Denmark Review - 52nd session of Universal Periodic Review

Excellent.
Excellencies, Distinguished colleagues, a very good morning.
I hereby call to order the seventh meeting of the 52nd session of the working group on the Universal periodic review.
We will now proceed with the review of Denmark.
Before we begin, please let me remind you that all delegations should upload their oral statements through the online system for inscription on the list of speakers event before the opening of the review they intend to address in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution five slash one.
The review is based on the national report prepared by the state under review, and the compilation of UN information and the summary of stakeholders information, both prepared by the OHCHR.
I now have the honor to give the floor to Her Excellency, miss Christina Egund, acting Minister for Higher Education and Science for her to present the national report.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Not all.
Thank you.
Vice President, distinguished delegates, I'm honored to represent the Kingdom of Denmark at this universal periodic review, together with representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Denmark has always been firmly committed to the full implementation of our international human rights obligations.
Human rights are the foundation of our society.
But challenges remain, new dilemmas arise, and we must constantly ask ourselves if we can do even more.
This is why Denmark actively engages in this universal periodic review.
In Denmark, the UPR is closely coordinated between all relevant authorities.
This includes, of course, the Greenlandic government and Nags Sut as well as the Faroes government, with whom we have a close cooperation in general regarding human rights and also in this UPR process.
Civil Society was consulted when preparing our national report and the MFA, together with the Danis Institute for Human Rights, have facilitated successful public discussions around the country in the preparation for our review.
Vice President, distinguished delegates, before turning to more substantial remarks, let me inform you that the government of Denmark resigned after parliamentary elections on March 24th.
The government now acts as a caretaker government until a new government is formed.
This places significant limits on the government's ability to express policy positions regarding the future, including on issues raised in this review.
Therefore, our remarks today will be factual in nature.
For this, I ask for your kind understanding.
One thing I definitely can say is that for the kingdom of Denmark, the UPR is an essential mechanism for the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of human rights.
Let me therefore reflect on some of the human rights areas that were mentioned in our latest UPR in 2021 and that are still very important to us.
First, let me reflect on our work regarding combating racism.
Denmark upholds a well established and comprehensive legal framework dedicated to the prevention of racism and discrimination.
To enhance this legal framework further, an action plan was presented in February 2025 with a clear objective to address and combat racism broadly and effectively in Danish society.
The action plan includes initiatives across several areas, including housing, children and youth, nightlife, the labor market, and measures addressing hate crimes and racially motivated extremism.
Discrimination based on race or national origin is, of course, prohibited and unacceptable in Danish society.
Numerous organizations contribute every day to combating racism and supporting victims.
They have also provided valuable input to the action plan.
Furthermore, civil society receives public funding to combat racism.
This includes projects that bring minority and majority groups together and reduce social and cultural barriers among children and youth.
A particular focus of the plan is to ensure equal treatment for Greenlanders residing in Denmark.
Hence, the action plan also includes targeted initiatives aimed at combating discrimination and racism against Greenlanders.
As part of these efforts, the dedicated government coordination unit has been established.
Vice President, let me now turn to the important issue of gender equality.
Gender equality is a cornerstone in our democracy and regarded as a precondition for economic growth, democracy, and welfare.
Women's full enjoyment of all human rights, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights is fundamental for our society.
Denmark has achieved a high degree of gender equality, but we have not reached de facto equality.
I believe no country has.
As we have highlighted in our report and in response to previous UPR recommendations, we will continue our work, including on preventing violence against women and femicide trafficking and ensuring equal pay.
The Danish welfare system is designed to ensure equality.
Public services, including social security schemes are universal and human rights based and therefore independent of, for instance, gender.
The Gender Equality Act prohibits all types of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.
In Denmark, it is cost free to file a complaint with the Board of Equal Treatment, which can award compensation and overturn a dismissal.
These initiatives are being monitored by the Danish Institute of Human Rights.
Annual governmental action plan guides the effort and are debated in parliament.
Vice President, now let me turn to the challenges associated with disadvantaged social housing areas.
The starting point for the Danish government is that everyone in Denmark should have the same opportunities in life regardless of their background, birthplace, and which neighborhood they live in.
We will not accept that people living in disadvantaged residential areas have fewer opportunities of getting a job, education, or a decent income than the rest of the Danish population.
Also, our vocabulary on geographic areas is important.
We no longer use the term ghettos, but rather parallel societies, areas of transformation, or vulnerable housing areas.
This change reflects a new approach to addressing the challenges associated with disadvantaged residential areas.
It entails a greater emphasis on inclusion, integration, and improvement of living conditions.
In addition, Denmark will ensure a mix of residents from different backgrounds in vulnerable housing areas by offering a variety of the housing options.
To ensure a mix of inhabitants in all social housing areas, municipalities are encouraged to offer socially disadvantaged people a home in well functioning residential areas.
At the same time, housing applicants with employment are encouraged to settle in vulnerable housing areas.
Vice President, this concludes Denmark's parts of the opening remarks.
Allow me now to pass the floor to my distinguished colleague from Greenland, Tsonal Gent, head of the Greenland Mission to the European Union.
Honorable Vice President, distinguished delegates of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
It's a great honor for me to address you on behalf of the government of Greenland here at the opening of the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Since the last UPR dialogue in 2021, Greenland Gadsht Noun has taken several significant steps to strengthen the human rights protection.
I will highlight these this morning.
But before doing that, allow me to extend my government's gratitude to our many friends, including member states of the Human Rights Council, as well as the special procedures and mandate holders of the council for the support extended to Greenland.
The current difficult situation that we find ourselves in.
It's a geopolitical situation where Greenland and the people of Greenland's right to determine its own future, the right to self determination, as well as the territorial integrity and political unity of Greenland and of the kingdom of Denmark as a whole is being challenged.
It's a situation that affects our sense of security and thus also have mental health impacts on children as well as on adults.
In addition, a lot of work are directed into mitigating and addressing the situation.
I can inform you that the government of Greenland and the government of Denmark are working together in close tandem in addressing these challenges through diplomatic talks at the highest level.
So your support helps boost our morale, our resolve, and our optimism for a safer and more secure future.
Your support shows us that we are not alone, and that makes an impression on all.
Your support cannot be underestimated.
Thank you, Buena.
I will now turn to the Rights of persons with disabilities.
In August 2024, an action plan for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2024, 2034 was launched.
The action plan that has the mantra, we must see the person that the disability has an overarching goal of ensuring persons with disabilities equal participation in society, including by dismantling the barriers for enjoying rights on equal terms with other members of society.
In parallel, Nyala, which is what my government is called in Greenlanding, is now putting forward a legislative proposal that will give persons with disabilities better access to support, including financial.
This also includes options for family members to take paid temporary leave to care for close relatives or close relative with a disability.
The proposal also strengthens early intervention, ensures aftercare support, and digitalizes case processing to facilitate access and navigation of the system.
Efforts are also ongoing to renovate residential care facilities.
In addition, yet other legislation related to the use of comercial coercion measures in the social sector has been adopted.
Now turning to children and young people and families.
In 2021, a dedicated government ministry for children, youth and family was established.
This has ensured coordinated knowledge and action, including in collaboration with the children's spokesperson.
In 2023, an amendment to the Act on Support for Children was adopted by I, which is our parliament, strengthening the legal framework for family counseling centers and family houses across the country.
And since then, in February 2024, an executive order made it obligatory for the centers to provide interdisciplinary counseling and treatment for children, young people and families, ensuring a coordinated and holistic approach.
We would also like to mention two action plans that are complementary and mutually supportive and aimed at reducing the number of social care placement outside the family and provide early childhood interventions.
That is the action plan for preventive work for families 2023 to 2030 and the action plan for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In addition, investments are directed at the education and professional development of practitioners to ensure skilled and dedicated staff at the municipal level.
Now, turning to older persons.
In 2023, Nyala presented a new strategy entitled a Good Life in Old Age, Freedom, Welfare and Securing the Future.
The strategy sets concrete goals across ten areas, including the following.
A stronger focus on dementia care, including with the establishment of dedicated dementia units in the care homes, and funding for housing communities for older persons as an alternative to institutional care.
The enumeration for both old age and early retirement pensions have also been increased.
Currently, a pension reform is being prepared that will, among other things, abolish the mutual financial maintenance obligation for couples.
Now turning to non discrimination.
As you know, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark guarantees all citizens in Greenland protection against discrimination on any grounds.
In Greenland, we have decided to go further.
At It's spring session, Itstut being our parliament once again.
In 2024, Greenland adopted its first Equality and Anti Discrimination Act.
This also entails an equal treatment board where citizens can turn to if they believe that they have been discriminated against.
It should also be mentioned that citizens who experience discrimination by Greenland public authorities may bring complaints to Greenland's parliamentary ombudsman.
Greenland has also recently acceded to the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on preventing accompanying violence against women and domestic violence.
Recently, also, new inheritance legislation was adopted, modernizing rules dating back to 1964 to strengthen the legal position of surviving family members.
Mr.
Vice President, as you heard, we have been taking many steps in enhancing the protection of human rights in Greenland.
We are keenly aware of the remaining challenges.
This is why Greenland looks forward to today's dialogue on how we can continue to strengthen and ensure the protection of human rights for all our citizens without discrimination on any grounds.
Greenland is a huge country with a small society, but with great ambitions for doing better.
So we have great expectations that our dialogue today can help and inspire us to fulfill our ambitions.
Korean, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Now please allow me to pass the floor to my distinguished colleague from the Faroe Islands.
Dum Hage onchir, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Culture of the Faroe Islands.
Thank you, Minister.
Vice President, distinguished delegates.
I align myself with the statements delivered by Denmark and Greenland.
It is an honor to contribute to this universal periodic review on behalf of the government of the Faroe Islands.
As in Greenland and Denmark, human rights and democratic values are deeply embedded in Farese society.
We are a small and closely connected country with a population of around 55,000 people.
There is a Faroes saying, and it goes like this in Phase.
Collect aina, which means that wisdom lies in the eyes of the guest.
It reflects the idea that an outside perspective can often bring clarity to what we ourselves may take for granted.
In this spirit, we value the universal periodic review mechanism as an important opportunity.
It allows us to reflect on our society, both from within and through the perspective of the international community.
We therefore welcome the recommendations received and the opportunity for constructive dialogue.
Vice President, human rights are not static.
They are an ongoing process.
They reflect the choices we make every day about how we organize our society and how we treat one another.
Allow me to highlight some key areas where the Faroe Islands have taken concrete steps to strengthen human rights protections.
I will begin with institutional frameworks.
The Faroe Islands recognize the importance of effective and independent monitoring mechanisms.
The government has explored various options for establishing a national human rights institution in line with the Paris principles.
This work will continue, taking into account the specific context of a small society.
As a small administration, the government seeks to rely on existing bodies where possible.
Today, several well functioning public institutions contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Most recently, the disability Oput established in 2024.
The disability Oput serves as an independent monitoring mechanism under Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
It is inspired by the Paris principles and adapted to the various context.
Its mandate is to promote, safeguard, and monitor compliance with the convention in both legislation and practice.
I am pleased to note that the first disability put took office in October last year and has already begun this important work.
In addition to public institutions, I would like to mention that civil society plays a vital role.
Taken together, these mechanisms form a strong and comprehensive framework for the protection of fundamental human rights in the Faroe Islands.
Vice President.
Safeguarding the well being of children is fundamental to any society grounded in human rights.
In the Faroe Islands, the overall risk of child poverty remains low.
Over the past decade, social policies have strengthened families financial resilience.
These efforts are focused on increasing disposable income for families with children.
At the same time, we recognize that challenges remain.
Data shows that single parenthood is the main factor placing families at risk of poverty.
In response, targeted measures have been introduced.
These include subsidized benefits and improved opportunities for single parents to pursue education.
Efforts are also being made to strengthen data on income and living conditions.
This will support evidence based policymaking and further reduce the risk of child poverty while promoting a more inclusive society.
In this context, integration and social inclusion are key priorities.
We firmly believe that successful integration strengthens social cohesion and promotes respect for human dignity and equal opportunities.
A new parliamentary Act on integration entered into force in 2024.
It applies to all foreign nationals with resident permits and aims to support their inclusions, as well as that of their children into Faroueese society.
Implementation is based on close cooperation between national and municipal authorities, civil societies and newcomers themselves.
Vice President.
The Faroe Islands are firmly committed to advancing gender equality.
We believe that women and men must have equal rights and opportunities in all areas of society.
The Gender Equality Office has been strengthened and the Gender Equality Act is currently under review, including provisions on sexual harassment.
Measures are also being taken to address the gender pay gap.
At the same time, efforts are ongoing to improve gender desegregated data, ensuring that policies are based on solid evidence.
Addressing violence in intimate and close relationships also remains a priority.
The government has adopted a new comprehensive action plan, building on previous initiatives.
The plan strengthens prevention, professional capacity, and public awareness.
It places particular focus on children, young people, women and men.
Important legal steps have been taken.
Psychological violence and stalking have now been criminalized.
Support services for victims are also being expanded, including improved access to psychological assistance.
In addition, a dedicated hotline for victims, relatives, professionals, and perpetrators is expected to become operational by this year.
Further initiatives include strengthening the women's house and counseling services, as well as establishing a knowledge unit to improve data and understanding of violence.
Vice President, distinguished delegates.
In conclusion, this review has highlighted important areas of progress, as well as further efforts that are needed.
Human rights remain a shared foundation for our society.
They guide or our policies and institutions.
Our objective is clear.
Inspired by the universal principles of human rights, we will continue to build a society in which all individuals enjoy equal opportunities to live dignified and fulfilling lives.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Vice President, this concludes our opening remarks.
We look forward to hearing delegations comments, questions, and recommendations.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, indeed, to Excellency and to the rep Centers of Greenland and Faroe Islands for your inputs and reports.
We'll now begin our interactive dialogue.
I remind delegations that speaking time will be 1 minute and 10 seconds for all foundations to Denmark.
One, strengthen measures to reduce the use of pretrial detention, in particular, by prioritizing non custodial means of derivation Secondly, ensure that all restrictions limiting contexts of persons in pretrial detention with the outside world be necessary and proportionate and take into consideration individual circumstances.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the state representative of the Arab Republic.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
We welcome the Fly Kingdom of Denmark and we express our appreciation of the national report that reflects the firm commitment by Denmark to promote and protect human rights and to meet its obligations and commitments at the highest level, as well as its constructive dialogue with the human rights mechanisms, and we commend its extension of a standing invitation to the special procedures and its positive interaction with the international human rights architececture, especially its accession to all relevant international instruments.
We recommend to pursue national efforts aiming to enhance the gender pay equality.
Second, to pursue building on the accomplishments achieved in the integration of migrants and to improve their access to the labor market and we wish Denmark all success.
R.
Thank you.
The Distinguished Represent of Tajikistan has the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Tajikistan appreciates the presentation of the comprehensive National report by the distinguished delegation of Denmark and its continued engagement in the UPR process.
We welcome Denmark's wide acceptance of international human rights instruments, promotion of equality and non discrimination, and protection of the rights of refugees and migrants.
Thus, we respectfully recommend Denmark to consider two, one, continue creating and improving the living, social, and employment conditions for immigrants.
Two, step up measures aimed at combating violent extremism, terrorism, and its financing, particularly through the expansion of international cooperation.
Three, seek the ways to further increase contribution to official development assistance with a focus to strengthening societies, the rights of women and persons with disabilities and supporting national human rights institutions.
We wish the delegation of Denmark a positive review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The Distinguished Representative of Thailand has the floor.
Mr.
Vice President, Thailand commends Denmark's continued leadership in advancing the women peace and security agenda, including through its pioneering national action plan and its latest iteration.
We welcome Denmark's strong institutional framework for gender equality and its targeted resource allocation to enhance inclusive education and access to the labor market for persons with disabilities.
We also commend its efforts to combat human trafficking and its emphasis on comprehensive, victim centered, and needs based assistance.
Thal recommends that Denmark, one, continue efforts to remove barriers to quality, inclusive education for children with disabilities, including through improved teacher training and appropriate support measures in line with the CRPD.
Two, continued efforts to ensure that labor market and integration measures are applied without discrimination and with equal treatment for all, including immigrants and their descendants.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
G.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Turkey.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Delegation of Togo wishes a warm welcome to the Delegation of Denmark and thanks it for its report on the human rights situation in its country.
Togo welcomes Denmark's ratification in 2022 of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons against enforced disappearance, as well as measures taken by Denmark to further promote equality between men and women, access to quality healthcare and education, and its combat against violence and discrimination in all its forms.
However, in a constructive spirit, Togo recommends the following that Denmark one, ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their family in order to strengthen its national framework on that topic two, strengthen measures to fully implement the goals of the National plan to combat racism adopted in 2025.
To conclude, my delegation wishes the best of success to Denmark in the implementation of recommendations from the previous UPR.
Thank you.
Gras Thank you.
The first Distinguished delegation of Turkey.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
We commend government of Denmark for announcing an action plan against racism, which puts specific focus on combating discrimination against Greenlanders in Denmark as well as anti Semitism.
On the other hand, despite criticism of the European Commission against racism and intolerance, there is no mention of discrimination against Muslims of Islamophobia in the aforementioned action plan.
A separate action plan against Islamophobia, despite period statements from various government officials has still not materialized.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend Denmark two.
One, prepare an action plan against Islamophobia without any further delay.
Two, ensure the existing action plans against racism also covers battle against xenophobia, including immigrants and Danish citizens with so called Western roots.
Three, take necessary measures to educate citizens against discriminatory practices against immigrants and minority groups, especially against so called non Western communities, which in our view, great to harm integration efforts.
Four, ensure that any possible changes to deportation procedures comply with the international treaties to which Denmark is a party.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give the floor to the existing Uganda.
Thank you, Vice President.
Uganda warmly welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark and we thank you for constituting such a very well put together team and presenting your report.
My delegation deeply appreciate Denmark for their commitment to sharing the burden and responsibility of assisting and protecting refugees exhibited in your flexible and un earmarked contributions to the UN next year and bilaterally to my government.
We pray that your principled approach to humanity transcends your different political administrations.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, we would like to propose two recommendations.
Continue to support humanitarian and development cooperation to inform the implementation of the international obligations on the rights of asylum seekers and migrants.
And two, strengthen policies that support development and progressive realization of the right to development, especially for Africa.
We wish our dear brothers andcesors of Denmark and your very beautiful islands a very successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I get the floor to then Pacific Ukraine.
Mr.
President, Ukraine welcomes the distinguished delegation of Denmark and commends its continued commitment to upholding human rights standards and engaging constructively with international mechanisms.
We welcome substantial progress in advancing equality and social protection, including reforms to parental leave, ensuring more equal distribution between parents and measures to strengthen gender balance in leadership positions.
Also note with appreciation the ratification of the International Convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, as it was recommended by Ukraine during its last UPR review.
In the spirit of constructive engagement Ukraine recommends to ensure sufficient resources and institutional support for national human rights bodies to effectively carry out their mandates, to further develop comprehensive approaches to protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and migrants.
We wish the delegation of Denmark every success in the review.
I thank you.
Thank you for the Sishpn of the UK.
Thank you, Vice President.
The United Kingdom commends Denmark's longstanding commitment to the protection of human rights, including its strong record on media freedom and civic participation.
We recognize the implementation of consent based rape legislation and the adoption of national action plans to combat trafficking in human beings and racism.
We recommend one, ensure effective implementation of the National Action Plan to combat trafficking in human beings, strengthening victim identification, the non punishment of victims, and prosecution of traffickers.
Two, strengthen implementation of the National Action Plan to combat racism, including improved recording and prosecution of hate crimes and protection of all ethnic and religious minorities.
Three, safeguard freedom of expression and privacy in the use of digital technologies.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.
Thank you, Vice President, Uruguay welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks for the presentation of the report.
We hail efforts to implement the recommendations from the previous cycle.
We constructively recommend the following.
One, develop and adopt a comprehensive national strategy to prevent and combat violence against children, which would ensure a coordinated and systematic approach in all relevant sectors.
Two, guarantee effective access to justice for persons with disabilities.
Three, eradicate the compulsory waiting times for family reunification of all beneficiaries of international protection and guarantee family reunification for children 15-18 years of age.
Lastly, four, guarantee that the review or cessation of international protection be limited to the provisions especially contemplated in the Convention of 1951.
You're to mark every success in this cycle.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the floor.
Thank you, Vice President.
We greet the delegation of Denmark and we thank them for their presentation.
We note with concern the absence of the explicit criminalization of torture in Denmark's criminal code, the discriminatory provisions in the law on parallel societies classifying neighborhoods of their non Western origin and gender based violence.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend that one, torture be criminalized as a standalone crime across the entire territory in line with the Convention Against Torture and guarantee independent investigations into complaints of violations.
Two, revise the discriminatory elements of the law on parallel societies, and ensure equal access to housing, employment, and public services for all persons regardless of ethnic origin.
Three, develop a comprehensive plan to combat all forms of violence against women and girls, guaranteeing sufficient resources, effective implementation of protection orders, and systematic collection of disaggregated data on femicides and domestic violence.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
The Distinguished representative of Vietnam has the floor.
Mr.
Vice President, Vietnam warmly welcomes and thanks the delegation of Denmark for the presentation of its national report.
Vietnam commends Denmark for its progress in promoting and protecting human rights, including the reform of parental leave, sustained action plans against intimate partner violence, disability inclusion in employment, combating racism, and enshrining a housing first homelessness strategy in its national legislation.
In a constructive spirit, Vietnam recommends that Denmark, one, continue efforts to promote the full and equal inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labor market, including through sustained awareness raising and targeted employment support, to strengthen measures to combat child poverty and social exclusion, including through targeted social protection and preventive support for children and families in vulnerable situations.
Vietnam wishes Denmark every success in its UPR process.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I get the vote to the Singored Representative of Albania.
Vice President.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Albania thanks the delegation of Denmark and welcomes its continued commitment to the highest human rights standards.
We commend Denmark on progress achieved, especially in terms of the strengthening of the legal framework against discrimination, progress in gender equality, combating hate speech, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in education and in the labor market.
However, the treatment of ethnic minorities, the conditions of detention and issues in the area of technological advance raise some questions.
In this context, Albania makes the following recommendations.
One, strengthen measures to fight discrimination and ensure social inclusion of minorities and vulnerable groups.
Secondly, continue cooperation with human rights mechanisms.
Three, ensure the use of new technologies in line with international human rights standards.
Thank you.
Algeria has Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Algerian delegation welcomes the distinguished delegation of Denmark and thank them for the presentation of their national report.
In a constructive spirit, Algeria would like to recommend the following.
To ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the rights of all immigrant workers and members of their families, to step up efforts to improve detention conditions and to alleviate overcrowding in detention facilities, to ensure investigations, prosecution, and appreciate sanctions for all cases of human trafficking and ensure better protection and assistance to victims, to align its national law definition of torture with Article 1 of the Convention Against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and to criminalize torture in its penal code.
Algeria wish Denmark a successful review.
I thank you.
Thank you, representative of Ami.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Armenia warmly welcomes the delegation of Denmark and comms Denmark's long lasting leadership in the promotion and protection of human rights, both nationally and internationally.
We particularly value the Denmark's principled support to human rights institutions, civil society, international implementation capacities, including through constructive international cooperation.
Armenia would like to make the following recommendations.
One, Further enhanced safeguards in the use of digital technologies, including AI in support of the promotion and protection of human rights.
Two, continue measures in the area of protection of the rights of people with disabilities, including those under institutional care.
Armenia wishes Denmark all the best in its important efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cent of Australia has the floor.
Thank you, Vice President.
We thank the delegation for its presentation.
Australia welcomes the Prime Minister's apology to Greenland's innuit victims of forced contraception.
Australia also welcomes Denmark's gender equal efforts, but has concerns about protection for victim survivors of gender based violence and sexual abuse.
Australia recommends Denmark.
One, repeal provisions in regulation L 38 and the Act on policing Section 68, which designates so called parallel societies permitting ethnicity based discrimination for social housing and law enforcement.
Two, increase protection for victim survivors of gender based violence during investigations, including by expanding training initiatives to encompass social workers and judicial officers.
And three, continue programs in Greenland to combat sexual abuse of children, including through ensuring access to specialized treatment of offenders.
I thank you.
Thank you.
Ships into the Bahamas Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Bs welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks it for its comprehensive report.
We commend Denmark's strong commitment to human rights, including through its longstanding financial support to the work of the OHCHR, its efforts and development cooperation and its ongoing engagement in international climate cooperation, aimed at strengthening adaptation and resilience in vulnerable countries.
We also commend Denmark's global leadership in the fight against torture, including through its key role in advancing the CTI.
With a view to supporting continued progress, the Bos respectfully recommends that Denmark, one, continue supporting international efforts to address human rights impacts of climate change, including through financing for adaptation, resilience, and loss and damage initiatives.
Two, strengthen efforts to prevent and address racial profiling, including through clear safeguards, evidence based monitoring mechanisms, and continued training for law enforcement authorities.
Three, continue strengthening mental health and psychiatric care services, including through preventive approaches and measures aimed at reducing the use of coercive practices.
We wish Denmark every success in this UPR process.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The distinguish ships into the Bahrain Mr.
Vice President, I would like to extend a welcome to Denmark.
We have read the fourth UPR report of Denmark with close attention, and we have the following constructive recommendations, strengthen measures to fight discrimination and hate speech in all their forms and promote the values of tolerance.
Two, continue efforts to fight human trafficking by preventive measures and protecting victims.
Three, strengthen measures for gender equality.
And the empowerment of women economically and socially.
We wish the best of success to Denmark in these endeavors.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Distinguish Rep for Bangladesh.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Bangladesh welcomes the distinguished delegation of Denmark to its fourth cycle of UP and welcomes the presentation of the national report.
We note Denmark's outing invitation to the special procedures and ratification of the International Convention for the Production of all persons from enforced disappearance in the reporting period.
In this spirit of constructive cooperation, Bangladesh recommends Denmark the following.
First, ratify the International Convention on the Production of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
Second, strengthen protection and integration measures for migrants and asylum seekers, including through family reunification and access to basic services.
Third, strengthen measures to combat Islamophobia, racial discrimination, hate crimes, and racial profiling.
Fourth, strengthen measures to ensure learning environments free from discrimination and harassment, including by developing guidelines and practices that promote inclusive, safe, and nondiscriminatory education for all learners.
We wish Denmark success in its review.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you.
Values.
Thank.
Rod Thank you, Vice President.
We have taken note of Denmark's report and we note particularly the information on the fight against the crime of human trafficking, which is in line with Belarus recommendations.
We are concerned by the entrenched discrimination in Denmark's state policy, including against ethnic minorities.
We recommend one, to amend the legislation to remove terminology referring to the ethnic and racial origin, which leads to stigmatization, marginalization, and discriminization.
Two, provide for access to effective measures to legal protection for the victims of discrimination in employment and housing.
Three.
Provide protection from violence and discrimination for detainees, which are held in rental detention facilities outside the borders of Denmark.
Four, take decisive measures to reduce child poverty, including access to food, clothing, education, and leisure for children from low income families.
Five, refrain from the use of unilateral coercive measures which undermines human rights everywhere.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give them.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Belgium commends Denmark for its efforts and the notable progress in its last UPR, including the adoption of a national action plan against racism, the introduction of a consent based definition of rape in the Criminal Code, and the ratification of ILO Convention 190.
Further progress could be achieved, especially in relation to combating racism and discrimination, preventing and addressing gender based violence, and strengthening the protection of children from violence.
Belgium therefore recommends Denmark, two, one, ensure effective investigation and prosecution of racist hate crimes and hate speech incidents, establish a comprehensive deaggredated data collection system, and continue dialogue with affected communities.
Two, strengthen the legal and policy framework to prevent and address all forms of technology facilitated gender based violence while ensuring survivor centered protection and support.
Three, develop a comprehensive national strategy to prevent and combat violence against children, including awareness raising and education programs for children, caregivers and professionals.
I thank you.
G.
Thank you.
I give the to Singuish Representative Botswan.
Mr.
Vice President, Botswana commends the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark for its comprehensive national report.
We note with appreciation the progress achieved in advancing human rights by Denmark, particularly in upholding principle of equal opportunities, including support to persons with disabilities to ensure that they realize their full potential on an equal basis with others.
Guided by a commitment to constructive dialogue, Botsona proposes the following two recommendations to Denmark.
One, enhance protection of children in social care by ensuring that they are not placed in the same facilities as children in conflict with the law and saving custodial sentences.
Two, strengthen the provision of age appropriate, gender sensitive information and services on sexual and reproductive health to women and girls in Greenland.
Botswana wishes the Kingdom of Denmark a successful review outcome.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you, Brazil President, Brazil welcomes the delegation of Denmark.
We commend Denmark's strong social welfare model and welcome the inclusion of inuit representatives in the Danish delegation to cop 30.
In a constructive spirit, Brazil recommends that Denmark, one, review asylum and reception policies to ensure conditions fully comply with international human rights and refugee law, particularly regarding returns to third countries and the protection of vulnerable groups.
Two, consider measures to ensure greater consistency and legal certainty in family and child custody cases, improving coordination between family courts and social protection services while giving due regard to the cultural background of foreign parents.
We wish Dam successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you, Distinguship, of Bulgaria has the floor.
Mr.
Vice President, Bulgaria welcome the distinguished delegation of Denmark and thanks for the comprehensive presentation of the National report.
We commend the entry into force of the Danish Children's Act, which ensures full compliance with Denmark's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Bulgaria would like to highlight that in February 2025, the Danish government adopted a national action plan against racism with initiatives to combat racism in various areas of society, as well as in society as a whole.
Bulgaria wishes to offer the following recommendations.
One, continue efforts to promote equal representation of women in management and executive boards of private companies and two, take measures to provide non digital alternatives to citizens who have digital difficulties, including persons with disabilities to facilitate their access to digitalized public services.
We note with appreciation the efforts made by Denmark to implement the recommendations that were accepted during the third cycle of the UPR, and we wish the delegation a successful review.
Thank you.
It seems displeased.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Vice President Burka Faso welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks it for the presentation of its report.
My dedication commends Denmark on the adoption of a National Action Plan against racism, the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of all Prisons against enforced disappearances, and various measures to fight discrimination and prejudice preventing persons with disabilities from accessing the labor market.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend the following the Denmark one strengthened the National Action Plan against racism.
With goals and indicators that are precise and measurable.
Two, that it adopt a specific law to fight violence against women and girls.
Burkina Faso wishes Denmark a successful UPR.
Thank you.
Thank you Repent Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
My delegation welcomes Denmark and wishes it a successful review.
We welcome the commitments and efforts made at international level by your country.
Which has already achieved the UN goal in terms of official development aid.
At a national level, that we recognize that the social protection system is a reference and social coverage is comprehensive, contributing to the reputation of a pioneering country in terms of gender equality.
The new law we appreciate the recent adoption of a National Action Plan against racism and make the following recommendations to consider using the definition of racial discrimination in the National Action Plan against racism and extend measures to fight discrimination and hatred with regard to all ethnic and religious minorities to continue to develop and implement plans of action to prevent and combat employment of force with regard to children and persons with disabilities and institutions.
Thank you.
We could just about hear you, but in future, could we just remind all delegations to make sure that your microphone is near the mouth? We could just hear your speech, but kind reminder, thank you.
Canada has the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Canada warmly welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Oh sorry, Papa.
My apologies of Denmark, the Kingdom of Denmark for this universal periodic review and thanks to the delegation for its national report.
We welcome Denmark's human rights progress, including strengthened measures against digital harassment and abuse, improved access to reproductive rights in Denmark and the Faroe Islands, and Greenland's Act on equal treatment and anti discrimination.
Canada recommends that Denmark require police to register incidents as potential hate crimes when victims indicate bias motivation.
Ensure that third country asylum initiatives are consistent with international human rights obligations, and implement trauma informed evidence based and culturally safe mental health services for indigenous communities in Greenland, consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Article 24.
Respectfully, Canada notes the Court of Justice of the European Union's ruling on Denmark's parallel housing framework of 2025.
We encourage adherence to the ruling and underscore the need to ensure that adequate resourcing for human rights bodies across the realm.
Canada wishes your delegation great success in this review.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I now give the floor to the distinguish representative of Chad.
They may be in the room.
If they're not in the room, then we will give the floor to the next delegation, the Distinguished delegation of Chile.
Thank you very much, Vice President.
We welcome delegation of Denmark highlighting in particular ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced disappearance in 2022.
In a constructive spirit, Chile makes the following recommendations.
One, incorporate in the police law specific provisions regulating and limiting strictly the use of biometric technologies and facial recognition, establishing effective safeguards to protect privacy and freedom of peaceful assembly.
Two, review norms and development plans for public housing to eliminate classification criteria that could generate discrimination, replacing them with strictly socionomic criteria, ensuring the absence of any indirect discriminatory impact.
Three, adopt legislative measures to formally integrate the Convention on the Rights of the Child within internal law and consider withdrawing reservations to Article 40 paragraph two B of said convention, enhancing thus the rights approach in juvenile justice.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Give the floor to the Ding delegation of China.
Mr.
Vice President, China welcomed Denmark's participation in the UPR.
We expressed concern over Denmark's enactment of the race based ghetto law and systematic racial discrimination, the rights of indigenous Inu women in Greenland have been seriously violated hate crime police brutality widespread.
We propose two recommendations.
One, implement National Action plan against racism, effectively combat xenophobic violence.
Two, take measures to implement the negative impact of colonialism on indigenous people.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Okay.
Thank you, the distinguished Ambassador of Colombia.
Thank you, Vice President, Colombia welcomes the distinguished delegation of Denmark to this fourth cycle of the PR.
We congratulate it for ratifying the International Convention of the on enforced disappearance.
In a constructive frame, we recommend one, guarantee that any cessation or review of international protection of refugees is carried out in strict line with the cry criteria established in the 1951 conventional stats of refugees.
Two, renew the national action plan to combat violence against women and criminalize femicide by an intimate spouse within the system of managing police cases.
Three, eliminate the denominations of Western and non Western from legislation on racial discrimination and instead use terms that don't convey a distinction that could lead to stigmatization, marginalization, or indirect discrimination towards any group of persons.
Four legislative administrative action in criminal law, in particular when it comes to non custodial measures with a view to re offending, facilitate social reintegration and reduce prison crowding.
Thank you.
Give the floor to Costa Rica.
Thank you, Vice President Costa Rica.
Thanks, Denmark for the report.
Congratulate them for the new legislation that supports the efforts to promote a more equitable composition when it comes to gender in the administration of the boards of private and public companies.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend one, strengthen programs integral comprehensive action aimed at preventing and combating violence against persons with disabilities in institutions, two, review the National Action Plan against racism to ensure that it provides for as the beneficiary population, all groups and minorities that historically have been subject of racial discrimination.
Three, adopt necessary modifications at legislative level, to eliminate legal frameworks that allow sterilization, contraception and abortion without the personal consent of women and girls with disabilities that are under guardianship.
Thank you.
Concluded.
With that, we've concluded the first cluster of interventions.
I'll give the floor once again to His Excellency to respond to some of the comments and observations made thus far.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Thank you, Vice President.
Distinguished delegates, thank you for the many recommendations and reflections.
Please allow me to respond to some of the comments, questions, and recommendations received.
I will begin with the issue of hate crimes.
Let me start by underlining the obvious.
We simply do not accept such crimes in Denmark.
For several years since 2010, Denmark has prioritized the fight against hate crimes.
As a recent example of our ongoing commitment, the new financial agreement for the Danish Police and Prosecution Service for 2026 to 2030 has established a hate crime coordinator in all police districts.
Fighting hate crimes and discriminations against LGBT plus persons in Denmark is a particular area of focus.
Our national report shows examples of recent initiatives and legislation, and we certainly expect to continue this work.
As mentioned in my opening remarks, the Gender Equality Act prohibits discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.
Last year, we improved the legal position of LGBT plus families by introducing co fatherhood.
This means that both men in a same sex couple can be recognized as legal parents, ensuring equal rights and security for families.
Since 2018, we have had national action plans for LGBT plus persons.
These contain targeted initiatives to promote safety, well being, and equal opportunities.
The latest action plan from January this year is financed with over 3 million euros and launched a wide range of initiatives.
Also, the LGBT plus action plan for 2026 to 2029 includes support, counseling, and knowledge gathering to victims of hate crimes and hate speech.
A training film has been produced to raise awareness of hate crimes and their legal definition on how to support constructive dialogue between the police, civil society, and citizens.
Finally, let me mention that Denmark is proud to be hosting the Idaho Forum 2026 in Copenhagen on May 19th, together with the Council of Europe and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Vice President, a number of delegations have raised the issue of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Combating partner violence and femicide is a key priority for Denmark.
Victims have human rights based access to shelters, psychological, legal, and social support through a national support system.
In Denmark, municipalities are legally obliged to offer temporary accommodation in a crisis shelter for individuals who have been subjected to violence in close relationships.
Since 2020, municipalities must offer free psychological treatment to all persons staying in a crisis shelter.
Furthermore, it is compulsory for municipalities to offer psychological support to children accompanying their parents during their stay in a crisis shelter.
In addition, different initiatives are continuously launched, including funding for various NGOs dedicated to preventing violence in close relationships and to helping victims of such violence.
In Denmark, municipalities have a general duty to monitor the living conditions of children in order to identify when a child may need support.
In accordance with the Child's Act, all municipalities must prepare a contingency plan for preventing and detecting abuse or assault against children at an early stage and for handling such cases.
Funds have been allocated to various initiatives to combat violence against children, including school campaigns and training for professionals to detect signs of abuse and to respond accordingly.
Violence committed within closer relationships relationships can have severe negative consequences for the victim and it occurs in relationships where there should be trust and care.
This was part of the reason why the Danish Parliament earlier this year increased the penalty for certain kinds of physical assaults committed within close relationships against partners and children.
It is also why more financial resources were allocated in the latest financial framework for the Danish Police and Prosecution Service to strengthen the police's handling of vulnerable victims, including victims of violence and the establishment of a commission on intimate partner homicides.
Furthermore, there is a focus on strengthening cross sectoral cooperation with other authorities to better identify and prevent violence against women and to provide victims and their relatives with support and protection.
Since 2002, we have had action plans combating partner violence.
The current action plan against partner violence and partner killings running 2023-2026 is backed by a record 31 million euros and focuses on early detection, effective intervention, and holding perpetrators accountable.
Specific attention is also given to technology facilitated gender based violence.
To address femicide, and national cooperation has been established to improve coordination between authorities and other actors to ensure victims and perpetrators are referred to the right services.
Furthermore, the Danish Statistical Agency and the National Police are collaborating on gathering hate crimes gathering crime statistics, including data on the relationship between victims and perpetrators in homicide and violence cases.
Initiatives have also been taken to combat sexual harassment in the workplace and in education.
These include legislative initiatives, a whistleblower institution, establishment of an alliance to maintain public focus and cooperation amongst actors, as well as public funding of concrete projects.
Vice President, a number of delegations today have commented on psychiatric health care in Denmark.
Since 2020, Denmark has implemented a comprehensive ten year plan aimed at strengthening the psychiatric health system, a plan that is fully financed and backed by long term investments.
Denmark acknowledges the challenges we are facing when it comes to the use of cohesion in psychiatric care.
We are determined to reducing the use of such measures.
Treatment against the patient's will must be a last resort and may only be used when everything possible has been done to achieve the voluntary participation by the patient.
Therefore, as a part of the ten year plan, Denmark has set an ambitious goal to reduce the use of coercive measures by 30% in 2030.
I'm pleased to report that we already see results of our efforts with a 10% reduction of the use of the most intrusive forms of coheion 2021-2023.
Let me also make a few remarks on the updated abortion rights in Denmark.
In 2025, Denmark strengthened the right to abortion.
The new legislation extends the legal limit for abortion 12-18 weeks and allow minors at the age of 15 and above, of course, to terminate a pregnancy without parental consent.
Vice President, this concludes our response during this round.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
We'll continue then with the interactive dialogue.
Give the floor to distinguished Representative of Cour devoir.
Thank you, Vice President.
Cour devoir wishes a warm welcome to the delegation of Denmark and we thank them for presenting the national report.
My delegation applauds the government for ratifying all fundamental ILO conventions.
My country also welcomes the determination of the Danish authorities to fight discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee equal equal, equal treatment, equal opportunities, as well as equal rights for all citizens.
We make the following recommendations in a constructive spirit.
One, bolster measures to guarantee freedom of religion and belief, particularly for minorities.
Two, step up efforts to collect comprehensive data on the causes of the suicide in Greenland and Provide appropriate responses.
Three, ensure access for health care services to women from Greenland during and after childbirth as well as to children.
Inclusion, Coo, wish every success to Denmark.
I'll give the floor to the distinguished Representative.
Of Cuba.
Thank you, Vice President, good morning.
We'd like to wish a warm welcome to the delegation, the Kingdom of Denmark.
Can we recognize that country's commitment to the UPR? In a constructive spirit and respectfully, we make two recommendations.
One, continue adopting measures to reduce the gender wage gap, two, take tangible action to combat increasing poverty among vulnerable persons.
We wish the Kingdom of Denmark success in this review and in implementing the recommendations.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor Distinguished Representative of Cyprus.
Mr.
Vice President, Cyprus warmly welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks it for the presentation of its report.
We acknowledge Denmark's efforts to advance human rights domestically and commend the progress made, including the adoption of a constant based rape definition, the criminalization of torture as a distinct offense in the Penal Code and the adoption of a new national Disability action plan.
Cyprus makes the following recommendations, Enhance efforts to reduce the use of pretrial detention and promote the use of non custodial measures.
Two, strengthen laws and policies on domestic violence and ensure effective remedies for sexual harassment in the workplace.
Three, thoroughly investigate, prosecute, and appropriately sanction trafficking in human beings, and four, develop a strategy to ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the representative of the DPRK.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains deeply concerned about the continued widespread human rights situation in Denmark, including racial discrimination, hate crimes, and hate speech, human trafficking, as well as sexual violence and harassment.
Furthermore, we are concerned about the systematic violations of the rights of persons with disabilities.
We recommend that Denmark, one, ensure that its migration policies fully comply with international law by lifting undue restrictions on family reunification.
Two, abolish discriminatory frameworks, including the use of non Western classification and policies that disproportionately target ethnic minorities.
Three, strengthen the protection of rights of persons with disabilities, including by prohibiting forced treatment, ensuring full legal capacity, and promoting the institutionalization.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The floor Distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic congratulates, welcome to the distinguished delegation of Denmark for presenting the national report at this fourth cycle.
And the ongoing efforts of the country in the coordinated process of the inter ministerial Committee on Human Rights to maintain compliance and cooperation with the international human rights system.
In this spirit of constructive dialogue, we recommend one, continue guaranteeing access to refuge to asylums and reparations for victims of family and domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Two, guarantee full legal capacity through reforming guardianship for persons with disabilities.
Three, create national human rights institutions including in the Faroe Islands, and the government of Denmark.
We recognize progress made in the field of human rights and important contributions through Danish cooperation to development based on human rights, which includes strengthening the national human rights institutions and support to human rights defenders.
We wish Denmark a successful UPR.
Thank you.
Here, I give the floor distinguish delegation of Ecuador.
Vice President, Ecuador extends cordial greetings to the delegation of Denmark.
We thank them for their report, and we would highlight the earmarking of the budgets 2025-2028 to the action plan to improve inclusion for persons with disabilities in education and on the labor market.
In a constructive spirit, Ecuador recommends one, ensure that public discourse distinguishes clearly between asylum seekers and migrants, applying administrative detention as a last resort and for a brief period only and ensure that children and families with children are not arrested solely for their migratory status.
Two, eliminate obstacles for denouncing hate speech and hate crimes, guarantee investigation and effective prosecution and continued dialogue with affected communities.
Three, adopt a new plan of action to combat gender based violence, especially in Greenland and in the Faroes.
Ecuador wishes Denmark success in its fourth UPR.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor Distinguished Representative of Egypt.
Vice President, we welcome the delegation of Denmark and we thank them for the presentation.
We attach great importance to non discrimination and also the cohesion of family, safeguarding the rights of migrants and minorities as pathways for the protection and promotion of human rights and achieving comprehensive social development in any state.
In a constructive spirit, we would like to make the following recommendations, revise legislation policies that would lead to discrimination or stigma on the basis of origin or culture, background, including the concept of non Western.
Um, and also promote efforts to combat discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief.
Three, to continue efforts to promote a mutual respect among religions and to combat contempt for religious symbols.
We wish Denmark every success.
Thank you.
Gia.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the Distinguished Delegation of El Salvador.
Thank you, Vice President.
We wish you a warm welcome to the delegation of Denmark and we thank them for introducing the National Report.
We recognize efforts made by Denmark since the last review, in particular, improvements to access to health care services, jobs, education, and housing, as well as a sustained commitment to ODA.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend one, continue implementing diverse measures to combat all forms of discrimination, especially against ethnic and religious minorities.
Two, continue strengthening measures so that digitalization processes of public services are inclusive, ensuring accessible alternatives for all persons and assessing the impact on human rights.
Three, continue promoting measures to guarantee protection of fundamental rights of migrants and refugees.
Finally, we wish Denmark a successful review in this fourth cycle.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We'll now here a video from the delegation of Eritrea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We warmly welcome the distinguished delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark.
We respectfully offer the following recommendations.
One, continue efforts to integrate immigrants through employment oriented programs and language training while considering further evaluation of the 2025 work obligations scheme to ensure it does not disproportionately affect vulnerable groups or hinder meaningful integration.
In this regard, Eritrea recommends complementing labor market measures with more individualized support, including access to education, mental health services, and recognition of prior qualifications.
Two, while noting Denmark's assessment of its compliance with international obligations as reflected in its national report, we recommend continuing to review the use of detention under the Alliance Act, particularly for asylum seekers and vulnerable individuals with the view to further prioritizing alternatives and strengthening safeguards so that detention remains a measure of last resort.
We wish Denmark every success in implementing the recommendations that will accept.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I give the floor to distinguished ambassador of Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Estonia warmly welcome the delegation of Denmark together with the representatives of Greenland and the Faroe Islands to Denmark's fourth UPR.
Estonia welcomes Denmark's longstanding commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.
We commend Denmark for further strengthening the national legislation framework, including abortion laws and for its continued and explicit commitment to the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights internationally as a fundamental component of gender equality and women's health.
Estonia offers two recommendations to Denmark.
One, to further strengthen the legal and procedural framework to ensure that allegations of domestic violence and child abuse are duly assessed in custody and visitation decisions.
To, to enhance laws to address gender based violence in digital spaces.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
I thank you.
I give the floor distinguished delegation of Ethiopia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Etopia welcome the high level delegation of Denmark and thanks it for the presentation of its national report.
We commend Denmark for its strong human rights frameworks, robust democratic institutions, and continued efforts to promote equality, rule of law, and social welfare.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, Etopia makes the following recommendations.
One, further strengthen measures to combat discrimination and promote equality for all, particularly minority groups and migrants.
Two, further reinforce measures to ensure equal access to justice and protection of human rights for all.
In conclusion, Ethiopia wishes Denmark every success in this review process.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished ambassador of Finland.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Finland warmly welcomes the engagement of Denmark to the UPR.
We commend the 2025 political agreement on compensation for Greenlandic women affected by forced contraceptive campaigns 1960-1990.
Finland recommends Denmark, one, to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms in welfare services does not lead to discrimination against marginalized groups, including migrants, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.
Two, to ensure that conditions in reception centers, the length of stay, and the treatment of asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected are appropriate and in line with international human rights standards.
We wish Denmark a very successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give the floor to distinguish delegation of France.
Thank you, Vice President.
France wishes a very warm welcome to the delegation of Denmark.
France congratulates Denmark for ratifying the International Convention for Protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.
France makes the following four recommendations.
One, ratify the optional protocol to the International Covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.
Two, review legislative provisions introducing criteria linked to ethnic origin in public policy in particularly in the context of housing and education policy and guarantee equal treatment without distinction on origin.
Three, bot and institutional framework for preventing combating GBV.
In particular, establishing clear obligations for employers and improving national data collection.
And finally, adopt comprehensive, consistent legislation for combating discrimination.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor distinguished representative of Gabon.
Wishes a warm welcome to Denmark and we thank them for introducing the national Report in this fourth UPR cycle.
We take note with satisfaction of all positive measures taken by Denmark to combat gender based violence, as well as initiatives to promote gender equality, particularly when it comes to equal wages.
We commend in the adoption of the National Plan 2023 26 against violence and to combat partner violence and homicide.
However, in view of persistent challenges, we recommend in a constructive spirit to denmark as follows, one, ensure that the victims of domestic violence get compensation that they have access to shelters and subsequent support to consider toughening penalties in existing laws on femicide.
Gabon wishes them every success in this review and in implementing the recommendations accepted.
Thank you.
I give the f to the distinguished Representative Gambia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Gambia welcomes the delegation of Denmark and commends its continued engagement with the universal periodic review process.
We acknowledge Denmark's longstanding contribution to international development cooperation and its human rights based approach to development.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, the Gamber recommends that Denmark, one, ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
Two, criminalize torture as a distinct offense in line with the Convention Against Torture.
Three, strengthen inclusive education for children with disabilities, including true accessibility and reasonable accommodation.
Four, combat racial discrimination by strengthening reporting mechanisms, ensuring prompt investigation and prosecution of cases and improving dis aggregated data collection.
We wish Denmark every success in implementing its human rights commitments.
Thank you.
Floor to Ambassador of Georgia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Georgia warmly welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks to the head of the delegation for the presentation of the National report.
While noting steps in developing action plan of racism, we're also cognizant of the lack of comprehensive data collection in respect to the cases of racially motivated crimes and hate speech.
Here we Georgia recommends to Del Maan to take further steps in removing barriers when reporting racism.
Hate crimes and hate speech incidents and ensure their effective investigation and prosecution and two to address reports that participants in peaceful protests had been subjected to arbitrary arrest and fines.
We wish the delegation of Denmark a very successful UPR.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished Delegative Germany.
President.
Germany welcomes the delegation of Denmark, as well as the delegates from Greenland and the Faroe Islands and thanks them for their presentation.
We commend Denmark's strong human rights record, reflected in consistently high international rankings and a robust institutional framework.
At the same time, Germany remains concerned about the situation in some return centers for migrants, particularly the impact on residents' mental well being and legal reforms in the context of immigration and returns.
Germany therefore recommends that Denmark, one, review the necessity of housing minors in return centers and consider developing specific hardship regulations for long term residents and two, thoroughly ascertain the conformity of any new immigration legislation, including the recently announced deportation reforms with its international human rights commitments.
We wish Denmark all the best for a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor distinguished delegation of Ghana.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Ghana warmly welcome the delegation of Denmark and thanks them for their national report.
We commend the government of Denmark for its continued efforts to address violence against women and children.
We also acknowledge the government's commitment to combating sexual abuse and rape, notably through the adoption of the 2020 consent based rape provision.
In the spirit of constructive dialog, Ghana wishes to recommend the following to Denmark.
One, ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
Two, develop and implement comprehensive and effective action plans on prevention and response to violence against children and adults with disabilities.
Three, strengthen laws and policies on domestic violence and ensure effective remedies for sexual harassment in the workplace.
Ghana wishes Denmark success in this UPR process.
Thank you.
Is the floor distinguished representative of Greece.
President, Greece welcomes the delegation of Denmark to the fourth QPR cycle.
We commend Denmark for the adoption and funding of the 2025 to 2028 action plan to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities in education and the labor market.
We also commend Denmark for its efforts to combat hate crimes, including by establishing a hate crime coordinator function in all police districts to strengthen the police's response to such crimes.
Greece would like to recommend that Denmark, one, continue efforts to combat human trafficking, including through the adoption and effective implementation of the National action plan for the period 2026 to 2029.
Two, continue to address violence against women and children and ensure the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Greenland.
Three, step up efforts to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, including by continuing to reduce the use of coercive practices in psychiatric care.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I sent.
Mr.
Vice President, Iceland welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark and its national report.
In the spirit of constructive engagement, Iceland recommends the following.
One, renew the National action plan to combat gender based violence in Denmark, two, develop and implement comprehensive national action plan to combat gender based violence in Greenland.
Three, ensure full and effective application of the Istanbul Convention in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Four, ensure universal access to comprehensive sexuality education in and out of school settings.
Five, protect and promote sexual reproty health and rights and ensure access to SRHR services and information in particular in rural areas.
Si, respect intersex children's rights to self determination and ban medically unnecessary suries.
We wish the Kingdom of Denmark all success for this review, thank you.
Thank you, India.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
My delegation appreciates steps taken by the government of Denmark to promote gender equality.
In the spirit of constructive engagement, we would like to make following recommendations.
First, take steps to promote effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, particularly for persons from Greenland and the Faro Islands.
Second, to review child protection procedures and decisions on removal of children from families belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and other nationalities in a culturally sensitive and non discriminatory manner while ensuring full respect for the rights of the child.
Third, continue to take steps to reduce discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religious belief, or national origin, and promote equal opportunities for migrant families.
Thank you.
Thank you, Indonesia.
Vice President, Indonesia, thanks to the delegation of Denmark for presenting its national report.
For human rights Ivolvement in Denmark, we recommend, one, expand the National Action Plan against racism to include all forms of contemporary forms of racism, including Islamophobia.
Two, fully protect the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families without discrimination of any grounds.
Three, guarantee equal access to adequate housing for migrants and minorities.
Four, ensure that social integration policy for migrants fully respects and protects their fundamental rights, including cultural rights and the right to freedom of religion or belief.
We recognize Denmark's achievement in combating racism, racial discrimination, and related intolerance, particularly through the banning of public discretion of religious scriptures since 2023.
Despite such an effort, acts of racial and religious hatred in the country, particularly Islamophobia remain prevalent and unreported.
We wish Denmark for the successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to senior representative of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the delegation of Denmark.
Iran expresses grave concern over the worsening human rights situation in Denmark, including entrenched Islamophobia, deep rooted racial discrimination, abusive pretrial detention practices, lack of accountability for hate crimes, and violence against women, and discrimination against minority.
Despite formally accepting recommendation during the previous UPR, Denmark has failed to undertake any meaningful reforms.
In a spirit of constructive dialogue, Iran offers the following recommendation.
One, immediately end the widespread pattern of Islamophobic rhetoric and discriminatory policies targeting Muslims and adapting national strategy to combat Islamophobia.
Second, repeal laws that separate refugee and migrant children from their families, language, and religious identity.
Third, ensure full accountability for homicide and violence against women, including police negligence and failures in case management system.
We wish Denmark success in its UPR process.
Thank you.
I get the floor to Center era.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
We would like to welcome the delegation of Denmark taking part in this fourth UPR.
We appreciate their efforts in drafting their national report and submitting it.
In addition to welcoming the positive development at the institutional level, however, there are still some concerns regarding violations based on racial discrimination rights of persons with disabilities and stigmatization.
We recommend first to amend the expression used in policies and legislation that may lead to stigmatization, discrimination, or marginalization, such as using Westerner and non Westerners.
Second, to report all cases of racial hate crime and to lift barriers that hamper reporting on hate crime speeches.
Third, to prevent separation and education to include children with disabilities and quality education, to prevent violence against children, children with disabilities and institutions.
We wish the delegation of Denmark success in this review.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Representative.
Thank you, Ireland.
Thank you, Vice President.
Ireland welcomes the delegation of Denmark and the representatives of Greenland and the Faroe Islands and thanks them for their presentation today.
Ireland welcomes Denmark's efforts to advance human rights domestically and commends progress made since the last UPR cycle.
We welcome Denmark's efforts to progress the rights of LGBTIQ plus persons by explicitly referring to gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics as grounds for protection in legislation covering hate crimes, hate speech, and discrimination.
Recent progress on access to crisis shelters in domestic violence cases is also welcomed.
Ireland recommends that Denmark, one, update the National Action Plan against racism to include a definition of racial discrimination, and two, thoroughly investigate, prosecute, and appropriately sanction trafficking in human beings, ensure victims access to full redress and establish a permanent, independent national rappereur for monitoring the government's anti trafficking activities.
We wish Denmark every success in this UPS cycle.
Thank you.
Thank you, the distinguished representative of Italy, yes.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
We thank the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark for its presentation.
Italy commends Denmark for the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, as well as for the adoption of its first action plan against racism in 2025, which were objects of our recommendations during the last cycle.
Italy offers the Kingdom of Denmark one recommendation.
Further develop and consider the adoption of additional non coercive and age appropriate measures for persons with disabilities in detention, social care, and psychiatrist facilities, including children.
Italy wishes the Kingdom of Denmark a successful review, and I thank you.
Thank you.
The Distinguished Repative of Japan has.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Japan warmly welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark to decision.
Japan appreciates the efforts by Denmark to advance human rights in particular through the enactment of the Elderly Care Act, which demonstrates a comprehensive and autonomous approach to the well being of the older persons.
We also commend Denmark on its initiatives aimed at combating gender based violence against women, including those to improve the safety of younger women.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, Japan would like to make two recommendations.
One, continue to take effective measures to eliminate biolence and discrimination against paimistities, and promote their full social inclusion.
Two, intensify efforts to combat discrimination and prejudice against ethnic minorities and promote an inclusive society.
We wish the delegation of Denmark every success in the review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
D Repative Jordan.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
I would like to warmly welcome the head and delegation of the Fly Kingdom of Denmark and we praise the efforts exerted in the preparation of the national report, which reflects the progress achieved in the field of human rights since the last cycle of the UPR.
My delegation would like to recommend the following.
First, to continue supporting efforts to combat hate speech and promote tolerance and coexistence.
Second, continue developing youth crime prevention programs through school and community centers.
In conclusion, my delegation wishes the Kingdom of Denmark's delegation all success in this review.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you.
I give to people's Democratic Republic.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The La Pedia warmly welcome the delegations of Denmark to its fourth cycle of UPR and appreciate the presentation of its national report.
We recommend Denmark for its strong commitments to the advancement of human rights in the country, including its endeavors to put in place various legislations, policies, and action plans in providing social supports to vulnerable groups.
In a spirit of constructive engagement, my delegation would like to propose two recommendations.
First, strengthen the implementation of legal frameworks aimed to protect women and girls from gender based violence.
Second, further enhance its efforts to create equal opportunities and conditions to enable persons with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of life, B Denmark will successfully.
I thank you.
Thank you.
The floor.
Mr.
Vice President, Lebanon welcomes the delegation of Denmark and commends its constructive engagement and continued support to international human rights mechanisms.
Lebanon takes note of Denmark's efforts to promote equality and non discrimination, including the adoption of the National Action Plan against racism and the National Action Plan to combat trafficking in human beings.
We also acknowledge ongoing measures to combat hate speech and hate crimes.
In a spirit of constructive dialogue, Lebanon would like to recommend Denmark, one, to criminalize torture as a distinct offense in relevant legal frameworks, ensuring full alignment with the Convention Against Torture.
Two, to strengthen legislation and implementation measures to prevent and combat domestic violence, including by enhancing protection for victims and ensuring adequate resources for support services.
Three, to address prison overcrowding and conditions of detention, including through the expanded use of non custodial measures and improved rehabilitation programs.
Lebanon wishes Denmark every success in the outcome of its universal periodic review.
I thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you.
The distinguished representative of Libya has Libya.
Mr.
President, we welcome the delegation of Denmark and we thank them for their report and we recommend first the accession to the UN Convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families.
Second, to reduce custodial measures and seek alternative measures to improve the penal code in order to consider torture as a separate crime.
In conclusion, we wish Denmark all success.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Represent Lithuania.
Thank you.
Lithuania has the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Lithuania welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks for its national report.
Lithuania acknowledges Denmark's efforts in implementing the recommendations accepted during the third EPR cycle, including those submitted by Lithuania.
We welcome Denmark's decision to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced disappearance, to ratify all core conventions of the International Labor Organization, and to accede to the optional protocols establishing access to the individual complaints procedures in respect of the conventions to which Denmark is party.
Lithuania wishes to offer Denmark the following recommendation, strengthen the suicide prevention efforts in Greenland, allocate sufficient resources for mental health care, and other preventive measures.
We wish Denmark a very successful review.
I thank you.
Thank you, Schter of Luxenb.
Mercy.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Luxembourg thanks Denmark for its presentation of its national report and welcomes its sustained commitment to human rights.
In the spirit of a constructive dialogue, Luxembourg makes the following recommendations.
One, continue the implementation of the National plan to combat racism adopted in 2025 by strengthening it through a clear definition of racism.
And an explicit ban of racial or religious profiling, as well as effective mechanisms for reporting to accelerate reforms, to reduce pretrial detention, and strictly limit extended detention, in particular, the 23 hours a day isolation regimes.
Third, ratify the optional protocol to the International Covenant on economic, social and Cultural rights.
Thank you.
That wraps up the second cluster of questions and comments.
I will now return the floor to the head of the delegation of Denmark to address questions and comments that have been put thus far, since you have the floor.
Thank you, Vice President.
Thank you, distinguished delegates for the many recommendations on the human rights situation in Denmark.
Nowow me to respond to some of the additional comments received from various delegations.
A number of delegations have commented on the rights of persons with disabilities in Denmark.
Danish disability policy rests on four key principles.
First, the principle of equal opportunity, second, the principle of solidarity, which refers to the tax funded welfare system.
Third, the principle of compensation, and finally, the principle of sector accountability.
We have a strong tradition of open public consultations and inclusion of stakeholders, as well as both a central and local disability councils.
Denmark also has a longstanding focus on independent living for persons with disabilities, ensuring such access to the care as the person requires.
Finally, allow me to highlight the 2025 National Action Plan on education and employment for persons with disabilities.
The plan launched eight new initiatives for better inclusion and a new goal of getting 15,000 more people with disabilities into employment by 2030.
Vice President, a number of delegations today have addressed the situation for homeless persons.
Denmark adopted a homeless reform in October 2023 where key elements of the housing first approach became parts of Danish legislation.
Housing first means that individuals living in homelessness are first offered a permanent housing solution after which efforts are made to address other challenges that they may face.
Everyone that experiences homelessness, whether staying in a shelter or considered at risk of homelessness, can receive support under the housing first approach.
The main goals of the reform are to significantly decrease the number of homeless persons and ending long term homelessness.
Vice President, I would also like to mention efforts promoting equal pay in Denmark.
The principle of equal pay is a core value in Denmark, not only because it is an international obligation, but also as equal pay is the foundation for a society based on the equal value of women and men and of their contributions to that society.
The principle of equal pay is enshrined into collective agreements which regulate pay and in line with the Danish tradition for tripartite cooperation, the social partners have been instrumental in the ongoing implementation of the EU Directive of Pay Transparency.
Vice President, let me also make a few remarks on the so called work obligation for certain immigrants in Denmark.
A new work obligation scheme has been implemented which requires certain immigrants to contribute actively to Danish society for up to 37 hours per week.
The purpose is to strengthen the integration of especially immigrant women into Danish society by improving their employment prospects through activities such as utility jobs, internships, and Danish language courses.
The program targets cash benefit recipients who have entered the country from abroad, including Danish citizens, and who do not fulfill certain criteria to stay in Denmark and time in employment.
Vice President, allow me to turn to the topic of business and human rights.
Businesses commitment to human rights is important and something we strive for both nationally and internationally.
Denmark has adopted both the UN guiding principles on businesses and human rights and the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises.
Denmark has also actively supported the introduction of mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence at the EU level through the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Due diligence Directive, and we have actively worked to align it with the UNGPs and the OECD OECD guidelines.
Denmark has also supported the introduction of the EU ban on products made with forced labor.
We have, of course, implemented the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
Vice President Eau, please allow me also a few remarks on education in Denmark.
Denmark has worked towards resolving challenges related to the participation and school success of children with special educational needs.
This has been done by making primary and secondary education more accommodating to a broader group of students with more diverse learning preferences.
Regarding special educational needs, a political agreements have been reached to prevent non attendance and to ensure the availability of special educational teaching skills and resources in the classroom, thus enabling more students to thrive in mainstream education.
Also, lower secondary education has been reformed, introducing more hands on elements in teaching and providing a higher degree of students choice, which should strengthen motivation and ensure the success, especially of boys who have not always been thriving in a highly academic school context.
The higher secondary education is being thoroughly reformed with the introduction of a new secondary education that is more vocational and professional in scope, super operational from 2030 supporting a broader range of learning pathways.
Now, Vice President, please allow me to pass the word to my dear colleague, Szonel Gantt who here represents Greenland.
Thank you, Minister.
I will start up by maybe trying to answer the questions related to colonization or decolonization by providing you a bit of a background.
The people of the Greenland Inuit, this is what we call ourselves Galt.
We are the indigenous people of Greenland and self identify as such.
We have, through our democratically elected institutions and representatives, undertaken a process of decolonization and nation building through many decades and where the introduction of home rule first in 1979, and then self government in 2009 were major steps.
And it's an act on self government, which actually both enables the overtaking of more competence areas and our right to subsoil resources such as minerals and possible carbon.
But it also contains a schedule for succession or independence, if that should be the wish of the people.
But rather than exhausting the possibilities under the Act on self government, our current coalition government has wished to pursue a more realistic roadmap in revising the Act on self government.
Here, it should be borne in mind that this coalition was formed very soon after the geopolitical threats were launched against Greenland in the spring of 2025.
It is important for my government, our government to ensure stability and unity and pursuing a carefully thought and sustainable path towards increased exercise of self determination.
That was a bit of background, but it also means that in the area we took over the health care area in 1992, and this then also have implications for the contraception case that some of you mentioned.
And here, the government of Greenland is responsible for the cases related to, the feeding of IUDs without consent, including parental consent after 1992.
And here, our government decided to award a compensation of 3,000 No, not 300,000 Deines corona and those who were victims were able to then apply for that compensation.
The deadline for sending in a request for compensation expired at the turn of the year.
We don't have any information yet as to how many have applied for that compensation.
And also, when the Danish Prime Minister made an apology to the survivors or victims in September in N, there was also an apology from our Prime Minister, the Greenland's Prime Minister, to the women affected.
Our government also commissioned a report on the human rights implications or aspects of this contraception case.
That report is now currently under peer review, and it also needs to be translated into Greenlandic and Dans.
So my government has still not been able to has still not been presented with the report.
Now, it also means that mental health is then since we also took over, is also something that we are responsible for, and this also includes suicide.
A Niles.
A go launch a strategy in 2023 called P a strategy for the prevention of suicide that will run through 2028.
The strategy has four focus areas, access to support and counseling, more community participation and well being and safety in schools, as well as reduction of the stigma.
There are a number of additional initiative and cooperation, including under education of suicide prevention instructions in in cooperation with the Danish Center for public health.
We have also developed an app, aic app that people with suicidal thoughts can turn to.
We also have celebrate what we call the Yellow September campaign.
And so there and then there is most importantly, there is this one round the clock 247 phone helpline where people who are trouble can turn to.
There is a national therapy and counseling center which treat people both in office, online, and per phone.
Data and data are also being monitored also again with this Danish Center for Public Health.
Official data on, suicide attempts, and threats of suicide are actually also recorded by the police and published as part of their data.
Now, questions were also asked about the perinatal care of women giving birth.
We have, for the past many years required pregnant women to give birth in larger towns in the hospitals in larger towns, and that is with the aim of reducing the infant mortality rate in Greenland.
That is the background behind why Women giving birth have to leave their community in order to give birth.
Then I just want to also touch on this culturally appropriate or safe mental health that was also raised.
Of course, our health legislation is, of course, based on ensuring informed consent of patients.
And of course, the whole idea is also that that patients should be treated in a language that they understand.
Yeah.
I will later go come back to questions that are related to child abuse and gender equality, as well as child poverty.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, T, for clarifying important matters when it comes to human rights related issues in Greenland.
Vice President, let us pause here and return with further reflections in our closing remarks.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
We'll resume our interactive dialogue then and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi.
Mr.
Vice President, Malay warmly welcomes the kingdom of Denmark to this review and thanks the esteemed delegation for the presentation.
Malai notes the progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights since the last review and commends Denmark for its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in fulfilling its human rights obligations through, among others, cooperation with international monitoring mechanisms and the open standing invitation Denmark has on all special procedures of the Human Rights Council.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, Malai makes the following recommendations to Denmark.
One, consider ratifying the United Nations Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.
Two, ensure the investigation and prosecution of all acts of gender based violence, including domestic violence.
Three, continue working to secure and de facto gender equality and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and men.
We wish the Kingdom of Denmark all the best at this review.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you I give the floor to Distinguished Delegation of Malaysia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Malaysia thanks Denmark for the presentation of its national report.
We commend Denmark for undertaking numerous initiatives to promote and protect human rights since the last UPR cycle.
In the spirit of constructive engagement, Malaysia recommends the following.
First, take further measures to address racial discrimination, including by reviewing legislation and policies that may have a discriminatory impact on ethnic minorities.
Second, strengthen efforts to ensure that law enforcement practices are based on objective criteria and applied in a fair and non discriminatory manner, including by establishing clear legal frameworks, data collection mechanisms, and accountability measures.
Third, strengthen efforts to address hate speech and hate crimes, including by improving reporting mechanisms, data collection, and ensuring effective investigation and prosecution.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
The floor distinguished ambassador to the Maldives.
President, the mods warmly welcomes the high level delegation from Denmark to this fourth cycle review and thanks them for their presentation today.
The Mods commends Denmark for its strong commitment to human rights.
We recognize efforts to strengthen mental health services, including reform to the Mental Health Act.
In a constructive spirit, the modest presents the following recommendations.
One, scale up efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, including glacier and coastal erosion.
Two, adopt a long term employment strategy to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the open labor market, including through training and disability responsive support.
Three, expand measures to address discrimination and hatred against all religious and ethnic minorities and broaden the scope of the National Action Plan against racism of 2025 to ensure it is fully inclusive.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you.
Give the floor Distinguished ambassador of Malta.
Vice President and thanks them for the country report.
We welcome Denmark's solid ratification record of International Human Rights covenants and optional protocols.
Denmark's national report highlights several important actions and initiatives since the last review cycle, including in the fields of gender equality, LGBTIQ rights, domestic violence, amongst others.
Malta would like to make the following recommendations.
One, introduce legislation to legally ban all forms of so called gay conversion practices.
Two, enhance measures to combat sexual harassment, particularly against women at the workplace.
Three, include the international definition of racial discrimination in the National Action Plan against racism and expand measures to address discrimination and hatred against all religious and ethnic minorities.
Malta wishes Denmark a successful review.
I thank you.
Leta continue.
Thank you.
We'll now hear a statement from the Marshall Islands by Vit Pavala.
Mr.
President.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands welcomes the delegation of Denmark and thanks them for the presentation of the report.
We commend Denmark for its initiatives to tackle the negative impacts of climate change.
We take note with appreciation of its goal to achieve net negative GHG emissions by 110% by 2050 and look forward to its implementation.
Similarly, we welcome the signature of the Paris Agreement by the government of Greenland in 2023.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, we recommend the following.
One, continue investing in ambitious and concrete human rights based measures to combat the negative impacts of climate change.
Two, continue its efforts to promote freedom of religion and belief, especially for members of religious minorities, and three, pursue efforts to promote access to quality upper secondary education for all in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
We wish the delegation every success during its fourth UPR cycle.
I thank you.
Well now here another video statement from a Mauritius.
Thank you, Chair.
Mauritius extensive warm welcome to the delegation of Denmark during this fourth cycle of the UPR.
We commend Denmark for its role in the protection and promotion of human rights.
We acknowledge the progress made towards gender equality and equity and the initiatives taken to combat gender based violence.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend that Denmark considers its efforts to combat gender based and intimate partner violence and considers adopting a strategy for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the education sector and on the labor market.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Give the floor distinguished ambassador of Mexico.
Thank you, Vice President.
We're grateful to Denmark and for its strong delegation for the report and we recognize the ongoing efforts to guarantee gender equality and presentation as a plan of action against discrimination and racism.
In a constructive, respectful manner, Mexico recommends one, approve specific laws to combat all forms of violence against women.
Adolescents and girls, which include comprehensive solutions.
Two, define and prohibit racial discrimination in legislation, establishing mechanisms to obtain statistical data on forms of discrimination.
Three, ensure that conditions in detention centers and the return of migrants and refugees comply with the obligation to prevent inhuman degrading treatment, guaranteeing the right to family life.
We wish Denmark success in this review cycle.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I do the Florida Distinguished delegation of Mongolia.
Mr.
Vice President, Mongolia welcomes the delegation of Denmark to its fourth VPR review.
We commend Denmark's sustained commitment to participatory and consultative governance processes, including engagement with civil society.
We also positively note Denmark's continued efforts to strengthen equality and social protection.
In the spirit of constructive engagement, we would like to offer the following recommendations.
One, to further strengthen efforts to ensure that victims of gender based violence have access to adequate support services, including shelters and counseling services.
And two, to ensure effective implementation of strategies and legislation to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the open labor market, including through strengthened awareness raising and expanded skills development programs.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor distinguished ambassador of Montenegro.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Montenegro welcome the distinguished delegation of Denmark.
We commend Denmark for its sustained commitment to high human rights standards reflected in its strong legal and institutional framework and adherence to key UN conventions.
We welcome addressing intimate partner violence and trafficking, strengthening anti discrimination protections for women, persons with disabilities, and LGBT plus persons and promoting labor market inclusion.
Initiatives like the const based rape legislation and expanded victim support services exemplify this commitment.
In this period, we encourage Denmark's continued efforts to further enhance reporting and follow up on hate crimes and hate speech as well as the victim support and equal access to justice.
Montenegro recommends that Denmark one, ensure that torture is punishable per se, and that is definition is fully aligned with the Convention Against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to ensure automatic acquisition of Danish citizenship for children born in the country who would otherwise be stateless, reach Denmark every success in the UPR.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Allegation of Morocco.
Mr.
Vice President, the delegation wishes to thank the delegation of Denmark for the presentation of its national report.
Morocco welcomes the efforts of the government of Denmark to protect and promote human rights, including through the accession of Denmark in 2022 to the Convention on the Protection of all Persons against enforced disappears.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue, my delegation wishes to make the following two recommendations.
One, continue efforts to combat hate speech, including through strengthening the capacities of law enforcement agencies, and second, allocate adequate human and financial resources to the implementation of the National Action Plan on domestic violence.
We wish success to the delegation of Denmark in this review.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you flow distinguished delegation of Mozambique.
Mr.
Vice President, Mozambique welcomes the delegation from Denmark and congratulates it on the presentation of its national reports within the framework of the fourth cycle of the Universal Pearity Review.
Mozambique commends the government of Denmark for its continued commitment to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms, as well as for its efforts to strengthen the legal framework regarding human rights.
In a spirit of a conserive engagement, Mozambique presents the following recommendation.
One, continue efforts to combat violence against women's and children, two, implement programs that leads to women's access to full time employment on an equal footing, especially for migrant women.
Three, increase efforts to achieve full wage parity between men and women's.
Mozabique wished Denmark success in this review.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you.
I'll give the floor to the Slish delegation of Nepal.
Mr.
Vice President, Nepal warmly welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark to the full cycle of UPR and thanks them for the presentation of National Report.
We take positive note of the efforts made by Denmark to address the recommendation of the last UPR cycle and appreciate its constructive engagement with human right instrument and mechanisms.
Equally noteworthy is the progress achieved by Denmark towards promoting gender equality and combating gender based violence.
In a constructive spirit, Nepal recommends Denmark's the following.
One, is step up measures to ensure equality and non discrimination in the labor market.
Two, redouble efforts to combat climate change and support vulnerable communities to design and implement appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
I thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you for the F Distinguished ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands thanks the delegation of Denmark for the presentation of its national report.
The Netherlands commends the government of Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands for the inclusive process in drafting the report.
Building on the 2021 UPR, further measures are welcome to ensure the rights of intersex people.
The spirit of constructive cooperation, the Netherlands recommends, first, establishing national guidelines regarding people with variations in sex characteristics, including the possibility to postpone non emergency, invasive and irreversible genital surgery or hormone treatment on infants and children until they are able to meaningfully participate in decision making and give informed consent.
Second, continuing the active approach taken by both Danish and Greenlandic governments to prevent and combat sexual harassment.
The Netherlands wishes Denmark success with the follow up of all recommendation it receives during this UPR cycle.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
R.
Thank you.
I give the floor Distinguished Representative of New Zealand.
Mr.
Vice President, we warmly welcome the delegation from the Kingdom of Denmark.
New Zealand welcomes Denmark's progress since its 2021 Universal Periodic Review, including the adoption of legislation explicitly prohibiting discrimination against LGBT plus persons and continued efforts to advance gender equality.
New Zealand recommends that Denmark, one, continue its efforts to address the recommendations of the Council of Europe's committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment following the committee's seventh periodic visit to Denmark.
Two, take steps to ensure equal protection from gender based violence across the entire Danish realm, including establishment of support services and training of social workers across the realm.
Three, ensure implementation of the new action plan for better inclusion for people with disabilities in education and the labor market.
We thank the delegation for their participation today and wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give the floor to Distinguished Delegation of Nigeria.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Nigeria welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark and commend its commitment to human rights obligations and cooperation with human rights mechanisms.
Nigeria notes Denmark's effort to advance equality and inclusion, including true measures to combat racism and hate crimes, promote disability inclusion, and address violence against women and domestic violence.
In the spirit of constructive dialog, Nigeria recommends that Denmark one, ensure that migration policies are implemented in full conformity with international human rights obligations.
Two, strengthen implementation of the National Action Plan against racism and promote protection for all racial, ethnic and religious minorities.
Three, ratify the ICRMW.
Four, continue strengthening family oriented policies that support parents and guardians in the healthy development and education of children.
Finally, Nigeria wishes Denmark a successful review.
I thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Tap.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished ambassador of Norway.
Thank you, Vice President.
Norway commends Denmark's strong commitment to human rights and welcome steps taken since its last review, including ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced disappearance, criminalization of torture as a specific offense in the Penal Code, and the enhanced cooperation within the Kingdom of Denmark with Greenland on important human rights issues.
Norway recommends that Denmark.
One, adopt a comprehensive national strategy to prevent and combat gender based violence, including domestic violence.
Two, expand the action plan against racism with specific measurable goals and indicators and consider making relevant initiatives permanent.
Three, ensure adequate funding and capacity to effectively monitor and report on human rights in Greenland, particularly with regard to the rights of indigenous peoples.
I thank you.
The floor to Distinguished delegation of Pakistan.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Pakistan thanks the delegation of Denmark for presenting the country's UPI report.
We commend Denmark for the initiatives taken for the protection and promotion of human rights by strengthening legal frameworks and policies in a number of areas.
However, we recommend the following two points in a constructive spirit.
A, expand the National Action Plan against racism in a way that it addresses discrimination and hatred against all religious and ethnic minorities.
B, review and amend policies having discriminatory impacts on immigrants just because of their identity.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
I thank you.
Thank you.
The floor distinguished ambassador of Panama.
Thank you, Vice President.
Panama welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark.
We thank them for the national Report.
In a constructive spirit, Panama recommends, one, explicitly integrate protection of the most vulnerable groups in implementation of the law on climate, ensuring that green transition policies don't generate inequality gaps.
To adopt the necessary legislative measures to include torture as a standalone crime in the criminal code.
Three, update criteria and terminology used in legislation on specific housing sectors to eliminate concepts that could lead to discrimination or marginalization of ethnic minorities.
We hail the historic leadership of Denmark in promoting human rights, and we underlie the reform of parental leave that promotes equitable distribution of care duties and bolsters gender equality.
Panama wishes Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Peru.
Thank you, Vice President.
Peru warmly welcomes delegation of Denmark.
We thank them for the national report.
We recognize measures adopted to promote effective exercise of rights of persons with disabilities, including implementation of reasonable accommodation in the workplace and adoption of action plans geared towards their participation in various fields of social economic educational life.
In a constructive frame, Peru recommends one, bolster institutional capacity and provide sufficient resources to guarantee effective access to mechanisms to address reports of discrimination on grounds of disability to ensure a timely effective response.
Two, step up education policies to eliminate structural barriers that limit the participation of children with disabilities in the education system and guarantee their access to inclusive high quality education.
Three, update the normative framework when it comes to disability to recognize denial of reasonable accommodation as a form of discrimination and guarantee accessibility in all aspects of life.
We wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the F distinguished ambassador of Poland.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Poland thanks Denmark for its national report and its continued engagement with the Universal Periodic Review.
Poland welcomes a number of positive developments since the previous review cycle, including the adoption of National action plan against racism in 2025, continued efforts to combat hate crimes and discrimination, as well as Denmark's ratification in 2022 of the International Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced disappearance.
Poland recommends that Denmark, one, adopt legislation to completely abolish solitary confinement of children, Two, continue efforts towards establishing an independent human rights institution covering the Faroe Islands in line with the Paris principles.
Three, further strengthen measures to prevent and combat racism, hate speech, and discrimination, including by addressing concerns related to ethnic and religious profiling.
We wish Denmark a successful UPR.
I thank you.
Thank you.
Give the floor distinguished ambassador of Portugal.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Portugal thanks to delegation of Denmark for the presentation of their national report.
Portugal commends Denmark's continued efforts to enhance the human rights situation in the country and to promote gender equality, including through the ratification of ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work and the introduction of rules requiring largest listed companies to reach a 40 60 gender representation target on their boards of directors.
Portugal respectively recommends that Denmark continue implementing measures to improve accessibility and inclusion in primary and lower secondary education, namely by bringing pedagogical and psychological support closer to students with disabilities and special educational needs.
Portugal wishes Denmark a successful review.
I thank you.
Thank you give the floor to the distinguished representative Kate.
Have you got this? Welcome the delegation of Qatar, thank them for the presentation of the National report and we commend the efforts taken by Denmark to improve the situation of human rights since the previous review.
We make the following recommendations.
First, include in the National Action Plan against racism, the definition of racial discrimination, and expand measures to address discrimination, hatred against all religious and ethnic minorities.
Two, remove barriers to reporting racist and religious hate crimes and hate speech incidents, ensure effective investigation and prosecution.
Establish a comprehensive, desegregated, deggregated hate crime data collection system and continue with affected communities.
Third, strengthen efforts to combat trafficking in persons, including judicial efforts and ensure victims access to full redress, including adequate compensation, rehabilitation, support.
Fourth, ensure that all children receive quality education without discrimination.
We wish them every success.
I give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Republic of Korea welcomes the delegation of Denmark and commends its continued efforts to implement recommendations from the previous review.
In this regard, we take note of the measures taken to strengthen educational and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, as well as the adoption of the National Action Plan against racism in 2025.
We also acknowledge Denmark's ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced Days.
While noting these efforts, we would like to make the following recommendations.
One, ensure access to justice for persons with disabilities by providing procedural accommodation and strengthening implementation in practice.
Two, further strengthen efforts to address racial discrimination, hate crime, and hate speech, including by addressing gaps across reporting, investigation and prosecution, and enhancing law enforcement.
We wish the Mark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished delegation of the Republic of Moldova.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The Republic of Moldova welcomes the distinguished delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark and thanks for the presentation.
We appreciate the Kingdom of Denmark's firm commitment to upholding human rights.
The efforts aimed at ensuring gender equality, combating gender based violence, reducing discrimination against persons with disabilities, and ensuring free and high quality education are commendable.
We welcome the ratification by Denmark of the ILO Convention number 190 and the ratification by Greenland of the Istanbul Convention.
In the spirit of constructive engagement, Moldova recommends.
One, strengthen efforts aimed at combating racial discrimination, racist hate crimes, and hate speech.
Two, take further steps to enhance the rights of persons with disabilities, including by ensuring effective access to justice and inclusive education.
Three, consider extending the application of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications Pro to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
We wish the Kingdom of Denmark a successful review.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Romania.
Thank you, Vice President.
Romania welcomes the delegation of Denmark and wishes it a successful outcome of its review.
We welcome Denmark's efforts in promoting children's rights, notably the reforms conducted in the child's protection system and efforts to support vulnerable families.
We encourage Denmark to build on this positive trends.
Romania constructively recommends the kingdom of Denmark the following.
One, ensure the respect of the right to privacy in the context of the increasing use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies in public spaces.
Two, strengthen legislation on combating all forms of violence against women and girls.
Three, adopt a clear definition of racial profiling and expand measures to combat discrimination against all persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities.
Thank you, Vice President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the delegation of the Russian Federation.
Thank you, Vice President.
We're grateful to Denmark for presenting the report.
Despite the declared commitment to human rights and principles of democracy, the situation is far from faultless.
The country has unleshed an aggressive anti Russian campaign with persecution, discrimination against Russian peoples and organizations, censorship of Russian media, defacing Russian war memorials.
That leading to ethnic hatred against Jews, people of African origin, and Roma.
We recommend effective measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and conduct thorough investigations into all such cases.
We note with concern that in Denmark, there's free functioning of neo Nazis organizations whose activities are aimed at fostering glorifying Nazism.
We recommend legislative measures to combat the measures of such organizations.
There's also still long standing colonialism problem with ensuring the rights of the Greenland population, we recommend comprehensive legislative measures to effectively prevent the rights of the Greenland's indigenous population.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Distinguished representative of Rwanda.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Rwanda welcomes the distinguished delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark and thank them for presenting the national report.
We appreciate Denmark's continued commitment, promotion and protection of human rights.
In a speit of constructive dialog, Rwanda recommends the following.
One, strengthen reporting, investigation, and data system on racist hate crimes to ensure effective prosecution and accountability.
Two, establish comprehensive national digital inclusion strategy aimed at reducing the digital divide.
For persons with disabilities and vulnerable communities.
Three, increase funding and resources for Board of equal treatment to strengthen its operational capacity and ensure the timely and effective handling of disability discrimination complaint.
Four, adopt a clear legal definition and prohibition of racial profiling with systematic mechanism for collection of data on ethnic profiling.
Wanda wishes Denmark a successful review.
I thank you, Vice President.
Thank you.
Give the floor distinguished delegation of Serbia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Serbia welcomes the delegation of Denmark at DUO session and thanks it for presenting its national report.
We commend the efforts of Denmark in responding to the recommendations from the last EOR cycle.
We welcome the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of all persons from enforced disappearance and the submission of the first report to the relevant committee.
We also commend the fact that national legislation guarantees equal opportunities for women and men, especially in the labor market and prioritizes strengthening the economic integration of women.
We further encourage the equal right to health and education for all children regardless of their nationality, situation, or status.
In a constructive spirit, we recommend that Denmark address institutional discrimination against persons with disabilities and expand awareness raising efforts to combat discriminatory attitudes towards persons with disabilities.
Serbia wishes Denmark successful review.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I'll give the floor to distinguished ambassador of Slovenia.
Thank you.
Mr.
Vice President, Slovenia thanks the government of Denmark for its commitment to the UPR process and the presentation of the National report today.
We commend Denmark for its generally high protection of human rights.
We positively note the prioritization of gender equality in the Danish society, as well as the adoption of the National action plan to combat intimate partner violence and intimate partner killings.
We welcome the positive measures to prevent sexual harassment.
However, we recommend to the Danish government to ensure effective remedies for incidents of sexual violence against women and girls with disabilities.
While noting the provisions adopted to decrease the use of long term solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure, Slovenia recommends to Denmark to further intensify efforts to completely abolish its use for children within the criminal justice system.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give you the floor distinguished Ambassador, Dep Ambassador of Spain.
Thank you, Vice President.
Spain wishes a warm welcome to the High ranking delegation of Denmark, we welcome the presentation of the report.
We hail progress made in implementing recommendations from the previous cycle in the field of human rights as well as commitment to the international system.
In a constructive spirit, Spain recommends, one, bolster the judicial response to human trafficking, especially through better protection for whistleblowers and victims.
Two, revise norms and practices when it comes to preventive pretrial detention and isolation so that it's used in a proportionate manner.
Three, continue and bolster progress in the field of gender equality and fighting gender based violence through updating or adopting a new national plan with a comprehensive approach, we wish Denmark a successful review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The floor Distinguished delegation of Sri Lanka.
Mr.
President, Sri Lanka welcomes the delegation of the Kingdom of Denmark and appreciates the comprehensive presentation made to this council.
Sri Lanka welcomes the efforts undertaken by Denmark to promote gender equality and address the gender pay gap through corporate incentives and statistics based policymaking.
In a constructive spirit, Sri Lanka recommends that the Kingdom of Denmark consider acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of rights of all migrant workers and their families, continue to strengthen the legal and institutional protections afforded to persons with disabilities, Continue with further measures for ensuring access to education for all sectors of society, particularly children with disabilities.
Consider reviewing whether any laws in their implementation disproportionately restrict certain migrants access to employment and housing.
We wish the Kingdom of Denmark success in its UPR engagement.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Thank you.
The floor.
Distinguished Ambassador.
Of Sweden.
President, Sweden welcomes Denmark's longstanding commitment to human rights and the progress made to implement previous UPR recommendations, including the efforts made to prevent racism, anti Semitism, and discrimination through the action plan published in 2025.
At the same time, Sweden would like to make the following three recommendations.
One, Establish systematic data collection on sexual and gender based violence to support the development and implementation of appropriate preventive measures.
Two, appoint a permanent independent national authority on human trafficking to evaluate the effectiveness of official measures.
Three, ensure that persons held in solitary confinement are provided with safe living conditions and adequate psychological support.
We wish Denmark a productive review.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Give the floor Distinguished Delegation of Tunisia.
It is.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Welcome the delegation of Denmark and wish them success.
We also commended the efforts of the Danish government to promote the human rights system and promote tolerance and openness.
In line with this and in a constructive spirit, we would like to make the following recommendations.
One, take necessary measures to expand the implementation of the National Action Plan against discrimination 2025, to ensure combating discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities without exception.
Two, step up efforts to monitor and condemn hate speech and islamophobic speech, including the mass three, promote legal and institutional framework to combat all violence against women, especially domestic violence.
Four, adopt preventive measures against violations committed during peaceful protests.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'll give the floor Distinguished delegation of the Philippines.
Mr.
Vice President, the Philippines warmly welcomes the distinguished delegation of Denmark.
We laud Denmark's progress on gender equality and children's rights and combating sexual and domestic violence with the enactment of a consent based anti rape legislation.
To sustain gains, we offer the following recommendations.
One, strengthen protection mechanisms for migrant workers and seafarers, including by ensuring access to consular assistance and reconsidering the use of solitary confinement in line with international human rights standards.
Consider establishing an appropriate mechanism to safeguard the rights of migrant technical interns to fair working conditions, safety nets, and access to remedies.
Three, step up efforts to combat trafficking in persons by enhancing specialized police and prosecutorial capacity and early victim identification processes.
As well as by providing victims better access to legal protection and residence permits and enhance family court safeguards to ensure that in custody and visitation cases, the concept of parental alienation is not applied in a manner that undermines the best interests of the child and the protection of victims of domestic violence.
In closing, the Flip.
Thank you, Excellency, distinguished colleagues.
That was the last delegation that wished to take the floor in this review.
I'll give the floor now back to Excellency to respond to the questions put thus far and also to make final concluding observations over to you.
Vice President and distinguished delegates.
Allow me to reflect on a few additional comments and recommendations before the closing of our session today.
Let me begin by addressing the issue of human trafficking.
Denmark is firmly committed to preventing and combating human trafficking.
Since 2002, national action plans have been in place and the Danish Center Against Human Trafficking works at national level to detect and support victims and train professionals as well as monitor and coordinate efforts to combat human trafficking.
In January this year, the seventh national strategy and action plan for 2026 to 2029 was launched.
The plan strengthens the Center Against Human Trafficking, continues outreach work and crisis shelters for women, Steps has also been taken to reinforce police and prosecution efforts.
Victims, including asylum seekers and individuals without legal status are offered health care, psychological support, counseling, and safe accommodation.
A new initiative provides legal assistance to vulnerable foreign women in prostitution.
Vice President, questions have been asked regarding prison facilities in Denmark by several delegations.
Denmark is committed to securing appropriate standards in prison, and a number of initiatives have been enacted to increase the capacity of the Danish prison system.
Now, pre trial detention has also been raised by several delegation.
The government agrees that pretrial detention should be used only when necessary and for the shortest possible period.
Therefore, several steps has been taken to reduce the use of pretrial detention.
For instance, Denmark has decided to increase the use of alternative measures involving electronic monitoring as a substitute for pretrial detention in a detention facility.
Under this measure, the rend prisoner may continue working or attending school, thereby maintaining contact with the outside world.
Now vice president on the matter of torture.
In 2023, the Committee Against Torture recommended that Denmark make torture a punishable offense per se, and that the definition fully encompasses the Convention Against Torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishments.
These recommendations from the Committee Against Torture are from 2023.
On January 1st, 2025, a new amendment to the Danish Criminal Code came into force.
With this amendment, the crimes of, amongst others, torture, crimes against humanity, and war crimes are now explicitly criminalized under the Danish Criminal Code.
The Danish provision criminalizing torture corresponds in substance to the definition of torture in Article 1 under the UN Convention Against Torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishments.
On the issue of discrimination, also raised by many litigation, it is essential for the Danish government that all citizens are subject to equal treatment and that they have equal opportunities and equal rights.
It is a fundamental principle in Danish administrative law that all citizens are equal before the law and that the public authorities cannot discriminate between citizens on any ground.
This principle is binding on public employers, public employment services, and all other public bodies.
This principle is supplemented by more specific prohibitions against discrimination in the UN Conventions Denmark has ratified, such as the prohibition on discrimination on the basis of disabilities in the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the prohibition on racial discrimination in the Convention on the elimination on all forms of racial discrimination.
Moreover, it follows from the Act of prohibition against discrimination that it is also prohibited in the private sector to discriminate on the grounds of race, color, national or ethnic origin, belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or gender characteristics.
Furthermore, the Act of prohibition against discrimination on the labor market, which applies to employment relationships, prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on grounds of race, color, or ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or gender characteristics, national or social origin, political opinion, age, and disability.
Vice President, a number of delegations today have commented on the topic of freedom of expression.
As we all know, freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief are core values for all democratic societies.
It is very important for us to protect these freedoms.
The Danish Constitution as well as our international obligations ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief and prohibits discrimination based on, among other things, religion.
The right to freedom of expression is also ensured in both the Danish Constitution and under international obligations.
However, the right to free speech is not must not be unlimited.
Certain limitations are justified, for instance, to protect the rights and freedoms of others.
Vice President, this concludes our remarks and comments raised regarding the human rights situation in Denmark.
But before passing the floor to the representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands, allow me to use this opportunity to highlight our long standing contribution to the advancement of human rights internationally.
The Kingdom of Denmark has for more than 45 years contributed at least 7.7% of our GNI in official development assistance implemented through a human rights based approach.
As a current elected member of the UN Security Council, we have a steadfast focus on standing up for international law and human rights and upholding the UN charter.
The Kingdom of Denmark is proud of our longstanding commitment to actively promoting human rights both nationally and globally.
In a time where international law and human rights are under pressure, Denmark will continue our work to protect and strengthen the international human rights system.
Vice President, I wish to thank all delegations for investing time and effort in preparing and providing constructive comments, questions, and recommendations for us.
All recommendations deserve careful consideration and will be discussed within the Danish, the Greenlandic, and the Faroes governments and with our civil society, and we will revert with our responses to the recommendations at the September session of the council.
We also intend on submitting a midterm report as we have done in previous cycles.
I now wish to pass the floor to my distinguished colleague, Tovonl Kent, for the concluding remarks from Greenland.
Thank you.
As we are coming to a close, there are three issues that I would like to address, and those are related to the sexual abuse of children and violence against women as well as child poverty in Greenland.
Let me start saying that sexual abuse of children is something that my government takes very seriously.
And as a result, legal reforms have taken place.
Most notably is a law from 2023, which criminalizes grooming, defines sexual engagement or intercourse with children below 15 as rape.
There are also provisions related to abuse in digital context, including sex extortion.
I mentioned the family houses centers in my introduction and these also have sections for treatment of child abuse victims, but also for adult survivors.
In addition, children also have the possibility of using online and phone helpline around the clock.
On violence against women, as I said, Greenland has also acceded to the Istanbul Convention and has a strategy in intimate relations that includes a number of measures for prevention, but also for behavioral corrections.
There is also national treatment and counseling centers for the perpetrators of violence.
Now, on child poverty, Since the last UPR, we said that we didn't have a threshold.
We are not considering a threshold for child poverty.
Due to the complexity and multidimensionality of poverty, we do not perceive a threshold based on economy as meaningful in Greenland.
However, we have a number of measures focusing on child poverty, including support measures such as allowance for children and also housing allowances for low income families.
Even though we are not working with a threshold as such, the government has very, very close attention to child poverty in Greenland.
So lastly, President, Vice President and distinguished colleague, thank you so much for all your questions today and for engaging with us.
This is, as I mentioned, also in the introduction, very important for us in Greenland because this also actually help inspire us and also help define the task that we have ahead of us.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Allow me now to pass the floor to my distinguished colleague from the Faroe Islands, Suite Lamhge nstir for the concluding remarks from the Faroe Islands.
Yes.
Thank you, Minister, Vice President and distinguished delegates.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the colleagues in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands for the excellent cooperation throughout this process.
I also extend my thanks to civil society, NGOs, and the public for their valuable contributions.
Furthermore, on behalf of the Faroe Islands, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, Mr.
Vice President and your team, the Troika, the Secretariat, the Danish Mission, and to everyone else that has been involved in this fourth periodic review.
This unique process has been truly inspiring and meaningful.
Vice President and distinguished delegates.
Wisdom lies in the eyes of the guest.
I began my opening statement with this Faro saying, which reflects the idea that an outside perspective can bring clarity to what we ourselves may take for granted.
The universal periodic review is a unique mechanism because this process reminds us never to take human rights for granted, neither at the national nor the international level.
It encourages the international community to work together and to take on the responsibility for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights, both within our own societies and globally.
The Faroe Islands believe firmly in the international rule based order.
We recognize our duties and obligations under international law.
It is therefore essential to uphold legally established rights and to engage in international cooperation that seeks to safeguard these rights for everyone.
In this spirit, the Faroe Islands will carefully consider the recommendations received and engage constructively in the follow up process.
From our perspective, human rights are the foundation, not only for society, but for the dignity and quality of human life itself.
They form a vision of humanity that seeks to continuously develop society for the benefit of both the individual and the community.
I thank you, Vice President and thank you, distinguished delegates.
Thank you, Theresa, for your closing remarks from the Faroe Islands and for reminding all of us never to take human rights for granted.
As a closing remark, I wish to thank you, Vice President, your team, the members of the Troika, and the Secretariat, for all your hard work.
Your assistance and guidance have been highly appreciated, and for this, we have been very grateful throughout the process.
Once again, I wish to thank all the delegations for your input.
The Kingdom of Denmark is always ready to engage in further dialogue on issues raised.
Thank you.
Which are Araf Thank You Excellency, and the entire Danish delegation for their participation in this review and for the relevant updates, additional information provided to delegations.
The review report will be prepared by the members of the Troika, namely the representatives of Brazil, the Marshall Islands and South Africa.
In accordance with the procedure applied since 2015, the recommendation section of the report is scheduled to be circulated on Monday 11th May at 6:00 P.M.
Furthermore, let me remind you that According to the declaration, the president of the Human Rights Council adopted an eighth December 2025, the recommendation section of all working group reports will be considered for adoption on Friday 15th of May at the last meeting of this session, beginning at 2:30 P.M.
The full report, including the summary section will be distributed by email on Friday, May 22, 2026.
This brings us to the end of our meeting this morning.
We will reconvene this afternoon at 2:30 for the examination of review of Palau.
Speaking time will be 2 minutes for everyone.
Registered speakers wishing to withdraw from the list are requested to do so using the online event system.
Do so no later than 30 minutes before the start of the examination.
With that, I hereby adjourn the seventh meeting of the 52nd session of the Universal Periodic Review working group.