases of non-cooperation with this mechanism. The UPR, when it is focused on the implementation of human rights obligations and commitments, is transformative. Switzerland has supported the implementation of its fourth cycle recommendations that were accepted. We believe that a follow-up is an effective element of the credibility and the impact of the UPR. We support mechanisms tasked with documenting grave human rights violations and investigating them. They establish the facts, help strengthen accountability, and to combat impunity. and also help to prevent further violations. Switzerland calls upon all States in question to fully cooperate with the Council, the OHCHR and its mechanisms, including by guaranteeing rapid and unhindered access for them. Switzerland is pleased to have contributed with its partners to several important steps forward in the past year, including by promoting resolutions on transitional justice and early marriage, child marriage and forced marriage. Mr. President, Switzerland welcomes the efforts, commends the efforts of the President of the Human Rights Council to allow the Council to carry out all of its programme of work. I'm also pleased to have encouraged the continuation of rationalization efforts aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of its work. These efforts, nevertheless, can only achieve their full effect if the Council and its mechanisms have the human and financial resources needed for the exercise of its mandate. To that end, OHCHR must have appropriate and predictable resources. In this regard, Switzerland recently renewed its financial support to the OHCHR. While approving the space set aside for, while approving the Council, the space set aside for civil society must be preserved. Switzerland is also continuing to advocate for strengthening synergies between Geneva and New York to ensure more systematic mainstreaming of human rights across the United Nations system. The three pillars of the organization are interdependent, and there can be no peace nor sustainable development without respect for human rights. The year 2027 will be the last year of Switzerland's current term on the Council. We will continue to work for the universality of human rights, the protection of fundamental freedoms, and the civic space. the prevention of violations and to support the fight against impunity. We also commit to promoting the effective implementation of its decisions and recommendations. Rest assured, however, that Switzerland's determined commitment to a strong, credible and effective Council will continue beyond the end of its current term, in a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and responsibility. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [26:43]:

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Switzerland, and now I give the floor To the distinguished representative of Panama.


Panama [27:05]:

Mr. President, Panama is grateful for the presentation of the report of the Human Rights Council and recognizes the importance of its work at a time in which the protection of human dignity is facing enormous challenges. The presentation of this report coincides, in addition, with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Human Rights Council, which was created by the General Assembly in 2006. The report forces us to consider with concern how conflicts, violence, poverty and inequalities continue to affect the lives of millions of people. Behind every conflict, there are families that have lost their homes, people who are looking for safety, and children growing up in the midst of situations that no human being should have to deal with. Therefore, we believe that talking about human rights cannot become just an exercise in the presentation of reports, the adoption of resolutions, or making commitments. It must, above all, be about the people and about our responsibility to guarantee their right to a decent life and a life that is conducive to their development. For Panama, the Human Rights Council plays a fundamental role in that effort. And we believe it is important to continue strengthening dialogue and coordination between Geneva and New York so that the work can find continuity in this General Assembly and so that our efforts can complement one another, avoiding duplications and achieving concrete results for people. In this context, our country also recognizes the value of the UPR as a mechanism for dialogue and cooperation to strengthen the protection of human rights. Mr. President, During our term on the Security Council, Panama has stressed the fact that human rights cannot be left out of decisions relating to international peace and security. This report highlights the link between the Human Rights Council and the Security Council. It also addresses situations that are on the agenda of the Security Council, such as those in Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and Myanmar. Equally fundamental questions that Panama has advocated for on the subject of human rights, such as the protection of the civilian population and the rights of children affected by armed conflicts, sexual and gender-based violence, and unlimited access for humanitarian assistance, are in there as well. Those subjects cannot be addressed in isolation. The analysis and documentation of the Human Rights Council should inform and find continuity in the efforts of the Security Council to prevent further violations, protect the civilian population, and also promote accountability. President, the work of protection and promotion of human rights requires a consistent, coherent response across the United Nations system. The General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and the Security Council from the basis of their respective mandates, have complementary contributions to make that can strengthen one another. Understanding the human dimensions of conflicts should continue to guide our collective efforts to prevent new violations, protect, and to build the conditions for a sustainable peace. Panama will continue to promote this approach to cooperation and reaffirming its commitment to an international human rights system that is robust, that is closer to human beings, and that is able to respond to current challenges, always in accordance with the United Nations Charter. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [30:54]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.


Cuba [31:16]:

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President, we thank Ambassador Sudharto Suryadiputro for the way that he has carried out his mandate as the head of the Human Rights Council in a particularly difficult year, marked by a serious financial crisis affecting the entire United Nations system, including its human rights mechanisms. The common cause of human rights should not be used for hegemonic purposes or purposes of domination, given that no country is free of challenges in this area, and so no one should claim to impose their vision on everyone else. Respectful dialogue and international cooperation are the only effective ways to promote and protect human rights on the basis of the principles of universality, objectivity, and non-discrimination. It is urgent that selectivity, punitive actions, double standards, and political manipulation be ruled out. The human rights machinery of the United Nations must be rescued, including the Council. It must be spared from these sorts of practices that do not improve the situation on the ground. They only generate confrontation and mistrust and end up delegitimizing the role of the organization on the subject of human rights. In that regard, we recall that the Special Procedure mandate stakeholders must observe the code of conduct that was adopted during the process of building the institutions of the Human Rights Council, and they must work on the basis of objective and verified information. It is unacceptable that selectively the situation of developing countries continues to be highlighted, and some of those are faced with the imposition of unilateral coercive measures. which have a serious impact on human rights, while nothing or very little is said about what is happening in developed countries. We reiterate our full support for the Universal Periodic Review, the only mechanism that allows for a comprehensive analysis of the human rights situation in every country on an equal footing. Respect for the mandate of the Council, its status as a subsidiary body of the Assembly and strict compliance with the package of institution-building measures are essential in order to strengthen this forum. It is essential that the Council be allowed to exercise its functions. We do not agree with attempts to try to more significantly link the Human Rights Council and the Security Council, or to allow it to take responsibilities that are outside of its mandate. Mr. President, Cuba will continue to work for cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect. We will continue to oppose manipulation, selectivity, and double standards. We will do this without hesitation, even for a moment, nor without giving up the social victories of the revolution that cost us so much to preserve and defend. We will continue to defend and promote human rights in spite of the brutal impact of the collective punishment imposed by the government of the United States against the Cuban people. The economic, commercial, and financial blockade by that country on our country that has been intensified to extreme and unprecedented levels in recent months with an oil siege that has unequivocally been repeatedly called out by the international community in this very assembly hall just a few hours ago constitutes a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of the human rights of the entire Cuban people. The blockade is real, and its impacts are painful, harmful. They are felt in homes, they affect families, and they determine the course of daily life in my country. They cause shortages of all sorts. They are hindering access for Cuba to resources, fuel, medicines, medical equipment, and essential inputs for guaranteeing the well-being of our population. That is the truth. Cuba will continue to demand its inalienable right to live in peace, free of interference, blackmail, intimidation or military aggression by the United States. We will continue to call for the end of the genocidal blockade with the conviction that Cuba is not a threat, the blockade is. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [35:47]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eritrea.


Eritrea [36:13]:

Mr. President, From the outset, let me welcome the President of the Human Rights Council, and we have taken note of his briefing. While noting the Human Rights Council report, Eritrea reaffirms its commitment to the purpose and principles of the United Nations and emphasizes genuine dialogue, mutual respect, and non-selectivity in advancing human rights. It recognized all rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as universal, indivisible, and interdependent. Mr. President, when Member States established the Council, it was envisioned to ensure universality, objectivity, and non-selectivity in human rights considerations. Its work should eliminate double standards and politicization, remaining rooted in cooperation and genuine dialogue to strengthen the capacity of Member States. However, over the past two decades, the Council has frequently strayed from its core mandate, rather than fostering cooperation It has been utilized by a limited number of countries to impose open-ended, country-specific mandates without sunset clause, including the mandate on Eritrea, without the consent of the States concerned. Such mechanisms remain counterproductive and undermine the Council's fundamental principles. Eritrea maintains its principled rejection of country-specific mandates and calls for strengthening the Universal Periodic Review, which treats all States equally. Equally concerning is the increasing reliance on bloc voting within the Council, where political alignments often supersede objective consideration of human rights issues. Those practices risk reducing a body intended to promote impartiality into an arena of political ultimatum. The Council’s 47 members, elected by the General Assembly, hold a responsibility that extends beyond regional groupings and political affiliations. Voting must be guided strictly by the merits of the issues, applying identical standards consistently to all Member States. The Council's credibility ultimately depends on how faithfully its members uphold those foundational principles. Mr. President, ensuring the Sustainable Development Goals mandate to leave no one behind requires upholding the sovereignty, equality of nations and respecting their independent political and development paths. True progress in human rights can only be achieved through constructive engagement, cooperation, and capacity building, rather than politicization and double standards. We urge the Council to fulfill its mandate by upholding impartiality, neutrality, and non-selectivity, and to treat all Member States in a balanced manner with full respect for national sovereignty that underpins the United Nations system. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [39:57]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Eritrea. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.


Ukraine [40:15]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ukraine thanks the President of Human Rights Council for presenting the Council's report and guiding its work during another challenging year. Throughout this year, the Council's sessions unfolded against the backdrop of Russia's relentless missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities, claiming civilian lives and destroying essential infrastructure. At the same time, Russia repeatedly attempted to exploit the Council to spread disinformation, distort facts, and shift responsibility for its own crimes onto Ukraine. One disturbing example is the repeated participation of Rodion Miroshnik, a notorious Russian official who is tasked by Russian MFA to promote disinformation about Ukraine. Ukraine reiterates its protest against all attempts to use UN human rights mechanisms to spread Russian propaganda and whitewash its aggression. Mr. Chair, We welcome the extension of the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The Commission’s latest findings determined that Russia’s systematic attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure constitute crimes against humanity. It also demonstrates why independent international scrutiny must continue. We also welcome the continuation of the Council’s interactive dialogues on Ukraine, keeping victims’ experiences visible and Russia’s violations under sustained international attention. Among the Council’s thematic achievements, we particularly appreciate the consensual adoption of the resolution on disinformation, addressing its harmful impact on human rights while safeguarding freedom of expression. No state should be shielded from scrutiny of its human rights obligations. We also strongly condemn intimidation against victims, witnesses, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives who are cooperating with UN mechanisms. Their voices must be heard, not silenced. Mr. Chair, Ukraine fully supports efforts to rationalize the Council’s work and make better use of limited resources. We have sought to lead by example, conducting early consultations with OHCHR on programme budget implications, in moving three of our four Human Rights Council resolutions to biennial or triennial cycles. However, efficiency must serve effectiveness. We are concerned about further shortening of Council sessions and speaking time. Streamlining must not undermine meaningful dialogue or limit opportunities for States, independent experts, victims, and civil society to be heard. We are equally concerned by OHCHR’s liquidity crisis. Without adequate and predictable resources, even the strongest mandates risk becoming ineffective. Despite the enormous challenges of defending our country against Russia's aggression, Ukraine remains committed to promoting human rights nationally and internationally. It is with this approach that Ukraine has been re-elected to the Human Rights Council for 2027 and 2029, and we thank all the delegations who supported us. Ukraine stands ready to share its experience and work constructively with all Member States, civil society, and UN human rights mechanisms. The Council’s strength lies not in avoiding difficult questions, but in confronting them consistently and impartially. Ukraine is committed to contributing to this effort. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


GA · Vice-President [43:53]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine. And now I give the floor The distinguished representative of El Salvador.


El Salvador [44:14]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President. El Salvador thanks the President of the Human Rights Council for the presentation of his report. We recognize the efforts made during the reporting period to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights at an international level. We agree on the importance of continuing to strengthen the relationship between the Council and this General Assembly, this particularly through cooperation based on the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, guaranteeing equal treatment of all human rights, including the right to development. We laud the results achieved during this year, particularly in view of the financial restrictions facing the organisation. Against that backdrop, we recognise efforts made designed to streamline working methods, avoid overlap and to optimise the use of available resources, seeking to ensure that measures implemented in this regard do not jeopardize the effective discharge of established mandates. Moreover, it is vital in our view to preserve the Universal Periodic Review as a mechanism of dialogue and cooperation between States, a mechanism based on equal treatment and designed to promote concrete progress in the fulfilment of international human rights commitments. A demonstration of this spirit of cooperation is the process of inter-institutional consultations and consultations with civil society undertaken by El Salvador with the cooperation and support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This was in preparation for our fourth review cycle. This exercise pinpointed pending challenges in the implementation of recommendations and made it possible to establish national priorities to continue to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights. President El Salvador has continued to actively and constructively participate in the work of the Council. We have contributed to the search for consensus and to the promotion of initiatives which address the needs and challenges of our societies. In this vein, we wish to particularly underscore the leadership shown by our country in the tabling and negotiation of the resolution entitled Youth and Human Rights. This was adopted by consensus at the 63rd session of the Council. This initiative was spearheaded jointly with another 12 members of the core group of sponsors. The initiative is an expression of our commitment to the promotion and protection of the rights of young people. It is a demonstration of the fact that through dialogue and cooperation, it is possible to achieve consensus around shared priorities. For El Salvador, international human rights commitments must move beyond declarations and ultimately manifest as public policy and tangible actions which serve to improve people's living conditions. Under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele, our country is driving forward a national transformation, one which recognizes security, education, health, and social development as linchpins with which to guarantee greater opportunities and the well-being of people. The transformation seen in public security in El Salvador has made it possible to restore and reclaim community spaces. improve social cohesion and to create new opportunities for children, teenagers and young people, this through initiatives addressing education, culture, sport and the reconstruction of the social fabric. Moreover, we have placed the well-being of infants, babies and young people among our key national priorities, through a comprehensive approach which links up education, health care, nutrition, and protection as essential development pillars. In terms of education, we continue to champion the modernization of school infrastructure and the digital transformation of the public education system. We're doing this by broadening access to technological tools. Moreover, we've made progress with strengthening public health care services through investments in infrastructure, equipment, and new ways of providing health care. Mr. President, El Salvador is of the view that the Council's effectiveness must not be measured solely by the number of resolutions adopted, but also by its ability to contribute to tangible results for the people on the ground. Consequently, we reiterate the importance of strengthening international cooperation, technical assistance, and the follow-up given to recommendations. In full respect of international obligations of each State and each State's respective national realities and priorities, we reaffirm our readiness to continue to work constructively with the Human Rights Council and the Assembly, promoting an international human rights system which is more efficient, balanced and results-orientated, and one which contributes effectively to the well-being and development of all people. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [49:08]:

I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [49:31]:

Thank you, Mr. President. In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Mr. President, The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the opportunity to engage with Ambassador Suryo D. Puro, President of the Human Rights Council. We also wish to express our appreciation for the professional and principled leadership he has exercised over the Council over the last year. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, and respect for their territorial integrity. Twenty years after the establishment of the Human Rights Council, persistent challenges continue to undermine its credibility and effectiveness. The proliferation of country-specific mandates and resolutions, driven by political considerations rather than genuine concern for human rights, has unfortunately entrenched selectivity and double standards in the Council’s work. Such practices undermine the principle of equal treatment of all Member States. This selectivity is particularly evident in the failure to address the grave human rights violations and humanitarian consequences of the unlawful military aggression launched against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the United States and the Zionist regime in late February. That aggression claimed the lives of innocent civilians, including women and children, and caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and health care facilities. The bombing of Shajar al-Tayyibah Primary School in Minab, which claimed the lives of at least 168 schoolchildren, stands as a horrifying illustration of the atrocities committed during this aggression. We note that an urgent debate of the Council was convened on this very issue. The failure to address such grave violations with the urgency, seriousness, and consistency they demand raises fundamental questions about the Council’s commitment to universality, impartiality, and the equal protection of human rights. Mr. President, certain statements have sought to level baseless and politically motivated accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These include fabricated claims of attacks on civilian targets in neighboring countries. We categorically reject these allegations in their entirety. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not the aggressor. We are the victim of aggression. We are the victim of terrorism and assassinations carried out by the Zionist regime and the United States. Any measures undertaken by Iran have been strictly defensive in nature and taken in response to repeated armed attacks and flagrant violations of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Allegations of deliberate targeting of hospitals, schools, and civilian energy infrastructure are false, malicious, and entirely without foundation. Our measures were lawful and directed exclusively against the aggressors and those who facilitated attacks against Iran's infrastructure, children, women, civilians, and residential areas. Such legitimate measures, which represent the exercise of our inherent right to self-defense, were taken to defend our country and our people. We have never questioned nor hesitated to exercise our right, and we will continue to do so. We further note the repeated references by some delegations to the so-called consensual adoption of a resolution on Iran in the Human Rights Council. The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently and firmly rejected that resolution and its mandate. We categorically reject any attempt to instrumentalize human rights mechanisms as tools of political pressure or to legitimize interventionist agendas. Unilateral coercive measures, which are unlawful under international law, systematically violate the human rights of entire populations. Their continued imposition represents a fundamental contradiction that the Council must address with greater seriousness and consistency. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains prepared to engage constructively and in good faith with the Human Rights Council, including through the Universal Periodic Review, on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and genuine dialogue. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [54:06]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ireland.


Ireland [54:28]:

Ireland aligns with the EU statement, and we thank the President of the Human Rights Council for his presentation. President, the multilateral system anchored in the UN Charter is at the core of Ireland's foreign policy. Fundamental to that multilateral order is the concept of indivisible and universal human rights, and the international human rights framework that has flowed from it. This framework was built as the international community emerged from the shadow of world war, and has served us well, enabling very significant advances in promotion and protection of human rights across the years. However, we must recognize that today, the human rights system is being tested in deeply concerning ways. And that the simple human ambition of living a life in peace and dignity without discrimination is out of reach for far too many. For example, in many parts of the world, civic space is shrinking, and transnational repression is having a corrosive silencing effect on the brave human rights defenders and stakeholders engaging on or with the UN. Implementation of the SDGs is lagging. Even the most basic human needs, the right to adequate food and the right to safe and clean drinking water, are being denied around the world, with inequality, conflict, and climate change wreaking havoc. LGBTIQ+ persons continue to face disproportionate levels of violence and systemic discrimination in many countries. Basic and fundamental rights are being denied, nowhere more abjectly than in Afghanistan, where women and girls are denied the right to education and systematically excluded from society. The use of the death penalty, an affront to human dignity, is increasing, including in Iran. There is blatant disregard for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law, in many conflicts, including Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. And conflict and humanitarian crises have proliferated. with some protracted crises, such as that in Myanmar, causing abject human misery and yet receiving insufficient international attention. President, we need multilateral institutions, including the Human Rights Council, more than ever at a time of such profound challenge. Over its 20 years of operation, the Council has deepened our analysis and understanding of core human rights principles through its debates and resolutions. Its normative work has been vital in addressing new and emerging issues, such as civil society space and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. One of its signature achievements, the UPR, provides states with a unique forum to share experience and learn from one another, and underpins many forms of technical assistance. In its country-specific work, the Council and its special procedures shine a light on serious violations of human rights and human rights emergencies, And through its investigative mechanisms, it supports accountability for violations and abuses. President, Ireland was pleased to play its part this year, working with Senegal as co-facilitators of the review of the status of the Human Rights Council. We took heart from the ability of this Assembly to agree on that outcome by consensus, reaffirming the status of the HRC, while also welcoming ongoing coordination between it and the General Assembly, and recalling the importance of its adequate and sustainable financing. Each of these elements is relevant to the ongoing important work of the UN 80 reform process. We note with deep regret that the UN's human rights pillar currently accounts for less than 1% of the UN regular budget. We remain firmly of the view that an investment in human rights pays dividends in also achieving sustainable development, peace, and security, and we urge partners to agree on adequate and sustainable funding for human rights in the ongoing budgetary negotiations. President, to conclude, Ireland reaffirms our strong commitment to the Human Rights Council. We approach our forthcoming membership for the term 2027-29 with a sense of responsibility, and also with a humility to recognise that, like all states, our own human rights record is imperfect, and we think of this including as we prepare for our UPR review next month. But we are committed to continuing as a constructive, principled actor, working for the protection and advancement of human rights at home and abroad. We look forward to cooperating with our fellow Council members, and we urge all States to engage constructively in the vital work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms in order to achieve the highest human rights standards for all. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [58:58]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.


Netherlands (Kingdom of the) [59:19]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement. We thank the President of the Human Rights Council for his presentation of the report on the work of the Human Rights Council. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, 20 years in which the Council has displayed an indispensable role in promoting and protecting human rights, and has demonstrated that the Council remains the key multilateral forum for dialogue and cooperation on the promotion and protection of human rights. It has given an important platform to victims and survivors, as well as civil society, and remains an important avenue for seeking accountability for human rights violations and abuses. Despite changing context and financial constraints, 2026 has demonstrated once again that the Council can deliver meaningful results. Freedom of opinion and expression remains a key priority for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We therefore particularly welcome the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the adoption by consensus of a resolution strengthening the protection of this fundamental freedom. including by addressing impunity for violations against journalists. Both achievements were made possible through close cooperation with partners from different regions, as well as human rights defenders and civil society organizations. Similarly, the adoption on the resolution on child early and forced marriage marked important progress for the rights of women and girls, including through strengthened language on sexual and reproductive health and rights, This, too, demonstrated the value of working closely with states from across all regional groups. The Council also demonstrated its ability to respond to pressing human rights crises. In Sudan, it extended the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, ensuring continued independent monitoring and accountability. And through its first ever preventive urgent debate on El Obeid, the Council showed its ability to act before further atrocities occur. We furthermore welcome the renewal of the mandates of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. Amid continued serious human rights violations, these independent mechanisms remain indispensable for documenting violations and abuses, ensuring international scrutiny, and advancing accountability. Their renewal sends an important message: No state is above scrutiny, and victims of human rights violations must not be forgotten. Mr. President, these achievements demonstrate what multilateral cooperation can deliver, but they also remind us that progress cannot be taken for granted. As the Kingdom of the Netherlands and more than 90 states from all five regional groups reaffirmed in our joint statement earlier this year, protecting human rights is indispensable to international peace, security, and sustainable development. This requires not only sustained political engagement, but also adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding for the entire human rights pillar. We therefore call on all States to honor their financial commitments to the UN regular budget, pay on time and in full, and we encourage voluntary contributions to OHCHR. Efforts to reform the UN must strengthen rather than undermine the effectiveness and independence of its human rights mandates. A Council entrusted with protecting human rights must have the resources to fulfill that responsibility. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:03:20]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.


Belarus [1:03:42]:

Mr. President, dear colleagues, The Human Rights Council, as an intergovernmental body of the UN, carries out an important and much needed mandate to comprehensively promote and protect human rights. For the successful implementation of its mandate, it is vitally important that States Members of the Council adhere to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in one another’s internal affairs that are common to the entire UN system, recognize and practice the diversity of development paths of sovereign States, and conduct their work in the Council through an equal intergovernmental dialogue. The best working mechanism of the HRC that meets all these criteria is, in our view, the Universal Periodic Review, which ensures a meaningful exchange of views and contributes to genuine progress on the ground through the gradual improvement of implementation of universally accepted international standards, taking into account the national context. On the eve of the completion of the fourth cycle of the UPR and preparing to launch the fifth cycle, we believe it is necessary to continue to strictly adhere to the agreed and time-tested format of the UPR to preserve its constructive With regard to thematic initiatives, we welcome the 2026 initiatives on the 60th anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights and to fair global governance. strengthening the equal treatment of all human rights, which are universal, indivisible and interdependent. The Council's efforts to advance the internationally recognized right to development, the bearer of which is each individual and all peoples collectively, and its fundamental role in building a just international order deserve support. We positively assess the Council's efforts to address contemporary threats to human rights, and we note that many issues, poverty, inequality, hunger, racial discrimination, migration issues, and others, remain significant concerns that require the attention of the Human Rights Council. We welcome the Council's growing attention to the issue of the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights in various formats, including conferences initiated by a Special Rapporteur on UCMs, as well as thematic discussions and informal events. At the same time, we note with concern the growing number of confrontational, politically motivated country-specific resolutions promoted by a group of States in pursuit of their geopolitical interests. A striking example of this politicized approach is the non-consensus Council Resolution 61/26, which extended two country-specific mandates on Belarus. These mechanisms duplicate one another, produce commissioned reports that disseminate disinformation with the aim of increasing pressure on the sovereign Belarusian state and drawing other actors, states, international organizations, into the West's sanctions policy against Belarus. They serve the interests of their sponsors without regard for the UN's limited resources. The homogenous makeup of the participants in these discussions and involved in these mandates confirms their selective and politicized nature. We note that a particular group of countries is using the Council's mechanisms to universalize unagreed approaches to human rights, to promote unsubstantiated, politicized allegations that have no established evidentiary basis. These mechanisms are being used to put pressure on sovereign states, ignoring the position of governments and replacing constructive dialogue with a categorical assessments of state policies and demands for those to change. Similar methods are being applied to Iran, China, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russia, and a number of other countries. This practice runs counter to the spirit of cooperation on which the work of the Human Rights Council should be based and demonstrates the influence of a limited group of states over shaping its agenda. Given the continuing imbalance in the Council's work, the increasing number of confrontational country-specific resolutions, and the politicization of the human rights agenda, we are unable to support the approval of the report of the Human Rights Council for 2026. and we will vote against its adoption. Thank you for your attention.


GA · Vice-President [1:07:51]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia.


Colombia [1:08:10]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Colombia takes note of the Human Rights Council report and is grateful to the Council's President for presenting it. We reiterate our support for the multilateral human rights system, and we recognize the central function of the Council in promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms. As a Member State of the Council, Colombia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening and complying with its mandate. In our view, it is vital to ensure that the Council continues to grow stronger as a space for dialogue, cooperation, and constructive participation of all States, guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity, and by the principle of respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law. mutual understanding and the quest for consensus. We cannot, of course, disregard differences between states, but those two are vital to overcome current challenges in the field of human rights and to move forward in carving out effective responses to promote and protect them. Colombia also wishes to underscore the importance of technical cooperation, national capacity building, and the exchange of good practices, such as to support the efforts of states to uphold their international obligations, as well as to strengthen their institutions and translate commitments entered into into tangible progress for peoples and communities. We are of the view that cooperation should heed the needs and priorities identified by States themselves. It should also promote sustainable solutions and contribute to the effective implementation of international human rights standards. Mr. President, strengthening the Human Rights Council must also be viewed through the broader lens of the work of the United Nations. Its three pillars, peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights, are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. The protection of human rights contributes to preventing conflicts, as well as to strengthening trust in institutions and to building fairer, more inclusive and resilient societies. Consequently, it's important to continue to strengthen the human rights pillar, guaranteeing that it has the institutional capacities and the resources required to effectively discharge its mandate. This involves more effectively establishing synergies across the pillars so that the promotion and protection of human rights are comprehensive and streamlined across the board in the work of the UN. With this in mind, Colombia recalls the importance of making progress towards a human rights system which is efficient, effective, and able to respond to modern challenges. producing concrete results and a tangible impact on the life of human beings. Doing all of this involves honing working methods and improving cooperation between mechanisms, avoiding overlaps and promoting the transparent and responsible use of available resources, without undermining compliance with mandates or the effective participation of States. Moreover, financial limitations and time limitations, as outlined in the report, emphasize the need to pay attention to the sustainability of the system. Efficiency considerations must go hand in hand with appropriate financing, financing which is also sustainable and predictable, this for the HRC and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The availability of resources is vital to guarantee the continuation and continuity of mandates, as well as technical assistance, the functioning of mechanisms, and the inclusive participation of all States, particularly of those who face greater limitations in terms of capacity. Finally, Colombia is staunchly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, multilateralism, and international cooperation. As a Member State of the Human Rights Council, we will continue to actively, responsibly and constructively participate in its work, seeking to strengthen its mechanisms and to ensure that its decisions are in line with the real needs of States and their people, particularly through cooperation, institutional strengthening and full respect of international obligations that are legally binding upon States. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:12:43]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste.


Timor-Leste [1:13:15]:

Mr. President, Timor-Leste welcomes the Human Rights Council report and thank Ambassador Sidoharto Rijo Suryo Dipoto, President of the Council, for his leadership and presentation. We commend the Council's work in promoting human rights through dialogue, monitoring, technical cooperation, and accountability. The global Human rights situation remain deeply troubling, and conflict, discrimination, religion intolerance, restrictions on fundamental freedom, and persistent poverty continue to undermine human dignity. These challenges expose a widening gap between international commitment and their implementation. Closing this gap demands political will, respect for international law, effective institution, and international cooperation. Mr. President, for Timor-Leste, human rights, peace, and development are inseparable. Our experience of conflict, reconciliation, and democratic transition shows that sustainable peace requires justice, inclusive governance, and respect for fundamental freedoms. The rule of law, equality before the law, access to justice, and independent institutions are indispensable safeguards against discrimination and abuses of power. A vibrant civil society is equally important. Protecting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and public participation strengthens democratic accountability and social cohesion. Mr. President, Timor-Leste remains deeply concerned about human suffering and violations of international law associated with conflict and unsolved political situations, including in Myanmar, Gaza, Western Sahara, and Ukraine. While recognizing these different circumstances, we consistently advocate civilian protections, humanitarian access, accountability, and peaceful solutions. In Myanmar, we support ASEAN five-point consensus and inclusive political dialogue. In Gaza, we call for protection of civilians and an restricted humanitarian assistance, and lasting peace through the two-state solution. In Western Sahara, we reaffirm the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. In Ukraine, we uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement in accordance with the United Nations Charter. We equally condemn persecution, violence, and discrimination based on religion or belief. These crises remind us that military force cannot substitute for political solutions. No military victory can justify the unnecessary loss of human life. Lasting peace requires meaningful diplomacy, strategic restraint, respect for international law, and political courage to pursue dialogue rather than confrontation. We therefore encourage stronger preventive diplomacy, coordinated humanitarian action, and credible accountability mechanism with the United Nations regional organization working together. Mr. President, at home, Timor-Leste recognized that human rights must also realized through tangible improvement in people's life. Our recent release 2024 Living Standards Survey indicates that poverty declined from 48.4% in 2014 to approximately 37% in 2024, using comparable estimate. This progress is encouraging, but poverty remains widespread, particularly in rural communities. Economic progress must therefore translate into greater equality, opportunities, and human dignity. Mr. President, we remain committed to work together with the United Nations, international partners, and protect human dignity, strengthen democratic institutions, and promote inclusive development. Human rights depend on the rule of law. Their realization requires opportunity, and their sustainability demands peace, justice, and international solidarity. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [1:17:53]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Afghanistan.


Afghanistan [1:18:17]:

Mr. President, we thank the President of the Human Rights Council for presenting the Council’s report.

Twenty years after its establishment, the Council’s role in addressing serious human rights violations and

promoting accountability remains as important as ever.

For the people of Afghanistan, its work has particular significance. Five years after the Taliban's

forced return to power, Afghans continue to live under a system of repression that reaches into nearly

every aspect of their lives. Women and girls face institutionalized discrimination, segregation, and exclusion that amount to crimes against humanity.

They are denied education, employment, and participation in public life with devastating consequences for their dignity, livelihoods, and future.

But repression extends far beyond women and girls.

Hazaras, Shias, and other minorities, journalists, human rights defenders, former security forces, and ordinary citizens

face arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, forced displacement, and extrajudicial killings.

Through discriminatory decrees, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, and dismantling of legal protection, the Taliban have

made fear, intimidation, and exclusion instruments of governance. These violations are taking place amid a deepening political, humanitarian, and economic crisis. Millions depend on humanitarian assistance. Poverty and unemployment remain widespread, and young Afghans are increasingly deprived of the opportunities and hope for their future. Mr. President, against this backdrop, Afghanistan welcomes Human Rights Council’s resolution 63/1, adopted by consensus. We thank the European Union for its leadership and all delegations that supported its adoption. The resolution sends an important message: the fundamental rights of Afghan people are not negotiable, and those.

Responsible for serious violations must be held accountable. We attach particular importance to four priorities.

First, continued independent monitoring. We welcome the extension of the mandate of Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett and reaffirm our full support for his work. The Taliban must allow him safe and unhindered access to Afghanistan.

Second, accountability.

We welcome the Council’s decision to establish the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan and call for its prompt operationalization with adequate.

Resources and staffing.

We also welcome the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court and the accountability initiatives undertaken by Australia, Canada, Germany, and Netherlands, along with other Member States under the CEDAW. Those responsible for serious human rights violations must know that accountability cannot be avoided indefinitely.

Third, principled international engagement.

We remain concerned that continued engagement with the Taliban without meaningful.

Progress on human rights, risking normalization of their discriminatory policies.

Engagement must be guided by clear benchmarks, measurable improvements, and respect for Afghanistan’s international obligations.

Political engagement must not come at the expense of the fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls.

Fourth, international responsibility and political action.

Humanitarian assistance must continue to reach those in need, including through the full participation of Afghan women.

We also urge States to protect Afghan refugees, respect the principle of non-refoulement, and address the risks facing Afghans abroad. At the same time, we must recognize that Afghanistan’s human rights crisis cannot be separated from its underlying political crisis.

We therefore reiterate our call for an Afghan-led, UN-facilitated political process leading to.

Inclusive, representative, and accountable governance with meaningful participation of women, young people, minorities, and civil society and credible people in Afghanistan.

Mr. President, the real measure of this resolution will not be the strength of its language.

But the difference it makes in the lives of Afghans, whether a girl can return to school, a woman can work freely.

A survivor can seek justice, and a young person can look to the future with hope. The commitments made in Geneva must be translated into action.

Here, in New York, with the necessary resources, sustained attention, and political will.

I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:23:02]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Afghanistan. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus.


Cyprus [1:23:23]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Cyprus aligns with the statement delivered by the European Union, but allow me to make some additional remarks in my national capacity. Mr. President, since its establishment, the Human Rights Council has played a significant role in advancing the promotion and protection of human rights at both global and national level, particularly during periods when these principles face increasing challenges or risk being sidelined. It has also contributed to shape international human rights standards in response to emerging global challenges and reinforced accountability through mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review, special procedures, and investigative mechanisms. While it is important to acknowledge the progress achieved, we must also recognize that human rights worldwide continue to face significant challenges. Ongoing armed conflicts continue to undermine fundamental rights and freedoms, reminding us that much remains to be done through our collective efforts. As a current member of the Human Rights Council, Cyprus actively contributes to the fulfillment of the Council's mandate, reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism and the promotion and protection of human rights. During our membership, Cyprus focuses on three key priorities: the protection of children's rights, the promotion of gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence, and the advancement of economic, social, and cultural rights. In this context, Cyprus actively works to combat gender-based violence with a particular focus on the recognition of femicide as a distinct crime. We also work to promote the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, support the protection of cultural heritage and cultural rights, and highlight the human rights implications of climate change, particularly the impact of rising sea levels on vulnerable communities and island states. Furthermore, in times of economic uncertainty, Cyprus has also significantly increased its voluntary contributions to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other human rights mechanisms, proving its steadfast commitment to multilateralism. Mr. President, Cyprus' own experience of gross human rights violations and restrictions on fundamental freedoms following the 1974 Turkish military invasion and the continued occupation of its territory has been under the scrutiny of the Human Rights Commissioner since 1979, highlighting the persistence of severe violations. Our own living experience reinforces our need to remain committed to multilateralism and to ensure that human rights violations are neither overlooked nor forgotten with the passage of time. It also reaffirms our shared responsibility to continue working towards the prevention and eradication of all human rights violations without discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:26:30]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus. We heard the last speaker in the debate of this item, although the exercise of the right of reply has been requested. I propose that the time limits for the statements in the exercise of the rights of reply under this item will be limited to five minutes for the first intervention and three minutes for the second intervention. Is there an objection to that proposal? I hear none, so it is decided. Accordingly, pursuant to rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, When a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by the means of automatic microphone cut-off. To assist delegations managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that the statements in the exercise of the right of reply should be made by delegation from their seats. So now I call on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [1:27:44]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I am exercising my right of reply in response to the utterly baseless allegations and the inflammatory rhetoric directed against my country by the Israeli regime during this morning’s session. The child-killing, bloodthirsty, and genocidal Israeli regime, which has systematically suffocated the Palestinian people under prolonged occupation, blockade, and collective punishment, and which has killed nearly 75,000 Palestinians, absolutely possesses no standing whatsoever to even attend human rights forums. a regime whose senior leadership remains the subject of active International Criminal Court arrest warrants for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and whose conduct has been identified by multiple independent experts and international mechanisms as having crossed the threshold into genocide, has neither the moral authority nor the slightest credibility to lecture others on human rights. The allegations advanced by the Israeli regime are a transparent exercise in role reversal and deflection. They seek to invert the established record of aggression occupation, and systematic violations of international humanitarian law, while shielding the regime’s own actions from scrutiny. Selective applications of human rights language by a regime responsible for the mass killing of civilians and children undermines the integrity of multilateral institutions and the principle of non-selectivity. We call on the international community to reject this hypocrisy and to insist on the equal and consistent application of international law. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:29:22]:

I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. And now I call on the representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.


Bahrain · GCC [1:29:38]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I exercise my right of reply on behalf of GCC member states. namely the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as my country, the Kingdom of Bahrain. In response to what was mentioned during the statement by Iran, the Security Council resolution 2817 that was co-sponsored by 136 countries have condemned the blatant Iranian attacks on the countries in the region, including against my country, Bahrain. The resolution called for the immediate cessation of these assaults and established that they are a violation of international law and a grave threat to international peace and security. And I quote from the resolution itself, paragraph 5: The resolution calls upon Iran to immediately stop, without any restrictions or conditions, any provocations or threats to neighboring countries, including through the use of proxies. I would also like to point out the condemnation in the Human Rights Council resolution 61/1 that was issued on the 25th of March 2026. condemning the Iranian attacks, and I quote from its seventh paragraph, namely, calling upon Iran to fully comply with Security Council Resolution number 2817, and to fully comply with its obligations in line with international law, including the international human rights law and the international humanitarian law, to put an immediate and unconditional end to all attacks and all threats. as well as unjustified provocations against the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as Jordan, including through the use of proxies. calls upon the protection for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. And I stress here, it is no place to reverse or manipulate facts and truth. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [1:31:57]:

Thank you. And now I call on the representative of Israel.


Israel [1:32:06]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I will follow our colleague from Bahrain, and I am taking the floor in exercise of my right to reply and respond to the inflammatory and unfounded allegations made earlier and just now by the Iranian regime. Iran is not the victim of terrorism. Iran is the sponsor of terrorism. Since October 7th, the Middle East has faced deliberate campaign of destabilization led by the Islamic Republic of Iran and carried out directly and through its regional proxies. Iran has actively fueled it. Iran has attacked commercial vessels, threatened international shipping, and sought to weaponize one of the world's most critical maritime checkpoints, the Strait of Hormuz. These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a broader strategy of coercion that undermines regional stability and violates fundamental international norms. A regime that has for decades financed, armed, trained, and fueled terrorist organizations across the Middle East and beyond has little credibility when it speaks about human rights and international security. The Iranian regime openly calls for Israel destruction while pursuing nuclear capabilities and expanding its ballistic missile arsenal. Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other armed terror groups. The Iranian regime has also been involved in supporting terrorist activity across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. And I challenge you, colleagues, to dig a bit deeper on terror activities in your region. And I promise you that with a bit of research, you will find Iran's footprints and involvements there as well. And let us not forget what this regime does to its own people. Iranian security forces have killed tens of thousands of its own people during the crackdown on demonstrations that began in December 2025. The regime routinely carries out executions, including hangings following grossly unfair trials. Protesters have faced death sentences under vague national security charges, and some executions have been carried out publicly. Iranian women and girls face systematic legal discrimination and severe restrictions on their personal freedoms. LGBTQ persons face criminalization, persecution, and harsh punishment, with consensual same-sex sexual activity punishable by death under Iranian law. Israel stands with the Iranian people, who simply seek to live in freedom, dignity, and prosperity. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:34:45]:

Thank you. And I now call on the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran for a second intervention.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [1:34:55]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the outrageous allegations made by the representative of the Israeli regime. It is the height of hypocrisy for a regime whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians, including women and children, to presume to lecture anyone on human rights. For decades, the child-killing and genocidal Israeli regime has pursued a systematic campaign of occupation, dispossession, forced displacement, extrajudicial killings, and assassinations. Its record of terrorism extends far beyond occupied Palestine, with assassinations carried out across international borders, including on the sovereign territory of my own country. These are not merely allegations. Israeli regime officials have themselves publicly acknowledged responsibility for such operations. The Israeli regime does not need another platform from which to deliver sermons on human rights. Its victims need justice. Its crimes demand accountability, and its decades of impunity must come to an end. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not the aggressor. We are the victims of aggression. We are the victims of terrorism. We have seen quite lots of people in my country having been assassinated by the Israeli regime and the United States. Any measures undertaken by Iran have been strictly defensive in nature and taken in response to repeated armed attacks and flagrant violations of its territory and territorial integrity, so such allegations are false and entirely without foundation. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:36:33]:

Thank you. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of the agenda, agenda item 65. So now the Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda item 72, entitled Report of the International Court of Justice, to hear the remaining speakers on the debate on this item. Okay, so with that, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.


Indonesia [1:37:25]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Indonesia aligns itself with Uganda’s statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We thank the President of the ICJ and the Secretary-General for their respective reports. This year, we mark the 80th year of the establishment of the International Court of Justice, reaffirming its enduring role in advancing rule of law. Amid these challenging times, the Court reminds us that international law remains the basis for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. During the reporting period, 88 States were involved in proceedings before the Court. This reflects the continued trust of States from all regions in the Court. In that spirit, Indonesia would like to stress three key points. First, peaceful settlement is the only path forward, with the Court at its heart. As the only international court of a universal character with general jurisdiction, the ICJ remains indispensable where diplomacy alone falls short. Its docket covers a wide range of issues, from territorial disputes to human rights. This shows its enduring relevance to the most pressing issues of our time. Its relevance also rests on transparency and accountability, which show that its decisions matter. In this regard, we acknowledge the amended Article 78 of the Rules of Court, making compliance reports on provisional measures public. Second, respect for international law. Only through effective implementation of international law can we attain lasting peace. The value of the Court's decisions depends on our readiness to respect them. Indonesia, for its part, stands ready to support the Court in upholding international law, in accordance with the Charter and the Statute of the Court. This readiness extends to the Court's advisory opinions, which, while not binding, carry great legal and moral authority. Foremost among them are the opinions on the occupied Palestinian territory in 2004, 2024, and 2025, and on climate change in 2025. In 2024, the Court affirmed the illegality of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, under international law as well as its legal consequences. In 2025, it affirmed that Israel as the occupying power must meet the basic needs of the Palestinian people and facilitate relief, including by the UN and UNRWA. Indonesia took part in the Court's advisory proceedings, reflecting our belief in the value of the Court's advisory function. These opinions are clear, and we must now give them practical effect. Third, a stronger and more inclusive Court. A heavy caseload must be matched by adequate resources. Inclusiveness matters most for developing countries, which often face the greatest barriers to bringing cases before the Court. We commend the Judicial Fellowship Program and its trust fund, which this year enabled five young jurists from developing countries to train at the Court. We encourage its expansion so that more developing countries can build their own expertise in international law. We also emphasize the importance of support from States, including contributions to the trust fund to assist States. Access to international justice should not depend on the financial capacity of a state, particularly for developing countries. Mr. President, our task is clear: to strengthen faith in international law, with the Court as its impartial guardian; to create a Court accessible to all states, respected by all, and serving all. Indonesia affirms its unwavering support for the Court and for the international rule of law. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [1:42:14]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador.


Ecuador [1:42:36]:

Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank the President of the International Court of Justice for presenting his annual report and for his conduct, for your conduct, Judge Iwasawa. I express all of Ecuador’s support. For time reasons, I will read an extract from the statement prepared for the session of 29 October, with the request, Mr. President, that the full text be recorded in the record of this meeting. because it covers cases that note the historical and invariable conviction of the Ecuadorian state to the peaceful settlement of disputes, that speak of the good faith in procedural terms with which Ecuador appears before cases in the Court, including the case Glass Espinel, facts which renew the conviction that the Court is the bulwark of justice, stability, and the rule of international law, which indicates Ecuador's contribution to the historic advisory opinion which determined erga omnes obligations on the subject of climate change. In this statement, we also built upon specific ideas regarding the judicial subjects that are on the register of contentious cases, regarding the efforts of the Court to revise its working methods and the amendment of Article 78 of its Statute, rules on compliance with provisional measures and ideas on the nature of the Court, which is proven by the participation of 88 states from different regions of the world in different proceedings during the period under consideration. For medium-sized and small states, such as Ecuador, international law is not theoretical in practice. It is the legal shield, and its invocation is at times the only defense that they have. President, distinguished delegates, Ecuador supports the candidacy of Ambassador Marcelo Vázquez Bermúdez for the International Court of Justice for the period 2027 to 2036, with the full awareness that this should be joined by independent judges that meet the conditions that have expressly been established in Article 2 of the Statute, including the reference to judges of recognized competence in the area of international law. The Ecuadorian candidate has consolidated his international law experience over two decades as a member of the International Law Commission, a period during which he served as the chair, contributed to the progressive development of international law, and currently serves as the rapporteur on the subject general principles of law. His independence is guaranteed and also shows, in fact, that various administrations in Ecuador of various different political shades have entrusted the legal advice position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to him over his extensive career as an ambassador in the Foreign Service, Mr. President. In practice, the obligatory nature of Article 9 of the Statute, which complements Article 2 that I referred to a moment ago, has been expressed in the historic participation of nations of various different regional groups, which has contributed to the legitimacy of Court that should continue to be universal in its representation. The reduction in the presence of a regional group of 33 states to just one single member of the Court from next year onwards is unprecedented since it was created in 1946. Ambassador Vázquez Bermúdez, nominated by the national group of Ecuador as well as by the national groups of other countries, is the only active and viable candidate from Latin America and the Caribbean. Ecuador is a developing state that has never had a judge on the International Court of Justice. The broad experience of Ambassador Vásquez Bermúdez, with more than 35 years of experience as an academic and a practitioner of international law, and his ability to work in the law together with jurists from all regions of the world that has been seen over many years on the International Law Commission makes him into an exceptionally well qualified candidate to serve on the Court with professionalism, a deep legal knowledge, impartiality, and independence. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I conclude by once again expressing the gratitude of Ecuador to the International Court of Justice for its contribution to the international legal order and to the preservation of peace and justice in the world. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [1:48:05]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Ecuador. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon.


Cameroon [1:48:43]:

President, I thank you for giving me the floor and the opportunity to take part in this debate. My delegation wishes to thank the President of the International Court of Justice, Mr. Yuji Iwasawa, We thank him for presenting his report on the activities of the Court, a report which describes intense activity marked by a significant number of cases on the docket. These cases range widely, both in terms of the international law issues they cover and in terms of where they hail from around the globe. This reaffirms the fact that the Court has universal, wide-ranging jurisdiction. The presentation of the ICJ's report is particularly significant in 2026, this year. This year is the 80th anniversary of the Court's effective beginning of its functions. Since the holding of its inaugural session on the 18th of April 1946, the Court has been unrelenting in contributing to the development of an international order based on law. It has done this by providing states with an institutional and procedural framework within which to submit their disputes for a legal resolution, and the Court has provided UN organs with legal clarification on matters of common interest. 80 years of activity provides us with an excellent opportunity to take stock of the journey completed, but also to take stock of the important role that the Court continues to play and to appreciate that role in the current international context. Indeed, down the course of the decades, The Court has contributed to providing clarification to and developing international law in fields as crucial as the delineation of land and maritime borders, territorial sovereignty, the interpretation of treaties, diplomatic relations, consular relations, international state responsibility, human rights, and the prevention of international crimes. Its jurisprudence today stands as a crucial framework of reference for states, both international and national courts, practitioners of law, and researchers. Beyond the diverse nature of the issues considered by the court, the historic contribution of the court also lies in its gradual consolidation of a culture of law and a culture in which conflicts are resolved through the use of law. As an international court, states submit their disputes to it, and in so doing, they are recognizing that their differences can be settled on the basis of common rules rather than by the use of force or by the principle of might is right alone. If we look at the last eight decades, We find clear evidence of the advisory function of the Court and the contribution that makes it issues advisory opinions as part of that function, and they have served to clarify sensitive legal issues and indeed complex legal issues pertaining namely to the functioning of the United Nations, territories, international obligations of states, and the protection of people. This function contributes to the prevention of disputes, to clarifying the law that is applicable in disputes, and to a better understanding of obligations that fall on those within the international community. Consequently, this historic stock-taking exercise cannot hide the challenges yet to be overcome. International crises are increasing in number. We are seeing the growing complexity of disputes and the difficulties sometimes encountered when legal decisions are being implemented, this reminds us that the authority of international law also depends on States’ will to fulfil their commitments. This discussion is an opportunity for my delegation to once again appeal for the strengthening of trust in international justice. And an appeal for us to make the Court an increasingly effective tool for peace, as well as for security and stability. Here, we should once again welcome and hold up as an example the judgment of the Court in the delineation of the land and maritime border between Cameroon and Nigeria, and This bears witness to the common desire of the two countries, and indeed we should welcome rather, the desire of the two countries to implement this decision as part of a joint commission. President, as we reflect upon the Court's work, we can also underscore the importance of the Court's accessibility and of the dissemination of its jurisprudence. Here, it is important to continue efforts aimed at bolstering knowledge of international law and of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Such knowledge should be increased among States, particularly among States that have limited legal capacity. Here we should underscore the role of capacity-building fellowships awarded to young jurists in developing countries. We encourage any and all substantive contributions to the Trust Fund for this fellowship programme. President, the future of the Court will depend on its ability to, while fully respecting its statute and the principle of independence, to respond to and address new legal problems that are emerging within the international community. Challenges linked to climate change, artificial intelligence, and the protection of the environment, inter alia, demonstrate the growing importance of the Court’s role in clarifying international law. The Court must remain impartial, independent and robust, wielding an authority which will serve to promote multilateralism, to consolidate the rule of law and to preserve the foundations of a peaceful and balanced international order. To conclude, I wish now to turn to administrative issues and budgetary issues, as outlined in the report. Here, Cameroon, together with the African Group and G77+China, is ready to examine these issues in a diligent fashion within the Fifth Committee, bearing in mind the recommendations issued by the ACABQ, but also bearing in mind supplementary information any supplementary information that may be provided by the Secretary General and the Court. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:58:45]:

Merci. I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malta.


Malta [1:59:05]:

I thank you, Mr. President. Malta thanks Judge Eugénie Wazzoua for presenting the Court’s report and welcomes this opportunity to reflect on the essential role of the International Court of Justice in upholding the international legal order. The international order is grounded in law, yet law can only provide stability and predictability when it is respected, upheld, and applied in good faith. The peaceful settlement of disputes is at the heart of the United Nations Charter, and respect for international law necessarily requires respect for the institutions entrusted with its interpretation and application. In this regard, the International Court of Justice remains indispensable to the international legal order and to peaceful relations between States. Malta encourages States to make full use of the Court’s jurisdiction and the breadth of its services. Contentious proceedings provide an essential avenue for the peaceful settlement of disputes, while the Court’s advisory jurisdiction can serve as an important tool of preventive diplomacy by clarifying legal questions, guiding the conduct of States, and strengthening the common understanding and application of international legal obligations. Malta further recalls that the Court's judgments and orders are binding on the parties to the dispute and must be implemented in full. Good faith compliance is not only a legal obligation, it is also an expression of respect for the UN Charter, the Statute of the Court, and the rule of law. States must therefore take the necessary steps to ensure that their national policies and positions are consistent with applicable international legal obligations. At a time when the international legal order is increasingly being called into question, we must also safeguard the independence and impartiality of the Court. Malta continues to closely follow the cases before the Court and reiterate the importance of ensuring that the ICJ has the resources necessary to discharge its mandate effectively and independently. This commitment was also reflected in the judicial study visit organized by the Embassy of Malta in The Hague earlier this month for a delegation of 16 Maltese judges and magistrates. The judicial study visit included a meeting with the Registrar of the International Court of Justice and Vice President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Julia Sebutinde. The scale of the delegation and the commitment to go beyond domestic and bilateral judicial matters underscores Malta's continued support for continuous professional development, judicial excellence, and the rule of law at all levels. The authority of international law ultimately depends on our willingness to submit disputes to law, respect judicial processes, and implement the judicial outcomes in good faith. Malta will continue to support the Court and the peaceful settlement of disputes as essential pillars of a rules-based international order. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:02:22]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Malta. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Dominican Republic.


Dominican Republic [2:02:46]:

Mr. President, the Dominican Republic thanks the President of the International Court of Justice for the presentation of the report A/81/4 and the Secretary-General for his report on the Trust Fund to assist States in the settlement of disputes via the Court. This debate is of particular importance as we mark the 80th anniversary since the beginning of the Court's activity. The solemn sitting held on the 17th of April 2026 provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon the value which allows states to submit their disputes to law and to, via peaceful means, find legal responses to disputes that might otherwise compromise international peaceful coexistence For the Dominican Republic, this anniversary is an opportunity to reaffirm a crucial conviction: sovereign equality requires institutions that make it possible for the rights of states, regardless of their size, to prevail, as well as regardless of their economic or political clout. The Court gives concrete expression to this aspiration because it is independent and impartial within its remit. Its importance also connects to states that aren't parties to a dispute because it clarifies legal laws, and as such, it clarifies relations between states, it guides states' conduct, and offers input to reach agreements. For our country, an international order governed by law is a fundamental prerequisite for the protection of state sovereignty and to promote their development in peace. President, the report talks about the participation of some 80 states in advisory or contentious procedures, and 24 contentious procedures are on the general list. These figures reflect the trust placed in the Court and the responsibility that underpins its work. The two advisory opinions issued during the reporting period highlight this function in terms of providing timely legal advice on particularly sensitive issues and issues of international relevance. Through this mechanism, the Court clarifies obligations and provides states and United Nations organs with legal matter with which to resolve resolve their challenges, challenges that require a collective response. Trust in international justice requires involvement by States. As such, we reaffirm the importance of States complying with judgments issued in their cases. We recognize in this regard the reform of Article 78 of the Court's Rules that's been in force since February 2026 on the publication of reports in compliance with provisional measures issued in accordance with the provisions. President, for the Dominican Republic as a small island developing state, the contribution of the Court is particularly crucial in terms of climate issues. The risks we face affect our coastal communities, as well as our livelihoods and our prospects for development. We reiterate the importance of the advisory opinion dated 23 July 2025 on States' obligations with regard to climate change. Despite the fact it was issued before the current reporting period, its relevance remains. Republic recalls with particular satisfaction its participation in the hearings during that procedure, as an expression of its desire to actively contribute to the development of international law. Legal certainty and clarity must manifest as effective climate action and cooperation based on equity and solidarity, cooperation which responds to the needs of the most vulnerable countries. President Celebrating these eight decades also demands facilitating effective access to justice. We value the Trust Fund for Assistance to States, and we believe that it is important to raise awareness of this possibility. The Judicial Fellowship Programme is also important because it trains young jurists in developing countries and also bolsters national legal capacities. We recognize judges and the registrar. We're grateful to them for their work. It requires adequate resources and their full right to enjoy independence. Honoring these 80 years involves continuing to give international law authority. The Dominican Republic reaffirms its support for the Court as a crucial institution for peaceful coexistence between sovereign states. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:07:11]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of State of Palestine.


State of Palestine [2:07:28]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Allow me at the outset to express our appreciation to the President of the International Court of Justice for his report and to the Court for its essential efforts. Mr. President, no one, No one can put the International Court of Justice on notice. The World Court is neither in peril nor on trial. No one gets to threaten its judges or dictate the outcome of their deliberations. We reject attempts to taunt judges or taint their decisions. We have witnessed before private efforts to pressure judges, but never such a public attempt to influence the ICJ’s deliberations in an ongoing case. It’s an unacceptable attack on its independence and integrity. The International Court of Justice is at the heart of the UN and the multilateral system. Those writing editorials for the Wall Street Journal should steer away from outrageous threats against the judges. In fact, this is not an editorial. This is an intimidation campaign masquerading as journalism. Mr. President, I am a Palestinian representative speaking of the power of international law. When international law could not shield a Palestinian child from bombs and bullets, when it could not feed them as they starved, when it could not offer them shelter or lift the restrictions on humanitarian access as winter laid down its siege, when it could not regrow their limbs or resuscitate their loved ones. Did international law fail Palestinian victims? It did not. The law provided for their protection. Did the Court fail them? It did not. Had the Court’s provisional orders been implemented, the genocide could have been stopped. Many would be alive today, many spared unbearable and unnecessary suffering. The Court has provided guidance to UN organs and States on ending the illegal Israeli occupation and ensuring humanitarian access and assistance so it can reach those desperately in need. It has done its part, but it cannot enforce its decisions. Implementation remains subject to the will of states, and it is for all states to determine whether they want to contribute to the rule of international law or to its demise. Mr. President, we hear words like “lawfare” and “terrorism by law,” oxymorons coined to delegitimize resort to the most legitimate tools, those grounded in international law. These expressions are often used by those who, in parallel, seek to justify the gravest breaches of the most fundamental rules of warfare. We do not weaponize the law.” I’m not sure what that even means. Is seeking justice an act of aggression? Is demanding accountability a threat? Are states seeking to be guided by international law really the problem, not those breaching it? If we say that law is the only weapon we are willing to wield, because we refuse to perpetuate the cycle of violence and bloodshed, if we say we chose justice, not vengeance, even as tens of thousands of our people were being killed, is that not worthy of support rather than sanctions? What world tells victims they have no recourse while assuring perpetrators full impunity? Mr. President, humanity elaborated one common language over millennia. through the confluence of civilizations and the tragedies of history. That language is international law, a language born not in the halls where it was drafted, but on battlefields, in destroyed cities, in concentration and death camps, not from naive idealism, but from humanity confronting the evil it was capable of. The modern international law-based order emerged from the horrors of the Second World War, including the Holocaust. Confronted with the abyss, humanity built something extraordinary, a multilateral system to save itself from itself. And at its heart, a court, because there can be no rule of law without a jurisdiction to uphold it. Yet states wanted law while retaining power, and the most powerful wanted to retain the most power. Since then, we have lived in the tension between the power of the law and the law of the power. But an international order based on power rather than law is no order at all. It is the very logic that brought humanity to the brink of destruction. States enacted rules but wanted to choose when they apply to them. That was the original sin. We left it to states to choose whether to submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the Court, as if sovereignty could be invoked to challenge the authority of international law. or serve as a valid reason to escape judicial scrutiny, leaving those most willing to abide by the law subject to the Court’s jurisdiction, while those most capable of violating it able to escape its scrutiny. We therefore call on all States to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court. No one should be above the law. A State allowed to stand above the law will tend to act as an outlaw State. Mr. President, humanity built the International Court of Justice to fulfill its pledge to settle disputes peacefully, not based on the imbalance of power where the weaker side would be forced to voluntarily forego the rights to which they are entitled, but based on the scales of justice in accordance with international law. It established the ICJ as a first line of defense of human civilization to uphold the promise of a more just and peaceful world. and it built the ICC as its last resort against barbarism, to embody the pledge: never again. We cannot accept a world where judges live in fear, perpetrators sleep in peace, and victims suffer and die with no avenue for peaceful redress. We built these institutions to save humanity from itself. They are more needed now than ever. I always find it interesting that those informed by history and its lessons are called naive, while those ignoring them are called realistic. We can learn from history or condemn future generations to relive its horrors. Mr. President, and to conclude, we should be touched by the better angels of our nature, not surrender to our worst demons, because ultimately, we only have two choices: Either we grow wiser, or we go extinct. There are those who believe the more capable they are of destruction, the safer they become. But how many empires have fallen despite their mighty armies? Look around us: more and more wars with no victors and endless victims. We trust the power of the gavel far more than the power of the gun to create a safer and better world for all. And I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [2:15:09]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the State of Palestine. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.


Belarus [2:15:27]:

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the delegation of Belarus welcomes the President of the ICJ, Mr. Yuji Iwasawa, we thank him for his report and we acknowledge the central role and the significant contribution of the Court to upholding and strengthening the international legal order based on the UN Charter. We would also take this opportunity to congratulate the Court on the 80th anniversary of the beginning of its activities. We note that the Court, on the whole, is coping with the task of considering a significant number of cases and requests for advisory opinions before it that are vitally important for the international community. At the same time, our delegation believes it is necessary to express a number of considerations regarding the conditions in which the international justice system is currently operating. Belarus has consistently called for the international judicial institutions to be impartial and depoliticized. Unfortunately, it must be noted that in recent years they are increasingly becoming instruments of political pressure. We see attempts to use the existing and to create new legal mechanisms to settle political scores, which could undermine confidence in the very idea of independent and objective international justice. We underscore that the authority of the International Court in large part depends on strict compliance with its Statute, the universally recognized principles and norms of international law, in particular the principle of the sovereign equality of states. any selective attempts to have an expansive interpretation of the Court’s jurisdiction and the norms that it applies should not take place. We are not casting doubt on the right of States to turn to the ICJ in accordance with its Statute, and if there is a real and freely expressed consent of the parties to its jurisdiction. At the same time, Belarus considers that the conscientious compliance with the prior conditions for going to the Court are one of the key elements in maintaining confidence in this international justice organ. We would like to warn against the use of international judicial proceedings as a means for exerting pressure, rather than a way to resolve disputes. This practice politicizes international justice and makes it impossible to have a dialogue between states and also to use other options for settling disputes, which, given the specifics, may be more appropriate and effective. Belarus is convinced that going to the ICJ should be preceded by good faith attempts by states to resolve their disputes through negotiations, because negotiations are cheaper and they are more flexible in terms of ways to overcome disputes. During the direct contact, the parties are able to specify the circumstances of the dispute, clarify their positions, reduce the level of mistrust, and independently find mutually acceptable solutions. We are of the view that going to the court should not be an end in and of itself. Good faith negotiations aren't a formality or a procedural hindrance, rather, they are a show of respect for the principles of the sovereign equality of states and the freedom to choose the means of the peaceful settlement of disputes. When states do not fully use negotiations, when they approach them formally, and they don't want to resolve the dispute, but simply want to sue their opponents, this leads not only to a further escalation of tensions, but also complicates the settlement of contentious issues on the basis of the judicial decisions that are issued. The ICJ should, above all, be an authoritative, independent third party in those cases where diplomatic means have indeed been exhausted and have not borne fruit. In that regard, we call upon the Court to adhere to the practice of the broad and substantive consideration of the matter regarding the conscientious and exhaustive observance of the prior conditions before turning to it. For the first time in its history, Belarus is participating in the Court's consideration of the application by a foreign state regarding a supposed dispute over the implementation of the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. We hope for impartial, fair proceedings based on a good faith interpretation of international law to resolve this dispute. In this process, in accordance with Article 63 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, some third states have intervened, also for the first time in the history of the Court. making use of its procedural rules, a position on the jurisdictional aspects of the proceedings was presented by the EU, acting as a regional organization of economic integration, that is, a party to the aforementioned protocol. In this context, in order to maintain and to form the proper practice of the Court that does not contradict its core documents and principles, we believe it is necessary to ensure that the parties in the proceedings are able to present comments on the positions not only of third states, but also of regional economic integration organizations that have sent their considerations on the proceedings to the Court. We trust that the International Court will continue to be guided exclusively by the law and by the purposes of effective and fair dispute settlement. Thank you for your attention.


GA · Vice-President [2:20:23]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua.


Nicaragua [2:20:50]:

Mr. President of the Assembly, Mr. President of the International Court of Justice, Mr. President, we align ourselves with the statement by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Nicaragua is grateful to the President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Yuji Iwasawa, for his detailed report A/81/4. which reports on the importance of the work that the principal judicial organ of this organization continues to carry out. The period under consideration has been significant for the Court and for the system of the peaceful settlement of disputes. During this period, the Court issued a judgment and two advisory opinions, as well as 16 orders. It also held four public hearings. A total of 88 states participated to a greater or lesser extent in contentious or advisory proceedings before the Court, and as at 31 July 2026, there were 24 pending cases listed on the General List. Moreover, 12 states presented declarations of intervention in accordance with Article 63 of the Statute. And these figures confirm the growing centrality of the Court in global governance and the growing demand for peaceful and legal solutions to the world’s most urgent conflicts. The growing number and diversity of the cases presented before the Court has played a fundamental role in expanding the role of the Court, both in terms of scope and awareness. Equally, the request for advisory opinions reflects the Court’s relevance in addressing urgent legal and moral disputes for the Member States and for the United Nations in particular. When states ignore the sentences or selectively apply legal norms, the authority of international law is eroded. This double standard weakens the perception of equity and universality that international law and its institutions depend on. Nevertheless, the prominence of the Court indicates that there is broader recognition of the law as an essential component in global governance. Mr. President, Nicaragua is one of the States that has most often had recourse to the International Court of Justice, with 15 cases and interventions in advisory proceedings. Currently, Nicaragua is party in the case regarding alleged breaches of certain international obligations in respect of the occupied Palestinian territory, Nicaragua versus Germany. As this report states, Nicaragua presented its memory in the deadline on 21 July 2025. Germany made preliminary objections on 21 October 2025, and Nicaragua, by in writing, presented its observations and conclusions regarding those objections within the deadline set by the Court on 23 February 2026. Nicaragua will continue to defend its positions with the rigor that this matter deserves, in particular as relates to the erga omnes parties' obligations emanating from the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions. Mr. President, since 2021, Nicaragua has been pointing to the importance of monitoring compliance with the provisional measures ordered by the Court and has reiterated that the annual reports of the Court are an opportunity to inform States Parties about the work of the Special Committee of three judges created for that purpose. In that regard, Nicaragua has noted with satisfaction the amendment of Article 78 of the Rules of the Court, which entered into force on 2 February 2026, and which allows the Court to request reports from the parties on measures that have been adopted to give fulfilment to provisional measures. providing for that those reports or parts of them be made available to the public. We consider that this is an important step in the right direction to strengthen the rule of law at the international level, and we encourage information on compliance with provisional measures to be systematically incorporated in this way into the annual report of the Court to this Assembly. Nicaragua notes that the case relating to the application of the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip, South Africa versus Israel, continues with 20 States having presented declarations of intervention in accordance with Article 63 of the Statute, and that the counter-memory of Israel was presented in March 2026. Nicaragua reiterates that the provisional measures indicated by the Court are binding or obligatory for the parties, and that their effective implementation is inseparable from the credibility of the system. President, the report reflects the growing use that states and the organs of the United Nations are making of the option of requesting advisory opinions. On the 22nd of October 2025, the Court issued its advisory opinion on the obligations of Israel with respect of the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third states on the occupied Palestinian territory and in relation to it. In it, the Court established, among other things, that Israel, as occupying power, must guarantee that the population of the occupied Palestinian territory has the supplies that are essential for daily life, accept and facilitate humanitarian assistance, including that provided by the United Nations, in particular the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and not hinder it, and to respect their prohibition on using hunger as a method of war and to guarantee full respect for the prerogatives and immunities of the United Nations in accordance with Article 105 of the Charter and the Convention on Prerogatives and Immunities. Although it is true that advisory opinions are not binding. They are an expression of existing law. They come from the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and their fulfillment is inseparable from the rule of international law. Mr. President, in previous reports, Nicaragua has indicated the discrepancy between the growing activity of the Court and the availability of resources allocated to it. This year, the General Assembly approved the creation of 11 of the 15 posts requested by the Court, together with general reductions to the proposed budget. The proposed budget for 2027 amounts to $41,719,200. and includes, very relevantly, the establishment of a system for managing judicial cases, which is essential to manage the growing volume of documentation in a safe and efficient way. For many developing states, presenting a case before the International Court of Justice represents a significant financial burden, and this must be seen as a significant impediment to making full use of the Court because the associated costs could be prohibitively high for States with limited resources. The aforementioned should lead us to rethink the mandate and the rules approved in 2004 regarding the functioning of the Secretary-General’s Trust Fund for assisting States in the settlement of disputes via the conduct of the International Court of Justice, because it contains important limits that accent and exacerbate the economic gap that have direct implications on the rule of law at the international level. Equally, Nicaragua calls for countries to make generous contributions to it. Mr. President, at the same time, Nicaragua celebrates the positive development of the Judicial Fellowship Program. For the program 2026-2027, the Court received 164 requests from 108 universities from around the world, and of the 16 candidates selected, five are nationals from developing countries put forward by universities located in developing countries that received fellowships from the Trust Fund. Since it was created, the Fund has allowed for the participation of a total of 19 fellows. Nevertheless, we consider that this effort should continue so that this valuable programme can reach a larger number of young people from developing countries. Nicaragua also takes note of the progress in the removal of asbestos and renovations in the Peace Palace and hopes that this work will not affect the important work of the Court. Nicaragua also celebrates the solemn commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Court that was carried out on the 17th of April 2026 in the presence of the United Nations Secretary General and senior authorities, senior officials. This was a chance to reaffirm the Court's commitment to international peace and justice. Moreover, we take note of the election of Mr. Santiago Villalpando as Registrar of the Court as of 1 August 2026, and we trust that his leadership will contribute to the proper good functioning of the institution. President, the rule of law at the international level is at a critical juncture, and we cannot allow backsliding that would erode the most fundamental norms of relations between states. Budgets for promoting peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes need to reflect that commitment, in particular by countries with more resources that have allocated billions to military budgets, which have significantly increased in recent years, all the while resources for international justice are being reduced. To conclude, Nicaragua is pleased to note that one more state has presented a declaration of acceptance of the obligatory jurisdiction of the Court. So the number of States that has presented these declarations reaches now 75 as of the 31st of July 2026. However, we continue to feel that this number is insufficient and we invite States that have not yet done so to recognize the Court's jurisdiction. Nicaragua takes this opportunity to reaffirm that all of the cases that it has been party to, it has always faithfully fulfilled its international obligations and that it hopes to receive reciprocity in this regard. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [2:31:25]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Nicaragua. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.


Netherlands (Kingdom of the) [2:31:41]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, allow me first to thank His Excellency, Mr. Ewas Dava, President of the International Court of Justice, for his presentation of the Court's report. Let me also congratulate Mr. Villalpando on his election as Registrar of the Court. We warmly welcome him to The Hague. The 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice this year is a powerful reminder of how essential the Court is to our shared future. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has emphasized during the solemn sitting of the Court to mark its 80th anniversary on 17 April 2026, The ICJ is central to our collective aspiration for, and I quote, "a world based on the rule of law with respect for fundamental human rights, social progress, and better standards of living," end of quote. For eight decades, the Court has helped states resolve their disputes peacefully, clarified and developed international law, and strengthened the international legal order. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the municipality of The Hague, the ICJ's 80th anniversary is not only a moment to celebrate the Court itself, it is also an occasion to underline more broadly the fundamental importance of international law and the international legal order, as well as to engage in global conversations on these themes. In The Hague, the city of peace and justice, we will mark this milestone on 9 November 2026 with a dedicated high-level forum and award ceremony. Through this gathering, we reflect on how international law can continue to serve as a cornerstone of peaceful relations between states and as a safeguard for the international community as a whole. Across the world, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has organized so-called stocktaking sessions. to assess the contributions of international law to peace across the world. During these events, we engaged in open discussions. The relevance as well as the importance of international law and our international legal order was highlighted, with emerging global challenges also having been addressed. The significance of the Court as the principal judicial body of the United Nations for upholding international peace and security cannot be emphasized enough. By means of the peaceful resolution of disputes and its advisory procedures, the work of the ICJ provides an essential contribution to the international legal system, serving the interests of the international community as a whole. The Kingdom of the Netherlands cherishes this contribution of the International Court of Justice, and in that regard remains ever proud to be the host country. Mr. President, The Court's report demonstrates that it has once more been a particularly intensive year for the Court, having handed down one judgment, two advisory opinions, and having rendered no less than 16 orders. The Court's substantial caseload reflects the willingness of states to turn to the ICJ for the peaceful settlement of their disputes and states' willingness to seek authoritative answers to some of the most consequential legal questions of our time. The global relevance of the Court is confirmed by the fact that it remains seized by cases from every region of the world concerning a wide array of legal issues. While the Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomes the universal confidence placed in the Court, it is mindful of the implications this increased participation may have for the Court's budget. In addition, as noted in the Court's report, the implementation of a case management system Allowing for the secure electronic filing, distribution, and retrieval of case-related materials requires the necessary funding. The Kingdom of the Netherlands would support an increase of the Court's budget in this regard. My government commends the modernization of certain administrative practices the Court has incorporated so far over these past few years. In this regard, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has noted with appreciation the Court's intention to actively review its procedures and working methods, including the focus on greater use of new technologies, as mentioned in the Court's report. Mr. President, for the continued peaceful settlement of disputes by the Court, it is of pivotal importance that all Member States of the United Nations accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court. In this regard, the Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomes the declaration of Iceland of February 2026, recognizing the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court. At the same time, my government urges states that have not yet done so to recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court by making a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2 of the Statute, and to do so with as few reservations as possible. My government has, as far as feasible, removed restrictions on the Court's jurisdiction in contentious proceedings involving the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It will accept all disputes stemming from situations or facts that occurred no more than 100 years before the dispute is submitted to the Court. Mr. President, let me conclude by reaffirming my government's unwavering commitment to the Court. At a time where our international community faces significant challenges, the role for the Court in the peaceful settlements of disputes is more important than ever. The implementation by States of the binding judgments of the Court is essential to upholding the rule of law and strengthening the international legal order. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [2:37:38]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait.


Kuwait [2:38:04]:

President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, the delegation of the State of Kuwait would like to align itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Arab Group by the State of Libya and the statement delivered on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council by the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement by the Republic of Uganda. The State of Kuwait expresses its deep appreciation to His Excellency Judge Iwasawa Yūji, the President of the ICJ, for his efforts in leading the work of the Court and in shouldering its responsibilities. My country values the content of the annual report before the General Assembly. which focuses on the work of the ICJ and highlights its role in strengthening the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes between countries, the State of Kuwait reaffirms that the ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, plays a vital role in settling legal disputes between countries and in providing advisory opinions on legal matters, which contributes in enhancing the provisions of international law and in strengthening the respect of its rules. Following eight decades since the establishment of the United Nations and its main court, There's a need for an international court that relies in carrying out its functions on the provisions of international law, that strengthens the principle of equality before the law, strengthens trust in the international order to implement the principles of international law in a coherent manner without selectivity or double standards. The real value of the International Court is not in the number of judgments and advisory opinions it has issued, but in its respect of international obligations. In this regard, Article 38 of the ICJ's Statute, which determines the sources of law that the Court implements in settling the disputes before it, including international conventions and judicial decisions in this regard. My country attaches particular importance to the role of the ICJ in the Palestinian question. The advisory opinions of the ICJ contributed to clarifying the legal consequences of Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territory and to reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The advisory opinion issued on the 9th of July, 2004, is especially important. It's about the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the occupied Palestinian territory. The ICJ concluded that the construction of the wall and the related system run counter to international law. The ICJ, in paragraph 159 of its advisory opinion, reaffirmed the commitment of all countries to not recognize the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall and not to provide any assistance or aid to preserve this wall. This conclusion shows that respecting international law is not limited to the parties of the conflict. It results in wider obligations on parties concerned. Advisory opinions are particularly important. especially the advisory opinion issued on the 19th of July 2024 on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, which reaffirmed the illegality of the ongoing Israeli presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. Therefore, the State of Kuwait welcomes the advisory opinion issued on the 22nd of October 2025 regarding the obligations of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations in relation to the occupied Palestinian territory. It covers the obligations of Israel pursuant to international humanitarian law, including meeting the basic needs of residents, facilitating humanitarian relief plans, and cooperating with the UN and its agencies, particularly with UNRWA. The State of Kuwait renews constant position that supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, notably the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, pursuant to the resolutions of international legitimacy. President, The force of international law is not measured by the rules alone, but by our commitment to these rules. The credibility of the international order requires respecting the provisions and the judgments of the International Court and their advisory opinions. and to respect international obligations and to implement the rules of international law without selectivity or double standards. In conclusion, the State of Kuwait renews its support to the ICJ and reaffirms the importance of its role in interpreting and implementing international law and in settling disputes between countries peacefully. My country will continue to support the efforts to strengthen the ICJ to guarantee the respect of its judgments and opinions, because we believe that respecting international law is a main pillar for a more fair and stable international order. I thank you, President.


GA · Vice-President [2:45:11]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Philippines.


Philippines [2:45:27]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The Philippines thanks ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa for presenting the Annual Report of the ICJ and expresses its appreciation to the judges and staff of the Court. The Annual Report illustrates the continuing relevance and growing complexity of the Court’s judicial functions. The participation of 88 States in the proceedings during the reporting period and the 24 contentious cases pending at its conclusion attest to sustained recourse to international adjudication. We welcome the amendment of Article 78 of the Rules of Court, facilitating public access to reports concerning compliance with provisional measures. The Court’s advisory jurisdiction has likewise assumed increasing significance. We particularly welcome its 2025 advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change. For the Philippines, an archipelagic and a middle-income developing country acutely vulnerable to climate impacts, the opinion provides authoritative clarification of obligations, including concerning environmental protection, due diligence, international cooperation, and state responsibility. Although advisory opinions are not binding in the same manner as judgments, their legal reasoning can guide state conduct and inform international cooperation. Mr. President, the forthcoming election of five judges offers Member States an important occasion to reflect on Articles 2 and 9 of the Statute of the Court, which emphasize judicial qualifications and the representation of the principal legal systems of the world. The Court's authority rests upon the independence, impartiality, and professional distinction of its members, together with the diversity of legal traditions informing its deliberations. The universality of the Court must be reflected in the meaningful participation of different legal traditions and perspectives in the interpretation and development of international law. Developing countries must have meaningful opportunities to participate in international litigation, research, and scholarship. We therefore welcome initiatives to broaden access to the Court’s Judicial Fellowship Programme, including through the trust fund established by General Assembly resolution 75/129. Mr. President, The Philippines recalls the enduring relevance of the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes. The declaration affirms that peaceful settlement is not merely an instrument of diplomatic prudence, but a legal obligation grounded in the UN Charter. Our experience with international adjudication reinforces our conviction that judicial settlement offers a principled alternative to coercion and unilateral action. We encourage wider acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction, greater recourse to judicial settlement, and adequate resources for the effective discharge of its responsibilities. Mr. President, the Court's first 80 years have demonstrated both the possibilities and the limits of international adjudication. A court cannot eliminate political disagreement. nor can a judgment alone secure the conditions of peace. Its distinctive contribution lies in affirming that sovereign power is subject to legal obligations. The establishment of the International Court of Justice gave expression to the determination of the peoples of the United Nations, enshrined in the Charter's preamble, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for international legal obligations can be maintained. Mr. President, this aspiration remains unfulfilled. Its realization depends not only upon the Court's jurisprudence, but upon the willingness of states to respect judicial independence and give effect to their international obligations. For international justice rests not upon the assumption that states are equal in power, but upon the more demanding proposition they are equal before the law. As the Court enters its ninth decade, the Philippines reaffirms its support for its independence, integrity, and authority, and for the enduring promise of the international legal order: that differences in power need not determine the rights of nations, and that the exercise of power must itself remain answerable to international law. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [2:50:36]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Philippines, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jordan.


Jordan [2:51:01]:

Jordan to His Excellency Judge Yuji Iwasawa, President. the International Court of Justice for presenting the Court's annual report and commends the members of the Court and its Registry for their steadfast dedication to the advancement of international justice and the rule of law. We extend this appreciation to the Secretary-General on his report. The International Court of Justice, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, continues to embody the spirit of the Charter and remains a cornerstone of the peaceful settlement of disputes among states. Through its judicial and advisory functions, and for over 80 years this year, the Court has been strengthening the foundations of a rules-based multilateral order grounded in law, equity, and respect for sovereignty. With overwhelming trust and confidence, Jordan believes that compliance with the Court’s findings, therefore, is not optional. Adherence to the Court’s judgments, opinions, or measures underpins the universality of justice and strengthens the credibility of the multilateral system. There is no room for selectivity in this regard. Jordan attaches the highest importance to the work of the Court and welcomes its growing and diverse docket, which reflects the trust that Member States place in its impartiality and independence. We also commend the Court’s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in carrying out its vital mandate, as well as its examination of its methods of work and eyeing the positive advancement in technology as a useful way to usher in even more prominence to its work. Mr. President, Jordan would like to suggest the following: One, the membership of this august body need to provide the Court with adequate financial and administrative resources to meet the demands of its expanding workload. The ICJ's capacity to deliver timely and authoritative judgments and opinions depends on sustained support from Member States. Two, investment in the Court is an investment in peace, security, stability, and the rule of international law. Should addressing differences fail, the Court remains the best resort to resolve them peacefully. Three, Assuring to elect to the Court judges representing the main forms of civilization and the principal legal systems of the world, as required by Article 9 of its Statute, is a requirement that guarantees the Court international legal authority and the presence of invaluable capabilities when discharging its mandate. Fourth. And in this regard, Jordan is proud to support the candidacy of Judge Mahmoud Ahmad for re-election to the ICJ for the term 27-36, a distinguished legal scholar and former diplomat whose expertise, integrity, and dedication to the rule of law, whether as a judge in the court since 2025, and the legal counsel appearing before it for more than two decades, or as chair of the International Law Commission in 21 and member and a member of the ILC for 15 years, or as a well-known ambassador and diplomat, make him an exceptional candidate for this role. In conclusion, Mr. President, Jordan reaffirms its steadfast support for the International Court of Justice, its independence, its central role in upholding law over force, and looks forward to maintain its close cooperation with the Court in the respect and implementation of international law. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:54:54]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Jordan. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia.


Tunisia [2:55:24]:

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, we would like to thank Judge Yuji Iwasawa, President of the International Court of Justice, for presenting the Court’s report. We also reaffirm Tunisia’s support for the pivotal role played by the Court in the interpretation, development, and promotion of respect for the rules of international law. We align ourselves with the statements delivered by the Arab Group and the Non-Aligned Movement, and wish to make the following remarks in our national capacity: Restoring confidence in multilateralism requires genuine resolve and a responsible commitment by all States to respect international law founded on the principles of sovereign equality of States and upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the prohibition of the use of force, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the fulfilment of international obligations in good faith. In this regard, the International Court of Justice plays a central role in the maintenance of international peace and security and in supporting efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of disputes. The notable increase in the number of cases brought before the Court by Member States, as well as in the number of requests for advisory opinions submitted by United Nations organs, reflects the international community's confidence in the Court and its recognition of the important role it plays in advancing the peaceful settlement of disputes. Mr. President, the Court's advisory opinions carry significant legal weight and moral authority. They contribute to clarifying the rules of international law and guiding the practice of states and international organizations toward greater compliance with international legality. In this context, Tunisia welcomes the advisory opinion issued by the Court on 23 July 2025 concerning the obligations of States in respect of climate change. This opinion has contributed to clarifying the legal obligations of States in this area. It represents an important step towards strengthening climate justice, international cooperation and solidarity in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of States. Tunisia also reiterates its welcoming for the advisory opinion issued on 19 July 2024, which concluded that the continued presence of the occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal, as well as the advisory opinion issued on 22 October 2025 concerning the obligations of the occupying power in relation to the presence and activities of the UN and other international organizations. Mr. President, Tunisia calls for the strengthening of the Court's resources in order to enable it to discharge its judicial and advisory functions in the most effective manner and to enhance its capacity to respond to the responsibilities entrusted to it. Tunisia also welcomes the efforts undertaken within the framework of the Trust Fund established to assist States in the settlement of disputes through the International Court of Justice. In conclusion, My country reaffirms that the achievement of a just and lasting peace remains contingent upon adherence to the rule of law, fulfilment of international obligations, and ensuring accountability for violations of the international law. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [2:58:59]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Tunisia. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.


Slovenia [2:59:34]:

Mr. President, the Slovenian delegation welcomes the opportunity to comment on the annual report of the International Court of Justice. Slovenia aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the EU and its member states and wishes to add a few remarks in its national capacity. At the outset, Slovenia would like to thank President Iva Sava for presenting the report and to commend the members of the Court and the Registry for their dedicated work. We congratulate Judge Phoebe Okowa on her election to the Court and Mr. Santiago Villalpando on his election as Registrar. We would also like to thank his predecessor, Mr. Philippe Gaultier, for his years of distinguished service to the Court. Mr. President, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Court’s inaugural sitting. During the period under review, the Court continued to engage with national judiciaries, diplomats, academics, and students. thereby promoting a better understanding of its work, procedures, and jurisprudence. We were pleased to note that these activities included a guided tour for representatives of the Supreme Court of Slovenia.

We also.

Welcome the Court's Judicial Fellowship Program, and in particular, its trust fund, which enables young lawyers from developing countries to gain professional experience by working for the Court. Mr. President, many of the cases before the Court concern matters of profound sensitivity to the States involved. Their submission to the Court reflects the confidence placed in its impartiality and integrity. Slovenia continues to follow closely the case concerning allegations of genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, brought in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. As an intervening state, Slovenia underscores the importance of interpreting and applying the Convention in good faith, in the light of its object and purpose. the Convention cannot be invoked as a pretext for the use of force against another State. Mr. President, eight years on, the idea of peace through justice continues to guide the work of the Court. Slovenia shares this ideal and remains firmly committed to an international order founded on international law.

With the UN Charter at its core.

I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [3:02:33]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Slovenia, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan.


Azerbaijan [3:02:54]:

Mr. President, at the outset, I would like to thank the President of the International Court of Justice for presenting the report of the Court. This meeting takes place in the year marking the 80th anniversary of the inaugural sitting of the International Court of Justice. Eighty years later, at a time when the international community faces increasingly complex challenges to the foundations of the international legal order, including the apparent disregard for international obligations, misinterpretations of international law, and impunity for non-compliance, the Court's contribution to upholding the rule of law assumes heightened importance. Mr. President, the Charter of the United Nations places the peaceful settlement of international disputes at the heart of the international legal order. Its relevant provisions establish fundamental duties of States in this regard. Their effective implementation is grounded in respect for the sovereignty and equality of States, the prohibition of the threat or use of force contrary to the Charter, recourse to peaceful means in resolving disputes, and the fulfilment of international obligations in good faith. The International Court of Justice, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has a central role in this regard. The increasing resort to the Court through both contentious and advisory proceedings demonstrates the continued relevance of judicial settlement and the confidence placed by States in the international judicial process. At the same time, the submission of a dispute to the ICJ cannot substitute for the fulfilment of States' underlying obligations under international law. particularly those relating to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the fight against impunity for serious violations. Nor should judicial mechanisms be instrumentalized to pursue objectives unrelated to the proper administration of justice. Cases brought before the ICJ should be confined to legal questions and grounded in relevant facts and applicable law. Manipulation of facts, distortion of proceedings, or misrepresentation of judicial decisions can undermine public confidence in international justice and deepen polarization. For judicial settlement to contribute effectively to resolving disputes, It should remain firmly anchored in international law, particularly where peremptory norms are concerned, serve to prevent the recurrence of disputes, and not be misused to advance political objectives. Judicial proceedings should not be reduced to instruments of political contestation. nor should their findings be selectively invoked or misrepresented for purposes of propaganda or disinformation, or to deflect attention from responsibility for serious violations of international law, whether or not such violations fall within the Court’s jurisdiction. Parties appearing before judicial bodies must likewise exercise greater care to ensure that their conduct and rhetoric remain consistent with the broader obligations under international law and with the objectives of negotiated settlement, reconciliation, and sustainable peace. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the peaceful settlement of international disputes and to ensuring that this principle is properly understood and applied in good faith and in accordance with international law. We will continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening the rule of law, preventing conflicts, promoting justice and accountability, and building sustainable peace. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [3:07:29]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus.


Cyprus [3:07:50]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Cyprus aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and its member states and offers the following remarks in its national capacity. We thank the President of the Court for the annual report covering August 2025 to July 2026, and the members of the Court and Registry for their commitment to international justice. On the 80th anniversary of the Court's inaugural sitting, we reaffirm our support for the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its independence, authority, and contribution to peaceful dispute settlement remain essential to the international legal order. The report records the involvement of 88 States in proceedings and 24 contentious cases pending at the period's close. This workload requires adequate financial and human resources. We acknowledge efforts to improve working methods, including through new technologies, and reaffirm the importance of gender balance and equitable geographical representation. Mr. President, full and effective compliance with the Court’s judgments and orders indicating provisional measures is indispensable. Under Article 94 of the Charter, States must comply with the Court’s decisions in cases to which they are parties. Orders indicating provisional measures are also binding and must be implemented in good faith. International law must be applied consistently, without selectivity or double standards. Respect for the Court's decisions safeguards the rights of states irrespective of their size or power and strengthens confidence in international justice. We note the amendment to Article 78 of the Rules of Court effective from 2 February 2026. It provides for public access to reports, or parts thereof, on compliance with provisional measures after ascertaining their parties' views, unless the Court decides otherwise following an objection. Cyprus reaffirms its commitment to peaceful settlement under Articles 2, 3, and 33 of the Charter. We have accepted the Court's compulsory jurisdiction since 1988 and encourage states that have not done so to consider accepting it. We note Iceland’s declaration, bringing the number of such states to 75. Mr. President, force can never create right. Fifty-two years after Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of more than a third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, our experience reinforces our commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and human rights. The passage of time does not diminish these principles or the importance of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Mr. President, Cyprus attaches particular importance to the Court’s advisory function under Article 96 of the Charter. Although generally non-binding, advisory opinions provide authoritative guidance on international law and assist the United Nations in fulfilling its responsibilities. Clarification of the applicable law can help States address long-standing questions and create conditions for constructive dialogue and negotiated solutions. We value this practical contribution to resolving outstanding issues in accordance with international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also reiterate our appreciation for the advisory opinion of July 23, 2025, on climate change. For island and coastal states, its clarification that UNCLOS imposes no obligation to update charts on or geographical coordinates showing duly established baselines and outer limits of maritime zones in response to sea level rise remains particularly important. Mr. President, Cyprus, in conclusion, reaffirms its steadfast support for the Court and its confidence in the expertise, independence, and integrity of its judges. Our commitment must find expression in peaceful dispute settlement and respect for the Court's decision. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [3:11:55]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus. We have heard the last speaker in this debate on this item for the meeting. We shall hear the remaining speakers at a later date to be announced. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration Of the agenda item 72, the meeting is adjourned. Have a good weekend.


Speaker 72 [3:12:20]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.