13th Meeting - 63rd Session of Human Rights Council Human Rights Council Date: 16 September 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/zh/hrc/63/13?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. --- HRC · Vice-President [0:01]: Excellencies, distinguished participants, I call to order the 13th meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. We shall now hold interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and Guarantees of non-repetition. I'd like to welcome the new mandate holder, Mr. Bernard Duhaime. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I give the floor now to Mr. Duhaime to present the reports. Go ahead. HRC · Special Rapporteur · Bernard Duhaime [0:53]: Muchas gracias. Senor Presidente, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. It's an honor to be here. I'm very grateful. Since my last interaction with the Human Rights Council in September 2025, I've had the privilege of meeting representatives of many member states, as well as civil society organizations, UN representatives, and other stakeholders, including from the digital sector. I would like to thank you all for your constructive engagement with my mandate. Regrettably, I was unable to undertake my country visit to Nepal on the initially scheduled dates of March and June 2026. I wish to express my sincere solidarity with the people of Nepal following the devastating disaster that has recently affected the country. And I fully appreciate the considerable challenges currently facing the authorities. In this difficult context, I would like to acknowledge and express my appreciation for the continued support of the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva to make this visit a reality, and I reiterate my commitment to undertaking this important visit in November of 2026. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the peace agreements this year, my visit would be a unique opportunity to supporting the transitional justice agenda in advancing the rights of Nepalese victims who have been waiting justice for far too long. I would also like to express my thanks to the governments of Guatemala, Hungary and Timor-Leste for extending an invitation to my mandate just a few weeks after I sent them visit requests. I look forward to honouring these invitations at the earliest opportunity and I also express my gratitude to the government of the Marshall Islands for the support extended in facilitating my recent travel to the country. Let me now turn to my newest thematic report, which addresses this year the issue of denialism, negationism, and revisionism of serious human rights violations and humanitarian law in transitional justice contexts. In recent months, a wave of denialism statements of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations by state officials politicians, and other state actors have spread across various regions. Denialism is increasingly used to undermine transitional justice, propagate divisive narratives, and erode democratic institution and civic space. In the context of so-called post-truth populism, denialism reflects a troubling shift away from the truth as the foundation of accountability and evidence-based decision making, replacing it with emotionally charged narratives, identity affirmation, and political and social polarization. Let me be clear from the outset. Denialism does not refer to the legitimate efforts to reexamine the past through new evidence, archives, or previously unheard testimonies. Grounded in international standards related to transitional justice It refers to situations where individuals violate the inalienable rights of victims, their families and society to accurate, comprehensive and publicly accessible accounts of serious violations established through independent and impartial transitional justice processes. Mr. President, let me highlight the four main messages of the report. First, Denialism affects all five pillars of transitional justice, namely truth, justice, reparation, memorialization, and guarantees of non-recurrence. However, it is not just a distortion or omission. It is an active effort to replace established accounts of past violations with new narratives that serve narrow political or ideological interests. Second. Denialism of past events is often accompanied by the silencing of dissenting voices and the suppression of pluralistic debate. As such, it directly undermines core pillars of transitional justice, interfering with the victims' right to justice and reparations, limiting society's ability to understand the causes and consequences of violence, and weakening prospects for reconciliation and non-recurrence. Third, denialism is amplified by recent technological, cultural, social, and political developments, including the rise of social media, digital technologies, artificial intelligence systems, and the promotion and monetization of conspiracy theories. Fourth, state responses to denialism, particularly through the adoption of memory laws or security laws, have in too many cases themselves become tools of restriction and denial. While states have a duty to prohibit advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence, any such measures must strictly comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination. Combating denialism must never serve as a pretext for censorship or repression. Addressing denialism in a human rights-compliant manner is complex. It requires sustained political will. understood as a long-term and intergenerational commitment, supported by active public oversight and engagement. Excellencies, Mr. President, in this context, I would like to highlight four key considerations. First, international human rights law requires states to actively promote accurate accounts of the past violations by ensuring maximum transparency, disclosure, and accountability. Information concerning international crimes must never be subject to secrecy, classification or other access restrictions that do not comply with international human rights law standards. And indeed, any restriction must be exceptional, strictly justified and fully consistent with international human rights law. Second, states must recognize that freedom of expression, cultural rights, education and access to knowledge are the most effective tools to counter denialism. Rather than restrictive legislation, states should invest in an inclusive, evidence-based education, critical thinking, digital literacy and robust memorialization processes. Transitional justice mechanisms must address all forms of violations, including gender-based violence and abuses against marginalized groups, to avoid gaps that denialism can exploit. Third, states must decisively address denialism by state actors. Officials who deny violations, glorify perpetrators, undermine official acknowledgments or apologies, or revictimize victims must be held accountable, including through investigation and prosecutions where appropriate. Fourth, technology companies have a critical role to play. In line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, they must ensure heightened diligence to avoid contributing to denialism, disinformation, and hate speech. This includes improving transparency, addressing business models that incentivize denialist contents, and strengthening cooperation with civil society. Ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, Mr. President, let me conclude with one clear message: there can be no regression or reversal. The denial of extermination policies, genocides, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as well as the glorification of those responsible must be unequivocally rejected and actively countered by all states, both domestically and internationally. I urge all states to always remain alert about those politicians and corporate actors who seek to weaponize freedom of expression and manipulate history for political or other ideological ends, incite to violence, and silence those who raise dissenting voices. We live at a dangerous time where ideologues and warmongers seek to fuel polarization, hatred, and chaos for their own political gains. It is high time to remind them of our collective commitments to human rights, accountability, and the rule of law. Far from being abstract principles, they are indispensable tools for preventing violence, addressing grievances, and building inclusive and peaceful societies. These values must serve as our guide rather than become their first casualty. I look forward to our constructive dialogue and trust that this report will contribute to strengthening the Council's work on human rights and transitional justice context. Thank you, Mr. President. HRC · Vice-President [10:19]: Thank you very much. list of speakers is now closed. I now invite interested delegations to ask questions to the Special Rapporteur, make comments on the report. Speaking time is one minute and 30 seconds for all. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia on behalf of a group of countries. Estonia · Nordic Baltic states [10:56]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic Baltic states. Organized denial of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law has long been feature of repressive regimes. We share the concern about the various forms of denialism promoted by state officials, politicians and others, including the glorification of past violations, the manipulation of memory and laws, and technology-driven disinformation. Contemporary forms of denialism, augmented by the rise of social media, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, constitute a significant threat to integrity. effectiveness and sustainability of transitional justice processes. We agree that transparency and disclosure regarding gross human rights violations, together with access to knowledge and education, including on digital and information literacy and critical thinking, constitute the most effective tools for countering denialism. We believe that past crimes must be adequately addressed in order to build democratic, inclusive and peaceful societies, grounded in truth, justice, reparations, memory and guarantees of non-recurrence. Special Rapporteur, what measures could encourage States to fulfill their obligation to disclose information and truth about past violations of international human rights or humanitarian law? HRC · Vice-President [12:24]: I thank you. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union. EU [12:34]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The European Union thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. Indeed, distortion or denial of facts concerning serious human rights violations, including through revisionism, undermines victims' rights, weakens democratic institutions, and threatens guarantees of non-recurrence. The European Union is founded on indivisible, universal values and the principles of democracy and the rule of law as a basis for peace, on the conviction that ending the division of Europe and building a common future while preserving memory are of historic importance. Across Europe, continued efforts contribute to preserving accurate accounts of the Holocaust, genocides, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other grave human rights violations. We must all pursue in the defense of international human rights law through a victim-centered approach and through a combination of remembrance policies, support for civil society and human rights defenders, media literacy initiatives, and regulatory frameworks. Measures to counter denialism must respect freedom of expression and comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination. Accountability, access to information and evidence-based education are essential tools to counter denialism, hate speech, incitement to violence or online disinformation. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what additional measures can ensure that emergent technologies, including artificial intelligence systems, address the reported growing risks while strengthening the preservation of historical truth and the rights of victims? HRC · Vice-President [14:03]: I thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. I give the floor to Distinguished Representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of a group of countries. Sierra Leone · Friends of R2P [14:15]: Mr. Vice-President, I have the honour to deliver the statement on behalf of a group of friends of R2P. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report. This year marks two decades since the establishment of the HRC. It has become an important part of the efforts to prevent atrocious crimes and a vital contributor to accountability for the communities most affected by them. Together, the Council's mechanisms, including special procedures, the UPR, and independent investigative mechanisms, form a continuum to document violations, preserve evidence, and lay the groundwork for justice at national and international levels. The Special Rapporteur's mandate has played a particularly vital role in how we understand accountability, not as a single moment, but as a continuous process encompassing truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. Where cycles of impunity endure, so too does the risk of renewed atrocities. As we mark this anniversary, we recall the commitment undertaken at the 2005 World Summit to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, and recognize that truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence can contribute significantly to the fulfilment of this commitment. Special rapporteur, as the Council marks 20 years, how can it better place guarantees of non-occurrence at the heart of its efforts to prevent and investigate crimes? HRC · Vice-President [15:50]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the Group of African States. Kenya · Africa Group [15:59]: Mr Vice-President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the African Group. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report on denialism, negationism, revisionism of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law. The African group stresses that denialism is not a mere distortion of the past. It undermines accountability, erodes trust in institutions, marginalizes victims, and creates conditions for renewed violence. We therefore welcome the report's emphasis on protecting the integrity of the established facts and preserving the five pillars of transitional justice. For Africa, transitional justice must remain victim-centered, inclusive, nationally owned, and responsive to historical and structural inequalities. which should strengthen social cohesion and sustainable peace. We therefore underscore the importance of preserving archives, documenting victims' experiences, ensuring meaningful participation, and integrating accurate accounts of past violations into education and memorialization. We are particularly concerned by the growing use of digital technologies, social media and artificial intelligence to amplify disinformation and distort established historical records. At the same time, measures taken to address denialism must respect freedom of expression and other fundamental rights. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what practical measures can states, particularly those undertaking nationally owned transitional justice processes, adopted to prevent denialism and historical revisionism, while safeguarding civic space, freedom of expression, and the rights and dignity of victims. HRC · Vice-President [17:30]: I thank you. Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. Republic of Korea [17:38]: Thank you, Mr. President. The Republic of Korea deeply echoes the report's core message on the critical need to counter denialism, negationism, and revisionism in the transitional justice processes. Leaving the denial and distortion of past human rights violations untackled inflicts profound secondary trauma upon survivors and indeed threatens the very bedrock of justice. In line with the Special Rapporteur's recommendation, Korean government continued to strengthen its institutional framework to establish the historical truths. Notably, the Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea actively pursues investigation into past human rights violations, sharing its findings widely to ensure that future generations learn from history and in that way prevent any recurrence. Moreover, Korea is firmly committed to restoring honor and dignity of the comfort women victims, bearing in mind the historical lessons learned from their experiences. One of many ways to do this is to counter, under the Comfort Women Victim Act, hate speech and false information targeted at the victims. Mr. President, I wish to emphasize that the Republic of Korea remains wholeheartedly committed to upholding human rights, which are our guiding light, including truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence. And I take this opportunity to convey Korea's continued full support for the very relevant and valuable work of Mr. Special Rapporteur. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [19:09]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine. Ukraine [19:18]: Mr. President, denialism and revisionism are not merely attempts to distort the past. They can be used to justify ongoing violations and prepare the ground for new crimes. For Ukraine, this is not new. Holodomor, the man-made famine, Soviet repressions, deportations. Today, the same pattern continues. Russia's genocidal war against Ukraine is accompanied by a systematic campaign of historical falsification and denial of the Ukrainian nation, its identity, and its right to exist. Russian authorities deny well-documented atrocities and seek to erase responsibility through propaganda and disinformation. Meanwhile, Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer from daily missile and drone attacks, killings, torture, unlawful detention, deportation, and the forcible transfer and indoctrination of children in the temporary occupied territory of Ukraine. Truth and accountability are therefore essential, not only for justice, but also for preventing recurrence recurrence, independent investigations, preservation of evidence, support for victims and survivors, and accountability for all perpetrators, including for the crime of aggression, must remain at the center of the international response. Mr. Special Rapporteur, how can the international community respond more effectively when denialism and historical revisionism are used by a state to conceal past crimes and justify their repetitions? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [20:44]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco. Morocco [20:54]: Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and attention paid to how denial and disinformation can endanger truth, victims' memory and guarantees of non-recurrence. Morocco's experience of transitional justice through the equity and reconciliation body shows that preserving memory is a key dimension for reconciliation, and it is based on seeking the truth. reparation, historical research, and transmitting this to future generations. In this context, we've developed an approach based on preserving archives, history, and memory through different awareness-raising activities, the digitalization of documents, and opening these resources up to researchers and the public. We confirmed this approach during the commemoration in January 2024 of the 20th anniversary of the Equity and Reconciliation Body. and then an international conference on transitional justice pathways organized by the two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament and the National Human Rights Council in December 2024. We also recall the importance of the Rabat Action Plan on a prohibition of incitement to hatred. My delegation would like to ask how states can strengthen policies for memorialization and education to keep the collective memory based on reliable sources whilst encouraging reconciliation and non-recurrence. Thank you, Vice-President. HRC · Vice-President [22:15]: thank you very much I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Armenia Armenia [22:23]: Mr Vice President Armenia thanks the special rapporteur for his report on denialism negationism and revisionism of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law Armenia values its long-standing cooperation with the mandate including the country visit undertaken in 2023 we attach particular importance to open and substantive engagement with special procedures, including through country visits as a means of enabling independent assessment and constructive dialogue. The resolution of prevention of genocide that Armenia tables in Human Rights Council specifically highlights importance of preserving historic memory without distortion through the conservation of archives, oral histories, and other means. The Global Forum on the Crime of Genocide held biannually in Yerevan fosters inclusive discussions on various aspects of prevention, including memorializations, the role of education, culture, and museums. We note with concern the growing use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to amplify disinformation and distort historical narratives. Generative technologies add a new dimension to this challenge, as increasingly sophisticated fabricated content can spread rapidly and make reliable information more difficult to identify. Addressing these challenges requires sustained international cooperation that protects the right to truth, strengthens accountability, and places prevention at its core. Armenia remains committed to contributing constructively to these efforts. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [23:53]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal. Nepal [24:00]: Mr Vice-President, Nepal thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and his kind words of solidarity and support to Nepal as we navigate through the calamities caused by the devastating flash flood recently. Nepal has successfully concluded a homegrown peace process through a nationally led and victim-centric approach. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord in 2006, a milestone moment for us to reflect on the progress achieved, recommit to completing the last mile works, and promote enduring peace and national unity in the country. We stand ready to share our experience with the countries emerging from conflict should they find it useful as a reference. We acknowledge that the country visit of the Special Rapporteur could not be materialized due to various unforeseen circumstances. However, we look forward to welcoming him to Nepal in near future. In closing, we'd like to hear from the Special Rapporteur on how nationally led peace process can effectively contribute to the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantee non-recurrence. We wish Mr. Special Rapporteur every success in his mandate. I thank you, Mr. Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [25:28]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan [25:37]: Mr. President, as highlighted in the report, denialism can undermine the foundations of transitional justice and perpetuate cycles of violence. We agree that the truth must be grounded in facts, credible evidence, and the experiences of victims. In this regard, transitional justice should be impartial, comprehensive, and inclusive, particularly when addressing the legacy of conflict and violence. The suffering of all victims should be duly acknowledged, without distinction or selective treatment. This requires an objective examination of violations and their consequences, including human rights and humanitarian law violations, displacement, destruction, and other harms. We attach particular importance to missing persons. In Azerbaijan, thousands of families continue to await the truth about the fate and the whereabouts of their loved ones. Establishing their fate is both a humanitarian imperative and an essential element of the right to truth. The truth can't be separated from accountability. Lack of accountability and impunity for perpetrators of serious crimes defy international law and constitute a direct obstacle to lasting peace and genuine reconciliation. The nexus between peace and justice is therefore clear. We would be interested to hear the Special Rapporteur's views on how States can effectively realize the right to truth for families of missing persons, while ensuring accountability for serious violations. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [27:02]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ireland. Ireland [27:09]: Thank you, Vice-President. Ireland aligns itself with the statement of the EU and thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. We are concerned about the Special Rapporteur's findings of the expansive and complex challenges presented by contemporary manifestations of denialism. We recognize the impact that denialist narratives can have on victims and survivors, accountability processes, reconciliation efforts, and guarantees of non-recurrence. Ireland aligns with the Special Rapporteur's findings, highlighting the importance of transitional justice processes that are inclusive, intersectional, and responsive to structural inequalities and able to counter the systematic exclusion faced by marginalised groups. Ireland expresses its support for this mandate. Our history has taught us the need for transitional justice processes that promote truth, justice, healing and reconciliation. In this context, Ireland has consistently shared concerns regarding the UK's 2023 legacy legislation, particularly provisions which restrict existing investigative and judicial pathways and risk undermining victims' access to truth and justice. We welcome the UK Government's commitment to bringing forward new legacy legislation in line with the joint framework on legacy agreed in September 2025, compatible with international human rights standards and providing critical assurances for victims and survivors. Special Rapporteur, Your report highlights the important role of educational initiatives in countering denialist and revisionist narratives. In your view, how can states most effectively support victim-centered truth and memory initiatives, particularly in increasingly polarized information environments? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [28:41]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru. Peru [28:49]: Thank you, Vice President. For the Peruvian government, historic memory strengthens democracy, social cohesion and prevents repetition of violence. Between 1980 and 2000, terrorist organisations committed crimes against rural populations, indigenous people and local authorities, undermining their rights and undermining the security in their communities. Peru condemns those acts and rejects all negotiations which seeks to ignore them, justify or minimise the suffering caused to thousands of families. We agree with the rapporteur that countries must preserve and transmit to new generations rigorous memory of the acts of history and recognize the victims. Peru reaffirms its support to the mandate and your efforts towards truth, justice, and guarantees of non-recurrence. As a friend of special procedures, we value respectful dialogue. Under that spirit, we trust that your reports under the mandate will provide information in a balanced fashion, particularly when Peru responds, providing elements of institutional context. Peru is a constitutional democracy. Its institutions are independent and adopt legislative judicial decisions pursuant to established procedures within the rule of law and are under our international obligations. The Peru government reaffirms its willingness to bring Peruvians together through understanding, memory and national coexistence. HRC · Vice-President [30:10]: Thank you. Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda. Rwanda [30:18]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Rwanda commends the Special Rapporteur for his attention to the challenge posed by denialism, negationism, and revisionism. Drawing from its experience of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has established a legal framework to address genocide ideology and denial as part of its commitment to prevention and the guarantee of non-recurrence. Rwanda understands that genocide denial is not merely a distortion of history. It undermines established truth, revictimizes survivors, and can contribute to conditions conducive to renewed hatred and violence. Rwanda rejects suggestions that its measures to combat genocide ideology and denial also interfere with fundamental freedoms. Our legal framework has continued to evolve, reflecting Rwanda's commitment to both the prevention of genocide and the protection of fundamental rights and freedom. In this regard, Rwanda remains concerned in the region with the persistence of genocide ideology and hate speech in the region, which underscore the continued importance of vigilance and prevention and accountability. We encourage strengthening national and international efforts to address these challenges, including through education, accountability, and greater engagement with the digital platform, while upholding applicable international human rights and standards. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [31:34]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the University for Peace. UPEACE [31:43]: Mr. Vice President, on behalf of the University for Peace, we welcome your timely report addressing denialism, negationism, and revisionism in transitional justice processes. Sustainable peace cannot be built without truth. Memorialization serves as a vital form of moral reparation and an integral component of the right to truth. preserves collective memory, restores dignity, and actively prevents the recurrence of gross human rights violations. Effective memorialization must remain victim-centered and participatory. Only through that can we ensure that families play a decisive role while never replacing the state's primary duty to investigate and prosecute perpetrators. We are deeply concerned by regressive policies that erode accountability. This includes legislative amnesties, statues of limitations for gross violations, and funding cuts to memorialization processes and specialized investigative bodies. Measures like these severely damage public trust and heighten the risk of recurring abuses. Furthermore, civil society actors, lawyers, and families seeking truth continue to face unacceptable harassment, intimidation, and reprisals. We urge all states to halt regressive accountability measures. Archives must be safeguarded, and environments where victims and human rights defenders can safely pursue truth and redress must be guaranteed. Education, memorialization, and institutional reform must remain at the core of non-recurrence strategies. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [33:12]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia. Indonesia [33:19]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Indonesia takes note of the Special Rapporteur's report. We concur that denial approach harms victims, obstructs justice, and enables recurrence. Yet the pursuit of truth and justice must also be anchored in verified evidence, rigorous analysis, and due process. Therefore, we urge caution of oversimplification in assessing a nation's history, putting on a fragmented lens over a slice of nation's complex history. Indonesia stands firm in its commitment to the right of truth. The report's reference to Indonesia has been addressed in our response to the joint communication. Mr. Vice President, denial becomes most stark not in the absence of findings, but in their outright rejection. The atrocity in Gaza is one such case, where violations are documented, evidence and reporting exist, and international proceedings are underway. Yet the states responsible continue to deny them, while brutality is happening in real time. More troubling still, the denialist narratives are now being taught in their own schools, shaping history into propaganda that fuels discrimination and entrenched generational hatred. Mr. Special Rapporteur, how would you advise the international community to concretely address this persistent denial on this atrocity? HRC · Vice-President [34:36]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Marshall Islands. Marshall Islands [34:46]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The Marshall Islands thanks the Special Rapporteur for his visit, for his report. We are also grateful for his visit in August and for his engagement with the National Nuclear Commission and the people of the Marshall Islands. Both speak to a reality that continues to shape everyday life for our people. No one today denies that. Between 1946 and 1958, 67 nuclear tests were conducted on our atolls. But the report identifies a form of denial that does not deny the fact at all. It accepts the suffering while denying what the suffering implies. This is precisely the Marshall Islands' experience. The settlement reached decades ago continue to be treated as a final and as a form of assistance, rather than as an acknowledgement of legal responsibility or human rights harm. And while an apology was extended to US citizens subjected to radiation experimentation, no apology, none, has yet been extended to the Marshallese people. Therefore, the Marshall Islands has taken upon itself to pursue the path to a truth through our nuclear testing strategy and the preservation of our nuclear claims tribunals for court and remains committed throughout this 63rd session. We call on the international community to fully recognize what our people have lived through and continue to live, not merely to address it. This is what transitional justice mean to the Marshall Islands, and I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [36:14]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey. Türkiye [36:21]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Truth stands first in the very title of this mandate. That is where it must stand in its work. Any effort under this agenda must hold itself to the highest standards of rigour. Truth is not served by convenience insourcing. When a report treats contested narratives as settled, it weakens its own credibility. Presenting the contested as established is, after all, a form of revisionism in its own right. Certain determinations belong to competent courts alone. Where courts have not spoken, prudence is respect for truth. On matters of law, we defer to courts. On matters of history, to historians. A report under this mandate should do the same. Matters of legitimate historical debate are settled through open discussion and open archives. Turkey's archives are open. We expect the necessary correction and greater due diligence in the future. HRC · Vice-President [37:16]: Thank you. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Afghanistan. Afghanistan [37:25]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. We thank the Special Rapporteur for his report. In Afghanistan, Taliban continue to deny grave violations they commit every day by manipulating religion, culture and language. This recasting of atrocities through language is a reminder that the struggle for truth is, in the first instance, a struggle over wording. The denial under the Taliban continues through replacing independent media with propaganda apparatus of their own, rejecting any narrative that departs from what the Taliban deemed to be true. Countering denialism and revisionism begin with preserving an authoritative record. That's why independent investigative mechanism of Afghanistan is crucial. On truth, it creates a record that is the precondition for any future truth-telling process. On justice, it's designed to prepare case-ready files prosecutors can use. On reparation, the record is a prerequisite for any future program. And on the guarantee of non-recurrence, ending impunity deters future violations. Afghanistan, therefore, calls for the mechanism to be operationalised and adequately resourced. Mr Special Rapporteur, where Taliban deny violation in real-time control domestic information, how can investigative mechanism best safeguard evidentiary record against destruction and digital manipulation? And I thank you, Mr Vice-President. HRC · Vice-President [38:54]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta, video statement. SMOM [39:03]: The Sovereign Order of Malta expresses its gratitude to the Special Rapporteur, Professor Bernard Duhaim, for his report. Denialism, negationism and revisionism represent serious threats to the application and implementation of international law and human rights. These practices undermine not only transitional justice processes, but above all the fundamental rights of victims of war crimes and grave human rights violations. They interfere with victims' rights to truth, to justice, to reparation, to history, and to guarantees of non-recurrence. With the consent of victims and survivors, restorative justice could also be a valuable tool in cases of human trafficking. The Sovereign Order of Malta supports the Special Rapporteur's reference to the Rabat Plan of Action, We should all bear in mind that most truth and reconciliation processes have been initiated and supported by local religious actors for the benefit of all victims, justice, truth, peace and reconciliation. The Sovereign Order of Malta stands ready to continue supporting, through advocacy and field assistance, the victims whose dignity is at the heart of this debate. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [40:26]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan. Sudan [40:36]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We take note of the report on the serious denial of violations of human rights recommendations. We agree with what comes in the report. on the importance of transitional justice, as well as to reinforcing transparency and legislations in this context in the Sudan. The rebel forces have attacked police stations and other infrastructure that host a number of important documents. They have also targeted those working in the humanitarian assistance and targeted individuals that document crimes. And we have seen perpetrators documenting their own violations and circulating videos on social media. They are called on to attack and even to rape. We reaffirm the gravity of disinformation and at a time when this Council held a special session to discuss Al-Fashir, one... HRC · Vice-President [42:10]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile. Chile [42:16]: Vice-President, Chile is grateful to the Special Rapporteur for submitting his report and be valiant, especially the emphasis placed on education as a tool to prevent negationism and strengthen guarantees of non-recurrence. Education can contribute meaningfully so that new generations can know and understand grave human rights violations that occurred in the past, while developing capacities to critically analyze information, compare sources, and recognize false or manipulated content. In that respect, Chile thinks it's important to promote education approaches based on trustworthy, verifiable information. that foster critical thought, access to diverse sources and knowledge of procedures through which acts were established. That approach can contribute to an informed understanding of the past, promoting at the same time respect for freedom of expression. In the current digital environment, Digital information is particularly relevant for people to be able to adequately analyze content in social networks and through new technologies. What best educational practice have you identified, rapporteur, to avoid negotiations and promote critical thought and bolster the capacity of new generations to distinguish between trustworthy information, legitimate interpretations and deliberately manipulated content? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [43:42]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia. Malaysia [43:48]: Mr. Vice-President. Mr. Vice President, Malaysia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment on efforts to establish the truth about serious human rights and humanitarian law violations, uphold the rights and dignity of victims, ensure accountability, and help prevent such violations from recurring. Denial of suffering does not make it disappear. In Gaza, we have seen credible evidence of famine, civilian deaths, and immense human suffering repeatedly dismissed as fabricated or manipulated. Even images of starving children have been labeled as staged or digitally altered. These narratives silence victims, undermine accountability, and risk erasing the evidence needed to establish the truth. Malaysia calls on states to uphold the truth and counter efforts to deny or distort serious violations. International organizations and the media. Too have a role to play in ensuring that such evidence is independently verified and presented responsibly. This is increasingly important as social media, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies make it harder to distinguish. Genuine evidence from manipulated content. We also call on the Special Rapporteur to work closely with other relevant mandates, including the Commission of Inquiry. and the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory. This is important to ensure coherence and complementarity in documenting violations, countering their denial or distortions, and above all. Advancing accountability for the victims. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [45:24]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire. Côte d’Ivoire [45:32]: Monsieur Le Vice-President. Godoy Foa subscribes to the statements made by the groups that it belongs to and welcomes the presentation of the report on denialism, negationism and revisionism in the context of transitional justice. My delegation shares the concerns of the Special Rapporteur as to the persistence of these phenomena, which endanger truth, justice, reparation, and non-recurrence, essential pillars of transitional justice and for the consolidation of peace. We are convinced that combating denialism must be based on the preservation of memory, access to information, education in human rights, and the protection of the digital space. This is the approach that has been selected by the Ivorian government following the post-electoral crisis in 2011. Successively, we established the Commission for a Dialogue on Truth and Reconciliation, the National Commission of Investigations, and then the National Commission for the Compensation of Victims. Actions were also undertaken to preserve the memory of those events, in particular through ceremonies, monuments, educational programs, with the objective of guaranteeing the transmission of truth to future generations. HRC · Vice-President [47:09]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe [47:16]: Mr. Vice President, Zimbabwe welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the recognition of the report is timely reminder that sustainable peace, reconciliation, and national cohesion can only be built on a foundation of truth accountability, and preservation of collective memory. These issues resonate with our ongoing commitment to fostering national unity, social cohesion, and inclusive development. We recognize that acknowledging past experiences, promoting dialogue, and supporting affected communities are essential components of preventing recurrence and strengthening public trust in institutions. Efforts to preserve historical records, promote access to accurate information, and encourage human rights education contribute to building informed and resilient societies. Zimbabwe shares the concern that misinformation, disinformation, and the misuse of emerging technologies can undermine reconciliation processes deepen social division and distort historical narratives. Zimbabwe supports approaches that combine transparency, access to information, digital literacy, and responsible use of technology with meaningful community participation. As we move forward, we must all ensure that truth, justice, and human dignity remain at the center of all efforts to secure lasting peace and non-recurrence. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [48:41]: Thank you. I give the floor to the representative of UN Women. UN Women [48:47]: Mr. Vice President, UN Women thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcomes his recognition that denialism, negation, and revisionism can obscure the nature and extent of gender-based violence, ignore the factors that enable it, and perpetuate gender gaps in truth, accountability, and reparation. In our experience, truth is essential for all the cycle of justice. Transitional Justice is vital to addressing past harms and building durable peace. Yet, when these processes. Exclude women and marginalized groups or fail to address the gender dimensions of violence, they can reproduce exclusion and leave serious violation unacknowledged and unremedied. These gaps create space for denialism and undermine guarantees for non-recurrence. Therefore, addressing denial requires inclusive processes that confront structural inequalities. A key safeguard against the denial of gender-based violence is ensuring that transitional justice mechanisms have dedicated gender expertise and enable the meaningful participation of women. In particular, indigenous women, women discriminated based on work and descent, women living with disabilities, and women from survivors and women human rights defenders groups in their design and implementation. Mr. Rapporteur, what measures should states take to identify and address gender forms of denialism, including the omission or minimization of gender-based violence? UN Women is ready to support your efforts. HRC · Vice-President [50:15]: I thank you. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gambia. Gambia [50:22]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Gambia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report on denialism, negationism and revisionism in transitional justice contexts. We agree that denialism can interfere with the rights of victims to the truth, justice, accountability and guarantees of non-recurrence. In effect, it amounts to revictimization of victims and threatens the sustainability of transitional justice processes. Notwithstanding the efforts of political actors and former regime officials seeking to question or misrepresent the findings of the TRRC in The Gambia, the Government of The Gambia remains firmly committed to preserving the integrity of the truth established through the TRRC and to respecting the dignity of victims. Consistent with this position, The White Paper continues to guide our victim-centered transitional justice program in positive accountability, reparations, memorialization, and guarantees of non-recurrence. At the same time, we recognize the importance of safeguarding legitimate public debate and freedom of expression, while ensuring that freedoms are not used to incite hatred, intimidate victims, and undermine accountability. Mr. Special Rapporteur, how can states best keep a balance between preserving the truth while preserving legitimate public debate and freedom of expression? HRC · Vice-President [51:46]: Thank you. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Paraguay. Paraguay [51:56]: Thank you, Mr. President. Paraguay welcomes the report from the Special Rapporteur and his thoughts regarding challenges posed by negationism and deliberate distortion of acts related to human rights violations in context of transitional justice. We share his concern that negationism is not only inherent to times of transition but can re-emerge years later, eroding truths already established in judicial proceedings and in truth commissions. We think it's vital to maintain an adequate balance between combating negationism and protecting freedom of expression and legitimate historical debate. Measures adopted by states should be compatible with their international obligations and avoid any political exploitation of memory. Paraguay's experience confirms that preservation of memory requires constant vigilance. Therefore, we've placed archives linked to violations of the past under judicial custody, guaranteeing their protection and accessibility in line with our commitment, never again. Recently, we've re- re- reactivated the national se- search and investigation team for disappeared persons and extrajudicial execu- e- e- executions during the period 1954, 1989 to bolster work identification and search for… people who went missing during the dictatorship. Therefore, we stress the importance of international co-operation to preserve archives, protect evidence and promote education and historical memory. What best practices could the rapporteur highlight from truth commissions that have managed to protect their conclusions? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [53:33]: I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Togo. Togo [53:40]: Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation thanks the Special Rapporteur for the report and shares his analysis of the dangers of denialism for the sustainability of transitional justice processes. Togo appreciates the importance of preserving truth as established through traditional justice mechanisms to promote reconciliation nationally. Our country has resolutely adopted this path since 2009 with the establishment of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, which has made some 60,000 recommendations. Reconciliation and strengthening national unity has been ensured through a body which was established in 2014. And we have mobilized funds so that we could provide compensation for victims and There is a 99.6% satisfaction rate with the victims who have received compensation. In addition to financial compensation, there has been other compensation, such as memorials to keep the collective memory alive. Togo believes that combating denial requires an inclusive approach and a respect of human rights, in particular the freedom of expression. education and the preservation of archives. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [55:03]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chad. Chad [55:11]: Thank you, President. The delegation of the Republic of Chad aligns itself with the statement made by the African Group and thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report. child recognizes the importance of preserving memory and establishing the truth on violations, which is serious violations of human rights, to contribute to national reconciliation and to prevent recurrence. We consider that transitional justice should be part of a balanced approach based on truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, whilst taking account of the historical context, national reality and the specific features of each State. Chad underscores as well the importance of strengthening education in human rights, preserving archives, documenting facts and also assisting victims and their families. These efforts are vital to combat distortion of the collective memory and to encourage sustainable reconciliation. Finally, President, the delegation of Chad wishes to know what specific measures states could implement to prevent the distortion, falsification, or questioning of facts relating to grave human rights violations, whilst guaranteeing freedom of expression and contributing to truth, justice, and national reconciliation. HRC · Vice-President [56:45]: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Liechtenstein [56:48]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Liechtenstein thanks the Special Rapporteur for this timely and important report. We share the concern that denialism of human rights and international and humanitarian law violations represents a serious obstacle to accountability and lasting peace. The denial of established facts not only deepens the suffering of victims and survivors, but also undermines efforts to achieve truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence. We're particularly concerned that denialism can formalize state impunity and obstruct accountability by interfering with the proper functioning of courts, misrepresenting or concealing evidence, or denying responsibility already established by national and international tribunals. Such practices risk violating states' obligations to investigate, prosecute, and sanction serious violations while depriving victims of their rights to an effective remedy and judicial protection. We note with concern the growing misuse and overreach of overly broad and vague national security laws and related measures that have a chilling effect on civil society seeking to document violations and preserve historical records. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what accountability measures have been most effective in preventing denialism from reversing the findings of truth commissions, courts, and other transitional justice mechanisms? I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [58:10]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt. Egypt [58:18]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We welcome the Special Rapporteur and take note of the report and its recommendations. We reaffirm the importance of documenting violations to support truth, justice, and guarantees of non-recurrence while respecting the national contexts. The situation in the OPT is a clear example of the gravity of denial and trying to obliterate the truth and change the facts while the Palestinian people face continuous continuations and there are attempts to minimize the gravity of these violations. We would like to ask the Special Rapporteur, how do you see we should deal with these practices on the ground in the OPT while we are seeing increasing use of AI to circulating misinformation and to distract from the reality of what's happening on the ground, I think. HRC · Vice-President [59:32]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. Ethiopia [59:37]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Ethiopia thanks the Special Rapporteur for this timely report. Ethiopia reaffirms that sustainable peace requires confronting the legacies of violence through truth, justice, accountability, repatriation, reconciliation and credible guarantees of non-recurrence. Transitional justice should, however, remain nationally owned, inclusive and responsive to the specific historical, social institutional context of each country. Ethiopia recognized the importance of preserving accurate and evidence-based accounts of past violation and ensuring that victims and affected communities are meaningfully heard. At the same time, efforts to address denialism must not become instrument for political polarization. censorship or the suppression of legitimate historical inquiry and freedom of expression. Any restriction must be consistent with legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination. Ethiopia attaches particular importance to education, dialogue, memorialization, and access to reliable information as foundation for reconciliation and social cohesion. We also recognize the emerging challenge posed by digital disinformation and artificial intelligence. In closing, Ethiopia remains committed to strengthening national institution, advancing accountability, and supporting a forward-looking transitional justice process that contributes to durable peace, reconciliation and non-recurrence. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. HRC · Vice-President [1:01:01]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali. Mali [1:01:09]: Thank you, Vice-President. Mali associates itself with the statements made on behalf of the groups it belongs to and thanks the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of the report on denialism, negationism and revisionism relating to grave human rights violations and violations of IHL in the context of transitional justice. My delegation would indicate that questioning authoritative accounts relating to human rights violations committed in the past, the manipulation of memory and disinformation are all facilitated today by new information and communication technologies. These trends have many repercussions in our communities and they encourage impunity, polarize societies, fuel cultural wars, and contribute to marginalization of certain persons and certain groups. To remedy the situation, the government of Mali created the Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission nationally. At the end of the mandate of this commission, the authority for managing reparations for victims of crisis in Mali and a center to promote peace, unity, to seek the truth and to preserve memory of the different violations of human rights committed in Mali. To conclude, my delegation shares the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur that technological enterprises and companies should adopt policies which are rigorous to combat denialism on digital platforms in line with the guiding principles of business and human rights and the principles for the governance of digital platforms. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:02:42]: Thank you very much. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi. Malawi [1:02:47]: Mr. Vice-President, Malawi thanks the Special Rapporteur for the insightful report. Malawi agrees that denial of gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law represents a profound and evolving threat to the integrity, effectiveness and sustainability of transitional justice. Malawi continues to strengthen its institutions for accountability and reconciliation, such as the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Legal Aid Bureau, and the Peace and Unity Commission in monitoring and documenting violations and expanding access to justice. In addition, the Access to Information Act 2016 grants Malawians the right to access information held by public and certain private bodies. to promote transparency, accountability and good governance. Malawi supports the recommendation for states to adopt laws and policies to uncover and promote accurate accounts of past violations. Mr. Special Rapporteur, given the report's finding that artificial intelligence and social media are accelerating new forms of denialism, what practical support can the mandate offer states with limited technical capacity to implement recommendations on regulating denialist content online? I thank you, Mr. Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [1:04:17]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland. Switzerland [1:04:27]: Vice-President, often denialism is practised to impede future efforts to guarantee the application of the principle of accountability and to establish the truth. The Special Rapporteur warns against the glorification of war criminals, the negation of criminal atrocities, relativisation or the questioning of judgements handed down by the It is of particular concern to see the reactions and recent tributes in Serbia and the region following the passing of Radko Mladic, which show that the challenge of how to deal with the past remains fully relevant today. SUSC condemns such acts wherever they come from, and call upon authorities in all countries of the region to respect the decisions of the judicial bodies. and to accomplish their duty to preserve the memory of crimes committed and to work towards reconciliation. In Switzerland, according to a recent investigation, we have seen that a considerable number of children adopted abroad were illegally placed in quarantine in hospitals between 1960 and 1970. During these stays in hospital, different interventions are said to have been used for pharmacological and surgical research purposes. Today, doctors and surgeons are contesting these findings. Special Rapporteur, what measures do you recommend to make sure that victims and human rights defenders who work on questions related to past violations can exercise their rights without being subject to interference, threats or violence of any kind? Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [1:06:01]: I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cambodia. Cambodia [1:06:05]: As a Vice President, Cambodia takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on addressing denialism, negationism, and erasure of serious. Violations of human rights and humanitarian law. As a country that survived the mass atrocity of the Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodia understands firsthand the vital importance of preserving historical memory and truth. Denialism not only desecrates the memory of millions of victims, but it's also threatened reconciliation, social cohesion, and guarantee of non-recurrence. Through the Extraordinary Chamber in the Court of Cambodia, established in partnership with the United Nations, Cambodia successfully prosecuted the most responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity. Crucially, the Extraordinary Chamber in the Court of Cambodia established an undeniable judicial record of facts, counter negationism, and provide legal clarity to safeguard historical truth for future generation. Cambodia continue to invest heavily in peace education, archive, and memorialization initiative, ensuring that younger generation learn from past tragedy. we reiterate our unwavering commitment to non-reoccurring transitional justice and sustaining long-term peace and national harmony. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:07:30]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo [1:07:39]: Thank you, Vice-President. The DRC thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. We share his statement of negation or manipulation of grave violations of human rights erode the dignity of victims, compromise the access to reparations, and perpetuate impunity. This is of particular importance in the DRC, a country marked by decades of conflict. To establish and preserve the truth is for us an inalienable right, an essential guarantee of non-recurrence. This is why the DRC has committed itself to a traditional justice policy which is victim-centered, illustrated by the adoption of the law of 26 December 2022, and the creation of the Fonerov Fund. Faced with the new threats, and in particular digital manipulation of information by AI, DRC joins the call of the Special Rapporteur to preserve archives, protect stakeholders and truth-seekers, and integrate memory in education. For our country, Danism is based on documented facts. When past crimes are denied whilst violations persist, this denial fuels the recurrence of violence. Without recognised, acknowledged truth, there is no effective justice or sustainable peace. Special Rapporteur, what recommendations would you formulate to preserve the truth established and to prevent denialism becoming a factor for the recurrence of conflicts? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:08:58]: Thank. You very much, and I'll give the floor. To the distinguished representative of Brazil. Brazil [1:09:06]: Mr. President, Brazil thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report. We share the view that negationism poses several challenges for democratic institutions. So countering denialist narratives demands a permanent state commitment. Following the Special Rapporteur's visit, Brazil has continued its efforts to strengthen its policies on memory, truth, and reparation. We highlight the full reactivation of the Special Commission on Political Deaths and Disappearances, essential for locating mortal remains and issuing rectified death certificates. Furthermore, the Amnesty Commission has consolidated the procedure of collective reparations and official apologies to indigenous peoples and traditional communities impacted by the military regime. Central to this agenda is the preservation of former clandestine detention and torture centers as official heritage sites and the mapping of former repression sites through the Places of Memory project. In the judicial sphere, the Federal Supreme Court is examining key Inter-American System rulings on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to continuous crimes and grave human rights violations. Mr. Special Rapporteur, what good practices would you recommend to counter negationism and digital disinformation while fully respecting standards on freedom of expression in order to uphold historical truth? HRC · Vice-President [1:10:17]: Thank you. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso [1:10:30]: Thank you, Vice-President. Vice-President, my delegation aligns itself with the statement of the African Group. We remain convinced that preserving the historic truth is a fundamental pillar of transitional justice and a guarantee for non-recurrence. In this dynamic trend to preserve memory and to combat impunity. In 2025, Burkina Faso adopted the law, Faso Voui Kaore, which is a major step forward. It institutionalizes and promotes traditional mechanisms for the settlement of disputes. And this law adapts justice to the social cultural realities in Burkina Faso, in strict respect of fundamental laws and law on mediation and conciliation, pardon, and reestablishing the truth and taking care of victims are vital components. This is a major innovation, and it shows Burkina Faso's determination to establish justice close to the people, which is equitable, inclusive, and accessible to all Burkinabes. To conclude, my delegation calls for international support for national initiatives for indigenous justice and thanks, uh, Mr. Rapporteur. HRC · Vice-President [1:11:44]: Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland. Poland [1:11:51]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Poland takes the floor to correct a factual point concerning my country in the report before the Council. Paragraph 39 refers to Polish memory legislation adopted in January 2018. The provision concerned, Article 55a of the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance, was repealed in June 2018, five months after its adoption. No criminal proceedings were ever initiated on its basis. Neither fact appears in the report, although the report cites the 2018 communication addressed to Poland concerning that very provision. We would be grateful if the record could reflect this. Poland reaffirms its full commitment to freedom of expression, to academic research, and to artistic freedom, including with regard to the Holocaust and to the entire period of the Nazi German occupation of Poland in the World War II. Polish institutions continue to document, preserve, and make publicly accessible the archives concerning crimes committed against the Jewish population, including Polish citizens, and to commemorate the victims. HRC · Vice-President [1:13:01]: I thank you. Thank you very much. That was the last speaker that we could accommodate in this debate. We will now proceed with the list of speakers from national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. I give the floor to the Colombian ombudsman, a video statement. Colombia · Ombudsman [1:13:30]: Negationism affects the dignity of victims, hinders building memory perpetuates violence and affects the action of organisations, as well as affecting accountability. In Colombia, under various mechanisms of transitional justice, we have tried to prevent that. Nevertheless, we still see actions aimed at denying or justifying criminal acts, as the justice and extrajudicial bodies have discovered. troubled to wear in the active subject of negotiation as a public official. In verdicts T375 of 2025 and T202 of 2026, the Constitutional Court of Colombia protected expressions of memory and dignification of mothers who sought truth and justice for their disappeared children or presented illegally as fallen in combat. This includes the memorial wall, which is also included within our felicities. In both cases, it was affirmed that public officials were subject to bolstered standards of truth and responsibility. Fighting negationism, not just an exclusively domestic matter, but finds its grounds in the international sphere. In that context, the Colombian ombudsman urges for the establishment of indicators that enable early detection of negationist practices, especially those promoted by the authorities or disseminated via digital platforms. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:15:00]: Thank you. I give the floor to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. Ethiopia [1:15:08]: Distinguished Vice-President, members of the Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteur. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on denialism, negationism and revisionism of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law in transitional justice contexts. It also appreciates the video message transmitted by the Office of the Special Rapporteur during the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission's commemoration of International day for the right to truth on 24 March 2026. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission welcomes the Ethiopian government's adoption of the national transitional justice policy in April 2024 and an implementation roadmap in June 2024. However, the Commission remains concerned that formal implementation has been placed in abeyance since April 2025. The Ethiopian Commission welcomes the government's stated commitment to resume the process after the conclusion of the National Dialogue Main Conference, which has been finalized on 22nd of August 2026. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission knows that during the abeyance, civil society organizations, victim associations, and other stakeholders continued advocacy, awareness raising, capacity building and consultations. HRRC also welcomes the recent release of more than 600 individuals following the Commission's request for a special review of their cases. This includes individuals convicted of attempted to forcibly subvert the constitutional order. HRC · Vice-President [1:16:42]: Thank you. I give the floor to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. NIHRC · Chief Commissioner [1:16:49]: Mr. President, Special Rapporteur, I welcome the opportunity to give this statement as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Special Rapporteur's report and recommendations provide an important reminder of the danger of denialism and revisionism. reminding us how crucial it is to have effective human rights compliant measures to deal with human rights abuses. In Northern Ireland, efforts to deal with the legacy of the conflict known as the Troubles are ongoing. Since its inception, this Commission has advised and made submissions on proposals to deal with outstanding investigations referred to as legacy cases. The Commission has always focused on the legal requirements for human rights compatibility. The special rapporteur's report refers to the 2023 Troubles Act. Throughout the legislative passage of that Act, we advised that provisions, including those creating immunity, were incompatible with the ECHR and unlawful under the UK's human rights legislation. We welcomed the joint UK-Ireland framework and, in the most part, the new draft legislation. We also welcome the renewed focus of the Northern Ireland Secretary of State. We know that the shared objective is to develop a framework that respects the fundamental human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland, those who lived and suffered through the Troubles and those who did not experience it, ensures route to reconciliation. We will continue to work on this and advise the UK Government, which has demonstrated that it is receptive to and respectful of our role. I thank the Special Rapporteur for his important work and for this opportunity to engage in this interactive dialogue. HRC · Vice-President [1:18:18]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the National Human Rights Council of Morocco. Morocco [1:18:25]: Vice-President, the National Human. Rights Institution welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur. I'd like to take advantage of this opportunity to present Morocco's experience with the establishment of truth, remedies and reputation and non-recurrence. In Morocco, transitional justice acknowledges past violations through implementing the principles of equity and reconciliation. Our human rights institution deals with issues relating to the period from 1956 to 1999, in particular arbitrary detention, and we organised hearings headed by national chiefs. As we This is a recognition of past occurrences and violations through a democratic process in Morocco. We have worked to cooperate to ensure non-recurrence and to preserve memory. On the recommendations from the NHRI, we are accompanying the victims and survivors, providing medical assistance in particular, We are aware of the importance of establishing the truth, so we have digitalised some 3,000 decisions from arbitration and we have made available recordings as well. HRC · Vice-President [1:20:01]: Thank you. I give the floor to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Ireland [1:20:06]: ...for his report and its important recommendations. Today, I want to emphasise how the recommendations in this report apply to Ireland's ongoing failure to provide adequate redress to survivors of institutional abuse. In Ireland's architecture of containment during the 20th century, from mother and baby homes to Magdalene laundries and other residential institutions, women and children experienced profound human rights violations. This included forced family separation, forced labor, illegal adoptions, neglect, and improper burials. For many survivors, the search for truth is not over. Mothers still do not know what happened to their children. Many people who grew up in these institutions cannot access the records they need to understand who they are and what happened to their families. As Ireland discusses and examines burial sites associated with these institutions, We need a national policy for identifying and memorializing these sites, a policy that must be developed with survivors and their families. They are places of mourning, memory, and reflection on human rights. We must confront this history honestly. This means preserving the evidence, securing access to records, and remembering those affected. This is essential to deliver truth, justice, and reparation. And to guarantee that such abuses never happen again. Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [1:21:41]: That was the last national NHRI that we could accommodate in this debate. We'll move now to the NGOs. I give the floor to the Colombian Commission of Jurists. Colombian Commission of Jurists [1:22:02]: Colombia marks 10 years since the signing of the peace accords that put an end to decades of armed conflict with the FARC guerrilla. During that time, significant progress has been made. land has been accorded, the demilitarisation, the delivery of 650 disappeared persons, the registration of 50,000 victims and the prosecution of perpetrators before the special jurisdiction on peace. Colombia today faces negationism when it comes to various aspects of the agreement, such as the rural reform that the Government calls false agrarian reform or mechanisms for transitional justice, defined by the special rapporteur De as practices, policies and norms to undermine, deny truth and grave human rights violations and IHL committed in the past or the outcomes of transitional justice process established. Those governmental declarations on elimination, modification or possible definancing of the special jurisdiction for peace would affect the rights of victims and accountability for the perpetrators. The Council and all countries that have supported Colombia during those 10 years should call for delivery of what has been agreed and prevent any negationist initiatives which, as the Special Rapporteur says, threaten the sustainability of transitional justice process, seek to supplant the democratic debate on violations committed in the past and create. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:23:34]: I give the floor to Movement Against Racism and Friendship. peoples. MRAP [1:23:41]: Mr. Vice President, MRAP welcomes the report presented by Minister Duhaime and fully supports his recommendations. Indeed, denial, negationism and revisionism regarding serious violation of human rights and humanitarian law in the context of transitional justice can seriously undermine a country's peace building process and the construction of a democratic society, thereby fundamentally denying the right to self-determination and the right to development to specific groups, often religious, ethnic, or gender minorities. With reference to our written statement, NGO 199, we would like to draw your attention to the transitional justice process taking place in the Syrian Arab Republic, which suffers since the beginning from a lack of credibility within the Syrian society because of the structure and the modalities put in place by the transitional authorities led by Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa. Only a transparent, comprehensive and inclusive transitional justice process led by a genuinely independent mechanism can guarantee lasting peace in a country that has endured decades of serious human rights violations and violence, followed by 14 years of war involving dozens of armed groups and foreign powers, which are still present in the country. Everyone must account for their crimes and every victim must be able to give evidence without risk of reprisals. Myrap calls on the Special Rapporteur to closely monitor the Syrian transition of justice process. HRC · Vice-President [1:25:13]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the Pasu May Thiyagam Foundation. [1:25:19]: Vice President, Pasu May Thiyagam speaks on behalf of Tamil victims, families of the disappeared, survivors, and communities in Sri Lanka's north and east who continue to await truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-reoccurrence. Seventeen years after the end of the armed conflict, the Tamil people continue to suffer the consequences of grave violations committed during the war and its aftermath. Over 18,000 Tamil families remain unaware of the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, while facing years of surveillance, intimidation and harassment simply for seeking answers. The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances has expressed serious concern regarding the 16,966 cases received by the Office of Missing Persons, of which only 23 persons were reportedly traced, highlighting the persistent lack of accountability. OSLAP has documented patterns of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual violence and other serious violations that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The discovery of mass graves, including Chemny, further demonstrates the urgent need for credible forensic investigations and DNA testing conducted by international experts. We are concerned that the High Commissioner's latest report on Sri Lanka does not adequately address these atrocity crimes or repeat the call for an international criminal justice mechanism. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:26:48]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to MAPTAPACS, Romana. intervention by video. Pax Romana [1:26:54]: President, Pax Romana together with the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners welcome the special repertoire report highlighting the denialism, weakness, all pillars of transitional justice and often leads to regression and renewed violation. This is very true in Sri Lanka in Velikad prison, 53 Tamil political prisoners were killed in 1983 and 27 prisoners killed in 2012. In Mahara prison, 22 inmate were killed in 2020. In Nigambo prison, 32 inmate and officials were killed in July 2026. There has been many other such incident. There is no accountability for any of these crimes. In the past five years, 1,021 prisoners have died in custody. Following violence in Negombo prison last July, there are allegations of torture and resulting death after prisoners were transferred to other prisons. At least six "forced disappearances" were recorded from prisons before they were found weeks and months afterward. Access to families, lawyers, and the Human Rights Commission had been restricted arbitrarily. As of August 2026, Sri Lanka's prisons were overcrowded by more than 300%, with over 72% of inmates awaiting trial. Ten political prisoners are reportedly detained more than 17 years after the civil war ended, despite government promises to release them. Disabled people don't have special facilities, and LGBTIQ prisoners are exposed to sexual violence. We call on Member States and UN officials to engage the Sri Lankan government, ensure accountability for past and recent crimes, and take measures prevent recurring violence in prisons. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:28:25]: Thank you. I give the floor to Centre of Legal and Social Studies by video. Centre of Legal and Social Studies [1:28:34]: Rapporteur, 50 years since the 1976 coup and two decades after legal reopening in Argentina, you report on negationism. In the national government, we see a direct linkage between a denialist, relativist and even justificationist discourse and the material dismantling of policies of memory, truth and justice. The stigmatisation of the human rights movement and memory policies seeks to justify institutional dismantling, while that dismantling strengthens the denialist offensive. By labelling the victims of the past as terrorists, they shift the limits of state violence in the present. with the definition of new internal enemies being imposed under a renewed doctrine of national security. That framework seeks to legitimise a structural dismantling that has already reduced staff in memory and truth areas by 40 per cent, the state's withdrawal as a plaintiff in trials for crimes against humanity, the blocking of military archives and the closure of the special unit to find abducted children, as well as budget cuts to memorial sites. We urge the rapporteur and this council to remind the Argentinian state of its non-negotiable obligations. Memory, archives and sites must be maintained without ideological persecution. Curbing denialism and preventing repetition of authoritarianism requires preserving the state's material capacities. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:30:01]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to International Yazidis Foundation for the Prevention of Genocide. [1:30:10]: Thank you, Mr. President. The International Yazidis Foundation for the Prevention of Genocide recommends that the Special Rapporteur place the lessons of Iraq at the center of efforts to prevent the recurrence of atrocity crimes in Syria. First, on truth, establish and protect independent mechanisms to document violations, preserve evidence, and ensure that survivors and affected communities, including minorities, have their experiences formally recognized. Second, on justice, support credible, independent, and survivor-centered accountability mechanisms. Justice must address those who planned, ordered, facilitated, or committed international crimes while ensuring that victims have effective access to remedies. Third, on reparation, develop comprehensive, non-discriminatory, and survivor-led reparations programs, including compensation, rehabilitation, restitution, memorialization, and guarantees for the safe and dignified return of displaced persons where appropriate. Finally, on guarantees of non-recurrence, Syria needs institutional and security sector reforms, effective minority protection, accountability for hate speech and incitement to violence, and strong early warning and early response mechanisms. The ethnic religious minority experience in Iraq demonstrates that justice after atrocity is essential, but prevention must begin before the next atrocity occurs. We therefore urge the Special Rapporteur to ensure that the lessons from Iraq inform concrete preventive measures in Syria. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:31:35]: Thank you. I give the floor to Accept International. Accept International [1:31:42]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We thank the Special Rapporteur for the important work carried out under this mandate. In transitional justice processes, greater attention should be given to the diverse experiences of youth in armed conflict, including those associated with non-state armed groups. A considerable number were recruited as child soldiers and reached adulthood before such processes begin, yet their needs for justice, rehabilitation, and reintegration do not end when they turn 18. We therefore encourage a comprehensive approach that addresses accountability where appropriate, ensures justice and reparation for victims, and at the same time supports the disengagement and reintegration of affected youth. These elements are closely interconnected and should not be treated in isolation. Addressing them together can strengthen reconciliation and contribute to sustainable peace. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:32:38]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. CIHRS [1:32:45]: Thank you, CHR and Yemen Justice Network, welcome the Special Rapporteur's report. We submitted input highlighting the challenges faced by CSOs, uh, engaged in memorialization activities in support of missing person and the urgent need for strengthened international engagement on truth and justice. In the last days, the conflict in Yemen has achieved levels of destruction and suffering unseen since a UN-negotiated truce had come into effect in 2022. Approximately 70,000 persons have reportedly become displaced and remain separated across fighting and shifting frontlines. Yemen's conflict has produced widespread and documented violations, including enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, with families routinely denied information about the fate of their loved ones. Fragmented security and military structures across parties to the conflict have shielded perpetrators from accountability and denied victims truth, justice, and reparation. The termination of the GEE on Yemen in 2021 makes sustained engagement by UN mechanisms, including this mandate, particularly important. We call on the Special Rapporteur to call for the protection and support of Yemeni civil society, including those providing lifesaving and humanitarian support across frontlines, and to consider a country visit and continued engagement with Yemeni victims and civil society. We thank the mandate and stand ready to support its work on Yemen. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [1:34:14]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to Peace Brigades International. Peace Brigades International [1:34:20]: Thank you, Vice President. In Colombia, ten years after the peace agreement, violence persists or has intensified in territories such as Putumayo. Middle Magdalena and Lower Atrato, where ethnic and peasant communities continue to face land dispossession and are controlled by armed groups, a state presence is required that guarantees protection and genuine conditions for territorial peace. In Mexico, the families of persons disappeared faces victimising process in the quest for justice. That's the case of the family of Edmundo Reyes and Gabriel Cruz, who disappeared at the hands of the state in 2007. We stress the importance of effective investigations in Guatemala. Despite historic advances in transitional justice, the co-opting of the judicial system has led to major setbacks. We urge the rapporteur and states to provide technical and political support to reinstate a proper justice system, guarantee security and prioritise implementation of the reparations plan and policy of protection of human rights defenders in Nicaragua. Impunity persists with regard to violations documented since 2018. Despite the repression, Nicaraguan organisations continue to document those violations and call on the international community to continue to support processes of memory, truth and justice. Thank you very much. HRC · Vice-President [1:35:47]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to Association Droit et Talents de Femmes. I give the floor to Muku. [1:36:28]: Honorable Vice President, truth, justice, and the prevention of the mob violence is being questioned in Bangladesh. Bangladesh government is facing questions over its perceived inaction on truth, justice, redress, and the prevention of mob violence. Critics argue that the repeated incidents of public attacks, intimidation, and killings expose a serious weakness in law enforcement. Accountability and political resolve-- the families of victims often struggle to obtain clear information, impartial investigation, or timely prosecutions, depending on ministers' instructions. Human rights Advocates said that acknowledgement abuse is only the first step, authorities must establish that facts, publicity, identify those responsible and ensure that victims and their… communities receive meaningful redress. This can include compensation, legal support, protection for witnesses, and guarantees that similar violence will not recur. Without credible action, the cycle of fear and impunity may continue. Bangladesh government now faces pressure to demonstrate that justice appeals equality to all citizens regardless of the. HRC · Vice-President [1:37:59]: Thank you very much. That was the last speaker that we could accommodate in this debate. I give the floor now to Mr. Duhaime for his concluding remarks. You have five minutes and 35 seconds. HRC · Special Rapporteur · Bernard Duhaime [1:38:23]: I would like to first start by thanking all delegations that intervened in the interactive dialogue and note the quasi-unanimous support expressed with respect to the report that I just presented. I think this quasi-unanimous recognition demonstrates the relevance and timeliness of this report and the great interests that it has generated. My message to all of you now, since there seems to be a consensus as to the relevance and importance of the report, is that States implement the recommendations that are formulated in paragraphs 72 and following of the report. I'd also would like to thank the delegations that have intervened with a vast and diverse set of good practices and examples. with respect to domestic and international measures undertaken to address denialism, revisionism, and transitional justice. And I think this answers in part some of the questions that have been raised with respect to these best practices. I would also like to thank Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Iraq, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Zambia for the written inputs that they have sent so that we could look at it in preparation for the reports. With respect to the global, I will just summarize many of the questions that have been raised deal with the good practices that we should adopt with respect to fighting denialism and revisionism. Of course, I will reiterate the recommendations that are contained in paragraph 72 and following of the report, but I also wish to encourage you to look at paragraph 58 and following of the report, which reiterate the great need for states to support and protect the integrity of factual truth established by truth commissions as well as tribunals, including international tribunals. Secondly, to counter hate speech, discriminatory discourse and invitation to violence, which feed division and polarization. To promote robust public information and transparency processes, which contribute to establish the truth, as underlined by Estonia. Also, not refer to secrecy or national security laws to prevent the transparency of information related to transitional justice, except in conformity with international human rights law. Also, encourage inclusive and evidence-based education, as reaffirmed by Morocco, Ireland, and Chile. strengthen memorialization efforts, encourage the strengthening of transparency, diverse debates on freedom of expression in accordance with the Rabat Plan of Action, as highlighted by Morocco. And also, I encourage states to take robust measures to ensure that new technology companies do not contribute to denialism and feed in the apathy of the readers who are faced with artificial intelligence and other developments, become more and more skeptical about truth and about what is contained in the media. Actually, my next report to the General Assembly in October 16th will address more specifically the issue of new technologies and transitional justice. I would like to answer perhaps more specifically certain of the questions that have been raised during the dialogue. I thank the delegation of Poland for its comment. I would like to highlight the fact that the communication mentioned in the report is dated February 2018. Unfortunately, Poland answered in April 2018. without referring to the amendments to its law, which occurred, of course, only in June 2018. I'm glad that this information is now submitted to us. And I would like to reiterate the fact that this comment just goes to show the dangers of memory laws and its potential impact on freedom of expression, as highlighted in paragraphs 38 to 41 of my report. I thank Brazil for its comments, and I reiterate my encouragements for the implementations of the recommendations that I formulated in my report. I thank Switzerland for its comment on the dangers of the glorification of war criminals. I issued statement on this recently. I thank Ukraine, Malaysia, and Egypt on its comment on national transitional justice. My next report to the General Assembly will address this topic. I thank Azerbaijan for its comments on enforced disappearances, which is in and of itself an international crime that is a denial in itself. I thank Ireland and its respect and the other national human rights commission that addressed the Legacy Act, I have traveled to the UK and addressed the Parliament about this in April. And I thank UN Women for its comment on gender. I think it's extremely important to ensure the documentation of experiences of women in transitional justice processes. It will actually be the object of an interactive dialogue that will be held this afternoon where we will also address the issue of children in armed conflicts. I reiterate my solidarity with the people of the Marshall Islands and thank them for their comments. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Dear Vice President, I apologize. HRC · Vice-President [1:44:41]: Muchas gracias. Thank you, Special Rapporteur. This brings us to the end of this interactive dialogue. I thank Mr. Bernard Duhem for his participation. We'll now take a short break before holding the interactive dialogue with the working group on the rights of peasants. Excellencies, distinguished participants, we shall now hold the interactive dialogue with the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas. Let me welcome the Chair of the Working Group, Madam Sharmali Guttal. The list of speakers will close in 15 minutes. I give the floor to Adam Gutal to present the reports. Go ahead, please. HRC · Chair · Sharmali Guttal [1:49:25]: Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to present, on behalf of the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas, our thematic report on the right to seeds. custodianship, enclosure and resistance, together with the report of our official country visit to Ghana that was undertaken from 5 to 14 May 2026. We thank the government for its cooperation and overall support for the great majority of our recommendations. The seat report draws on our calls for input, expert consultations and contributions from states, peasants, indigenous peoples, researchers and civil society organizations worldwide, to whom we are grateful. Seeds are the beginning of every meal, the memory of every harvest, and the hope for future life. For peasants and indigenous people, seeds are not commodities. They are living inheritance refined over generations of selection, exchange, and adaptation to diverse soils, ecosystems, and climates. Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, also known as UNDROP, recognizes the right of peasants to maintain, control, and protect and develop their own seeds, and obliges states to respect, protect, and fulfill that right. Our report examines whether the international and domestic legal architecture governing seeds lives up to that obligation. We find a seed governance landscape increasingly defined by three intersecting dynamics, custodianship, enclosure, and resistance. Custodianship reflects the collective traditional systems through which the vast majority of the world's food crop seed continues to be grown, saved, exchanged, and sold. In parts of Africa and Asia, the figures are up to 90%. Farmer-managed seed systems are the principal reservoir of genetic diversity on which our food sovereignty and climate resilience depend. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture affirms farmers' rights and a multilateral system of access and benefit sharing. Yet these commitments remain unevenly implemented and access to the treaty's benefit sharing fund continues to fall short of its purpose. Enclosure describes the accelerating commodification and privatization of this precious collective heritage. Plant variety protection regimes, modelled on the 1991 Act of UPOV, extend breeders' exclusive rights over propagating material. In a growing number of countries, they criminalise or otherwise restrict age-old practices of saving, reusing and exchanging farm-saved seeds, in some cases with penalties of 10 years' imprisonment or more. Patents on genetic sequences and restrictive certification laws compound this enclosure, as does the emerging practice of patenting sequences drawn from digital databases without even touching the physical seed. The consequence is a dramatic narrowing of agrobiodiversity. Some three quarters of global crop genetic diversity was lost over the course of the 20th century as traditional, locally adapted crop varieties gave way to a narrowing pool of commercial varieties. Four companies alone now control more than half of the world's commercial seed market. Our report documents cases of contamination of native maize and cotton varieties by unauthorized genetically modified material in Latin America, civil and criminal sanctions against farmers for saving and exchanging farm-saved seed, and infringement lawsuits against farmers who had not knowingly planted patented seed found growing in their seed fields. Peasants are resisting these enclosures through positive actions, including community seed banks, participatory plant breeding networks, and guarantee schemes, agroecology, and customary management of territories. An emerging jurisprudence recognizes farmers' rights over seed. We highlight, among others, the African Model Law for the Protection of the Rights of Local Communities, Farmers, and Breeders, operationalized through the ARIPO Arusha Protocol. a rights-consistent alternative to UPOV 1991 for African states. India's Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, which preserves farmers' rights to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seeds. Brazil's Food Acquisition Program that channels public procurement towards traditional and agroecological seed. The Supreme Court of Honduras, which in 2021 struck down the country's plant variety protection law as unconstitutional, citing Article 19 of UNDROP, one of the first judgments worldwide to do so. The Supreme Court and High Court of Kenya, which have both recently affirmed that peasants' customary seed sharing practices enjoy constitutional protection, the High Court holding in November 2025 that seed sharing is not a crime, a ruling of significance well beyond Kenya's borders. Distinguished delegates, I wish to highlight some key recommendations aimed at building on this progress. We call upon states to recognize and legally protect the right of peasants to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seed and propagating material, ensuring that plant variety protection and biosafety laws do not criminalize traditional seed systems. Guarantee rural women's equality in seed governance through secure land tenure, equal representation in relevant decision-making bodies, and recognition of women's customary knowledge and role as primary seed custodians. Adopt and implement robust anti-biopiracy laws, including mandatory disclosure of origin of source, on source for genetic resources, and resolve the treatment of digital sequence information, so that dematerialized genetic resources cannot be used to circumvent benefit sharing obligations. Subject new genomic techniques to independent risk assessment, traceability, and labeling requirements before any deregulation. Support community seed banks and participatory breeding as public goods. In situations of armed conflict, occupation, and other crises, recognize peasant seeds and related infrastructure as civilian objects essential for the survival of the population. Excellencies, I turn now to our visit to Ghana. We are grateful to the government for its invitation and to the farming, fishing, and pastoralist communities, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and officials who engaged with us. Ghana presents a compelling case study in the implementation of UNDROP, highlighted by legislative milestones such as the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act of 2025, the Social Protection Act 2025, the Affirmative Action Act 2024, and the ratification of ILO Convention 188. However, a persistent implementation gap leaves family subsistence farmers, artisanal fishers, and pastoralists who generate 80% of Ghana's domestic food supply, exposed to poverty and exclusion from export-oriented agricultural shifts. Three findings warrant particular attention. First, Ghana's plural land tenure system leaves customary land users vulnerable to dispossession as land is leased or commodified, a vulnerability compounded for women, youth, and older farmers. Second, illegal small-scale gold mining, or galamsey, remains the country's most acute environmental and human rights emergency, contaminating rivers and farmland and foreclosing the futures of rural youth who lack viable alternatives. We welcome the government's confirmation that redirecting enforcement towards the financiers behind mechanized galamsey remains a priority. Third, and directly relevant to the SEEDS report I have just presented, Farmer-managed seed systems in Ghana face growing pressure from certification and biotechnology-focused reforms that privilege commercial varieties. The Plant Variety Protection Act 2020 conditions legal recognition on distinctness, uniformity, and stability, criteria that contravene the very nature of heterogeneous traditional varieties and prescribe 10 to 15 years imprisonment for the unauthorized sale of protected variety. We also remain concerned by the 2024 release of genetically modified BT Calpi, a daily protein staple, following an approval process that civil society said lacked adequate grassroots consultation. We are encouraged that the Government is reviewing the Plant Variety Protection Act and urge that peasants and farmers are meaningfully engaged to ensure alignment with UNDROP. We welcome the government's constructive comments, and we remain convinced that our central recommendations to institutionalize meaningful participation of farmers, fishers, and pastoralists in decisions affecting their livelihoods, to strengthen enforcement of the Land Act 2020, to identify and hold accountable the financiers and enablers of galamsey, and to safeguard farmer-managed seed systems as Ghana modernizes its agricultural sector remain valid and achievable. We appreciate again the government's confirmation that several such steps are already underway, and we look forward to continuing cooperation in their full implementation. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, we thank all of you for your attention, and we look forward to the interactive dialogue. Thank you again. HRC · Vice-President [1:59:03]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. In accordance with our practice, we will now hear from the delegation of the country concerned. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana. You have five minutes. Ghana [1:59:19]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Government of Ghana welcomes the report of the Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas following its visit to Ghana from 5 to 14 May 2026. We appreciate the working group's engagement with government institutions, local communities, civil society, and other stakeholders. We value the opportunity to reflect constructively on the situation of rural populations in Ghana. Ghana recognizes the vital contribution of smallholder farmers, artisanal fishers, pastoralists, agricultural workers, and other rural populations to food security, employment, livelihoods, and national development. While Ghana has established a comprehensive legal and policy framework relevant to the rights and welfare of rural communities, we acknowledge that effective implementation remains essential to ensuring that these protections translate into meaningful and tangible outcomes at the community level. Ghana's development priorities place considerable emphasis on strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting inclusive agricultural development. The Feed Ghana program seeks to increase domestic food production, agricultural productivity, and food security, while addressing critical constraints relating to post-harvest management, storage, processing, and market access. Particular attention is directed towards smallholder farmers and rural communities whose productive capacity is central to resilient and sustainable food systems. Land remains fundamental to the livelihoods and economic security of rural populations. Ghana continues to implement the Land Act 2020, including measures aimed at strengthening customary land administration and promoting greater transparency and accountability in land governance. ensuring that land governance processes are responsive to the interests of smallholder farmers and other vulnerable rural communities remain an important priority. Ghana further recognizes that rural development must be underpinned by meaningful consultation, stakeholder participation, and access to relevant information, particularly in decisions affecting land, natural resources, and livelihoods. With the Vice President, the government of Ghana shares the working group's concern regarding the impact of environmental degradation on rural livelihoods. Illegal small-scale mining, or galamsey, continues to pose serious threats to water resources, agricultural land, forests, and livelihoods of affected communities. Government has intensified measures to combat illegal mining, protect water bodies and forest reserves, enforce environmental regulation, and reclaim degraded lands. The Government of Ghana also recognizes the unique challenges faced by women farmers, artisanal fishers, and pastoralist communities. Through the implementation of the Affirmative Action on Gender Equity Act 2024, we are advancing women's participation and representation in economic and public life. Ghana will continue to strengthen efforts to ensure that rural women can participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their livelihoods and communities. With respect to pastoralism and transhumance, the government of Ghana continues to engage relevant stakeholders and regional mechanisms to promote peaceful coexistence, responsible land use, and the sustainable management of competing demands on land and natural resources. Such cooperation remains important in addressing tensions while protecting livelihoods and strengthening community resilience. With the Vice President, Ghana takes note of the working group's recommendation and will give them due consideration in light of our national existing legal and institutional frameworks and development priorities. We remain committed to constructive engagement with the working group and other human rights council mechanisms. We will continue to strengthen policies and measures that advance the rights, dignity, participation and livelihoods of rural population. Ghana remains convinced that inclusive and sustainable rural development requires continued investment in communities, stronger implementation of existing frameworks, and effective participation of those directly affected. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:03:28]: Thank you very much. The list of speakers is now closed. I now invite interested delegations to ask questions. to the working group and to make comments on the report. Speaking time is one minute, 30 seconds for all. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union. EU [2:04:01]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The EU thanks the working group for presenting the report. Peasants and other rural workers are essential contributors to the overall prosperity and economic strength. Their rights relating to seeds are an integral and indivisible component of the right to adequate food. Farmers and peasants are not merely stakeholders to be consulted, but individual rights holders entitled to active, free, meaningful and effective participation in decisions that shape the seed systems they depend on. They should benefit from legal certainty and, where their rights are affected, have access to transparent, inclusive and accessible processes and remedies. The EU explicitly applies a human rights-based approach on its international cooperation and promotes rights of rural workers by incorporating human rights principles into relevant policies and programs. Under its 335 million euros development smart innovation through research and agriculture initiative in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, a key research on policy work tracking seed law harmonization explicitly backs farmers' rights to save, reuse, exchange, and sell farm saved seeds. We would like to ask the working group what best practices has it observed in engaging peasants in active, free, transparent and meaningful consultations on seed-related research, legislation and policies. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:05:34]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the Group of African States. Kenya · Africa Group [2:05:41]: Mr. Vice President, I deliver this statement on behalf of the African group. The African Group thanks the Working Group for the presentation of its report on peasants' rights to seeds, an essential component of the rights enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas. In Africa, where family farming and rural activities remain essential to the livelihoods of many people, seeds represent more than a factor of agricultural production. They are closely linked to food security and food sovereignty, biodiversity, traditional knowledge, the identity of rural communities, as well as the resilience to climate change. The report rightly highlights the importance of traditional seed systems and community practices related to the conservation, exchange, and transmission of seeds. The African group takes note with concern of the challenges identified in the report, including insecure land tenure, environmental degradation, and the erosion of biodiversity, as well as the difficulties that certain intellectual property certification and marketing frameworks may pose to the effective enjoyment of the right to seeds. We believe a balanced approach should be promoted, one that supports agricultural innovation and research while preserving the rights traditional knowledge and seed practices of peasants in accordance with international obligations. A full statement shall be posted on the extranet. I thank you, Mr. Vice-President. HRC · Vice-President [2:07:09]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of FAO. FAO [2:07:16]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are essential for food security, nutrition, resilience, and contribute to the progressive realization of the right to adequate food. FAO supports members through technical guidance, data, capacity development, and policy assistance to strengthen the conservation, dynamic management, sustainable use, and development of plant genetic resources. This includes support for biodiversity conservation, farmer seed systems, climate resilience, sustainable production, and inclusive rural development. FAO recognizes the important role of peasants and other people working in rural areas in maintaining and developing agricultural biodiversity and associated knowledge. The UN Decade of Family Farming provides an important framework to advance policies for family farmers, including peasants, and their contributions to sustainable agri-food systems. In addition, the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists highlighted the essential role of women farmers and pastoralists in preserving traditional knowledge, seed selection, conservation, exchange, and marketing in accordance with national law. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:08:46]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Bolivia (Plurinational State of) [2:08:53]: Thank you, Vice-President. We commend the presentation of the report of the working group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, this time dedicated to the right to seeds in line with Article 19 of the UDHR. we take into account the findings and recommendations that contribute to seed governance as well as measures and practices to bolster individual and collective rights of campesinos, the right to keep, exchange, sell seeds and or the surplus that they've maintained. It all starts with a small thing, a seed. It's not just the start of a crop, it's an element of future work. Caring for our seeds is protecting our food sovereignty. We want to underline the establishment in Bolivia of a directory of the interstrategical committee on the plan for family agriculture, where decisions are taken in in conjunction with academia, youth and international agencies such as FAO, FIDA, the ICA. This therefore we ensure that family smallholders at rural and urban level can access credits and safe certification. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:10:16]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon. Cameroon [2:10:27]: Thank you, President. Cameroon aligns itself with the statement made by the African Group and thanks the working group for the presentation of its report on the rights of peasants to hold seeds. My delegation shares the importance paid to and highlighted to maintaining diversified, accessible locally adapted seed systems. Seeds are not just a factor for agricultural production, they are also linked to food security, biodiversity, traditional knowledge, resilience to climate change. In Cameroon, we are seeking a balance between the appropriate promotion of agricultural innovation, the protection of plant varieties, and safeguarding traditional practices, allowing peasants to keep, exchange, and exchange their seeds. This approach is part of national efforts to strengthen the rights of rural populations in Cameroon. The Ministry for Land Affairs introduced in February 2026 mechanisms designed to achieve better recognition of the land rights, the customary land rights, and to secure the use of land by local communities. And in August 2026, Cameroon welcomed the second conference of the Congo Basin on agroecology, bringing together peasant organizations, researchers, public authorities, and other partners about food sovereignty. President, my delegation would like to know how the working group intends to reconcile the need for agricultural innovation and protection of intellectual property with the effective preservation of traditional seed systems, in particular in developing countries. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:11:55]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador. Ecuador [2:12:04]: Thank you, Vice-President. Ecuador is grateful to the working group for its report and agrees regarding the need to recognise the crucial role played by seeds in the confluence between agriculture, food sovereignty, biodiversity, health, culture, knowledge, economy and human rights, as well as the need to protect its multiple functions. In that regard, Ecuador reiterates its commitment to the Undrop declaration, which was ratified by our national assembly in 2023, and with the constitutional recognition of food sovereignty as a strategic state objective, the guarantee of traditional knowledge linked thereto and the use of native seeds. Based on this, various initiatives have been promoted to strengthen campesino family agriculture, leveraging ancestral knowledge, conservation of campesino seeds, sustainable production and marketing in alternative circuits. Among other specific actions and policies, we would highlight the national agricultural strategy for rural women, as well as seed houses to preserve the autonomy of producers, food sovereignty and agricultural heritage. Then since 2022 in Ecuador, traditional seeds no longer need certification nor patents to be produced or marketed. And we recognize moreover ancestral knowledge as a parameter of quality. Finally, together with FAO, we are formulating a public policy on agricultural ancestral knowledge. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:13:34]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire. Côte d’Ivoire [2:13:42]: Vice-President, the Cote d'Ivoire subscribes to the statements made by the African Group and thanks the working group for its report analysing the current governance of seeds and its impact on the enjoyment of the right to seeds as recognized by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants. In my country, as in many other African states, more than 70% of cultivated seeds come from traditional systems, which are led by the ancestral knowledge of our peasants and, in particular, our women, who are genuine guardians of genetic diversity. However, these practices are under threat, given increasing concentration of the markets, the pressure of intellectual property rights, criminalization of traditional exchanges, and a situation aggravated by a lack of biodiversity, a loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, and dependence of our farmers on expensive commercial seeds. Given the situation, the Ivorian government initiated a major transition strategy. with the launch of the National Investment Program for Agriculture, Third Generation, and the National Development Plan 2026-2030 to ensure our food sovereignty, to reduce our dependence on imports, and to modernize our agricultural sector. To conclude, Cote d'Ivoire renews its support to the Mandated Working Group and calls upon States to implement the recommendations in the report to ensure better protection of human rights of peasants and other persons working in rural areas. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:15:12]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan. Sudan [2:15:20]: Thank you, Vice-President. We examined the report of the working group to the right of SEEDS. We agree on the difficulties encountered by peasants, in particular those involved in subsistence agriculture and smallholders. We agree with the recommendations on the proper management of agricultural land. These are recommendations which are important to look at intellectual property rights for peasants, in particular for traditional seeds. In Sudan, peasants have been highly affected by the rebel militias' actions and their attacks, as they have taken possession of land and the harvest of peasants wherever they and we'd like to mention a report of the OHCHR on the pillaging carried out by the militia, in particular in Khartoum and in other cities and regions as well, where houses have been seized by soldiers and peasants have died defending their property. This has led to chaos, and we've also seen humanitarian assistance which has been stolen. And we've seen that some products have been pillaged from peasants and then exported to be sold for profit. This has had a major impact on the Sudanese rural communities. We call upon the international community to combat this. HRC · Vice-President [2:16:51]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso [2:16:58]: Thank you, Vice-President. My delegation thanks the working group for this report. and associates itself with the statement made by the African group, but we would like to make a few further points concerning the situation in Burkina Faso. Population displacement, the destruction of gene and seed banks through terrorist attacks and climate change are all jeopardizing genetic diversity of peasant seeds in Burkina Faso. To combat this, public policies have been implemented. Law 20/2019 manages phytogenetic resources. In addition to this, a national gene bank, which has been operational since 2025, has allowed us to save local seeds and to guarantee food sovereignty. And the agro-pastoral and fisheries offensive and the presidential initiative for the agricultural production and food self-sufficiency launched in 2023 and 2024 aim to support local production and to guarantee food sovereignty. Moreover, inputs and equipment, financial support, and land tenure are all important measures which have been deployed as much as a solidarity for peasant organizations to help the affected communities affected by the security crisis. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:18:28]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand. Thailand [2:18:35]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Thailand thanks the working group for its report and its focus on rights to seeds. May I also add that it was a pleasure to welcome you, Madam Chair, to our mission yesterday. As an agricultural country, Thailand attaches great importance to seeds, not only as an essential agricultural input, but also as part of our biodiversity, food security, local knowledge, and the livelihoods of farming communities. For more than three decades, the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has promoted the conservation and study of Thailand's plant genetic resources, building on the establishment of a seed bank and encouraging wider awareness of the importance of preserving plant diversity for future generations at a national level. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives operates the gene bank to collect and conserve native, wild, and economically important plant genetic resources while supporting their use for research and plant breeding. Finally, Madam Chair, as AI is increasingly used in agriculture and plant breeding, how can we harness its potential to strengthen seed resilience while protecting traditional knowledge and farmers' rights? Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:20:03]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia. Indonesia [2:20:10]: Mr. Vice President, Indonesia affirms the importance of the rights to seeds for peasants and other people working in rural areas. Since 2005, our government has registered more than 4,800 plant varieties, including more than 2,800 local varieties, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources and their development by farming communities. We take note of the working group's acknowledgement of Indonesia's legal framework that allows farmers to save and reuse protected varieties. This is further strengthened by the 2019 Law on Sustainable Agricultural Cultivation, which recognizes peasants as actors in plant breeding and seed production and facilitates their access to genetic resources. We share concerns regarding pressures to adopt restrictive intellectual property frameworks, particularly UPOV 1991. While the TRIPS agreement requires protection of plant varieties using trade agreements to compel states to adhere to UPOV 1991, risk constraining farmer-managed seed systems and traditional practices. For Indonesia, equitable seed governance should preserve peasants' choices, support local varieties, and recognize farming communities as custodians of agrobiodiversity. We remain committed to promoting direct-to-seeds through an approach that takes into account national circumstances while supporting sustainable agriculture. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:21:38]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zambia. Zambia [2:21:47]: Thank you, Vice-President. Zambia welcomes the Working Group's report on the right to seeds. For Zambia, where small-scale farmers remain central to food security and rural livelihoods, access to affordable, diverse, and climate-resilient seed is fundamental to sustainable development. Our experience underscores the value of diverse and complementary food systems. Scientific research, improved varieties, and responsible private sector innovation enhance productivity and resilience. Equally, locally adapted varieties, preserved and improved by farming communities over generations, constitute an important reservoir of biodiversity, knowledge, and food security. Their preservation is also a question of autonomy. Farmers should retain meaningful choices over what they cultivate and should not become excessively dependent on a limited number of commercial varieties or suppliers. Zambia therefore encourages investment in the conservation, research and development of local varieties alongside improved commercial seeds and appropriate safeguards for farmers' knowledge and interests and fair, responsible market practices. As climate change increasingly threatens agricultural production, resilient food systems will depend upon diversity rather than dependence. We invite the working group to consider how states can promote innovation while preserving farmers' choices, custodianship, and long-term food security. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:23:14]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Botswana. not present absent I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Benin. Benin [2:23:42]: Thank you vice president Benin associates itself with the statement made by the African group and congratulates the working group on its report peasants and those working in rural areas, are the cornerstone of our food sovereignty and our economies. However, they are particularly vulnerable to poverty, land insecurity and to climate change. In line with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants, Benin reasserts its commitment to protect the fundamental rights of peasants, a vital precondition for us achieving the right to food and sustainable development. My delegation subscribes to the recommendations in the report and wishes to highlight the issue of land tenure. This is vital to protect farmers, in particular women and young people, against the appropriation of their land and will help to bolster agricultural resilience through supporting sustainable practices and the transfer of adaptive technology. At the national level, Benin is pursuing its reforms to modernize the farming sector, to improve the living conditions of peasants through better remuneration for their work, and to empower women and to reiterate our full desire to cooperate with the working group to make sure that the dignity and the rights of rural populations are a shared reality. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:25:04]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gambia. Gambia [2:25:10]: Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. The Gambia aligned itself with the African Group statement and thanks the working group for its report and its continued work in advancing the rights of peasants. As a member of the core group that supported the establishment of this mandate, The Gambia attaches particular importance ensuring that the concerns of peasants remain visible in the work of this Council. The report's focus on the right to seeds is particularly relevant for us, where the adverse effects of climate change has threatened the seed security of peasants. In response, the government of The Gambia, through its various institutions, the private sector and other indigenous stakeholders, in cooperation with development partners, has prioritized the adequate and timely availability of quality seeds to farmers at reasonable prices and at appropriate locations. In this regard, the government has launched a massive distribution of certified seeds to support farmers across all agricultural regions. In particular, the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, GIRAV, helps import and test high-yielding rice varieties to improve local food security. In addition, under the auspices of the National Seed Policy 2018-2028, the National Seed Secretariat is mandated to produce and distribute high-quality foundation and certified seeds to meet the demands of farmers for improved seeds varieties. As a question to the working group, I ask how can developing countries best ensure that smallholder farmers have access to formal certified seeds under aid programs while safeguarding traditional varieties and genetic. HRC · Vice-President [2:26:49]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Paraguay. Paraguay [2:26:54]: Thank you, Vice-President. The delegation of Paraguay is grateful to the working group for presenting its report on the right to seeds and recognises the importance of this topic for food security, biodiversity and the livelihoods of rural communities. For Paraguay, a country with a major agricultural tradition and a close linkage between rural development, food production and the well-being of our communities, debate is particularly important. We recognise that seeds constitute a crucial element in agricultural production and food security, as well as the valuable role of peasants and rural communities in maintaining agricultural diversity and the transmission of knowledge and practices from one generation to the next. It is particularly important that public seed policy respond to the realities and needs of smallholders and of family agriculture. In that regard, Paraguay enacted in 2019 its law on campesino family agriculture, which, in line with this report, specifically recognises the traditional exchange of seeds without middlemen as part of the close-knit cultural economy. Nevertheless, there is still the challenge of reconciling this protection framework with the dynamics of global markets and patent regimes. Finally, we want to express to the working that we look forward to receiving them in Paraguay this coming November. Which means we look forward to seeing you in Paraguay. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:28:24]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Togo. Togo [2:28:31]: Thank you, Vice President. The delegation of Togo thanks the working group on its report and underscores the importance of seed for food security, biodiversity, means of subsistence for rural populations and the resilience of agricultural systems given climate change. We attach particular importance to the protection of traditional knowledge, the participation of rural communities in policies that concern them, as well as the full acknowledgement of the role of women in the custodianship Transfer and exchange of traditional seeds. Togo considers that balanced governance of seeds should allow us to reconcile agricultural innovation, the protection of intellectual property, the preservation of biodiversity and the respect of the rights of peasants. My delegation encourages States and partners to promote adapted seed systems for local realities, to strengthen community seed banks, and to encourage the participation of farmers in decision-making processes. HRC · Vice-President [2:29:36]: Thank you. Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe [2:29:46]: Welcome to the part. of the working group and comments, the important work that went into the report, PIs and other people working in the rural areas are vulnerable and their rights must be protected, promoted, and upheld. Zimbabwe embarked on the land reform program to address imbalances and inequalities in ownership of land, benefiting over 300,000 households. The program has provided peasants access to productive land, farming inputs, markets, as well as climate-resilient seed varieties. They are also receiving various training programs focused on climate justice, safeguarding disaster risk reduction, and economic empowerment. The government is also revitalizing small water irrigation programs and the agricultural finance support schemes, targeting sustainable and climate-resilient production for peasant farmers. To strengthen security of tenure and support to peasant farmers facing land disputes, the government in 2025 began to issue secure, bankable and transferable title deeds to beneficiaries of land reform, transforming agricultural land into formal financial capital. Zimbabwe is committed to ensuring that the rights of peasants and other people working in the rural areas are fulfilled. I thank you, Mr. Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [2:31:09]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia. Malaysia [2:31:15]: Mr. Vice President, Malaysia thanks the working group for its report. We recognize that seed governance should safeguard farmers' access to quality planting materials, preserve agricultural biodiversity, and support research, innovation, and resilient food production. Malaysia takes note of the references to itself in paragraphs 44 and 49 of the report. As these references draw upon submissions received by the working group, they should be considered alongside Malaysia's broader domestic framework and national circumstances. Our plant variety protection framework seeks to balance several legitimate interests. It aims to protect farmers, encourage research and investment in plant breeding, strengthen domestic capacity, and improve access to resilient and productive plant varieties. Relevant stakeholders, including farmers, breeders, and research institutions, remain as important partners in this process. Therefore, Malaysia remains committed to this framework by 1, supporting agricultural innovation and plant breeding. Two, contributing to long-term food security. Three, fostering domestic research and breeding capacity. Four, protecting biodiversity and genetic resources. And five, balancing the interest of farmers, breeders, and the wider public. To conclude, we believe that seed governance should benefit everyone. We will continue to advance an inclusive approach that protects human rights, livelihoods, and biodiversity. I thank you, Mr. Vice President. HRC · Vice-President [2:32:42]: Muchas gracias. Thank very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania. United Republic of Tanzania [2:32:52]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. The United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group, takes note of the report of the working group, and welcomes its recognition of the contribution of peasants and rural communities to food security, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. Tanzania remains committed to strengthening their rights and livelihoods through inclusive agricultural policies, sustainable agriculture, and meaningful participation in decision making. For the financial year 2025-26, the government increased the agricultural sector budget to approximately 1,240,000,000,000 Tanzanian shillings. As of this year, Tanzania has identified approximately 770 traditional seed varieties, of which 360 are conserved and maintained, while 13 crop varieties, including maize, rice, beans, and papaya, have been incorporated into the formal seed system. Tanzania has also institutionalized the participation of farmers' organizations and cooperatives in decision affecting agricultural services and investments. We continue to strengthen seed quality assurance and protect farmers against counterfeit agricultural inputs. inputs, the United Republic of Tanzania will continue to advance the rights and livelihood of peasants, rural communities, and rural communities, promoting human dignity, equality, participation, food security, and sustainable use of natural resources. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:34:25]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. Bangladesh [2:34:32]: Thank you, Mr. President. Bangladesh thanks the Working Group for its report and welcomes its focus on the right to seeds as integral to food security, biodiversity, rural livelihoods and climate resilience. For Bangladesh, where agriculture remains closely connected to the livelihoods of millions, protecting the rights and knowledge of smallholder farmers is essential for sustainable development. We particularly appreciate the report's recognition of the role of Bangladeshi women in preserving traditional landraces resilient to salinity and flooding in vulnerable coastal and riverine areas. Mr. President, Bangladesh underscores that peasants must. Be able to preserve, use, exchange, and develop farm-saved seeds while participating meaningfully in decisions affecting seed governance. Seed policies should safeguard traditional knowledge, biodiversity and farmers autonomy while ensuring that intellectual property, certification and commercial frameworks do not disproportionately disadvantage small scale farmers. Climate change further reinforces the importance of locally adapted seeds and community-based conservation. Greater support for climate-resilient agriculture, farmer-led innovation, participatory plant breeding, community seed banks, and equitable benefit-sharing arrangements can strengthen food security and rural resilience, particularly for climate-vulnerable rural communities and future generations. welcome the working group's views on how developing countries can better protect traditional seed systems while promoting agricultural innovation. HRC · Vice-President [2:36:05]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali. Mali [2:36:14]: Thank you, Vice-President. Mali subscribes to the statements made by the groups it belongs to and thanks the working group on the rights of peasants and other persons working in rural areas for the presentation of their report on the rights to seeds, question and closure and resilience. My delegation recalls that Mali has a large part of their seeds cultivated by natural procedures. These peasant varieties of seeds are rich in diversity and are kept by rural communities to adapt them to their production systems. Based on the knowledge and know-how of peasants, the seeds allow us to protect our food farming and our genetic diversity with no use of chemical inputs and these are conserved and exchanged and sold by peasants. However, one of the causes of non-access of smallholders to improved seeds is the localization of agro-dealers and the businesses have these seeds and they're concentrated in Bamako which means that they are far away from most of the villages and the seeds which are improved seeds are very expensive. My delegation supports recommendation the working group on recognition and support for development of community and traditional seed systems and the knowledge which underpin these to mobilize public resources to support these to make sure that we can support local mechanisms. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:37:45]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil. Brazil [2:37:50]: Mr. Vice President, Brazil thanks the Working Group for its report on the right to seeds. Report provides evidence of the importance of the activities carried out by the Working Group and of the contribution it's made to the application of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas. Allow us to reaffirm Brazil's strongest commitment to the implementation of UNDROP and our support for the renewal of the mandate of the Working Group. The UNDROP is a key reference for Brazil, providing a framework for the protection of the rights and livelihoods of those who play a fundamental role in promoting inclusive and sustainable food systems. Its principles have been incorporated by different Brazilian ministries in the implementation of public policies, strengthening a rights-based approach to rural development. For Brazil, the participation of civil society is a pillar of this discussion. The engagement of smallholders and family farmers in the implementation of policies, including related to seeds, is essential to strengthening their rights and voices. Brazil stands ready to contribute to the discussions to keep the rights of peasants high in the political agenda, both internally and in the Human Rights Council. Thank. HRC · Vice-President [2:38:55]: You. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru. Peru [2:39:02]: Vice President, Peru is grateful to the working group for presenting its report on the right to seeds, which underlines its relationship to food security, traditional knowledge, resilience of food systems in the face of environmental deterioration and climate change. For Peru, a mega diverse country with great Crop diversification, conservation of phyto genetic resources is linked to sovereignty over our genetic resources and protection of populations that rely on them. In June 2026, Peru recognized the, this 12th agro bi, biodiversity zone in the country, bolstering, uh, food security and promoting traditional knowledge and innovations of campesino communities. Peru agrees with the need to preserve traditional seed systems and recognises the role of campesinos, indigenous peoples and rural women in conservation, use and intergenerational transmission of that knowledge, fully respecting sovereignty and national legislation. Peru regrets that financial restrictions at the UN have impeded the working group visiting our country, we reiterate our willingness to continue cooperating with the mandate, and we trust that that visit can be reorganised when conditions so permit. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:40:23]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [2:40:29]: Thank you, Mr Vice-President. Pakistan thanks the Working Group for its report. As an agricultural country, Pakistan attaches particular importance to stronger recognition of peasants as custodians of genetic resources. Generations of farmers have conserved, selected and adapted seeds to local conditions. This knowledge is not only part of our agricultural heritage, but an important source of food security, biodiversity and climate resilience. We share the report's concern regarding growing pressures on traditional seed systems arising from intellectual property and certification regimes, emerging digital technologies and biotechnologies, as well as trade and investment frameworks. Innovation and agricultural modernization remains essential, but they should complement rather than displaced farmer-led knowledge and practices. Seed governance must preserve adequate policy space for countries to respond to their agricultural realities and development needs. Mr. Vice President, the report recognizes that access to territories and water is crucial to the right to seeds. Given that many agricultural countries depend on transboundary waters, we invite working groups' views on how unilateral measures affecting such waters can impact the rights and livelihoods of peasants. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:41:45]: Muchas gracias. Thank you. I give the floor now Madame Gutel to respond to the questions and comments made thus far. HRC · Chair · Sharmali Guttal [2:41:58]: Thank you, President. We thank all of the States for your remarks, questions, and suggestions. We are extremely encouraged by your engagement and commitment to the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, as well as to the mandate of UNDROP and the UNDROP Working Group. So let me try to respond to some of the questions. There are many. So first, on the issue of good practices to strengthen peasant participation, UNDROP's Article 10 addresses the rights of peasants and rural workers to active and free participation directly and/or through their representative organizations. The right to participation is also elaborated in important other human rights instruments, such as the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and on Business and Human Rights. In terms of good practices, what we have observed and documented in a report on participation in 2025 and also in the present report on SEEDS is that it's important to ensure real policy influence through these peasant engagements, moving beyond token dialogue, because peasants, rural workers, indigenous peoples will engage if they feel that their participation and engagement actually leads results in concrete and tangible benefits. Apply free, prior and informed consent for lands and traditional knowledge for Indigenous Peoples. Support collaborative legislative drafting between peasants, Indigenous Peoples and technical partners so that they are able to contribute into policy and legislative and regulatory frameworks. Integrate peasant representatives directly into government technical committees, as well as in regional and international policy fora. It's very important in the issue of participation to guarantee gender equality for rural women in all decision-making bodies, and we have made particular recommendations on that in the report. Utilize direct action, also strategic litigation to challenge restrictive laws, as we have seen that peasants, indigenous peoples, women's organizations, and others have been doing over the last several years. It's also important to establish community-owned governance models, such as participation guarantee systems, collective stewardship of territories, customary management systems, security of tenure, and so on, as have been already outlined in other policy spaces. It's also extremely important to enforce transparent business consultations that actually support business present initiatives. and do not appropriate these initiatives of peasants and indigenous peoples and rural peoples into, shall we say, token marketing opportunities. So these are just some suggestions that we have. On the issue, there's questions raised by Cameroon and Bangladesh on how the working group can envisage reconciling necessarily the agricultural innovation and intellectual property protection. We'd like to say that peasants are innovators themselves. Their systems embody generations of knowledge and scientific study in their territories, and these innovations and knowledge need to be recognized and protected and supported through public resources. Human rights must be prioritized over intellectual property and trade agreements. We recommend to enact sui generis laws tailored to local context instead of restrictive UPOV 1991 standards. exempt traditional seeds from industrial certification and marketing rules, fund participatory breeding between farmers and scientists, enforce anti-biopiracy measures requiring prior informed consent and origin disclosure, regulate digital sequence information. My time is up, so I will reserve the rest of my comments for later. Thanks. HRC · Vice-President [2:45:54]: Thank you very much. We'll return now to the list of speakers. Next on my list is the distinguished representative of South Africa. South Africa [2:46:04]: Thank you, Mr. President. We align with the Africa Group statement and thanks the working group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas for this timely report on the right to seeds and for highlighting the critical relationship between the seeds, food, food security, biodiversity, livelihoods, and the resilience of rural communities. Subsistence and smallholder farmers remain the backbone of agriculture in most developing countries. Yet millions continue to face difficult reality, producing food with limited access to affordable inputs and essential agricultural services, such as access to quality seeds. Seeds are not merely agricultural inputs. For millions of these farmers, seeds are central to livelihoods, cultural heritage, food sovereignty and the ability of communities to adapt to climate change. We therefore underscore the importance of protecting traditional seed systems and ensuring that rural communities are able to preserve, use, exchange and whilst enabling appropriate quality seeds, breeding innovations. In this regard, South Africa is investing in public sector breeding program through the Agricultural Research Council, ARC. Finally, South Africa supports the renewal of the working group's mandate for a further three years. We believe in its continued work. We believe that continue to work remains important to advancing the implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:47:26]: Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq. Iraq [2:47:36]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We reaffirm that supporting the rights of peasants are a main part of the efforts of the states to enhance food security and achieve sustainable rural development. The government of Iraq has taken a number of measures to support peasants this year. The summer agricultural plan has dedicated 1,800,000 dunams for agriculture. And the government has used new irrigation technologies and laser leveling technologies in that in order to rationalize the use of water. And we The cabinet in 2026 limited the price of wheat and has worked on increasing the storage capacity. In 2026, we enhanced our partnership with international organization to support small farmers and FAO, and we have started a new initiative for the southern part of Iraq, we reaffirm our commitment to continue our support to the rights of. HRC · Vice-President [2:49:06]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba. Cuba [2:49:17]: The key elements in diversity, crops and food sovereignty, due to its important Seeds have been highlighted repeatedly in international law. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights calls on states to guarantee access to productive resources, including land, water and seeds, and to refrain from adopting any regressive measures to undermine that access, such as privatisation or restrictions on essential food resources. For its part, the UN Declaration, the UNDROP, recognizes the crucial role of rural workers in conservation, utilization, interchange and sale, as well as of seeds and knowledge. related to those biological components, full realization of those rights continues to be a pending task in many parts of the world. Therefore, we support the recommendation of the working group on the need to promote equitable agrarian and redistributive reform to guarantee the right of campesinos to seeds. Cuba will continue to support the important mandate of the working group on the rights of campesinos and other people working in rural areas. Our country is part of the group of nations be presenting a draft resolution at this session of the Council to renew the mandate of this mechanism. Thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:50:44]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of India. India [2:50:51]: Mr. Vice President, India thanks the working group for its presentation and for constructive engagement with member states and highlighting the importance of seeds in the lives and livelihoods of peasants and other rural workers. India values the welfare, dignity and prosperity of its farmers and rural communities. Our approach is people-centered and development-oriented, linking farmer welfare with food and nutrition security, poverty eradication, sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Implementation of UNDROP should remain nationally owned and sensitive to different constitutional, legal, agricultural and different contexts. The working group should prioritize recommendations, technical assistance, capacity building, and the exchange of good practices while avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches. Participation must be meaningful and inclusive. It should include women farmers, small and marginal farmers, tenant farmers, agricultural laborers, fisherfolk, pastoralists, rural youth, and tribal communities while respecting elected institutions and local governance. On seeds, India supports a balanced approach that recognizes farmers as custodians and innovators. It strengthens access to quality and climate-resilient seeds, protects agro-biodiversity, and supports research and farmer choice in accordance with national law and international commitment. India remains committed to constructive engagement in South-South cooperation so that no rural community is left behind. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [2:52:27]: Thank you very much. I give the floor to distinguished representative of China. China [2:52:33]: Thank you, Vice President. China appreciates the efforts of the experts of the working group and welcome the fact the report highlights the rights of farmers to their seeds. As the first global producer of cereals, China considers improvement of the wellbeing of farmers as a key mission, we place great priority on farming and rural issues, and we have ha- we have recorded the greatest victory in history against poverty, lifting 100 million people living in rural areas from poverty. The seed industry is crucial to guarantee food security. In May 2026, China published the 15th five-year plan to accelerate agricultural and rural modernization, which aims to revitalize the seed industry, to accelerate the selection and promotion of innovative varieties, and to develop industrialization of bio-selection. China participates, and always has done, in global efforts to promote food security and to reduce poverty globally. We have carried out agricultural cooperation activities in more than 140 countries and regions. And the new method of molecular selection established jointly by China and the CIMMYT is used by 24 countries in the world. HRC · Vice-President [2:53:50]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran (Islamic Republic of) [2:53:57]: Mr. Vice President, my delegation takes note of the report on the right to seeds and emphasizes that the enjoyment of the rights recognized under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas requires effective access to seeds, agricultural inputs, equipment, technology, water, and other essential resources. We believe that the report should give greater attention to the adverse human rights impacts of economic, financial, and trade sanctions. My delegation further draw attention of the working group to the destruction of civilian agricultural and food infrastructure during the recent aggression against Iran. 206 livestock, poultry, and agriculture facilities were completely destroyed and 101 seriously damaged. Production facilities, cold storage centers, food markets, grain and rice warehouses, poultry and shrimp farms, and other facilities containing fertilizers and water were also targeted. The international community must strengthen the protection of peasants and rural communities and ensure that access to seed, agriculture inputs, food, fodder, and essential agriculture infrastructure is effectively safeguarded. HRC · Vice-President [2:55:19]: I thank you. Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria. Algeria [2:55:28]: Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the working group for the report. We attach high importance to preserving biodiversity and food security. and the main role of peasants in preserving plant genetics and developing them. Our legislations stipulate the necessity to achieve a balance between innovation and the rights of peasants. In particular, guarantees are provided to peasants to use their harvest in protected areas as well as legislation on food security. We believe that seed policies must be drafted while taking into account national agricultural characteristics, biodiversity, and the needs of rural communities. These policies must also support research, innovation, and development of varieties that are locally convenient. In conclusion, we must adopt an approach that preserve the rights of plant breeders and peasants and the protection of the right. HRC · Vice-President [2:56:51]: Thank you. Give the floor, distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) [2:57:00]: Thank you very much, Vice President. Venezuela is grateful to the working group for presenting its report and shares its recognition of the right to seeds is a vital element in guaranteeing the rights of campesinos, preserving biodiversity and strengthening food sovereignty of peoples. We are concerned by the growing commodification, concentration of production and marketing of seeds that can generate new forms of dependence, limit the autonomy of campesinos and displace knowledge and practices that have been developed over generations. Venezuela has a new seed law which declares as a good of public, cultural and natural interests, local seeds, campesino and indigenous Afro-descendant seeds. Science and technology should contribute to building the productive capacities of campesinos. We have promoted the scientific campesino partnership, which coordinates the ancestral knowledge of our producers with scientific and technological knowledge, bolstering national capacities for the production of seeds. A concrete expression of this policy is the work carried out at the Biotechnology Center for education in production of asexual seeds, together with organized producers, which have helped produce and distribute high-quality seeds in 26 states around the country. Venezuela reaffirms that seeds transcend the economic dimension and are part of the living heritage of our peoples. HRC · Vice-President [2:58:25]: Thank you. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt. Egypt [2:58:38]: Thank you, Mr. Vice President. We thank the working group for the presentation and we appreciate the close link between the rights of peasants, seeds and food security. We refer also to the fact that we must deal with water scarcity and climate change. Peasants must be included in decision making. We believe that the right of peasants Including the right to save use and exchange, uh, seeds, uh, must, uh, be also, uh, in parallel with, uh, encouraging more productive varieties while respecting the local legislations. We support small farmers through a comprehensive system. These efforts also are accompanied with production consultation and more productive irrigation systems to provide the best support to small farmers. In conclusion, we reaffirm the importance of international cooperation to enhance food security through technology and capacity building. and that in a manner that respects their national priorities. I thank you. HRC · Vice-President [3:00:06]: Thank you. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Armenia. Armenia [3:00:14]: Mr. Vice President, Armenia warmly welcomes the report of the working group and expresses its appreciation for the group's continued constructive engagement with states. We commend group's sustained efforts to highlight the human rights dimensions of custodianship, traditional knowledge, and the protection of agrobiodiversity. The report's focus on the right to seeds on safeguarding farmers' custodianship and on resisting the enclosure of genetic resources is of particular relevance to Armenia. These issues lie at the intersection of human rights, rural livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation. As Armenia prepares to host the CBD COP17 in Yerevan next month, we wish to underline that the preservation of seeds and traditional varieties is essential for resilient ecosystems, food security, and the fair sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. We therefore welcome the report's recommendations and reaffirm our commitment to advancing the rights of peasants, strengthening biodiversity protection, and supporting the working group in its important mandate. HRC · Vice-President [3:01:18]: I thank you. Thank you very much. I give the floor to the final speaker on my list of states, the distinguished representative of Malawi. Malawi [3:01:30]: Mr. Vice President, Malawi aligns itself with the statement of the African Group and thanks the working group for its report on the centrality of the right to seeds. Malawi recognizes that the right to freely develop, use, save, exchange and sell seeds and propagating material is closely linked to the right to life, food, land, natural resources, water, development, equality, health, work, culture and self-determination. Malawi is a signatory to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, aimed at guaranteeing food security through conservation, sustainable utilization, fair benefits, sharing crops and seeds. At the national level, Malawi has undertaken a number of measures to strengthen its seed regulatory framework. These measures include the Seed Act, 2022, the National Agriculture Policy 2024-2029, the Seed Policy 2018 is currently under review. Further, Malawi is in the process of finalizing the National Strategy on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This strategy aims to guide the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, critical to food security and agricultural development in Malawi. We recognize that more needs to be done to strengthen implementation. HRC · Vice-President [3:03:01]: Thank you very much. Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished participants, this brings us to the end of this meeting. We will reconvene once more this afternoon to continue the interactive dialogue with the Working Group on the Human Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. Then, there will be an interactive dialogue on the SG's report on actionable pathways in mobilising sufficient climate financing and the difficulties and opportunities that those pose in achieving full effectiveness of human rights of all persons. This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner's analytical report on the human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations. Thank you very much to the interpreters for the additional minutes granted. And with that, I hereby close the 13th meeting of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. Thank you.