32nd Meeting - 62nd Session of Human Rights Council

Excellencies, distinguished representatives, colleagues, I hereby declare open the 32nd meeting of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.
We shall now continue with what we left behind, and that is taking action on draft resolution L nine, and we continue on general comments.
And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt, followed by Gambia and Estonia.
You have the floor, sir.
President Egypt thanks the core group for presenting draft resolution L nine.
We also thank them for bringing before the council an issue of growing importance to the enjoyment of human rights in the digital age.
Combating disinformation has become an urgent necessity.
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping the information environment to an unprecedented pace.
Disinformation undermines public trust, it distorts access to reliable information, it deepens polarization, it weakens social cohesion.
It can also fuel harmful narratives targeting individuals and communities.
In certain contexts, it contributes to discrimination, hostility and violence.
Adré disinformation requires a balanced and practical approach.
Responsibility cannot rest on states alone.
Technology companies, digital platforms, and developers of artificial intelligence system, also have an important role to play.
They must help prevent the misuse of their technologies.
They must also contribute to a safer and more trustworthy information environment.
Egypt stresses that efforts to address disinformation should take into account its close links with hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, including in digital spaces.
This is a central element of the broader discussion on emerging technologies, the information environment and the enjoyment of human rights.
At the same time, responses must remain mindful of different national capacities and levels of technological development.
They should promote ethical and professional media.
They should strengthen media and digital literacy.
They should also enhance international cooperation, technical assistance, and capacity building, particularly for developing countries.
Egypt will join the consensus on this resolution.
We do so in recognition of the importance of maintaining the council's engagement on this issue.
We also look forward to future iterations of this initiative reflecting these considerations more clearly.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gambia, followed by Estonia and the Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Gambia thanks the core group for their leadership on draft resolution L nine on the role of states in countering the negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights.
The Gambia welcomes this draft resolution and supports its focus on an issue that is becoming increasingly relevant to the protection of human rights, social cohesion, and democratic participation.
Information is not only a communication challenge.
It is a trust to peaceful and inclusive societies.
It can undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and distort public debate.
Its impact is even more serious in fragile states and during public health emergencies.
At the same time, the Gambia believes that responses to disinformation must be firmly grounded in international human rights law.
Measures to counter disinformation should not unwittingly suppress legitimate expression, silence dissent, or restrict civic space.
This balance is imperative.
States must address disinformation while protecting freedom of expression, access to information, media freedom, and meaningful public participation.
At the national level, the Gambia recognizes the importance of access to reliable information, open public debate, and responsible civic engagement.
In this regard, the Gambia has taken steps to strengthen its national response mechanism through the launch of the National Misinformation and Disinformation Response Center earlier this year, which serves as a national platform for monitoring disinformation, coordinating public communication, and supporting timely access to accurate information.
For these reasons, the Gambia supports draft resolution L nine and encourages its adoption by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia, followed by the Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Let me start by thanking Ukraine and the rest of the core group for presenting this important resolution and for conducting open and transparent negotiations on it.
This information is not just an abstract issue.
It's something we all encounter every day, whether in the form of fake news, conspiracy theories, or targeted campaigns.
And while disinformation has always existed in some form, it now spreads faster, further, and with far greater consequences than ever before.
Estonia shares the view of the authors of the resolution that disinformation may negatively affect the enjoyment of wide range of human rights and is a threat to democracy.
Disinformation, including foreign information manipulation and interference, undermines information integrity.
When citizens cannot trust what they read and hear, informed public debate rules alongside with the confidence in political and democratic processes.
Foreign information manipulation and interference and information are designed to create confusion, lead to polarization and discredit and erode trust in democratic institutions and actors, including in the independent media and civil society.
Civil society organizations are key in countering disinformation, yet they too are increasingly targeted by coordinating negative campaigns and transnational repression.
We are concerned that more and more often disinformation is used to attack human rights defenders, media outlets, and journalists.
We welcome the call in the resolution to recognize and address the harm suffered by victims of disinformation.
Estonia appreciates that the resolution emphasizes the importance of human rights in the fight against disinformation.
Without doubt, the response to disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference must be anchored in human rights law.
It must not police speech, but protect democratic choice.
Mr.
President, disinformation is a global phenomenon and no state is immune to its negative effects.
An effective response requires more efforts from states, more coordination between them, and more cooperation between states and other stakeholders.
In front of us, we have a focused and balanced text dealing with pressing international problems from the perspective of human rights.
In the light of above, Estonia strongly supports draft resolution L nine and urges others to do the same.
We call for its adoption by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
At the outset, the Republic of Korea would like to thank the core group for once again presenting this important and timely initiative to the Human Rights Council as this information has been recognized as a profound impediment to the exercise and enjoyment of human rights.
We remain convinced that draft resolution and line adequately reflect emerging trends in disinformation and helps maintain the council's sustained attention to this important matter.
While new and emerging digital technologies, including AI, can contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights when responsibly developed and deployed, they can also be misused to create and disseminate disinformation at scale.
This makes exacerbate existing human rights risks, including discrimination and exclusion.
We commend the core groups leadership in advancing this text in a balanced manner, building on previously agreed language.
We also appreciate the core group's efforts to streamline the reporting request by asking OCCHR to prepare a single report on the forecast and relevant theme in light of the continued financial and liquidity challenges facing the United Nations.
Against this backdrop, my delegation is pleased to support this text by joining as a co sponsor.
We encourage the council to adopt this resolution by consensus, thereby demonstrating our collective and steadfast commitment to addressing these challenges.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for general comments.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft proposal.
The corresponding PBI oral statement has been made available on the HRC extranet.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanation of vote before the vote on the draft proposal L nine.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.
Thank you very much, Chairperson.
China is robustly opposed to this scourge and calls on all countries to combat it with solidarity and cooperation.
If countries disseminate disinformation for political ends, this runs against human rights and is tantamount to interference against other countries inposing often UCMs which deprive their people of human rights.
These acts seriously undermine the work and credibility of the international human rights mechanisms and warrant this council's attention.
Draft resolution L nine, as we see it, disproportionately highlights freedom of expression and thus lacks balance.
It does not get down to the profound underlying causes of disinformation or the damaging practices which are undermining the human rights mechanisms.
The solutions which are thus proposed in the draft resolution do not appropriately target specific causes and will not therefore manage to effectively resolve the problem.
As a result, China will not be supporting the consensus on this draft resolution.
Thank you very much, Chair.
Thank you.
I see no further request for explanation or vote before the vote.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
May I take it that draft proposal L nine may be adopted without a vote? If so decided.
The Council will now consider draft proposal L 11 entitled, mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extra judicial summary or arbitrary executions.
And I give the floor to the representative of Sweden to introduce the draft text.
Mr.
President, on behalf of Sweden and Finland, I have the honor to present draft resolution L 11 entitled mandate of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary and arbitrary executions.
The main purpose of this resolution is to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of three years.
As in previous renewals, this remains a short and technical resolution.
The updates introduced this year are limited and seek to reflect developments since the previous mandate renewal while preserving the established scope and balance of the mandate.
The draft updates references to relevant Human Rights Council and General Assembly resolutions.
It also reflects recent thematic work of the mandate holder, including reports on protecting the dead and on the rights of families of victims of unlawful killings.
The draft further clarifies the mandate holder's role in providing upon request, technical advice and capacity building support to states and other relevant actors on the implementation of relevant international standards, including the Minnesota Protocol.
Importantly, the draft also contributes to ongoing efforts to rationalize the work of this council and the wider UN human rights system.
It maintains annual reporting to the council while rationalizing reporting to the General Assembly.
This adjustment preserves the mandates ability to inform both the council and the General Assembly while reducing unnecessary reporting burdens.
The resolution will continue to allow the Special Rapporteur to examine situations of extrajudicial summary and arbitrary executions in all circumstances and for whatever reason.
To respond effectively to information received and to draw the attention of this council and the High Commissioner to serious situations that warrant immediate attention or where early action might prevent further deterioration.
The draft resolution is the result of two open informal consultations, as well as bilateral contacts with interested delegations.
Allow me to thank all delegations and civil society representatives for their constructive engagement and contributions throughout this process.
We call upon all members of this council to join consensus and support the adoption of this resolution.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 15 additional co sponsors to the proposal.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I see no request for the floor.
I've been informed by the sorry.
I recognize the distinguished representative of Spain, followed by Cuba.
Thank you very much, President.
Spain congratulates Sweden and Finland for the presentation of resolution 11.
This resolution allows us to reaffirm the fact that the international community continues to be committed to defending the right to life in the face of its arbitrary removal, a message which preserves the same urgency now as it did in 1982 when this mandate was established.
Since then, the successive mandate holders have contributed to the normative developments and effective protection of the right to life, tackling some of the most serious human rights violations in so doing.
This mandate continues to remind us of fundamental principles in international law, including the fact that the death penalty is a cruel inhuman degrading punishment, which is not compatible with human dignity and runs contrary to the universal tendency towards its abolition.
Also that combating terrorism and drug trafficking cannot justify the unilateral use of force on the fringes of the international legal order.
For Spain, the contributions arising have had particular relevance in the process of addressing the open wounds of the Franco period and have contributed to our democratic memory through the clarification of serious human rights violations perpetrated.
We also recognize the strength of the mandate to protect humanitarian workers when they are paid the highest price for their commitment to saving lives in the context of conflict.
Throughout this session, we have also witnessed some significant progress, in particular, the investigation into the feminist sides, which will now come to life, thanks to the addendum to the Minnesota Protocol.
Thanks to the current rapporteur, Mr.
Maurice Tybal Bins, we've seen a gender perspective being incorporated in the investigation into the illicit deaths.
This will, we hope contribute to correcting gender bias in current investigations and deal with the relatives of violence confronted by women and girls.
Chair, behind every extra judicial, summary or arbitrary execution, there is a story which requires clarification and investigation and an unequivocal death that those deaths cannot be tolerated and that the state is exercising its responsibility to protect the right to life.
For all of these reasons, Spain fully supports draft resolution L 11.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Cuba.
Thank you very much Chair.
Cuba condemns all extrajudicial executions or summary or arbitrary executions in all of their forms and supports the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.
Comprehensive protection of the right to life represents a priority for the Cuban state.
This is recognized in Article 46 of our Republic's Constitution.
This mandate has a relevant role in promoting constructive dialogue as well as respectful dialogue and genuine cooperation between states in facilitating exchanges of good practice and the strengthening of national capacity building.
In line with our firm commitment to human rights, Cuba supports this draft resolution, but that support is without prejudice to our established national position concerning the ICJ and the Rome statute.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for the floor.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft proposal.
The corresponding PBI oral statement has been made available on the HRC extranet.
I give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanation or vote before the vote on the draft proposal.
I recognize the distinguished Delegate of Japan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Japan would like to express its appreciation to Sweden and Finland for presenting the important draft resolution 11.
Extra judicial summary or arbitrary executions are grave human rights violations as well as crimes under international law.
Japan recognizes the important role played by the Special Rapporteur towards eliminating extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions and acknowledges the importance of renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur through this resolution.
However, In his latest report presented to the Human Rights Council at its 62nd session titled the death penalty from the perspective of the Prohibition of torture and other ill treatment and the Protection of human dignity.
The Special Rapporteur calls upon all states that retain the death penalty to urgently halt executions and move towards full abolition on the premise that the death penalty cannot be reconciled with the absolute prohibition of torture.
Japan does not consider that the death penalty itself constitutes extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions and takes the view that the contents of the aforementioned report go beyond the mandate of the special apteur.
Moreover, in light of the various treaties to which Japan is a party, as well as customary international law, we understand that under international law, there is no established norm that death penalty and the practices normally associated with executions are incompatible with the prohibition of torture.
Accordingly, we cannot support OP five and therefore dissociate ourselves from it.
That said, we acknowledge the importance of the role of Special Rapporteur in addressing extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions, as mentioned before, and we hope that the Special Rapporteur will continue their meaningful work within the mandate towards eliminating these grave human rights violations.
As such, while dissociating from OP five, we hope that this resolution will be adopted by consensus.
In the event of a vote, we will vote in favor of the resolution.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I see no further request for explanation or vote before the vote.
Now, is there a request for a vote? I see none.
I take it that draft proposal L 11 may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft proposal L 12 slash ref one entitled Freedom of Opinion and Expression.
I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Sweden, followed by the Netherlands.
Oh, sorry.
I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Canada, followed by the Netherlands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honor to introduce draft resolution L 12 on Freedom of Opinion and Expression.
Canada presents this resolution together with the Kingdom of the Netherlands on behalf of Brazil, Fiji, Namibia, and Sweden.
First, allow me to thank all the delegations for their rich engagement throughout the informals process.
The core group endeavored to manage this process in an inclusive, constructive, and transparent manner.
Delegations participated in good faith, offering thoughtful proposals and working collaboratively towards a positive outcome.
This resolution is stronger because of this collective effort.
The right to freedom of opinion and expression is central to good governance and contributes to peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies.
For this iteration of the resolution, it was important to reflect contemporary and emerging challenges to this right.
This includes the opportunities and difficulties posed by new and emerging digital technologies, including AI, the barriers created by technology facilitated gender based violence, particularly for women and girls, the immense threat of repressive activities conducted abroad and their adverse impacts on victims, and the harms caused by misinformation and disinformation and the importance of safeguarding information integrity.
These challenges and others underscore why this resolution is not only relevant but necessary.
I will now give the floor to my distinguished colleague, Ambassador Sen, to offer additional remarks about this initiative.
Thank you.
Mr.
President, we are deeply encouraged by the level of support for this resolution and the importance of this topic to a wide array of actors.
Yet we also know this right is under threat.
Globally, we are witnessing the spread of disinformation and the increasing misuse of laws and technologies to repress and intimidate individuals within and across borders.
Regrettably, violations against journalists too often occur with impunity.
For these reasons, the resolution encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to enhance expertise within its mandate and without additional costs to support accountability and the safety of journalists.
Resolution also requests a timely study on emerging and transnational threats to freedom of opinion and expression that is grounded in human rights law.
The resolution's operative asks are realistic and proportionate, respond to contemporary challenges and are designed to complement existing work on these issues in a coherent manner.
Mr.
President, this resolution reflects a shared commitment to the right to freedom of opinion and expression in this spirit and given the careful balance achieved through negotiations, we call on all delegations to support the adoption of this resolution by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I have been informed by the Secretariat that there are nine additional co sponsors.
Now, turning to general comments, I give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Freedom of opinion and expression continues to face growing pressure from a range of threats, both online and offline, such as democratic backsliding, shrinking civic space, as well as reprisals and harassment against journalists and human rights defenders.
In this regard, my delegation believes that the presentation of draft resolution L 12 slash rev one is timely as it helps maintain the council sustained attention to this important issue.
In particular, we welcome the core group's efforts to reflect the relevance of new and emerging digital technologies and human rights in the text.
Such technologies can expand opportunities for the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, while also posing new challenges to the safe and meaningful enjoyment of this right.
We also appreciate the core group's constructive engagement and its willingness to accommodate many of our comments and concerns throughout the negotiations.
As a longstanding supporter of this right, the Republic of Korea remains committed to its protection and promotion, both online and offline.
Against this backdrop, my delegation is pleased to join as a co sponsor of this draft resolution.
We hope that this important text will be adopted by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia, followed by Cechia and China.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU member states that are members of the Human Rights Council.
This general comment has been agreed by the EU as a whole.
We express our sincere appreciation to Canada and the core group for presenting the resolution on the right to Freedom of opinion and expression.
We commend them for their constructive engagement throughout this process.
The right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, impart information and ideas of all kinds is not only fundamental in itself, but also indispensable for the full and effective enjoyment of all other human rights.
At the time when freedom of expression is facing growing and increasingly complex challenges, we welcome that this year's text has been strengthened to reflect these evolving threats, including the manipulation of information online, amplification of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, technology facilitated gender based violence, and repressive acts across borders.
These developments pose significant risks to the enjoyment of human rights and to the exercise of freedom of expression, both online and offline.
The EU remains firmly committed to upholding freedom of expression and to fostering a safe and enabling environment in which it can be exercised freely.
We are pleased to support the text as presented and encourage all members of this council to join consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cechia followed by China and the UK.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Czech Republic would like to thank the core group for presenting the resolution on freedom of opinion and expression and commend the significant effort invested in its preparation.
We appreciate the inclusive and constructive process that has to lead to a strong and forward looking text.
Particularly welcome the introduction of new elements addressing emerging challenges, notably those related to digital technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as language on transnational repressions and the right to privacy.
These addition reflect the evolution, nature of threats to the right of freedom of opinion and expression and enhance the resolution's relevance.
We also command the rationalization of outputs which contributes to greater clarity, efficiency, and coherence of the council work in this area.
We express our full support for the mandate of the special Reporteur and remain committed to advancing and protecting the right to freedom of opinion and expression, both online and offline.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China, followed by UK and Cuba.
Xi in on.
J W President, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the protection of the freedom of opinion to protect citizens rights in this aspect, to give full play to the media's role in supervision.
This has to be exercised within the framework of law and It should not affect the other citizens, the states, and other people's rights.
This is in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other instruments.
We have to stress 2.1, the obligation and rights are two sides.
We only talk about rights, not obligations.
This will bring risk.
We should not use controversial expressions.
Second, So paragraphs of the resolution cannot be used to expand mandate.
This is our prerequisite.
We appreciate the proposals made.
We would like to overcome difficulties.
We're ready to join in the consensus on this resolution.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of UK, followed by Cuba and Brazil.
Very much, Mr.
President.
The UK is pleased to join consensus on this important resolution and thanks the core group for its leadership throughout the negotiations.
Freedom of opinion and expression is a cornerstone of democratic societies accountability and the protection of all human rights.
At a time when journalists, media workers, human rights defenders, and civil society actors face growing threats, this resolution sends a clear signal that they must be able to carry out their work freely and safely.
The strengthened language on safety of journalists, combating impunity, transnational repression, and strategic lawsuits against public participation is welcome.
We particularly welcome the resolution's strong recognition of the barriers that women and girls continue to face in exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression.
The strengthened language on technology facilitated gender based violence, digital inequalities, and the importance of women and girls full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation online and offline is especially important.
We welcome the resolution's focus on digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and information integrity.
Responses to disinformation must remain rooted in international human rights law while promoting transparency, accountability, and access to reliable information.
As co chair of the Media Freedom Coalition alongside Finland, the UK remains steadfast in its commitment to media freedom worldwide and is proud once again to support this resolution.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by Brazil and Mexico.
President, Cuba recognizes, respects and guarantees the constitutional right of all persons to freedom of thought, expression, and conscience.
The exercise of freedom of opinion, expression as established by international law does not justify the violation of other individual or collective rights.
In this context, we'd like to reiterate our condemnation of hate speech and hate acts which promote violence, discrimination, and intolerance.
The Cuban delegation will support draft resolution L 2012.
At the same time, we would like to put down on record the following considerations.
First of all, in the text, an increasing weight is given to private businesses, including technological ones in the governance of information flows.
Cuba reiterates that the primary responsibility to protect and promote human rights lies with the state and cannot be delegated or replaced by private stakeholders.
Secondly, there are structural imbalances that persist in global information flows and digital platforms and media, which are concentrated in the hands of a small number of transnational corporations, most of them located in developed countries, which undermines the exercise of freedom of expression.
Policies for content moderation and criteria for spending accounts on these platforms are governed by domestic law and the regulatory interests of a limited number of developed countries where said companies have their headquarters.
This means that the applicable standards applicable to freedom of expression for millions and millions of users around the world are set without any equitive participation of the states where the exercise of these rights is actually taking place.
Secondly, operative paragraph 16 does not imply the establishment of an investigative mechanism or the responsibilities of the Office of High Commissioner beyond the resolution 48 stroke 481 of the General Assembly, nor is operative paragraph 16 calls for acting without the consent of the states concerned.
We'd like to put those constrations down on record, emphasizing the importance of avoiding any extensive interpretations of the texts that are not agreed upon by the member states.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil, followed by Mexico and France.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Brazil is part of the core group dedicated to the resolution on Freedom of opinion and expression is pleased to have contributed to this new iteration, which highlights the importance of addressing contemporary and emerging challenges, including in the digital domain through a human rights perspective.
In our steadfast commitment to uphold the right to freedom of opinion and expression, we have worked hard to respond to critical challenges such as technology facilitated gender based violence, the need to combat disinformation and hate speech, and the importance of freedom of expression for the full enjoyment of human rights with special attention to the most vulnerable groups.
In this context, Brazil was proud to organize a side event on the role of freedom of expression in the empowerment of women.
We are particularly concerned about the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to undermine and discredit women, both online and offline.
This challenge is compounded by the spread of disinformation and the proliferation of fake news, which seek to silence women and girls, discourage their participation in public life, and exclude them from democratic processes.
Brazil wishes to express its appreciation to the other members of the core group and the pen holders for their efforts to address the broad range of issues relating to freedom of opinion and expression within the council's mandate in a comprehensive, integrated, and balanced manner while giving due consideration to other relevant human rights, including the right to privacy.
In that spirit, Brazil calls on all council members to support the adoption of draft resolution L 12 by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico, followed by France.
Thank you, President.
Mexico welcomes and would like to thank Canada, Brazil, Fiji, Namibia, the Netherlands, and Sweden for the presentation of draft resolution L 12 on freedom of opinion and expression.
We recognize that the negotiations were held in an inclusive, transparent, and constructive fashion.
Mexico has consolidated a robust legal framework that recognizes freedom of expression and opinion as fundamental rights in keeping with articles six and seven of our Constitution.
According to UN Women, digital violence against women and girls continues to increase globally.
Triggering a significant inhibiting effect on their participation in public spaces and opinion spaces.
This contributes to self censorship and to the shrinking of their presence in public debate.
Therefore, we'd like to thank the core group for having kept in the text concern about the risk of women and girls exposure to violence and discrimination in the digital environment, including technology facilitated gender based violence.
Finally, we'd like to say that we appreciate the fact that the resolution strengthens the call for accountability for violations against journalists as an essential element of safeguarding the freedom of the media and for ensuring access to independent, plural, and trustworthy information.
Therefore, Mexico is co sponsoring draft resolution L 12 and we encourage this council to adopt it by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of France.
Mercy.
Thank you, President.
France would like to thank the Trans regional Core Group comprising the Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, Sweden, and Namibia for having presented draft resolution of 12 on Freedom of expression and opinion.
As our council has repeatedly underscored, this right is not just essential per se, it is also crucial for the full and effective enjoyment of all other human rights.
In a context of growing constraints on freedom of expression and freedom of the media through the spread of false information and the manipulation of information, all of which is magnified by AI, France would like to express its solidarity towards journalists and media professionals who don't hesitate to put their own safety at risk in order to provide impartial information.
We welcome that this resolution echoes these concerns as well as others such as gender based violence facilitated by technology or repressive activities carried out abroad.
It is in light of this commitment that France supports this resolution and we invite all members of the council to join the consensus for its adoption.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I don't see any further requests for general comments.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft proposal.
The corresponding PBI oral statement has been made available on the HRC extranet.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanation or vote before the vote on the draft proposal.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We express our appreciation to the core group behind draft resolution L 12 rev one for its commitment and for convening the informal consultations.
We consider this excuse me, we consider freedom of opinion and expression to be an indispensable foundation of a democratic society and the prerequisite for the enjoyment of many other human rights.
In this regard, we have consistently joined the consensus on similar resolutions.
We welcome the efforts made by the group through this draft resolution to address contemporary challenges in the context of freedom of expression, including emerging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, online violence against women and girls, technology facilitated gender based violence, and the protection of human rights defenders.
We consider that this draft resolution contributes to the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression.
At the same time, we consider it important that due consideration be given to the different national circumstances and domestic legal systems of states regarding strategic lawsuits against public participation SAPs.
While the protection of freedom of expression is of paramount importance in Japan, the right of access to the courts is also a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution.
Accordingly, any measures that would restrict the filing of lawsuits require particularly careful consideration.
We therefore believe that the responses to LPs should be determined in accordance with the national circumstances and legal systems of each state.
We also recognize the importance of strengthening responses to repressive acts.
To this end, the investigation and prosecution of such acts must be undertaken within the framework of each state's criminal justice system and carried out promptly and effectively in accordance with domestic law.
With these considerations in mind, we will continue to contribute constructively to discussions on the right to freedom of expression and to promote and protect human rights in this context.
On this basis, Japan will join the consensus on this draft resolution.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I see no further requests.
Oh, sorry.
I would like to inform the council that Iceland has withdrawn its co sponsorship of this draft resolution as reflected in E delegate and can therefore intervene on this resolution, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iceland.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Iceland welcomes draft resolution 12 rev one and thanks the core group for their constructive engagement during the informal consultations.
Freedom of opinion and expression is facing new and rapidly evolving challenges.
We are witnessing a rise in online violence, AI enabled abuse, and gender disinformation that disproportionately targets women in public life, including journalists and human rights defenders.
This form of gender based violence undermines equal and effective exercise of freedom of opinion and expression.
As such, references to technology facilitated gender based violence in the text are therefore timely and important.
Further, references to repressive activities abroad are another important element of the resolution.
Intimidation, harassment, surveillance, and reprisals continue to be documented by UN human rights mechanisms.
Addressing these contemporary challenges is essential in a resolution dedicated to protecting the freedom of opinion and expression.
Iceland also welcomes the focus on protecting journalists, human rights defenders, and all those exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Finally, the draft resolution is firmly grounded in the existing mandate of the OHCHR and strengthens efforts to promote accountability for violations against those exercising their rights, a key element of protecting freedom of opinion and expression.
Iceland is pleased to join consensus on draft resolution L 12 rev one.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt, followed by Pakistan.
Mr.
President, Egypt attaches particular importance to L 12.
When we first introduced this initiative to the Council in 2009, we did so from the understanding that the promotion and protection of this right must remain firmly anchored in the careful balance reflected in Article 19 of the ICCPR.
We thank the core group for presenting this year's draft and for their constructive engagement throughout the negotiations.
We also welcome the references included in the resolution to situations of armed conflict and occupation, particularly in light of the growing risks faced in such context.
At the same time, Egypt would have wished to see more balanced treatment of a number of issues addressed in the text.
One, the resolution would have benefited from a clearer reflection of Article 19 of the covenant as a whole, including the duties and responsibilities associated with the exercise of the right, as well as restrictions permitted under Article 19 paragraph three.
Two, greater emphasis could have been placed on the role of digital technology, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence in spreading hatred and incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, including religious hatred, as well as responsibilities in this regard.
Three, the resolution would have benefited from stronger recognition of the need for technical cooperation, capacity building, and international support for developing countries in addressing these challenges.
Egypt also wishes to place on record its reservations regarding certain formulations in the draft resolution.
One, the continued expansion and categories of individuals addressed by the text in a manner that may be understood as creating differentiated protection frameworks beyond agreed UN instruments.
Two, references to the full equal and safe participation of girls in decision making processes, which should remain consistent with relevant agreed language.
Three, the incorporation of language that seeks to define concepts that have not been subject to intergovernmental negotiations.
Four, and while we appreciate revisions introduced by the core group to OP 16, Egypt remains of the view that it could be understood as creating a procedural precedent in the work of the council by using a thematic resolution to expand or enhance the investigative capacities of existing UN mechanisms outside the framework of the relevant resolutions.
Light of these considerations, Egypt joins consensus on this draft resolution on the understanding that it does not reinterpret or conflate the agreed framework of the ICCPR or expand the work of the council and its mechanisms beyond the relevant mandates and with the expectation that future iterations will more adequately reflect these concerns.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan.
Thank you again, Mr.
President.
Pakistan thanks the core group for introducing draft resolution L 12 Stroke Rev one.
We appreciate the sponsors, especially for their engagement across both readings of the draft text and their flexibility in accommodating perspectives and concerns.
Transparent and inclusive consultations should continue to guide this council's approach to this important topic.
Right to freedom of opinion and expression is a cornstone no doubt, of democratic societies.
Strict adherence to the provisions of binding human rights instruments is increasingly important amidst growing challenges.
These include shifting political and economic landscapes, the misuse of new technologies, and the dangerous mainstreaming of hatred constituting incitement, especially Islamophobia.
We have three observations in this regard to place on the record.
First, from a thematic standpoint, the human rights risks of monopolistic capture of media and technology platforms have been omitted.
This is all the more notable in view of broadly shared concerns around journalistic freedom and editorial independence.
Future iterations should seek to address the implications of growing monopolization in the information space on the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information.
Second, we are concerned that the operative path seeks to enhance the capacity of mandates unrelated to the thematic focus of the draft resolution under consideration.
This is a notable departure from the council's established practice and sets a precedent with unforeseeable consequences.
Third, the exercise of the right to freedom of expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities as laid out in Article 193 of the ICCPR, as well as grounds for prohibition in Articles 21 and two.
The conflation of human rights treaty obligations with expert documents or interpretative guidance must be avoided as it constitutes a risk to the integrity of the interlocking and complementary provisions of the ICCPR as a whole.
Nevertheless, Pakistan will join in consensus on the draft resolution contained in document L 12 rev one on the freedom of opinion and expression.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for explanation or vote before the vote.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
May I take it, therefore, that draft proposal L 12 slash ref one may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L 15 entitled Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary, Jurors and Assessors and the Independence of Lawyers, mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Hungary to introduce the draft text.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
On behalf of the main sponsors, Australia, Botswana, Maldives, Mexico, Thailand, and my own country, Hungary, I have the honor to introduce draft resolution L 15 entitled Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary, Jurors and Assessors, and the Independence of Lawyers, mandate of Special Rapporteur on the Independence of judges and lawyers.
Reflected in the title of the resolution, the main objective of the core group this year was to merge the thematic and the mandate renewal resolutions on the topic, hereby contributing to the ongoing rationalization and efficiency efforts of the Human Rights Council.
By taking this step, the resolution will now be considered on a triennial basis rather than be annial.
The resolution also extends the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers for another three years.
In addition to the merger and mandate renewal, the resolution includes new languages on the criteria for judicial appointments and strengthened references condemning the cross border repressive activities carried out by state and non state actors against lawyers and other members of the legal profession.
It also reflects the increasing trend of strategic lawsuits against public participation targeting lawyers and other members of the legal profession.
Finally, the text reaffirms the core principles of an independent and impartial judiciary and independence of lawyers and judges, among them, the right to a fair trial, equality before the law, an objective and impartial prosecution, and lawyer client privilege.
The text before the council is the result of two rounds of informal consultations and additional bilateral discussions with states.
The core group negotiated in a spirit of dialogue and in an open, fair, and transparent manner.
It made sincere efforts to incorporate comments from various perspectives and placed great emphasis on making consensual adoption possible.
The constructive engagement of delegations, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders over the last four weeks is greatly appreciated.
We also express our gratitude to states from across regions who have so far co sponsored this draft resolution and encourage those who have not yet done so to express their support to the resolution by co sponsoring it.
Mr.
President, the core group invites all members of the Human Rights Council to join consensus on this important and ever timely initiative.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 21 additional co sponsors, and I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I recognize the distinguished delegation of the UK, followed by Iceland.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The UK is proud to co sponsor resolution L 15 on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors, and assessors, and the independence of Lawyers mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
All legal professionals should be able to discharge their professional duties without fear of reprisals.
An independent legal profession and an independent and impartial judiciary are at the heart of the rule of law.
They play a vital role in promoting and protecting human rights.
That role is only enhanced by the balanced representation of men and women at all levels of the legal profession and the UK was proud to co sponsor a side event on women in law this session.
We also welcome this resolution's focus on robust judicial selection and appointment processes and the UK was a proud co sponsor of a side event on that topic this session too.
Rigorous judicial selection and appointment contributes to public trust in the judiciary as an organ of state, thereby enhancing the rule of law and helping to discharge human rights obligations effectively.
We consider that these principles are equally important at an international level.
Including in the selection of judges to bodies such as the International Court of Justice, where independence, impartiality and expertise are essential.
That standard underpins the UK support for Professor Depo Akes candidacy.
Finally, we welcome the rationalization efforts made by the core group to merge and streamline these two resolutions.
Happily, this resolution already benefits from wide co sponsorship and we hope it will pass by consensus as has happened in the past.
We thank Hungary and the core group for their leadership on this important issue.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iceland, followed by Japan and Gambia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Iceland thanks the core group for its focused work on draft resolution Al 15, combining the substance of the thematic resolution and the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
We will welcome the successful rationalization of the council's work through the merger of these two closely related resolutions into a single coherent text.
With this approach, the efficiency of the council is strengthened while simultaneously preserving the main objective of the thematic resolution and the important mandate renewal.
An independent, impartial, and effective judiciary with an independent and objective legal profession and prosecution services make up one of the fundamental pillars of the rule of law, and as a result, the protection of human rights.
Iceland therefore reaffirms its support for draft resolution L 15 and is pleased to join consensus on the text.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Japan followed by Gambia and the Netherlands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Japan would like to express its appreciation for the efforts of the core group focusing on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and legal professionals.
The independence of legal professionals and the integrity of judicial system are key pillars of the rule of law and prerequisite for the protection of human rights.
Yet there have been increasingly frequent attacks against them.
Accordingly, it is essential to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of the judges and lawyers through this draft resolution.
Japan hopes that the independence of the judiciary and legal professionals will be further ensured through the special Rapporteur's work.
We therefore support this resolution once again as a co sponsor.
We hope that this resolution will be adopted by consensus.
In the event of a vote, Japan will vote in favor of the resolution, and we hope that other members will do the same.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Gambia, followed by the Netherlands and Cuba.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
The Gambia thanks members of the core group for their leadership on draft resolution L 15 on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors and independence of lawyers.
The Gambia welcomes this draft resolution and supports the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years.
An independent and impartial justice system is central to the rule of law, democratic governance, and imperative to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Without independent judges, lawyers, and prosecutors, human rights becomes an illusion.
Victims lose confidence in the justice system, and the justice system itself loses legitimacy and accountability becomes selective.
The Gambia attaches great importance to the continued work of the special peroire, including in supporting states through dialogue, technical assistance, and practical recommendations on strengthening independence of the judiciary, the independence of lawyers, and objectivity and impartiality of prosecutors.
National experience has shown that the judiciary is the last bastion in the protection of human rights, and so justice institutions must be insulated from political pressures, corruption, and undue interference.
It has also shown that institutional reform is essential where justice systems have been weakened by past abuses.
We therefore underlined the importance of protecting judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and all justice sector actors from threats, harassment and retaliation.
Independence is fundamental pillar of the rule of law and an essential safeguard for every person seeking justice.
For these reasons, the Gambia supports draft resolution L 15 and encourages its adoption by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Netherlands, followed by Cuba.
Thank you, Mr.
President, the Kingdom of the Netherlands wishes to express its support for draft resolution L 15, an impartial and independent judiciary, as well as the independence of lawyers are indispensable elements for the rule of law.
In this spirit, we thank the core group for presenting this important resolution and for their constructive engagement throughout the negotiation process.
We particularly wish to highlight two elements.
First, the core group's efforts towards rationalization and second, the retaining of important language with regards to gender equality.
Regarding the first point, we commend the core group for merging the thematic and mandate renewal resolutions.
We consider rationalization efforts as a common responsibility of all member states, which can only be effectively addressed if done together.
We urge all member states to commit to this objective.
Regarding the second point, we are pleased to see that important language on gender equality was retained in the text.
In this regard, we particularly welcome the language reflected in OP four regarding the full, equal and meaningful participation and representation of women in public decision making roles throughout the judicial system.
We consider these elements significant in contributing to the achievement of gender equality.
Therefore, we express our support for the resolution and call for its adoption by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Cuba.
Thank you very much, Chairperson.
Cuba supports the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and the judiciary.
Constructive dialogue and genuine cooperation on a basis of mutual respect without interference is essential to ensure national institutions of justice are restored and that good practice exchange is promoted, as well as that we have a contribution to the rule of law, bearing in mind the circumstances and priorities of each country.
Extensive interpretations of the mandate aimed at privileging politicization are damaging and counterproductive and we hope that the renewal of this mandate will contribute to strengthening the focus on respectful dialogue and constructive decision making that must always prevail.
Thank you very much, Chair.
Thank you.
Is there any further requests? I see none.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft proposal.
The required resources have already been included in the proposed program budget.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanation or vote before the vote on the draft proposal.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.
President, China thanks to sponsors for engaging with all parties in consultations on L 15.
China actively participated and welcomes the sponsors taking of China's views.
We hope that relevant SR will strictly follow the code of conduct for mandate holders and carry out the HRC mandate in an impartial and objective manner.
For the SR on the independence of judges and lawyers, impartiality is especially important.
China urges the relevant SR to carry out the mandate independently, refrain from relying on one sided information and unwarranted charges based on misinformation.
China is ready to engage in constructive exchanges with all mandate holders.
Based on the above, China will overcome the difficulties and will join in the consensus on draft resolution L 15.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for explanation or vote before the vote.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
May I take it that draft proposal L 15 may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft proposal L 16 slash ref one entitled elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls in care and Support System.
I give the floor to the representative of Mexico to be followed by the representative of Spain to introduce draft Proposal L 16 slash ref one.
Thank you very much President.
I'm delighted to present alongside Spain and Iceland, draft resolution L 16 slash Rev.
The text we're presenting today represents a shared effort to continue to progress towards substantive equality and the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls.
It also represents a shared effort to address the requirements towards the need for efficiency and rationalization of this council pursuant to the convergence of initiatives and maximum leverage of their impact.
Draft resolution focuses on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls in the context of care and support systems.
This is an issue which is incumbent on all states with no exception.
Care and support are essential pillars for our society and economy.
Nonetheless, the disproportionate distribution of care and support tasks as well as domestic work is one of the driving factors fostering gender inequality.
This draft resolution demonstrates how gender inequality across care and support systems impacts the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls and highlights the importance of separating care and support responsibilities from gender roles and stereotypes.
At the same time, we call on states to build and strengthen care and support systems which are sustainable and human rights based, and that they also incentivize companies to contribute to that effort.
President, we would like now to pass the floor to the delegation of Spain to continue the presentation of this initiative.
President, the draft resolution being submitted to this council's consideration is the fruit of a wide ranging transparent process in which we carried out eight informal consultations and many bilateral meetings.
Throughout the process, we listened with respect, attention, and openness to the various perspectives put forward by the countries involved in the debates.
We fostered dialogue and we urge for a search for solutions and to seek to address the concerns of delegations, we'd like to thank all delegations that constructively participated to come up with a robust text on such an important issue.
Nonetheless, we regret that despite efforts to reach a balanced text which conflicts and reflects the proposals of this shared work, we have seen various amendments presented to the text, which we will be requesting a vote on.
We would like to recall that given the global nature of this issue, it's imperative that the states talk with a single voice.
We reaffirm our work for the multilateral work of this council in progressing with the care and support agenda from a human rights perspective with a backbone of sustainable development running through it and we trust that on the basis of our aspirations, this resolution will be adopted by consensus as has happened traditionally in the past.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I understand that Amendment L 31 has been withdrawn.
I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation to introduce written Amendment L 38 and L 39.
I would kindly request the representative to introduce all amendments together on the understanding that each amendment will be acted upon separately.
You have the floor.
Thank you.
President, the Russian Federation is committed to the efforts to eradicate discrimination against women and girls at the national and international levels.
We welcome the co sponsors efforts to join similar initiatives and their attempts to give the text a comprehensive character.
However, in practice, the draft before us is lopsided and does not take into account the positions of many countries.
In an effort to somehow balance the draft resolution during the negotiations, the Russian delegation made a whole range of constructive proposals based on the provisions of human rights treaties, documents agreed upon within the General Assembly's third Committee, and the Commission on the status of Women.
Unfortunately, most of our proposals were rejected on highly dubious grounds.
We're particularly concerned by the ongoing attempts to ignore the obligations of states under international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women, which clearly and precisely stipulate that there's a prohibition on discrimination or on drawing any distinction on grounds of sex and not gender as all sponsors of the document are trying to say.
Okay.
I you just need to open up the text of the treaties I mentioned in order to be convinced of this.
In order to improve this lack of consistency, we introduced Amendment L 38.
President, ensuring unhindered access to health care is of extreme significance in the context of eradicating discrimination and expanding women and girls opportunities in the care and support systems.
This connection, we have doubts about the fact that the question is considered by the authors exclusively through the prism of access to services in health services including sexual and reproductive health services.
However, such an interpretation deliberately narrows the essence of this problem and leaves outside of the area, the services and field of healthcare, which in many countries fall under the National Measures of Social Protection and Population support.
In order to overcome this bias, during the consultations, we insistently called on authors to reflect in the document the whole range of matters relating to access to health care services as is foreseen in Sustainable Development Goal 3.7 and 3.8.
Given that the sponsors clearly ignored our initiatives, we have introduced Amendment L 39.
President, we call on all members of the Human Rights Council who have a sense of responsibility about their obligations under the human rights treaty bodies to support our amendments.
To conclude, we would like to underscore that the amendments that we have listed and Russia are not all of Russia's concerns.
Part of our concerns are also found in L 45 and 47, which are also amendments and which Russia has co sponsored.
We would like this statement to be reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I now the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan to introduce written amendments L 45, L 46 and L 47 on behalf of the OIC except Albania.
I would kindly request that the representative introduce all amendments together on the understanding that each amendment will be acted upon separately.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Pakistan, thanks to the core group representing resolution L 16 rev one.
The OIC remains firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls and to promoting and protecting their human rights.
It is in this spirit that we have tabled three targeted amendments addressing the non consensual references to comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and bodily autonomy.
Our concerns regarding these concepts are well known.
CSC promotes a one size fits all approach to sensitive educational matters without sufficient regard for national legislation, cultural and religious values, and the primary role of parents in the upbringing and guidance of their children.
References to SIHR places disproportionate emphasis on one dimension of health while overlooking other equally important components of the right to health, including mental, psychological, emotional, and maternal health.
Likewise, bodily autonomy remains a concept without an intergovernmental agreed definition and is capable of widely divergent interpretations, particularly when applied to girls.
Our proposed amendment, therefore, Mr.
President, draw on language already agreed by member states in the Beijing Declaration and the ICPD.
Mr.
President, we regret that the negotiation process did not meaningfully engage with the concerns consistently raised by a large number of delegations.
Let me remind this council that these concepts have remained among the most divisive elements of this resolution over successive iterations having been subjected to amendments and separate votes previously and repeatedly challenged again during the present negotiations, while the group will not block the adoption of the resolution L 16 rev one.
We hope that future iterations will steer negotiations away from ideological approaches that ignore intergovernmentally agreed negotiated language towards a more balanced and inclusive outcome that genuinely advances the protection of women and girls.
I thank you very much.
Thank you.
I will now turn to the distinguished representative of Iceland to seek the views of the sponsors on the amendments.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
On behalf of the core group and main sponsors of this resolution, we do not support the written amendments presented, which are reoccurring ones aiming to weaken standards and previously agreed language developed within the Human Rights Council regarding the elimination of discrimination against women and girls.
We remain committed to retaining these standards as core elements of the current iteration of the text, and as such, we call for a vote on all of the five amendments presented.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that they are to say? Okay.
So I understand that the co sponsors do not agree with the proposed amendments and called for a vote.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 14 additional co sponsors to draft proposal L 16 slash ref one as reflected on E delegate.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments on draft proposal L 16 slash ref one and on written amendments L 36, L 39, L 45, L 46, and L 47.
And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
At the outset, Japan appreciates the efforts of the core group, namely Mexico, Spain, and Iceland in preparing this draft resolution.
Japan believes that the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls and the achievement of gender equality are indispensable to the protection and promotion of human rights and to the realization of sustainable development.
Japan understands that this draft resolution delivers an important message by focusing on the gender dimensions of care and support systems, highlighting the continuing disproportionate burden of care responsibilities borne by women and girls and promoting the development of inclusive and sustainable care and support system from a human rights perspective.
We believe that such efforts contribute not only to the empowerment of women and girls, but also to realization of an inclusive society in which all persons can live with dignity.
Japan has been implementing a wide range of measures aimed at realizing a gender equal society in which both women and men can fully develop and exercise their individuality and abilities.
These measures include supporting the reconciliation of work and family responsibilities, promoting men's uptake of paternity leave, advancing women's economic empowerment and leadership, and intensifying efforts to eliminate all forms of violence.
In addition, as Japan faces the challenges of a declining birth rate and an aging population, we are working to strengthen the systems that enable care responsibilities to be shared by society as a whole rather than being born solely by families.
From this perspective, Japan believes that it is important to ensure that the responsibilities of care and support are not disproportionately borne by individuals of any particular gender and that all persons can share responsibilities and opportunities fairly within the family, the workplace, and the community.
Japan will continue to work closely with the international community and civil society to advance the protection and promotion of the human rights of women and girls, achieve gender equality, and promote the empowerment of women.
Taking all of those above into consideration, We strongly hope that this draft resolution will be adopted by consensus.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Ghana, followed by Estonia and China.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Garner thanks the core group for presenting draft resolution L 16 and commends the efforts undertaken to advance the rights and dignity of women and girls in care and support systems.
The elimination of discrimination against women and girls remains central to the promotion of human rights and achievement of sustainable development.
We therefore recognize the importance of strengthening care systems that reduce inequality, expand opportunities, and enable women and girls to participate fully in economic, social, and public life.
At the national level, Garner continues to strengthen its legal and policy framework to promote equality and eliminate discrimination.
Our Constitution guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination while recent legislative and policy measures, including the affirmative action A reinforce our commitment to increasing the participation of women in decision making and ensuring greater protection of their rights.
Mr.
President, while support the overall objectives of this resolution, we wish to place on record our understanding that the interpretation and implementation of certain concepts contained therein should remain consistent with internationally agreed human rights instruments and our national legal framework.
In this regard, references to gender should be understood in accordance with our constitution and domestic laws as referring to the two sexes, that is male and female, and should not be interpreted as creating or endorsing concepts that have not been agreed by member states.
Similarly, references relating to sexual and reproductive health should be interpreted consistently with existing international consensus, including the ICPD and other agreed outcomes without implying the creation of new international rights or obligations.
Ghana also believes that policies affecting children should continue to respect the rights, responsibilities and duties of parents and legal guardians, consistent with the Convention of the Rights of the child and the evolving capacities of the child.
With these understandings, Ghana will join consensus on the resolution and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to eliminating discrimination against women and girls and promoting their full enjoyment of all human rights.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia, followed by China and Albania.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU member states that are members of the Human Rights Council.
This general comment has been agreed by the EU as a whole.
We thank Mexico, Iceland, and Spain for their commitment to advancing the rights of all women and girls and express our strong support for draft resolution L 16 on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls in care and support systems.
This resolution reminds us that multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against women and girls remains a human rights violation that breaches the principle of equality.
The European Union welcomes the resolution's emphasis on care and support systems as a prerequisite for gender equality.
Women and girls continue to shower a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, limiting their educational opportunities, labor market participation, economic independence, and full equal and meaningful participation in decision making over the entire life course.
As reflected in the EU action plan on Human Rights and democracy and the European Commission's Gender Action Plan three, investing in the care economy is essential to dismantle structural barriers to gender equality, such as patriarchal social norms, gender stereotypes, and unequal power relations.
It is crucial to promote equal sharing of responsibilities, improve work life balance, and equal pay for work of equal value, and adequate social protection.
Finally, we commend the innovative approach taken by the core group in bringing together two closely connected agendas and merging the resolutions on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls and the resolution on the provision of care.
This contributes to the council's rationalization efforts by strengthening the coherence and impact of its normative work.
We therefore encourage all delegations to join consensus and reject any attempt to undermine the hard won human rights of women and girls.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished Delegate of China, followed by Albania and Thailand.
Mr.
President, the Chinese government elevates the protection of women's rights and interests to a national goal level, maintains a sound and comprehensive legal system on the subject, and continues to implement national action plans for their development, uphold the principle of putting life above all to improve the health and well being of women and safeguard women's and goals equal right to education and eliminate all forms of violence against them, actively promote their participation in decision making and management, and China's women's course has achieved historic success.
China actively participated in the multiple rounds of the consultation on this resolution, China believes that overly detailed regulations for human rights implementation paths may lead to increased interpretation costs, lack of flexibility, and especially this will increase the burden of developing countries obligation fulfillment.
China emphasizes that countries have different national conditions and historical and cultural backgrounds.
We should respect the paths chosen by each country for human rights development.
We appreciate the broad engagement by the sponsors.
With all parties and actively responded to our concerns concerning certain paragraphs.
We would like to join in the consensus on this resolution in view of the above.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Albania, followed by Thailand and Cuba.
Mr.
President, Albania thanks the core group, Mexico, Spain, and Iceland, for presenting this important draft resolution and for conducting the negotiation in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner.
We welcome the core group initiative to bring back this important discussion on the gender dimension of care and support systems from a human rights perspective.
The draft resolution reflects a balanced and forward looking approach and make a valuable contribution to advancing gender equality and human rights of all women women and girls.
Albania believes that unequal care responsibilities remain one of the main barriers to the full enjoyment of women's and girls' rights.
The disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work carried by women continues to limit their opportunity in education, employment, public life, and decision making.
Adré these inequalities is therefore essential for achieving substantive, gender equality and inclusive sustainable development.
We support the resolution calls for comprehensive, accessible, quality and sustainable care and support system that recognize, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work.
While promoting decent work and protecting the rights of paid care workers.
We also welcome recognition that transforming care system systems require challenging harmful gender stereotypes and ensuring the equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of society.
Mr.
President, Albania fully support the draft resolution and commend the core group for its leadership and constructive engagement throughout the negotiation.
We therefore call all the members to support the draft resolution and wish for a consensus adoption.
Should a vote be requested, Albania will vote in favor of the draft resolution.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand, followed by Cuba.
Mr.
President, Thailand thanks the core group for presenting this draft resolution and for its transparent and inclusive consultations.
We particularly appreciate the constructive decision to mainstream the previous resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women and girls and on the centrality of care support from a human rights perspective into a single text.
This is a constructive approach that contributes to the council's efforts on efficiency and rationalization.
Thailand attaches great importance to recognizing the contribution of both paid and unpaid care work to sustainable social and economic development while addressing the gender inequalities that continue to shape care responsibilities.
In this regard, we welcome the recognition of regional efforts, including the Asean Comprehensive Framework on Care economy, which reflects our shared commitment to advancing this important agenda.
Gender equality remains fundamental to the effective promotion and protection of all human rights and lies at the heart of the Human Rights Council's mandate.
We look forward to the adoption of this important resolution by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Cuba.
President.
Thank you, President.
Women carry out most of the unpaid domestic work around the world.
They dedicate almost three additional hours a day to such straws compared to men.
They also represent the majority of those who leave their jobs because they have to focus on caring for other people.
This is a reality that is recognized in draft resolution L 16 rev one.
Cuba also commends the fact that this draft recognizes the shared responsibilities in the care and support systems.
In our country, the family code reflects the value of domestic work and unpaid care work.
It recognizes full equality between men and women in the equitive distribution of time allocated to domestic work and care, which matches the language in this draft resolution.
Also in keeping with the text, in Cuba, we recognize the rights of carers, including the right to care for themselves and to rest and to have support networks and to be reimbursed for the costs that they incur when caring for family members.
This includes measures aimed at distributing redistributing the care burden, which currently lies on women.
And in a operative paragraph four A, which calls for care work to be redistributed.
This matches our own position.
Our country has a system for comprehensive care throughout life, which recognizes care as a work of high social and economic value and the need to redistribute it throughout families and the legal well being and protection of careers.
President.
The Cuban delegation will join the consensus regarding draft resolution L 16 rev one as a whole.
Without prejudice to our well known national position regarding the Inter American Court of Justice, which is mentioned in preambular paragraph 17, Cuba does not recognize any jurisdiction nor legitimacy regarding our country by the Organization of American States nor its subsidiary bodies.
Equally, our delegation would like to put down on record that we will go along with the consensus without prejudice to our national position regarding Resolution 13 25 of the Security Council, which is mentioned in preambula paragraph four.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for general comments.
I have been informed by the Secretariat that there are no PBIs for this draft proposal.
We will now take action on each of the amendments one by one in the order of their submission.
We will then take action on the text as a whole as amended or not.
We will now proceed to take action on amendment L 38.
I give the floor to council members for explanation or vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 38.
I recognize the distinguished representative of France.
Mercy.
Thank you, President.
France is speaking on Amendment L 38 presented by the Russian Federation, which seeks to replace mentions of gender based discrimination with discrimination based on sex.
This debate, we think, could be solved for two different sets of reasons.
First of all, because the sources that prove that this language is agreed to are ubiquitous.
The sustainable development agenda speaks of gender equality, the Convention on the Rights of Persons Disabilities mentions the gender perspective.
The CEO Committee considers that the convention covers gender based discrimination.
Our council itself mentions gender as a discrimination in many resolutions, most of which consensus based.
Secondly, and I'm sorry to have to record this here, but sex and gender are not synonyms.
The sex refers solely to biological features and of course, there is a biological dimension which defines sex.
Nobody is disputing that, but nor can one dispute the fact that there is also a social dimension, and that is gender, which makes it possible to design these constructs which project onto biological differences, differences in behavior and treatment that are not natural at all.
Simone de Beauvoir said this, you are not born a woman, you become a woman.
In the overwhelming majority of societies, including ours, these gender categories create inequalities to the detriment of women.
Gender inequality, gender based violence, and gender based discrimination are the cause of widespread violations of the fundamental rights of women and girls.
To deny gender is to deny that reality.
According to UN women, we will need another 300 years before attaining gender equality.
That means 300 more years of discrimination and violence against women and girls around the world and it is that state of affairs that our energy should be focused on.
The Human Rights Council has the duty to oppose these attempts at backpedaling.
Misnaming things adds to the world's misfortunes, said Albert mux.
That is why France will categorically reject this amendment and will support the text as presented by its co sponsors.
We call on all members of this council to do the same to vote against Amendment L 38 and to support the draft resolution.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for explanation or vote before the vote.
At the request of the delegation of Iceland, the council will now proceed to the recorded vote on L 38.
I now ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine, and I ask all delegations to register their vote.
Have all delegations registered their vote? I request delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, I asked the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting is now closed.
The result of the recorded vote are as follows, seven in favor, 27 against, and 11 abstention.
Amendment L 38 is therefore rejected.
Is that hard enough strong enough.
A copy of the results of the votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
We will now proceed to take action on amendment L 39.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 39.
The distinguished representative of the UK, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The UK remains firmly committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls and regrets that several amendments have been tabled on this resolution.
We take this opportunity to thank the core group for their efforts in bringing forward this timely and important resolution.
We particularly value the decision by Mexico, Iceland, and Spain to merge their respective resolutions on this occasion.
This is exactly the type of rationalization efforts this council desperately needs.
Mr.
President, Amendment L 39 tabled by the Russian Federation seeks to narrow the scope of this resolution and ignore the lived realities of women and girls.
The resolution we are adopting today rightly addresses the structural barriers at the root of the disproportionate burden of care and support work borne by women and girls.
By referencing sexual and reproductive health services, the text follows well established terminology, which already includes health care.
If the amendment were to be adopted, the resolution would be limited to clinical treatment when we know that it is crucial to provide services related to family planning, health checkups, and information.
Mr.
President, how can we reach an equal and fair distribution of care and support between women and men, girls and boys if we do not take a comprehensive approach to the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health? We urge all members of the council to vote against this amendment.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Seeing no further request for an explanation of vote before the vote.
At the request of the delegation of Iceland, the council will now proceed to a recorded vote on L 39.
I now ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine, and I ask all delegations to register their vote.
I request delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, ask the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded votes are as follows, seven in favor, 25 against, and 13 abstention.
Amendment L 39 is therefore rejected.
A copy of the results of the votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
We will now proceed to take action on amendment L 45.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 45 I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Slovenia opposes the amendment L 45 that seeks to delete a reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights from two parts of the text.
Globally, women comprise the vast majority of health and social care workers.
They also carry the vast majority of unpaid care and support work.
A society's care economy encompassing childcare, elder care, and healthcare cannot function equitably or sustainably if human rights of women aren't fully respected.
Loss or illness of a primary caregiver causes a collapse of households care architecture.
It forces other family members, disproportionately adolescent girls to step in and take over households care.
It forces them out of the formal education and formal workforce, entrenching economic dependency.
Therefore, protecting a caregivers SRHR directly secures the stability of the entire family support structure.
SRHR is a comprehensive term used in Human Rights Council resolutions, including in last year's resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights.
The importance of SRHR is in its comprehensiveness.
It combines the highest attainable standard of physical and mental well being regarding sexuality and reproduction, it includes access to the health services, including essential and lifesaving health care, as well as information needed to govern one's own sexual and reproductive life.
SRHR is an essential element in reaching the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
It builds on established rights to health, information, equality, bodily integrity, and is directly anchored in universal human rights, the right to life, the right to health, the right to privacy, the right to education, as well as freedom from discrimination and torture.
Slovenia will vote no on this amendment and calls on all members of the council to do the same and to support the resolution as presented by the core group.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for explanation of vote before the vote.
At the request of the delegation of Iceland, the council will now proceed to recorded vote on L 45.
I asked the Secretariat to open the voting machine, and I ask all delegations to register their vote.
Thank you.
I request delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, I asked the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded votes are as follows.
Seven in favor, 26 against, and 12 abstention.
Amendment L 45 is therefore rejected.
A copy of the results of the votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
We'll now proceed to take action on amendment L 46.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 46.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of the UK.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We must once again take the floor to respond to this latest amendment which aims to replace references to bodily autonomy throughout the resolution.
Amendment L 46 runs counter to a fundamental notion that women and girls have the power and agency to make choices over their bodies and futures without violence or coercion.
Research and data clearly indicate that those who face constraints on their bodily autonomy suffer consequences to their health, well being, and potential in life.
Without supporting women's and girls' bodily autonomy, women and girls cannot realize their own well being, potential, or equally participate in our economies and societies.
If we are to reverse the disproportionate share of care and support work, which is a primary driver of gender inequality, women and girls must have choices and crucially the autonomy to make free and informed decisions.
Mr.
President, we should collectively reject attempts to control half of the world's population.
We will vote against this amendment and call all members of council to do so as well.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for an explanation of vote before the vote.
At the request of the delegation of Iceland, the Council will now proceed to a recorded vote on L 46.
I asked the Secretariat to open the voting machine and all delegations to register their votes.
I request all delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, I ask the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting machine is closed.
The results of the recorded vote are as follows.
Nine in favor, 23 against, and 13 abstention.
Amendment L 46 is therefore rejected.
A copy of the result of the votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
And we will now proceed to take action on amendment L 47.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 47.
I recognize the delegation of Estonia, followed by the Netherlands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Estonia regrets that this amendment was tabled.
Amendment L 47 seeks to delete ensuring universal access to evidence based comprehensive sexuality education from the resolution.
The formulation evidence based comprehensive sexuality education, as originally drafted, constitutes previously agreed language from several Human Rights Council resolution.
Comprehensive sexuality education is a rights based and gender focused approach to sexuality education, whether in school or out of school.
It is taught over several years, providing age appropriate information consistent with evolving capacities of young people.
By definition, CSE must be adapted to local cultural contexts and be presented in partnership with young people, parents, and communities.
The title or name may vary, but comprehensive sexuality education is a term recognized by the international community when referring to sexuality education.
CSE includes information and skills, development regarding personal health, reproductions, human rights, and gender equality, helping young people to understand consent, respect for boundaries, and what constitutes unexpectable behavior.
It addresses threats such as discrimination and the sexual abuse, and it promotes the development of respectful relationships based on gender equality, nonviolence, non discrimination, and human rights.
Hence, comprehensive sexuality education is important to include in the context of this resolution as it is central to equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy, informed, and responsible choices in their lives.
CSE is therefore highly relevant in our efforts to elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls and to achieve gender equality.
For the aforementioned reasons, Estonia will be voting against the amendment and we call on all others to do the same.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Netherlands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a longstanding co sponsor of this resolution, which reflects the progress achieved over decades in the global effort to eliminate discrimination against women and girls.
Ending discrimination against women and girls in all their diversity remains central to our foreign policy.
This requires addressing the root causes of gender inequality, including gender stereotypes and social norms, and pursuing gender transformative approaches to challenge and change unequal power relations, misinformation, and bias that can become embedded in laws, policies and institutions.
Comprehensive sexuality education or CC is essential in this regard.
It equips young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to understand and protect their health and well being, to develop respectful social and interpersonal relationships, to reflect on how their choices affect both themselves and others, and to understand and uphold their rights throughout their lives.
Doing so, it helps challenge stereotypes, correct misconceptions, and ensures that future generations are better equipped than those before them to understand rights, equality, and respectful relationships.
It is also widely implemented.
Recent data indicate that two thirds of countries have policies or laws in place making sexuality education mandatory part of national curricula.
By definition, CASE must be adapted to local cultural context and be presented in partnership with young people, parents, and communities.
Much of what is proposed in this amendment is already addressed in the definition of what CAE is.
For these reasons, the Netherlands therefore cannot support any amendment that seeks to remove this language and will vote against it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for an explanation of vote before the vote.
At the request of the delegation of Iceland, the council will now proceed to a recorded vote on L 47.
I asked the Secretariat to open the voting machine, and I ask all delegations to kindly register their votes.
I request all delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, I ask the Secretariat to close the voting machine, and the voting machine is now closed.
The result of the recorded votes are as follows, eight are in favor, 26 against, and 11 abstention.
Amendment L 47 is therefore rejected.
A copy of the results of the votes will shortly be posted on the extrane.
The council will now proceed to take action on draft proposal L 16 slash Ref.
I will give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanation or vote before the vote on draft resolution L 16 slash Ref one.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Iraq, followed by Egypt.
Su Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
We are firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls and to preserve the systems of care and support according to the CEDAW, as well as relevant international treaties.
We are based on our constitution, national efforts to promote social care and supporting women who are survivors Among them, the Yazidi survivor woman.
This was a model in remediation and as per this resolution.
We thank the core group for their efforts during the informal talks and consultations.
We approve the amendments by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, which aim at endorsing terminology that is as per treaty bodies and what has been approved in the General Assembly, it is important to resort to consensual language.
This was not adopted in this text, even though we took part in the informal consultations, given the importance of the topic.
However, we would like to distance ourselves from distance ourselves from terminology that is contrary to our culture.
First of all, the term of CSE and sexual and reproductive health.
Second, the concept of body autonomy because this is not mentioned in any compelling or legally binding convention.
It is, of course, important to respect the physical and body autonomy of every person.
It is also important to go back to the terminology of the General Assembly terminology and to take into account the responsibility of the guardians and parents for references to abortion and abortion services.
We call to refrain from linking them to religion or other legislation about abortion as a matter of sovereign decision.
And we would like to refer to this concept.
That is a concept that does not enjoy consensus we denounce all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Finally, Mr.
Chair, we reserve our right to explain and interpret the content of this resolution according to our international obligations and national legislations and we kindly ask you to enter this observation in the minutes of the meeting.
Thank you.
I give the floor to Distinguished of Egypt, followed by India.
The elimination of discrimination against women and girls and strengthening the care and support system are mutually reinforcing priorities.
Egypt therefore welcomes bringing these two agenda together in a single resolution, reflecting their close linkages and contributing to the Human Rights Council ongoing rationalization efforts.
Egypt reaffirms its firm commitment to eliminating discrimination against women and girls, a national priority reflected in its effort to advance women empowerment and equal opportunities.
We appreciate the draft resolution focused on addressing structural barriers and the role of care and support system in promoting equality and resilience and also welcome recognition of the impact of armed conflict and occupation on women and girls.
Egypt appreciates the efforts undertaken by the core groups throughout the negotiations, welcomes the improvements introduced in the text.
At the same time, Egypt regrets that the draft resolution continues to retain a number of concepts and formulation that don't reflect internationally agreed language.
Throughout the negotiations, Egypt, together with many other delegations raised this concern regarding these references.
They have also repeatedly been a subject of amendments in previous iteration of this resolution and were once again addressed through the amendments table this present session.
While joining the consensus on this resolution in view of the importance of its subject matter, Egypt wishes to place on record its dissociation from the language reflected in the amendments joining or co sponsored by Egypt, as well as its understanding for other references contained in the draft resolution in the for written statements uploaded in the council extranet.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of India.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
India supports the draft resolution and would welcome its adoption by consensus.
India remains firmly committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls, including through legal reform, policy action, and sustained social change.
We have made continued efforts to expand women's access to education, health, justice, livelihoods, and social protection while addressing the root causes of inequality and harmful stereotypes.
India also recognizes the gender dimensions of care and support systems, including the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work borne by women and girls.
At the same time, we reiterate that the resolution must not be read as creating a standalone right to care, a concept that has so far not been intergovernmentally agreed.
India further notes that our support for the resolution is premised on its broader objective of advancing substantive equality and reducing discrimination by preserving national competence over domestic legal policy, and fiscal choices related to care and support systems.
With this understanding, India will join consensus on this important resolution.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for explanation of vote before the vote.
Is there a request for a vote on L 16 slash rep one? I see none.
May I take it, therefore, that draft proposal L 16 slash rep one may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L 18 slash one entitled Human Rights and Climate Change.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines to introduce the draft text.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I'm the honored to present L 18 on behalf of Bangladesh and Vietnam.
As we speak, millions of people around the world continue to suffer the adverse effects of climate change.
Many endure extreme heat and prolonged drought and many more grave, violent typhoons and floods, as well as the slower but often irreversible impacts of sea level rise, decertification and biodiversity loss.
Climate change threatens lives and livelihoods, drives displacement, and ultimately undermines the enjoyment of human rights of all, particularly the most vulnerable and least responsible.
The climate change crisis is fundamentally a human rights crisis, and the actions we take today will shape the lives of future generations.
We must adapt even as we mitigate so we all can live in dignity and enjoy our human rights fully and equally.
L 18 therefore focuses on climate adaptation and intergenerational equity.
It reaffirms the urgency of transformational adaptation to reduce climate vulnerabilities.
L 18 recognizes that adaptation measures are most effective when they are country owned and country driven.
When they are participatory, transparent, and guided by the best available science and traditional knowledge.
It also underscores that adaptation policies should be informed by human rights, gender equality, social justice, and intergenerational equity.
Drawing on the landmark 2025 ICG advisory opinion, L 18 calls upon states to respect and ensure the effective enjoyment of human rights by protecting the climate system.
It further underscores the duty of states to cooperate including by enhancing support for developing countries in climate action, consistent with equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
L 18 is a product of extensive consultations with states and civil society, and throughout this process, the core group sought to preserve the spirit of dialogue amidst the diversity of views in order to arrive at a balanced and consensual draft.
We expressed our sincerest appreciation to all delegations and other stakeholders for their constructive engagement.
At a time of profound shifts and contestations, we hope that this council will once again demonstrate that we can unite behind fundamental principles and a common cause by adopting L 18 by consensus.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are nine additional co sponsors.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I recognize the distinguished representative of Kuwait.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I would like to deliver the state on behalf of the GCC countries.
The GCC countries would like to thank the core group for its leadership and efforts throughout the negotiation process about L 18 on human rights and climate change.
The GCC countries would like to commend the constructive pattern by the core group in facilitating the negotiations, as well as listening to the opinion of the various delegations and positively reacting to the positions, including the observations by the GCC countries.
This has led to a more balanced resolution that takes into account technical issues pertaining to human rights and climate change.
GCC countries reiterate the importance of endorsing an approach based on equity, common but differentiated responses Responsibilities and respected capacities and to take into account national priorities and conditions, including the right to development, food security, energy security, fair and just transition that will not leave anyone behind.
The GCC countries insist on the need to promote adaptation mitigation technology transfer and to enable developing countries to be able to counter the negative impact of climate change.
Human Rights Council discussions should complement climate change discussions in other fora.
We reiterate our appreciation to the spirit of cooperation and coordination by the core group and we look forward to more coordination and cooperation.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of the Netherlands, followed by Egypt and Brazil.
Mr.
President, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of a cross regional group of 41 states.
We express our appreciation to the core group for their work during this session on this important topic.
Climate change remains one of the gravest threats to the full enjoyment of human rights and the council's consideration of this agenda item is vital.
It is regrettable, therefore, that this resolution could not include agree language on fossil fuels in just transition.
The burning of fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas, is the primary current and historical cause of climate change.
That is settled science.
A resolution addressing the human rights dimension of climate change that cannot name the principal driver of that crisis is incomplete.
Its absence undermines the resolution's credibility.
The world has spoken on fossil fuels and their effects on the climate system and human rights.
Operative paragraph four of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 82 63 on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of states in respect of climate change urges states to implement measures to achieve the collective temperature goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In so doing, it specifically refers to tripling renewable energy capacity, transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner.
So as to reach net zero by 2050 and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or just transitions as soon as possible.
This language was negotiated and agreed by 141 states in the highest deliberative body of the United Nations as a multilateral articulation of the world's position on the transition away from fossil fuels.
Rather than seeking to reopen language agreed agreed there through a parallel process here, we consider it more appropriate to simply affirm the language on fossil fuels in that recent text.
We encourage all states to give full effect to OP four of Resolution 82 63 and to allow its guidance to inform our work in this council.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Egypt, followed by Brazil and Ghana.
Thank you very much President.
We support draft resolution L 18 rev one Human Rights and Climate Change.
We'd like to thank the authors as well as the core group for presenting this draft resolution.
The negative impacts of climate change has become undeniable.
Indeed, we are experiencing this reality day after day as I speak with each heatwave.
The impact is striking throughout the world.
With each extreme ramification, means of subsistence are destroyed and this demonstrates that climate change is seriously undermining human rights and the enjoyment.
We greet the emphasis placed this year on climate adaptation in this resolution.
This demonstrates the requirement to redouble our efforts to garner better resilience in the face of climate change and this in order to sidestep the negative impact of climate change on human rights and to conserve the future rights of future generations to a healthy environment.
We believe we must adopt a balanced approach in the sphere of climate change to guarantee both the reduction of climate change and adaptation to it.
We regret that the close connection between climate change and human rights is constantly questioned.
While we remain increasingly concerned by the drop off in focus on climate change internationally.
It's essential to recall the importance of shared but differentiated responsibility of states in this area.
This is particularly relevant in terms of climate funding, technology transfer, and capacity building.
This would allow developing countries to confront climate change as fully as possible.
States all share the responsibility to respond in the face of climate change, but this responsibility is differentiated from one country to another, and this is why we call on a universal and clear will to end the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative for Brazil, followed by Garner and Mauritius.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Brazil welcomes draft resolution L 18.
We appreciate references to the progress achieved at Cop 30 held in Bellino Para last November, which represented an important milestone in strengthening the interface between climate action and human rights.
Key outcomes include the adoption of the Blaine Gender Action Plan and the Just Transition mechanism, alongside strengthened participation of civil society, including indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and Afro descendant communities.
Cop 30 also advanced voluntary initiatives aimed at combating environmental racism, hunger, and poverty through the launch of the Balin Declaration on combating environmental racism, and the Balin Declaration on Hunger, poverty, and people centered climate action.
For Brazil, the treatment of substantive aspects of the climate agenda should always respect the centrality of the UNF and support its effectiveness.
We recall that the UNF brings together 197 parties in the only multilateral forum universally recognized for negotiating and implementing the climate agenda.
It is also important to accurately reflect the findings of the best available science.
In that context, we note that the IPCC reports do not at this stage establish a direct causal link between climate change and displacement, human mobility and migration.
Mr.
President, the pursuit of institutional complementarity should guide the work of different forums that address climate change so as to avoid redundancy and fragmentation, while welcoming efforts in the Council towards a deeper understanding of the relationship between climate change and human rights, Brazil believes it is essential to preserve the coherence, complementarity and effectiveness of the international climate change regime.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana, followed by Mauritius and Kenya.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Ghana welcomes draft resolution L 18 Rev and commends the core group for advancing this important initiative on human rights and climate change.
Climate change remains one of the defining challenges of our time with far reaching consequences for the enjoyment of human rights, particularly the rights to life, health, food, water, housing, and development.
These impacts are felt most accurately by developing countries and vulnerable populations that have contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Ghana therefore supports the resolution's call for strengthened international cooperation, enhanced climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to assist developing countries in addressing the adverse effects of climate change.
President, garner support for this resolution is firmly grounded in our constitutional and legal framework.
Article 369 of the 1992 Constitution places an obligation on the state to protect and safeguard the environment for present and future generations.
In furtherance of these obligation, Ghana enacted the Environmental Protection Act 2025, which strengthens environmental governance and reinforces climate regulation.
As host of the Secretariat of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, Ghana remains committed to strengthening global and national climate action.
We continue to implement our national climate change policy, nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement, the Ghana Carbon Registry, the mitigation Fund, and the National Adaptation and Resilience Program.
These initiatives are helping to build resilience, reduce emissions, and support sustainable development while protecting the livelihoods of communities most affected by drought, desertification, coastal erosion, and recurrent flooding.
Mr.
President, Garner believes that effective climate action and the promotion of human rights are mutually reinforcing.
We therefore reaffirm our commitment to working with all partners to address the human rights impacts of climate change through inclusive, equitable and cooperative action.
For these reasons, Garner supports draft resolution L 18 rev one and calls on all members of the council to adopt it by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mauritius, followed by Kenya and Pakistan.
Mr.
President, Mauritius, thanks the core group for presenting this resolution with its enhanced focus on adaptation.
Smaller and developing countries such as Mauritius always highlight that although we collectively emit less than 1% of global emissions, we are the ones that suffer the most from the adverse effects impacts of climate change.
SETS have committed to contribute to the unconditional share of our NDCs, which are mainly mitigation measures.
We don't consider it just, but we stand by it.
Mauritius is one of the most exposed countries to extreme weather events.
We're also suffering from slow onset events such as rising sea levels, which is having a catastrophic effect on our tourism industry, one of the main pillars of our economy.
Not to mention the forced displacement of people living in these areas, many of whom are among the most vulnerable.
On the other hand, our pattern of rainfall has changed and we now have heavy outbursts of rain in short periods, followed by prolonged crowds severely impacting all of our socioeconomic activities.
Mitigation and adaptation of two complimentary ways to respond to climate change and global warming.
Both are interlinked as failure to mitigate climate change will make adaptation more difficult and important.
The heatwave which recently hits us and which will hit us in the next coming days is a powerful reminder of the urgency for adaptation measures.
There is no one size fits all solution for adaptation as this depends on the unique context.
Successful adaptation and implementation of a BLM As vision not only depends on governments, but also on the active and sustained engagement of all stakeholders.
It is becoming more and more difficult for states to allocate resources for climate action while continuing to ensure that adequate resources are spent on prior sectors such as education, health, and poverty alleviation and achieve SDGs.
We therefore use this opportunity to call on concerned countries to deliver on their promises to provide the necessary financial, technical, and technological support to enable all parties to work towards the targets of the Paris Agreement.
To successfully tackle climate change, a collective effort is imperative.
Mr.
President, we fully support this resolution, which we have co sponsored, and we also reiterate the call for its adoption by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya, followed by Pakistan and China.
Mr.
President, Kenya reaffirms that climate change is one of the greatest challenges to the enjoyment of human rights and continues to disproportionately affect developing countries, particularly those most vulnerable to its adverse effects.
As a country at the forefront of climate action, Kenya recognizes that effective adaptation, resilience building, and equitable access to climate finance are indispensable to safeguarding livelihoods, protecting vulnerable communities, and advancing sustainable development.
Therefore attach particular importance to strengthening adaptation efforts and ensuring that climate responses are grounded in equity and national priorities.
Kenya welcomes the resolution's emphasis on scaling up adaptation action, addressing loss and damage, enhancing access to climate finance, and reaffirming the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
We also welcome its recognition of the importance of a human rights based approach to climate action and strengthened international cooperation in supporting developing countries.
Kenya remains committed to working constructively, with all partners to advance climate action that protects both people and the planet.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan, followed by China and Ethiopia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Pakistan thanks the core Group for presenting the resolution L 18 slash 31.
We appreciate the core group sustained engagement with member states which helped build consensus on a balanced text.
As one of the country's most vulnerable to climate change, Pakistan views this resolution as an important contribution to advancing the human rights dimensions of the climate crisis.
Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan continues to bear a disproportionate burden of climate induced disasters.
This is the injustice at the heart of the climate crisis.
Those least responsible are paying the highest price.
Pakistan welcomes the recognition of the right to water and sanitation in the text.
We further underline that uninterrupted access to water must be ensured through full compliance with international law and applicable treaty obligations.
Mr.
President, Climate discussions cannot be reduced to selective narratives that shift attention away from historical responsibility, equity, and the means of implementation.
They must remain firmly anchored in the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, the CBDRR.
As reflected in the UNF C and the Paris Agreement, these are not procedural footnotes.
They're the foundation of any credible and just climate response.
Recent energy disruptions have shown that unequal access to energy and essential supplies falls hardest on developing countries and severely undermines human rights.
Any discussion on energy transition must therefore be framed through climate justice and equity.
It must give equal weight to adaptation, climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building alongside mitigation, while respecting national circumstances and development priorities, a transition, Mr.
President that imposes new obligations on developing countries without delivering the promised support is neither just nor sustainable.
It risks turning climate ambition into another instrument of inequality.
Pakistan is pleased to support resolution dot slash and called for its adoption by consensus.
I thank you very much.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of China, followed by Ethiopia and Iceland.
Thank you President.
A global challenge such as climate change calls for a commisurate response.
The UNFC and the Paris Agreement as the main legal instruments of this response are the central platform thereof.
Our discussions here within the council should therefore serve the main process under the convention.
Committed to green development and low carbon development, China is striving not only to strictly comply with its climate obligations, but also to help as best it can developing countries through South South cooperation in order to achieve a global climate governance system that is just reasonable and that benefits all.
We insist on the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities, according to which developed countries and in particular the major historic emitters, should shoulder particular responsibility here and support the climate actions of developing countries and provide financial, technical support, and capacity building.
China has actively participated in the negotiation of this draft and we have submitted our suggestions.
We therefore are joining the consensus on this draft resolution.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Ethiopia, Ethiopia, followed by Iceland and Cuba.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Ethiopia commends the delegation of the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Vietnam for their constructive leadership in advancing this important initiative.
Ethiopia welcomes this draft resolution which appropriately recognizes the multifaced and disproportionate impacts of climate change on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly for persons in vulnerable situations and countries that are most exposed to climate related risks.
The text reflects a balanced and comprehensive approach that integrates human rights, climate action, sustainable development, and the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
We further commend the resolution's strong emphasis on adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance and capacity building, which are essential pillars for supporting developing countries in translating commitments into concrete and actionable outcomes.
In this regard, Etopia particularly values the call for enhanced international cooperation, equitable access to climate finance, and strengthened support for developing countries in implementing adaptation and mitigation priorities.
Ethiopia also welcomes the resolution's reaffirmation of the importance of international equity, the intergenerational equity, the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and the meaningful participation of all stakeholders in climate related decision making processes.
We further appreciate the constructive recognition of the role of international cooperation and multilateralism, including within the framework of the United Nations framework convention on climate change and the Paris Agreement, as well as the importance of ensuring that climate action is aligned with human rights obligations and development priorities.
Ethiopia therefore supports the spirits and objectives of this draft resolution and encourages all delegations to join in its adoption by consensus.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iceland, followed by Cuba and Iraq.
Mr.
President, we thank the core group for presenting draft resolution L 18 on human rights and climate changes.
Iceland remains steadfast in its support for collective science based and action oriented responses to the adverse impacts of climate changes and environmental degradation on the enjoyment of human rights worldwide.
We underscore the importance of grounding our efforts in the best available science and pursuing ambitious emissions reductions in line with your objective of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degree.
Iceland considers it essential that the Council maintain its focus on the human rights implications of climates, particularly for those in vulnerable situations who continue to be disproportionately affected by its impacts.
In this regard, we believe the draft resolution could be further strengthened by sharpening its focus on human rights.
We further note with concern the overlap between elements of this draft resolution and existing international frameworks and processes.
Greater coherence is needed to avoid duplication of efforts while respecting the mandates and commitments established under the Paris Agreement.
Climate change has profound consequences for the enjoyment of human rights and it is precisely in addressing these impacts that this council has an important role to play.
Iceland therefore believes that our work in this on this issue should remain firmly focused on the human rights implications of climate change as is the purpose for which this council is uniquely mandated and can add the greatest value.
I thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.
President, we would like to thank the Philippines, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, for the presentation of draft Al 18.
We recognize their efforts to ensure that this initiative takes into account in a due and balanced manner the various approaches and technical complexities that characterize international discussions on climate change.
Cuba welcomes that the text includes references to the reparation measures for loss and damage caused by climate change and environmental degradation.
Initiatives of this kind contribute to improving the capacity to respond of developing countries in the face of the adverse impacts of this global phenomenon.
We also welcome that the text recognizes the specific needs and particular circumstances that small island developing states are grappling with, as well as the least developed countries.
We therefore also consider timely the references in the text to the principles of equity and shared but differentiated responsibilities.
Although addressing climate change is a shared challenge, developed countries need to shoulder their historic obligations and responsibilities which derive from decades of exploiting and not protecting the environment.
As a small island state which is particularly hard hit by the impacts of climate change.
Cuba supports draft resolution L 18, and we hope that this draft resolution will be approved by consensus.
Many thanks, President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq.
Thank you, President.
The Republic of Iraq has the honor of delivering the statement on behalf of the Arab group.
That are member states of this council.
We all align ourselves with this statement.
We would like to thank the core group, in particular, the Philippines, the pen holder of this draft, for the very proactive involvement and the efforts made throughout the negotiations on draft L 18 slash rev one.
We commend the efforts made by the core group to ensure that this resolution reflects in a balanced way the technical aspects which are complex and which are intrinsic in climate negotiations.
This year's resolution places an emphasis on adaptation, which is a major issue in particular for developing countries that face the worst of the consequences of climate change.
We would like to reaffirm in this regard that strengthening adaptation capacities allow for adapting to environmental situations and we therefore welcome the latest version, which is balanced and comprehensive and which is based on consensus based decisions stemming from the fora tasked with climate change, in particular, the UNF.
This reflects the core group's determination to take into account the concerns raised by many delegations throughout the negotiations.
The Arab Group is deeply concerned by the impact of climate change on human rights, in particular, the right to development.
We are pleased to see wording in the draft resolution about Shared but differentiated responsibilities.
Climate change is a common challenge.
Developed states must shoulder their historic responsibilities in this regard.
I thank you, President.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for general comments.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft proposal, and the corresponding PBI oral statement has been made available on the HRC extranet.
I now give the floor to members of the council who may wish to make explanations or vote before the vote on the draft proposal at 18 slash rep one.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Marshall Islands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is pleased to deliver the statement that has been agreed by the Pacific Small Island developing states with permanent missions here in Geneva.
Climate change remains the single greatest threat to the full enjoyment of human rights for our people.
It deserves sustained and ambitious attention from this council.
We thank the core group for its leadership and the many delegations that work constructively towards consensus.
However, we regret that this resolution does not reflect the significant developments in international climate governance since the council last considered this issue.
Particularly concerning is the absence from this resolution of agreed language on fossil fuels and the just transition.
Fossil fuels have already intensified extreme heat events and made them significantly more frequent, accelerated the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, raised global sea levels, increased the intensity of extreme rainfall and flooding, driven ocean warming and acidification, and lengthened and worsened drought and wildfire seasons.
For low lying coastal and island nations in particular, these are not abstract projections.
They are present compounding and in some cases, irreversible harms.
A human rights resolution on climate change that cannot acknowledge international agreement on fossil fuels is not only incomplete, it also risks becoming obsolete.
It falls behind both the science and the evolution of international consensus.
That this council has produced such a text during the most severe fossil fuel in heat wave recorded in Europe is difficult to comprehend.
This omission is all the more striking given that it is only weeks ago that the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A slash RS slash 80 slash 263 On the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the applications of states in respect of climate change.
That resolution urged states to implement measures to achieve 1.5 degrees Celsius, including by transitioning away from fossil fuels in a just orderly and equitable manner.
This language was not developed in isolation.
It reflects the most recent expression of the collective will of the international community, building on the first global stock take under the Paris Agreement and informed by the landmark advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
It was agreed by 141 states in the highest deliberative body of the United Nations.
We will not accept the watered down or weakened alternative.
Instead, we encourage all states to keep full effect to that resolution and to allow it together with the advisory opinion on the International Court of Justice to inform the future work of this council.
Pacific Cs will continue to advocate for climate action that is guided by science grounded in international law and commensurate with the scale and urgency of the climate crisis.
Kotada thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of India, followed by Japan and the UK.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We thank the core group for their efforts and constructive engagement throughout the negotiations that enabled the incorporation of various suggestions by member states in the text of this draft resolution.
India remains steadfast in its climate commitments, rooted in UNF TAC and Paris Agreement principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Throughout the negotiations, we participated constructively with a view to reaching consensus on the text.
While some of our proposals have been taken on board, some concerns remain as regards the references in the text to the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
As we have stated previously in the Council, neither Human Rights Council nor the General Assembly resolutions themselves create legally binding obligations.
It is only through conventions and treaties that state parties commit to a new human right and undertake appropriate obligations for its realization.
At this stage, there is no agreed definition of the terms clean, healthy, or sustainable that have been used to qualify the right.
They remain open to subjective interpretation.
Accordingly, we had abstained on Human Rights Council Resolution 48 13 and dissociated from operative paragraph one of General Assembly Resolution 76 300, as well as subsequent references to this right in various Human Rights Council resolutions.
Therefore, while reaffirming our support for this resolution, we would like to dissociate from the references in its preambular paragraphs to the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan, followed by UK and Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Japan recognizes the significance of discussing the human rights implications of climate change in this council.
But at the same time, climate measures should be negotiated at CP and CMA under the UNF TAC Enterprise Agreement.
Adré them here merely cause confusion and undermines the party driven process.
Japan will not block the consensus.
However, Japan has serious concerns about PPs 33, 35, 38, 39, 46 47 and OP 714, 15 and 16, and we dissociate from them.
Our first PP 33 and 39 and OP seven, 14, 15 and 16 mainly concern climate finance and related matters.
They include elements that go beyond the council's mandate and the elements that may change and prejudice COP or CMA outcomes.
As such, Japan cannot accept them.
We also cannot accept PP 46 on last year's climate finance panel.
Second, PP 35 and 47 treat climate justice as if it were an established principle.
This is also unacceptable to us.
In addition, the references in the resolution to the CBDR principles are inappropriate.
Third, PP 38 refers to remedies and related concepts in relation to loss and damage.
Japan cannot accept this formulation as it is not compatible with the COP decision adopting the Paris Agreement.
Reference to the Paris Agreement should reflect the fact that the US TAC and the Paris Agreement are separate international agreements.
On the right to a clean healthy, sustainable environment, Japan notes Human Rights Council and General Assembly resolutions recognizing this right.
However, there is no common understanding on its content, scope, and related state obligations.
It cannot therefore be considered as established under international human rights law.
Finally, the resolution refers to climate finance, implication of GST decisions and the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
These should be discussed in CP or CMA or other dedicated fora and their inclusion should not be interpreted as suggesting new obligations or prejudging those processes.
The same applies to panel discussions and analytical assessments on human rights and climate adaptation.
Regardless of the concerns we have with this resolution, Japan does not underestimate the human rights implications of climate change and we continue to engage constructively to protect and promote human rights.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of the UK, followed by Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The UK thanks the core group led by the Philippines for their hard work this session.
We appreciate their engagement with us.
The UK particularly welcomes the focus of this year's resolution on the needs and interests of future generations.
It is entirely appropriate to that theme that this resolution underscores the importance of efforts to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Need and urgency for greater mitigation action and ambition is clear.
We are firmly of the view that mitigation should be more prominent in this resolution, and we are disappointed that it is not.
A just orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels is integral to mitigation efforts, as the cross regional general comment has just set out.
There is no dispute from the UK that climate change can and does impact the enjoyment of human rights.
That is properly a matter for this council.
However, the Human Rights Council should not be used as a forum to renegotiate the climate treaties or to misrepresent the independent legal nature of the Paris Agreement.
Accordingly, the UK does not support any text in this resolution that does not accurately reflect obligations under the Paris Agreement or the decisions taken under it, including those in paragraph 28 of the global stock Take.
Nor should the principles of equity and common differentiated responsibilities be applied in a manner inconsistent with that already agreed in UN climate negotiations.
We likewise do not support any such text that does so here.
Whilst we appreciate the rationalization of the text on loss and damage, we remain deeply concerned by this resolution's framing of the provision of climate finance and loss and damage.
New collective quantified goal adopted at Cop 29 and which establishes the framework for climate finance through 2035 represents a clear consensus on climate finance.
It is simply unhelpful for this resolution to be inconsistent with that agreed outcome.
We do not support the parts of this resolution that ally obligatory and voluntary actions and introduce new terms that are not used in the UNFWC and Paris framework.
UK remains strongly committed to international climate action, we would welcome the core group and others working closely with us on the scope, focus, and framing of the next iteration of this resolution over the coming year.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU member states that are members of the Human Rights Council.
This explanation of position has been agreed by the U as a whole.
Climate change and environmental degradation continue to severely affect the full and effective enjoyment of human rights worldwide.
As the world's largest contributor of climate finance, the EU and its member states remain committed to supporting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.
We thank the core group for this initiative and acknowledge the seven rounds of informal consultations.
Nevertheless, we believe the resolution would benefit from being shorter with a clear focus on its human rights dimension.
While we welcome the inclusion of a limited number of our proposals, the majority of our substantive comments remain unaddressed.
We regret that this resolution missed the opportunity to incorporate language on the transition away from fossil fuels already agreed within the first global stocktke of the Paris Agreement and subsequently reconfirmed in the Uga resolution 80 slash 263, the most recent multilateral expression of the international community's position on this issue.
We remain concerned that the draft resolution continues to portray the Paris Agreement as a coordinate to UNFCCC, which is inconsistent with the established legal status of both instruments being at the same level and does not reflect the approach taken by the ICA in its advisory opinion on climate change.
It is imperative to stress that the concept of CBDRRC in the light of national circumstances belong to the climate change regime only and cannot be applied to or conflated with human rights obligations.
The EU welcomes the ICHs interpretation related to it, according to which the status developing and developed countries is dynamic.
While climate finance is an essential component of the global response to climate change, we would encourage a more balanced approach that remains aligned with the resolution's human rights focus.
The HRC should not serve as a venue to reopen or revisit negotiations already conducted in the competent specialized bodies.
Furthermore, AU reiterates that technology transfer must remain voluntary and take place on mutually agreed terms.
For the next iteration of this resolution, we strongly urge the core group to redirect focus on its human rights dimension.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for an explanation or vote before the vote.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
I take it, therefore that the draft proposal L 18 slash ref one may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
Excellencies, distinguished representatives, colleagues.
This brings us to the end of this meeting.
We will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 A.M.
To continue with consideration of draft proposals.
And I hereby close the 32nd meeting of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.
And good luck to the teams playing tonight.