33rd Meeting - 62nd Session of Human Rights Council

Excellency's distinguished representatives.
I hereby declare open the 33rd meeting of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.
We shall now continue taking action on draft resolutions.
I've been informed that a number of resolutions are ready for adoption during this meeting as shown on screen.
All the PBIs received have been posted on the HRC Extranet.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L five, entitled Elimination of Discrimination against Persons affected by leprosy, Hansen's disease and their family members.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan to introduce the draft text.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
On behalf of a cross regional core group comprising Brazil, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kyrgyzstan Morocco, and Japan, I'm pleased to introduce draft resolution L five on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprocy Hanson's disease, and their family members.
This marks the eighth resolution on this issue since the Human Rights Council first adopted it in 2008.
We sincerely thank all delegations for their constructive engagement throughout the consultations and appreciate the support of our 51 co sponsors.
Over the years, the council has advanced international efforts to address this issue through successive resolutions.
The principles and guidelines have provided the framework for these efforts and since 2017, successful special rapporteurs have contributed through reporting, dialogue, and country visits.
We express our sincere appreciation for the dedicated efforts of the special rapporteurs concerned.
Notwithstanding such progress, discrimination persists.
Rooted in historical and institutional discrimination, this remains a unique human rights challenge.
Continued international efforts to eliminate Hansen's disease related discrimination are therefore essential.
At the same time, we are acutely aware of the need for increased efficiency in these financially difficult times.
We have therefore called for a revision of the mandate in line with the broader efforts alized by the UNAT process.
With a view to building on the gains made to date, this draft resolution promotes the continued dissemination and implementation of the principles and guidelines while introducing a more efficient and sustainable full up framework.
Following the conclusion of the current Special rapporteurs mandate, the High Commissioner for Human Rights will continue to follow up on the progress through a comprehensive report to the Human Rights Council, followed by an interactive dialogue.
The draft resolution also welcomes efforts to hold annual awareness rising events are supported by voluntary contributions as valuable opportunities for affected persons and their family members to make their voices heard, exchange experiences, and contribute to the implementation of the principles and guidelines.
Insight from these events, we also inform the High Commissioner's comprehensive report helping to promote increased visibility for affected persons and ensure that their experiences and perspectives continue to guide the council's work.
This draft resolution opens up a new phase of the council's engagement, providing a more focused, efficient, and sustainable full up framework, while ensuring that the voices of persons affected by leprosy, Hanson disease remain front and center.
In closing, we hope that the council will once again adopt this draft resolution by consensus.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 24 additional co sponsors.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I recognize the distinguished delegate of Ethiopia, followed by Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Ethiopia has the honor to take the floor as a member of the core group sponsoring this important draft resolution.
We thank all delegations for their constructive engagement and valuable contributions throughout the consultations which have resulted in a balanced and consensus or stakes.
Despite the fact that leprosy, Hansen's disease is a crible disease, persons affected by it and their family members continue to face stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that embed the full enjoyment of their human rights.
This resolution reaffirms our collective commitment to promoting equality, inclusion, and dignity for all while encouraging practical measures to eliminate discrimination and raise public awareness.
In developing this draft, the core group has also been mindful of the need to promote a more efficient and sustainable use of the Council's mechanisms.
The resolution therefore provides for continued consideration of this issue through a comprehensive report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed by an interactive dialogue.
We believe this balanced approach ensures continuity in the council's work, strengthens institutional efficiency and responded responsibly to the financial and liquidity challenges currently facing the United Nations.
The resolution before us is the result of extensive consultations and genuine first is to accommodate the views of all allegations.
It represents a carefully balanced text that strengthens our collective efforts to eliminate discrimination while preserving the cooperative and consensus based approach that has long characterized this initiative.
We therefore encourage all delegations to join us in adopting this resolution by consensus, thereby reaffirming our shared commitment to ensuring that no person is left behind because of stigma or discrimination.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia, followed by Dunesia and Cuba.
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 Japan and the core group for presenting L five and for leading open, transparent, and inclusive negotiations.
We appreciate the gradual transition from the stigmatizing interrogatory term leprosy and bringing to the forefront the medical term of this disease, the Hansen's disease by removing the brackets around it.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy, Hansen's disease, and their family members has played a key role in bringing attention to this issue, highlighting challenges and supporting states, including on promoting implementation of the principles and guidelines for the elimination of discrimination.
We especially commend the core group for its reflection on the achievements of the mandate and its decision that it was time for it to be concluded.
This recognizes the progress achieved under the mandate while also making a valuable contribution to the council's broader efforts towards rationalization and efficiency.
We invite other pen holders and core groups to consider taking similar and comparable steps.
President, while the Special Rapporteur mandate has concluded and progress has been achieved, we emphasize the need to continue to promote and protect the human rights of persons affected by Hansen's disease.
The persistence of stigma and discrimination calls for more effective affirmative action from states in order to address the intergenerational impacts of obsolete practices.
Worldwide abolition of discriminatory legislation, mainstreaming of Hansen's disease into broader human rights frameworks, and formal inclusion of affected persons in decision making are some of the more urgently needed steps.
The European Union is pleased to support L five as presented by the core group and we call on this council to adopt this resolution by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, followed by Cuba and Thailand.
Mr.
President, Indonesia thanks the core group led by Japan in presenting the draft resolution L five.
We remain deeply concerned that in many parts of the world, persons affected by leprosy and their family members continue to face discrimination, violence, and stigma.
Their human rights have been denied, their dignity has been compromised.
We believe addressing leprosy requires measures beyond medical interventions.
It demands action grounded in human rights principles, offering holistic care and protection for person affected by leprosy and their family members are right holders.
It is in this period that inertia pursues total leprosy elimination by 2030 towards zero new cases, general disabilities, and zero stigma.
Mr.
President, Indonesia A leads the important contribution of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on leprosy to the council's work in eliminating discrimination, violence, and stigma against persons affected by leprosy.
These challenges have not ended, thus we appreciate the core group continued leadership in maintaining this issue before the council.
Presentation of comprehensive report of the High Commissioner.
Mandated by this draft resolution will sustain the council's deliberation in addressing the issue of leprosy through appropriate means.
This commendable effort reflects the spirit of rationalization pursued by the council without diminishing our collective commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of person affected by leprosy and their family members.
To this end, Indonesia supports the draft resolution L five and looks forward to its adoption by consensus.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by Thailand.
President, we'd like to thank the presentation of L five.
People affected by leprosy see their dignity and their human rights flouted in many parts of the world.
These individuals and their family members are still facing inequality in terms of access to primary service, health care services, and stigmatization.
We welcome the fact that L five calls on states to step up their efforts to address this by mainstreaming appropriate measures, taking policies and national strategies to address this.
Cuba supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur because I think an awful lot still remains to be done to guarantee the rights of people who have been affected by leprosy.
We recognize the positive work done by the mandate over the last nine years.
The work has meant that we've raised the visibility of this topic, raise awareness on the challenges affecting these people and facilitate dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of good practices between states.
We are committed to protect the rights of persons who are affected by leprosy.
We will continue to implement our national program in that regard, which has allowed us to virtually eradicate the entirety of the prevalence in our country.
Since 1993, we will stick to our psychological and medical treatment, universal access free of charge.
Regionally, Cuba will continue participating in Latin American networks which are focused on vaccines, research, rehabilitation, and exchange of data on this disease.
For this reason, we support L five and we certainly hope that it can be adopted by consensus.
Many thanks.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished delegate of Thailand.
President, Talent thanks to C group for presenting this draft resolution and for the transparent and inclusive consultations throughout the process.
We commend the C group's thoughtful approach to this draft resolution, which demonstrates a genuine commitment to advancing the council's rationalization efforts while maintaining attention to the rights of persons affected by Hansen's decease and their family members.
The same time, we wish to emphasize that the conclusion of the mandate of the special rapporteur on the elimination and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy or Hans NC seas and that their family members should not be interpreted as diminishing the importance of this issue.
Rather, it reflects the council's commitment to preserving substantive attention to this important human rights challenge through a more streamlined and sustainable approach, particularly in the current financial context facing the United Nations.
Thailand has consistently supported this initiative and looks forward to joining consensus on the adoption of this resolution.
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 resolution.
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 L five.
I see no request for the floor.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
May I take it, therefore that draft resolution five may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L eight entitled Mandate of Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba to introduce the draft text.
On behalf of the 28 co sponsors, it's an honor for my country to submit draft L eight, mandate of independent expert on human rights and international solidarity.
International solidarity is a key principle of international relations enshrined in the UN charter.
It is an indispensable element if we are to promote cooperation between states, strengthen multilateralism and create favorable conditions to uphold all human rights, particularly the right to development.
For many years now, many mandate holders have worked on a draft Declaration on the right to international solidarity.
This has given real momentum.
We've had between September 2025 and April 2026 and we'd like to thank them for their efforts, as well as the work done by the independent expert.
There are many examples which illustrate what international solidarity contribute in terms of human rights, and that is why the co sponsor countries would ask members of council to provide their valuable support to L eight and vote in favor of it.
Many thanks.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are no additional co sponsors, and I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of China.
33 years ago, the World Human Rights Council adopted the DDPA.
This was something which marked a new stage that the international community entered into to support human rights, to pursue cooperation and international solidarity with more sustainable effort with a view to substantial progress Given the challenges regarding the governance of human rights, the international community is demanding equity, justice, international cooperation, peace, and solidarity, which is why we support prolonging this as a mandate and international society and call on all countries to work to cooperate on the basis of mutual respect and oppose politicization and instrumentalization and rather to contribute with tangible actions.
China will support consensus on L eight, many thanks.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
As the outset, Ethiopia wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Cuba for its continued leadership and sustained commitment to the promotion of human rights and international solidarity.
We also commend the constructive engagement of all delegations in advancing this agenda in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue.
Ethiopia attaches great importance to the principles of international solidarity as a cornerstone for the realization of all human rights and the effective implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
In an increasingly complex global context marked by multiple and interconnected challenges, strengthened solidarity and enhanced international cooperation are essential to ensure equitable development and the full enjoyment of human rights for all.
In this regard, Ethiopia supported the continuation and strengthening of the mandate of the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity.
We believe this mandate provides a valuable platform to deepen dialogue, promote mutual understanding, and identify practical ways to overcome obstacles to cooperation.
Ethiopia is pleased to co sponsor this resolution and reaffirms its full support for its objectives, which are firmly grounded in the principles of the charter of the United Nations and a shared commitment to multilateralism, equality among status, and people centered development.
Ethiopia therefore calls for the adoption of this resolution by consensus and encourages all delegation to join in supporting it.
Should a vote be called, Ethiopia, would vote in favor of the draft resolution and encourages all delegation to do the same.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of Kenya.
Mr.
President, Kenya welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, which reaffirms the important role of international solidarity and cooperation in advancing the promotion and protection of human rights.
For Kenya, international solidarity is a practical necessity for addressing the increasingly interconnected challenges facing the international community, climate change, food insecurity, humanitarian crisis, public health emergencies, widening inequalities, and persistent development challenges require genuine partnership, shared responsibility, and effective multilateral cooperation.
Canada believes that international solidarity must be translated into practical cooperation that strengthens national capacities and supports sustainable development.
In this regard, technical assistance, capacity building, and the sharing of knowledge and expertise remains essential to advancing the right to development and enabling developing countries to respond effectively to evolving global challenges.
Kenya therefore welcomes the continued work of the independent expert in promoting dialogue, strengthening international cooperation, and advancing discussions on the draft Declaration of the Right to international solidarity.
Kenya thanks Cuba for its leadership in this regard.
Kenya remains committed to working constructively with all partners to strengthen multilateral cooperation in the support of human rights and sustainable development.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the Distinguished representative of Egypt.
Thank you, President.
We thank K for presenting L eight and welcome the renewal of the mandate to the independent experts on international solidarity.
We are co sponsors of this resolution.
We are convinced that human rights prosper when all work together and provide mutual support.
This right prospers when states engage constructively with the mandate in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights solidarity is not theoretical.
It is crucial for the enjoyment of human rights.
In addition to being a common value agreed upon by religions and society, the independent expert plays an important role in articulating how cooperation, mutual support, and collective action for human dignity can be promoted.
We believe that this mandate seeks to improve those relations and support our actions to overcome differences.
We call on all states and this council to support this text.
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 resolution and 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 draft resolution L eight.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the UK, followed by Japan, Mexico, Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The United Kingdom thanks the delegation of Cuba for presenting this resolution and for its engagement throughout consultations.
The UK recognizes the moral and political resonance of international solidarity, particularly in a geopolitical climate marked by conflict, instability, and mistrust.
However, we continue to have fundamental concerns with the premise of this mandate and its relevance to this council.
International solidarity remains an inadequately defined concept without a settled place in international law.
It cannot be considered an established and justiciable human right.
To recognize it as such would dilute the clarity and legal coherence on which the International Human Rights framework depends by recasting broad political principles as rights.
The International Human Rights framework is grounded in the rights of individuals with states responsible for their respect, protection, and fulfillment.
It is this foundation which must guide the council's work.
For that reason, while we recognize the value of international solidarity as a matter of political commitment and moral purpose, we consider that it sits outside the proper scope of this council.
The United Kingdom will therefore call a vote and vote against.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Japan, followed by Mexico and Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We thank Cuba for preparing the draft resolution eight.
Japan recognizes the importance of international solidarity from the perspective of political and moral principles and does not object to its general significance.
However, we have concerns regarding the definition of international solidarity as referenced in this present resolution because it lacks gravity and cannot be regarded as an established human right under international law.
Furthermore, it must be duly emphasized that the primary holders of the human rights are individuals and that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights lies with each member state.
While this resolution renews the mandate of the independent expert and we acknowledge our efforts, the issues it addresses fall outside the Human Rights Council's mandate, and we therefore cannot support this resolution.
For these reasons, we'll vote against this resolution and we hope other council members will do the same.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Mexico, followed by Estonia.
Thank you, President.
We thank you both for presenting the draft resolution OA mandate of the Independt Taxase on Human Rights and international solidarity.
We share the conviction that international solidarity and cooperation are powerful tools to address the structural causes of contemporary global challenges.
We therefore believe that the mandate of the independent experts should be renewed for an additional three years.
Mexico will continue to participate constructively in the consultations conducted by the independent expert on the revised draft Declaration on Human Rights and international solidarity.
In this regard, while we agree that international solidarity should guide international relations, We believe that it is not yet a consolidated principle of contemporary international law or international human rights law.
For Mexico today more than ever, it is time to strengthen unity and cooperation between governments and peoples, always on the basis of mutual respect, sovereignty, and the legal and commercial frameworks that each state has adopted in sovereign manner.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
I give the floor to 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 vote has been agreed by the EU as a whole.
The EU thanks Cuba for the transparency of the negotiation process.
International solidarity is one of the components of the EU's external action.
The EU and its member states remain the world's leading providers of official development assistance, consistently driving global partnerships, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development.
At the same time, the EU maintains a clear and long standing position regarding the conceptual framework of this specific mandate.
Human rights are held by individuals and owed to them by states.
We are concerned that defining international solidarity as a distinct human right diluts the core framework of established individual rights and risks shifting accountability away from the primary responsibility of states, the protection and promotion of human rights.
Moreover, we feel that the work conducted under this mandate continues to overlap significantly with other UN mechanisms, specialized agencies and development frameworks.
At the time of resource constraints, duplications must be avoided.
We also wish to reiterate our call for processes undertaken under the mandates to be kept transparent.
For these reasons, the European Union cannot support the renewal of this mandate and will vote against.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Chile.
Thank you, President Chile.
Thank you for presenting the resolution and wishes to express its position.
As expressed previously, we recognize the importance of international solidarity in addressing shared challenges and ensuring the full implementation of human rights.
Our country reiterates its support to special procedures that mandates independence and welcomes all of the work done by the independent experts.
However, Chile is concerned at the lack of international consensus on the normative basis of this notion and its scope as well as the outcome of such recognition and thus, we believe that this requires an analysis within the framework of this council and that there needs to be a draft declaration on the time frame and the relevant time frame for consideration.
Hence, Chile reiterates its readiness to continue participating in good faith on discussions on this matter in order to contribute to a shared understanding in order to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further request for explanation or vote before the vote.
The representative of the UK has called for a vote.
The Council will now proceed to a recorded vote on draft resolution L eight.
I now ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine.
And I ask all delegations to register their vote.
Okay.
I request delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on the screen.
If so, I ask the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded vote are as follows, 29 in favor, 16 against, and one abstention.
Draft resolution L eight is therefore adopted.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L 13 entitled Human Rights and the Civilian Acquisition Possession and use of Firearms.
And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador to introduce the draft text.
President President, I have the honor to take the floor on behalf of Ecuador and Peru to place before this Council draft resolution L 13 entitled Human Rights and the Civilian Acquisition Possession and use of Firearms.
This initiative is part of a cooperation since 2014 between our two countries within the Human Rights Council.
Seeking six resolutions on this matter which have been adopted every two years since 2018 by consensus, reflecting the broad international recognition of the need to address from a human rights perspective, the harmful effects of the use of firearms by civilians.
And the violence by armed gangs and other groups as one of the factors that lead to human rights violations as a result of the acquisition, possession, and use of firearms and aniions.
The text develops on this pointing to the nexus between international crime and firearms as a basis for the draft resolution.
In addition, it looks in detail at the various dimensions of the relationship between the possession, the deviation, the illicit use and manufacture of firearms on the one hand and actions of organized criminal groups and other actors.
And seeks a study into the human rights impact of the misuse, possession, illicit trafficking and manufacture of firearms by legal groups.
Draft L 13 presents the results of an assessment of certain of the previous resolutions and the reports produced by the Office of the High Commissioner at the request of the Human Rights Council.
President.
We welcome the constructive participation during the informal consultations on the text and thank those countries which co sponsored up to now the draft resolution, we invite others to join this effort.
In conclusion, we reiterate our commitment to keeping this important topic on the agenda of the Human Rights Council and invite states members to adopt the draft resolution by consensus, I think you.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 14 additional co sponsors.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.
Mr.
President, South Africa takes the floor on Resolution 13 and thanks Ecuador and Peru for bringing forward this important text.
The civilian acquisition, possession, and use of firearms fundamentally impact the full realization of human rights and as such, fall squarely within the mandate of the Council.
Among others, firearm related violence is deeply embedded in systems of discrimination and is the weapon of choice in hate crimes targeting specific groups.
Firearms availability and misuse also significantly increase the risk of sexual and gender based violence, including domestic violence, rape, and femicide.
Where firearms are too easily acquired, too poorly controlled, or diverted from lawful channels into illicit markets, the consequences are catastrophic.
Weapons that are legally imported, stockpiled, or transferred can too easily be diverted into illicit circulation, where they end up in the hands of criminal networkers, traffickers, actors who profit from violence, and importantly armed groups.
This is of particular concern for South Africa as the illegal firearms on the African continent were almost always once legally held before circulating illegally.
This diversion prolongs conflict, undermines peace agreements, strengthens armed non state actors, and erodes states' ability to protect civilians.
It is for this reason that the AU High representative for silencing the guns recently likened small arms and light weapons proliferation, of which firearms form part to a cancer driving instability, indicating further that these weapons are being used to unleash horrific violence and suffering across the continent.
In this regard, firearms are the most diverted type of small arms and light weapons as they are relatively cheap, easily concealed, and highly durable.
South Africa therefore appreciates that despite the focus of this year's resolution on the relationship between firearms and transnational organized crime, our comments regarding the need to also reference armed conflict in this regard were taken on board.
We similarly appreciate the inclusion of a reference to the misuse of firearms in situations of foreign occupation.
In such context, firearms are used by civilians not for protection, but as instrument of terror to coerce, intimidate, and displace communities from their land.
This is reflected in the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the OPT, including East Jerusalem to HR 62 on settler violence.
Given the potential harm associated with the misuse of firearms to the enjoyment of human rights, member states regulatory frameworks governing civilian access to firearms should be formulated and reviewed through a human rights lens.
Accordingly, South Africa strongly supports this resolution as it affirms a rights based approach to firearms control.
States have a responsibility to ensure that firearms are acquired, possessed, and used in ways consistent with their human rights obligations.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by Chile.
Senor President President, we thank Ecuador and Peru for presenting draft resolution L 13.
We are concerned at the increasing acquisition, possession of firearms by civilians in many countries.
Be safe as a human right.
Many millions of firearms are held in this world by civilians and are not registered.
They are therefore unlawful.
Hundreds of thousands of people every year die as a result of violence by firearms.
The recurrence of this in schools, religious places, and other public places has become a daily fact.
We firmly support the right of all states to manufacture, import, and possess arms for their own defense as enshrined in the charter.
At the same time, states have the obligation to protect with effective regulation the right to life and bodily integrity.
Without detracting from the major responsibility of states, businesses also have major responsibilities.
Cuba does not share the focus of the responsibility of businesses and being a part of the guiding principles on business and human rights.
This continues to depend on the goodwill of those who gain profit from firearms.
We support international legally binding instruments on business and human rights.
We also call for a total prohibition on transfer of weapons to non state actors.
Furthermore, we support the prohibition of arms transfer to states carrying out threats, abuse of force, contravening the United Nations Charter, including acts of aggression and occupation.
For this reason, President, we support L 13 and we hope that it can be adopted by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Chile.
Thank you, President.
Chile wishes to thank Ecuador and Peru for presenting this initiative.
The resolution addresses an issue of the greatest relevance for our region, the impact on human rights of the proliferation and misuse of firearms by civilians with particular attention to the actions of organized crime, both national and transnational in that context.
Chile appreciates the text strengthens the link between this agenda and the framework of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its firearms protocol.
Excellent, as well as the program of action on small arms and light weapons.
These new references strengthen a comprehensive approach to the diversion and illicit trafficking of arms and promote a holistic understanding of the issue.
Chile also appreciates that the resolution keeps visible the broader dimension of this phenomenon, the violence associated with firearms and the insecurity it generates, not only to the right to life and personal security, but also undermining the possibility of participating in cultural life and in the conduct of public affairs.
This is a loss that transcends those who suffer it and has repercussions on the democratic and cultural life of society as a whole and vulnerable communities.
For all of these reasons, the acquisition, possession, and use of firearm harm public security and have a heavy impact on human rights, social and civil and political rights.
We therefore support and co sponsor this draft resolution and call on the members of this council to allow it to be adopted by consensus.
I thank you.
I see no further request 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.
And I'll give the floor to members of the council who wish to make an explanation or vote before the vote.
I see no such request.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
May I take it, therefore, that draft resolution L 13 may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L 21 slash ref one as orally revised, entitled Promoting Protecting and Respecting Women's and Girls Full Enjoyment of Human Rights in Humanitarian Situs.
And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan to introduce the draft text.
And before I do so, let me just mention that the Amendment L 40 has been withdrawn.
Thank you.
You have the floor, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
At the outset, on behalf of the core group, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador Gustavo Gallon and his colleagues at the Permanent Mission of Colombia on his recent passing.
As a distinguished human rights defender and a jurist, he devoted himself to the protection and promotion of human rights in Colombia and beyond.
His remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to the cause of human rights will remain in our hearts and continue to inspire the work of this council.
Mr.
President, Japan has the honor to introduce a draft resolution L 21 Rev one as well revised entitled Promoting, Protecting, and Respecting Women's Girds Full Enjoyment of Human Rights in Humanitarian situations on behalf of the cross regional Group composed of Colombia, Fiji, Georgia, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Uruguay, and our own country, Japan.
The Human Rights of women and girls are an integral part of the Universal Human Rights framework.
Ensuring the full enjoyment of all the human rights in essential is essential to building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies where human dignity is upheld, diversity is respected, and everyone can realize their full potential.
The draft resolution responds to an increasingly urgent reality.
Humanitarian needs continue to grow in scale, duration, and complexity while women and girls face heightened risk of violence, discrimination, and exclusion, as well as specific barriers to accessing essential services, protection, and justice.
This new iteration updates the approach adopted by the council in 2020 by reflecting the evolving humanitarian landscape, including the links between humanitarian crisis, climate change, disasters, armed conflict, and displacement, as well as their differentiated impacts on women and girls.
The text also places emphasis on preventing and responding to sexual and gender based violence, promoting the full equal and meaningful participation of women and girls, and supporting women and girl led organizations.
Throughout the consultations, the core group sought to preserve a substantive, balanced and action oriented text while giving due consideration to the different views expressed by delegations.
In this regard, we call on the council to support the adoption of this draft resolution.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 15 additional co sponsors.
And I'll give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain, followed by Cuba and South Africa.
President Thank you, President, Spain, thanks the core group for its leadership introducing L 25 revoir has already revised.
Six years after this initiative was first printed in the Council, the increase in armed conflict humanitarian crises and the ravages of climate change and natural disasters warrant our renewed attention to this issue.
The collapse of humanitarian funding directed to the needs of women and girls has exacerbated this emergency by reminding us that none of these situations are gender neutral.
In all of them, women and girls faced disproportionate forms of discrimination and violation of their rights, including their sexual and reproductive rights.
This was the motivation of Ambassador Gustavo Guyon and his team from the Mimission of Colombia, who were strongly involved in this initiative to bequeath us a valuable contribution that expands their immense legacy to this council.
Spain shares with the promoters the conviction that the restructuring of the humanitarian system must integrate the gender and human rights perspective in cross cutting fashion.
In this regard, we welcome the references to the need to increase and to render more predictable humanitarian funding through direct flexible and sustained support to civil society organizations.
In particular, women's rights organizations and women led organizations.
It is these organizations that are on the front line of the humanitarian response and which Spain will continue to support through its cooperation for sustainable development.
At the same time, we believe it is critical to ensure the full equal, meaningful participation of women and girls in all phases of humanitarian action from prevention and preparedness to response, recovery, and reconstruction.
We defend these elements in our national strategy for humanitarian diplomacy and our action plan for women peace and security.
Finally, we appreciate that this resolution reinforces attention to the prevention of and response to sex and gender based violence as well as the emphasis on accountability and the strengthening of the protection of women survivors.
For all of these reasons, Spain supports this resolution and encourages all members of the council to join the consensus in favor of this text and to apply its principles in the process of reform of the humanitarian system that is underway.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of because we were checking.
Cuba, followed by South Africa and Egypt.
President President, human rights of women and girls have to be protected in all circumstances, including in humanitarian situations, 60% of maternal deaths which are preventable happen in periods of conflict displacement as well as natural disasters.
Girls have 2.5 times more probability of not going to school in those countries affected by conflict.
As we see in L 21, Rev one, It's important to have the involvement of women themselves in the response in humanitarian situations.
Jose Marti said, our national hero.
It is only when you don't include the heart of women that things are weakened.
Women are also part and parcel of our national defense.
56% of them are in leading roles.
These are activated when there are catastrophe situations and many of them as chairs of provincial areas and the municipalities that they govern, they're women.
In line with this resolution in Cuba, we incorporate a gender perspective in our management and disaster risk management as well as disaster recovery strategies and we welcome the fact that the strengthens the importance of recognizing international cooperation, technological and financial resources that we made available, which will improve response capacity when there are humanitarian disasters in line with our commitment to the human rights of girls and women, our delegation will support draft resolution L 21 Rev one.
Many thanks.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of South Africa, followed by Egypt and Marshall Islands.
Mr.
President, South Africa takes the floor in support of the adoption of resolution Al 21 Rev one and thanks to the core group for taking on board our comments.
We also express our appreciation to Colombia's pen holder for advancing this important text.
In so doing and in our capacity as fellow co chairs of the Hate Group with Colombia, we salute the proud memory of the late ambassador Gustavo Golan.
His passing is a loss for Colombians, this council, and the human rights community.
He was a close friend of South Africa and as such, we also claim him as, a true son of the African soil.
Hama Gale, go well, Ambassador Galon.
While you will be sorely missed, your legacy is embodied in this resolution, which is firmly centered on promoting and protecting the most vulnerable.
Mr.
President, the humanitarian system is under extraordinary pressure.
Conflict is intensifying, climate shocks are multiplying, resources are shrinking, and the system is particularly failing women and girls who are paying with their lives.
Among others, less than 1% of humanitarian funding goes to addressing gender based violence.
Less than 1% reaches women led organizations, yet they are often the ones that carry the response when the system fails.
Localization and financing provisions in the resolution are therefore not optional extras.
They are essential to correcting a broken system.
South Africa underscores the vulnerability of women and girls living under foreign occupation.
In such context, humanitarian need is compounded.
Beyond sexual and gender based violence, women and girls are also at heightened risk of reproductive violence, which the resolution acknowledges.
This is not incidental.
It is a deliberate strategy by the occupying power to control and humiliate, often intended to destroy a group.
Yet the rights of women and girls are inalienble and cannot be conditional on the whims or the designs of occupying powers.
They must be protected without exception.
If humanitarian action is not gender responsive, it is not right based, nor victim centered.
This is why South Africa applauds this resolution.
It bridges the human rights, humanitarian, climate disaster risk reduction, and development agendas in the right way by placing women and girls at the center where they belong.
It ensures that women and girls rights are visible, promoted, protected, and funded in humanitarian situation.
South Africa therefore calls for the resolution to be adopted by consensus.
Ambassador Galon would demand no less.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt, followed by Marshall Islands and China.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Before turning to the resolution, Egypt wishes to express its sincere condolences to our colleagues at the permanent mission of Colombia on the passing of His Excellency Ambassador Gustavo Galon.
May he rest in peace.
We would like to thank the core group for presenting this important initiative and commend its constructive and inclusive approach throughout the negotiations.
Egypt recognizes the significant challenges faced by women and girls in humanitarian situations and welcomes the recognition of the specific hardships faced by women and girls living under occupation.
We also commend the draft resolution for recognizing and appreciating the efforts of host countries, most of which are developing countries and their host communities in welcoming and hosting refugees and for stressing the importance of equitable burden and responsibility sharing and sustained international support, especially in protracted humanitarian situation.
While joining the consensus on this resolution, Egypt wishes to place on record its understanding regarding a number of issues.
One, given that the resolution addresses humanitarian situations in a broader sense, extending beyond situations of armed conflict, Egypt would have preferred greater legal clarity regarding references to international humanitarian law so that its application remains confined to situations of armed conflict.
Second, our position and interpretation for other references contained in the resolution are reflected in the full written statement uploaded on the council's extranet.
With these considerations in mind, Egypt joins the consensus on this resolution.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Marshall Islands, followed by China and Pakistan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Before proceeding, we take this opportunity to join others in conveying our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Ambassador Gallon and his great team at the Colombia Mission on this untimely passing.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, thanks to core groups for presenting draft resolution L 21 slash R one entitled, Promoting, Protecting and respecting Women's and Girsu Enjoyment of Human Rights in Humanitarian Ss.
We commend the core group for their presentation of this timely initiative to strengthen women's and girls full enjoyment of human rights in humanitarian situations and for the inclusive approach they took during the negotiation of the draft resolution.
In particular, we welcome the addition of several references to the disproportionate impact of climate change, disasters, and environmental degradation on women and girls, and the need to adopt a gender responsive human rights based approach to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of all women and girls, including in humanitarian situations.
During sudden onset disasters, women and girls are disproportionately affected due to unequal access to resources and critical information, especially those living on our remote outer islands.
The loss of homes, livelihoods, and community support further its their vulnerability by reducing their choices and social networks.
Similarly, slow onset climate related disasters such as prolonged droughts, sea level rise, and the associated increase in king tides lead to increased health risks, economic hardship, and food and water insecurity and exacerbates rates of gender based violence.
We therefore join the call for gender responsive approaches to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage associated with the climate crisis, especially in CTS.
The disproportionate and compounding risks faced by women and girls must be recognized in how we design, fund, and implement climate change strategies as recognized in this draft resolution.
For these reasons, the Marshall Alli supports draft resolution L 21 slash ref one as orally revised and urges council members to adopt this text by consensus.
Coda, and I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China, followed by Pakistan and the E.
Mr.
President, the current global humanitarian situation is grave with heavy casualties and large displacement from armed conflicts.
Climate change natural disasters have exacerbated the survival crisis of affected populations.
China affected great importance to the protection of human rights of all, including women and girls in humanitarian situations and pays high tribute to humanitarian workers worldwide.
Those who persevered in hard conditions and dangerous environments, especially recent participants in research and rescue in Venezuela after the earthquake.
China joined constructively in the consultation and appreciates the sponsors parter taking of our proposals and China is ready to join in the consensus on L 21.
China wishes to stress two points.
First, the resolution should adhere to the existing applicable humanitarian framework, avoid overextending the conditions for the application of IHL, and uphold the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
Data collection and analysis should fully respect the sovereignty of recipient state and non interference.
Second, the resolution should, to the extent possible reflect international consensus and make less use of controversial terms such as human rights defender and human rights based approach.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan, followed by the UK Slovenia.
Mr.
President.
Pakistan extends its deepest condolences to the government and the people of Colombia on the passing of His Excellency Ambassador Gustavo Gayn.
May his soul rest in peace and may his family, friends, and colleagues be granted the strength to bear this irreparable loss.
Mr.
President, Pakistan thanks the Core Group for presenting draft resolution L 21 slash Rv.
We commend the constructive manner in which the core group engaged with delegations both prior to the tabling of the text and throughout the negotiations.
Pakistan attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights of women and girls in humanitarian situations, the dignity, safe, safety and equal access to essential services are indispensable to an effective humanitarian response, sustainable recovery, and resilient societies.
While welcoming the improvements made to the text, including through the oral revision, we believe it places disproportionate emphasis on climate related disasters, whereas women and girls face comparable vulnerabilities across the full spectrum of humanitarian situations, including armed conflict, foreign ocupation, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and situations of forced displacement.
Mr.
President, we also believe that the resolution places considerable emphasis on actions to be undertaken by the states while insufficient, attention is given to the support required to enable them to discharge those responsibilities effectively.
Greater recognition, in our view, could have been accorded to the role of relevant UN entities, international financial institutions, and other partners in providing sustained technical financial and capacity building assistance to strengthen national capacities together with stronger support for long term rehabilitation and the socioeconomic reintegration of affected populations.
Finally, Pakistan maintains its reservation regarding the reference to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, which in our view remains undefined and has not attained international consensus.
With these observations, Mr.
President, Pakistan joins the consensus on the draft resolution L 21 slash Rev one.
I thank you very much.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the UK, followed by Slovenia and Mexico.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We join others in taking this opportunity to pay tribute to Colombia's role as pen holder in these difficult circumstances and wish to honor once again the memory of Ambassador Gustavo Galon.
The UK is pleased to join consensus on this important resolution and thanks the core group for its leadership throughout the negotiations.
As humanitarian needs continue to grow in scale and complexity, women and girls remain disproportionately affected by conflict, displacement, disasters, and other crises.
This resolution places the protection, participation, and leadership of women and girls at the center of humanitarian responses and reinforces the need for a comprehensive human rights based approach.
We particularly welcome the references to preventing and responding to gender based violence.
Indeed, conflict related sexual violence continues to have devastating consequences for survivors, families, and communities.
Preventing these crimes, supporting survivors and ensuring perpetrators are held to account must remain a central part of efforts to build sustainable peace and security.
Resolution also highlights the importance of ensuring uninterrupted and nondiscriminatory access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health services, maternal health care, and mental health and psychosocial support.
These services are essential to safeguarding the dignity, health and well being of women and girls in crisis situations.
Equally important is its emphasis on the meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls, including women led organizations in humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery.
Women and girls must be able to shape the decisions that affect their lives and communities.
The UK is proud to support this resolution.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia, followed by Mexico and France.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Slovenia joins others in honoring the memory of our former colleague Ambassador Gallon of Colombia, pen holder of this resolution.
We thank the core group for its transparent and consultative approach throughout the negotiations and its efforts to find solutions acceptable to all sides.
As the first update of this resolution in six years, L 21 marks an important step forward.
Slovenia welcomes that this year's text includes the main drivers of humanitarian needs, including conflicts and impacts of climate change and environmental challenges.
In humanitarian situations, human rights violations and abuses often escalate while pre existing gender inequality and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination are exacerbated, leaving women and girls disproportionately affected.
According to OCHA, adolescent girls in conflict areas are 90% more likely to be out of school than girls in conflict three regions.
Reports also show increased rates of sexual and gender based violence, while 60% of preventable maternal deaths occur in conflict, displacement, and disaster settings.
These underlines the importance of ensuring access to essential services, including access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, and lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services.
Slovenia is pleased to co sponsor the resolution and looks forward to its adoption by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Mexico, followed by France and Iceland.
Gs? Any thanks, President.
We would like to echo other delegations expressing our solidarity and condolences extend them to the members of the permanent Mission of Colombia on the passing of Ambassador Gailln.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the core group made up of Colombia Uruguay, Japan, Fiji, Georgia, Cierre Lon, and Sweden for their leadership in submitting draft resolution L 21 Rev one.
Also because of their openness during the informal consultations to address concerns and to include suggestions from a range of delegations.
This is a robust text.
It reflects the realities that face women and girls in a range of humanitarian situations which mainly occur in developing countries.
We'd like to highlight in particular The references made to the impact that humanitarian crisis have on the care and support systems, systems that when they're interrupted, affect disproportionate the exercise of the human rights of women and girls.
Similarly, we highlight the fact that the text recognizes that humanitarian situations exacerbate menstrual poverty and the existing challenges for menstrual health and hygiene, it limits the ability of women and girls to manage their periods in a safe, private and dignified fashion.
Language of the draft resolution, I think is a significant step forward to promote humanitarian responses that are more comprehensive with gender violence approach and aimed at ensuring the dignity, quality, and full exercise of human rights of women and girls.
For all these reasons, Mexico co sponsored the draft Resolution 21 and we call on the council to adopt it on a basis of consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of France, followed by Iceland and Kenya.
Thank you, President.
The United Nations regularly warns us of the following that international humanitarian law protecting civilians in conflict situations is all too often violated and we need to recall the commitments of states in the area of internationalitarian law.
That is the meaning behind this initiative, sponsored by South Afraa Brazil, China, Jordan, Kazakhsan Fraska of the ICRC.
What we learn from the UN reports is that conflicts and catastros kill women more than men and that the livelihoods of women are hard hit.
Women and girls are in the very front line of world where wars are multiplying and their rights are simply violated.
Women are also key agents in the rebuilding of societies when they participate in humanitarian action that profits the community as a whole and when they're at the negotiating table, they are the drivers for lasting peace.
General recommendation 40 of Cor says this.
Equal inclusive representation of women in the decision making systems really makes a difference.
Resolution 21 is something that recalls this forcefully.
We welcome the recognition in the text of reproductive violence, particularly gender based violence does this.
Consequences can be deep, harmful and very lasting.
That is why Well, we would also pay tribute to the fact that it mentions reproductive violence, which is a particular type of gender based violence.
Consequences are as lasting as any of the violence that affects women.
That is why friends would like to thank the trans regional group made up of Colombia, Sweden, Uruguay, Georgia Future, Japan and Sierra Leone.
We would like to close all our support for it and invite all members of the council to do similarly.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Iceland, followed by Kenya and Iraq.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Firstly, Iceland joins others in this room today in expressing our condolences over the recent passing of His Excellency, Ambassador Gustavo Guyon, who is deeply missed.
Now, turning to the text.
Iceland welcomes draft resolution L 21 Stas Rev as orally revised and thanks the core group and Columbia's leadership for bringing this important resolution back to the agenda of the council, especially during ongoing strain on the humanitarian system.
The focus of the resolution on the various structural and intersecting forces that drive humanitarian needs is appreciated, serving as an important reminder on how various crises unfold and are maintained globally.
As highlighted by the draft, in a world where humanitarian needs are on the rise, with over 240 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, we continue to see the disproportionate impact on women and girls.
In this regard, humanitarian assistance must contribute to gender equality by effectively identifying and responding to the distinct and differential needs, capabilities, and priorities of women and girls in all their diversity through a human rights based and gender responsive approaches.
Iceland sees this text, which matches reality on the ground as an important benchmark for ensuring that the rights of women and girls are considered as a priority rather than an afterthought when it comes to humanitarian action, by ensuring their full, equal and meaningful participation.
Further, the resolution's emphasis on localization constitutes an important element, underlining the need to strengthen the role of women, youth, and local responders and organizations in humanitarian assistance as they are indispensable actors who enable effective humanitarian action and peace.
Iceland is therefore pleased to join consensus on the draft resolution.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya, followed by Iraq.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Kenya joins in expressing its condolences to the family of Ambassador Gustavo Glon and her colleagues at the permanent Mission of Colombia on his untimely demise and may he continue resting in peace.
Mr.
President, Kenya welcomes this important resolution which reinforces the Human Rights Council commitment to promoting, protecting, and respecting the full enjoyment of human rights by women and girls in humanitarian situations.
Kenya reaffirms that women and girls are among the most gravely affected by humanitarian emergencies.
They continue to face heightened risks of gender based violence, displacement, disrupted access to healthcare and education, food insecurity, and other forms of discrimination that undermine the full enjoyment of their human rights.
As a country that continues to host refugees and respond to humanitarian challenges in the region, Kenya recognizes the importance of ensuring that humanitarian assistance responds to the specific needs and priorities of women and girls.
Therefore, equal and meaningful participation in humanitarian action remains essential to delivering effective, inclusive and sustainable resources.
In this regard, Kenya welcomes the resolution's comprehensive and human rights based approach to strengthening the protection, participation, and empowerment of women and girls in humanitarian settings, while recognizing the importance of sustained international cooperation and support for host countries responding to the growing humanitarian needs.
Kenya encourages this resolution's adoption by consensus in memory and honor of our dear friend Ambassador Gallon.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of Iraq.
Thank you, President.
We would like to echo what has already been said expressing our condolences to the Colombian mission given the passing of Ambassador Gallon.
We support this draft resolution.
Women and girls in humanitarian situations very often are the first to suffer.
We see this in natural disasters, conflicts, they are deprived of their rights.
We saw this ourselves when we had to combat Daesh and the groups and what happened in the Iraqi towns and cities there.
We've dealt with this in our national programs and legislation attaching importance to the survivors providing reparation.
We'd like to thank the core group for their consultations and the oral amendments made.
We'd also like to say how much we welcome of the terms that deal with care services and health care services.
The text also talks about the situation of women and girls in a situation of occupation and we welcome that and support the text.
We'd all like to rally to the consensus.
Mention is made of discrimination.
Interdependence form of discrimination.
I don't think we can agree with sexual violence and sexist violence and refute all forms of violence.
I think this term needs to be further defined according to our national terms.
We know that we're talking about violence against women and girls and it is up to us to interpret what we understand by this and could this perhaps be put in the minutes of meeting? I see no further request for the floor.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft resolution and that the corresponding PPRO statement has been made available on the HRC extranet.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanations or vote before the vote on draft resolution L 21 slash ref one as already revised.
I see no request for the floor.
Is there a request for a vote? I see none.
May I take it, therefore that draft resolution L 21 slash Ref one as already revised, may be adopted without a vote.
It is so decided.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L 24 slash ref one entitled Child early and forced Marriage.
I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Sierra Leone to be followed by the Distinguished representative of Switzerland to introduce draft resolution L 24 slash ref one.
Mr.
President, I have the honor to introduce Draft resolution L 24 with one.
A or vached together with Switzerland and on behalf of the core group, which includes Canada, Italy, the kingdom of the Netherlands, Montenegro, Poland, Thailand, Uruguay, and my own country, Cey Leon.
Charly and forced marriage is a harmful practice and a serious human rights violation.
It's denied girls, young women their rights to free and full consent, education, health, and bodily autonomy.
Since 2013, this council has addressed this issue and the need for continued action is clear.
Despite progress, child marriage persists on an alarming scale.
12 million girls are married before the age of 12 years every year, and 650 million women and girls alive today were married as children.
At the current pace, it will take 300 years to eliminate this practice.
We must remember that this resolution is about girls and young women who are unable to freely decide about their lives and futures.
Eliminating child, early and forced marriage must remain our shared goal.
Allow me, Mr.
President, to highlight Salm's leadership in the zoo.
The enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024 aligns national legislation with international human rights standards.
This legislation shows how important it is for countries to take action to protect children and empower girls.
Draft resolution L 24 of one as or revised reflects the latest guidance of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and responds to the structural social, economic, and gender based drivers of this harmful practice.
With these few remarks, I am pleased to give the floor to my colleague from Switzerland who would conclude the introduction of the D resolution.
My President.
Thank you, President, and I thank Sierra Leone and we also thank all delegations for their participation in the informals and for the discussions as well as the 50 or so delegations that have co sponsored the draft resolution, we hope for more.
Thérèse were 9 hours of negotiations and several hours of bilaterals.
In the interest of transparency, we have taken into account a number of recent comments.
We regret the number of amendments, but we thank those delegations that have withdrawn.
So We also believe that early and forced marriage a grave human rights violation, blocking equality, sustainable development, and SDG 5.1.
As we approach 2030, work remains to be done to eliminate child early and forced marriage despite the progress made in many regions.
In 2023, the relevant resolution 23 was adopted calling for guidelines to be adopted.
We focused this year on the implementation of these guidelines, which we believe are a valuable tool to accelerate the end of child ely and forced marriage.
We believe it is important for the council to continue its work In terms of efficiency and effectiveness, there have not been intergovernmental negotiations, but these guidelines were sought by member states and are a valuable tool in combating child enforced marriage.
We hope that they will be used and we call on member states to adopt this draft resolution by consensus as has always been the case.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I would like to inform the council that amendments L 28, L 29, and L 30 have been withdrawn as indicated by the distinguished representative of Switzerland.
And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan to introduce written amendments L 41 to L 44.
On behalf of the Arab Group, I would kindly request the representative to introduce all amendments together on the understanding that each amendment will be acted upon separately.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Sudan.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President, on behalf of the Arab Group.
I have the honor to introduce the amendment 401-40-2403 and 44 to the draft resolution.
We thank the core group for presenting this initiative.
Our delegation engaged constructively throughout the negotiation outlining our concern on certain elements and offering proposal to replace the contested language with consensus oriented alternative supported by full member membership.
We regret, we note, several formulation remained in the text despite strong objections.
This amendment are tabled in a spirit to preserve the possible consensus around the resolution whose objective we all share, including elimination of harmful practices and protection of women and girls.
Amendment 416 to ensure that the language of the resolution remain fully fully consistent with the internationally agreed language by replacing the reference to sexual and reproductive rights with wording drawn from the Article 12 of the ICESCR which affirmed the right of everyone to enjoyment of the highest attaining standards of the physical and mental health.
This includes sexual and reproductive health.
Amendment L 42 seek to replace the reference to comprehensive sexuality education in paraba paragraph 19 with long standing universally accepted language on sexual and reproductive health education found in multiple General Assembly resolution since 2017.
Since the amendment, so called Comprehensive sexual Education, it has faced widespread opposition from several regions as internationally technical guidelines promoting it neither mandated by member states nor developed through international negotiation.
Moreover, the concept is based on the falsely right based approach, and this is not universally agreed upon.
Amendment L 43 seek to replace the term bodily integrity and autonomy and ensure the reference to the autonomy reflect the distinct legal framework governing the right of the child, including the need for the appropriate direction and guidance from the parent and legal guidance consistent with children evolving.
Amendment L 44 would remove reference to intimate barinal matinal violence, a terminology that doesn't constitute internationally agreed language term and is not uniformly reflected across the International Human Rights Legal Instrument.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I now turn to the representative of Switzerland to seek the views of the sponsors on the amendments.
You have the floor.
President, thank you.
The main sponsors do not support these amendments and call for a vote.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I understand that the sponsors do not agree with the proposed amendments.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are 18 additional co sponsors to draft resolution L 24 slash rep one as already revised and 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 24 slash rep one as orally revised and on written amendments L 41, L 42, L 43, and L 44.
And I give the floor to distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by Cotivar.
Thank you, President.
Welcome 40.
We recognize the dangers of child early and forced marriage for everyone, including in particular women and girls who more frequently face this type of situation.
In Cuba, child marriage is prohibited.
Our family code establishes the minimum age of marriage as 18 without exception.
For people under that age, marriage is not possible.
Preventing and eliminating child early and forced marriage which persists in many parts of the world means that the root causes must be addressed in different nations and regions.
We believe it is crucial to support legislation with measures and additional support measures on health, gender equality, social protection, and education with the participation of the community.
Cuba supports L 24 rev one, and we hope that this can be adopted by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cotivir followed by Thailand and Ghana.
Thank you, President Côte D'ivoire.
Thanks, the court group for presenting draft resolution on child early and forced marriage.
Child enforced marriage a grave violation of human rights.
This is a harmful practice which particularly affects women and girls globally.
Men and boys may also be affected.
It makes it difficult to have a life free of violence and discrimination.
Child early and forced marriage threaten the futures of many victims globally, depriving them of their decision making capacity over their lives, harming their education, making them vulnerable to violence, discrimination, and abuse, preventing them from fully participating in economic, social and cultural life and in political life.
Child marriage can lead to early pregnancy and childbirth, increasing maternal morbidity and mortality.
Given these severe consequences, Côte D'ivoire welcomes this draft resolution, which places states squarely before their responsibilities as main actors for the health and security of their citizens.
It calls on states to promote, respect, protect, and ensure the enjoyment of the human rights of all women and girls, including those who are victims of child early or forced marriage and prevent and eliminate all forms of violence.
Thus, we express our full support to this draft and we express appreciation for the work of the core group in bringing this resolution.
We encourage all members of the council to adopt this resolution by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand, followed by Ghana and Japan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
As a member of the CAR group, Talent wishes to thank Switzerland for its leadership throughout the consultations, as well as the constructive engagement of our cross regional film members of the CA group.
The diversity of the CAR group reflects our shared commitment to ending child early and forced marriage as a universal human rights concern.
Talent attaches great importance to this resolution.
Child, early and forced marriage undermines the rights, dignity, health, and future of women and girls and remains a significant obstacle to the full enjoyment of human rights.
Thailand has continued to strengthen efforts to prevent and address this harmful practice through legal policy and educational measures.
We recognize the importance of empowering women and girls to make informed decisions about their own lives and their own bodies.
Such empowerment is essential to the realization of the rights to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the promotion of gender equality and the prevention of child early and forced marriage.
We believe that the draft resolution reflects a balanced and comprehensive approach and brings together the key elements needed to advance efforts to eliminate child early and forced marriage.
We therefore encourage the council to adopt this resolution by consensus.
As currently presented by the call group and to join us in this endeavor.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana, followed by Japan and Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Ghana thanks the core group for presenting draft resolution L 24 ref one and welcomes the continued attention by this council to end the child early and forced marriage.
Child early and forced marriage remains a serious violation of the rights of children, particularly girls and undermines the enjoyment of their rights to education, health, equality, development, and protection from violence.
Ghana therefore supports sustained international cooperation to address its root causes through education, poverty reduction, social protection, and the empowerment of girls.
Mr.
President, while supporting objectives of the resolution, Ghana wishes to place on record several interpretative understandings.
First, we encourage the council to continue relying on internationally agreed language and established human rights standards.
References to sexual and reproductive health should therefore be understood consistently with previously negotiated international instruments and should not be interpreted as creating new international rights or obligations beyond those agreed by member states.
Secondly, Garner believes that education relating to sexuality and reproductive health should be age appropriate, evidence based, culturally sensitive, and implemented in accordance with national laws and priorities.
Such programs should fully respect the evolving capacities of the child while recognizing the rights, responsibilities and duties of parents and legal guardians as provided for under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Thirdly, Gann reiterates that recommendations contained in reports and guidelines that have not been negotiated or adopted by member states should be implemented in accordance with national priorities, domestic legislation, and each state's sovereign rights to determine the most appropriate means of fulfilling its international rights and obligations.
With these understandings, Ger reaffirms its commitment to preventing and eliminating child early and forced marriage and to protecting the rights and well being of every child and calls for the adoption of draft resolution L 24 rev one by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Japan, followed by Estonia and Spain.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Japan would like to express its sincere appreciation to the core group for its leadership and tireless efforts throughout the negotiations.
Child early and forced marriage remains a grave human rights violation and the harmful practice that disproportionately undermines the dignity, health, education, and opportunities of women and girls.
Preventing and eliminating this practice is indispensable to achieving gender equality and full enjoyment of all human rights.
We welcome the draft resolutions reaffirmation of the importance of a comprehensive, human rights based and victim and survivor centered approach.
We also appreciate its emphasis on addressing the root causes of child early and forced marriage, including gender inequality, discrimination, harmful social norms, lack of access to education, poverty, and humanitarian crises.
In this regard, cross sectoral efforts encompassing the education, health, justice, and social protection are essential.
Japan also expresses its hope for the widespread and effective application of the guidelines developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, pursuant to the previous resolution as a practical tool to support national efforts.
Furthermore, Japan highly appreciates that the draft resolution recognizes women and girls affected by child early and forced marriage, not only as right holders in need of protection, but also as agents of change capable of transforming their own lives and communities.
We welcome its recognition of the importance of their meaningful participation, leadership, and empowerment.
Japan will continue to work closely with the relevant states and stakeholders to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls and to contribute to the elimination of child, early and forced marriage.
With these remarks, Japan strongly hopes that the draft resolution presented by the core group will be adopted by consensus without any amendments.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Estonia, followed by Spain and the UK.
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.
Child early and forced marriage is a human rights violation that disproportionately affects women and girls around the world.
More than 650 million women alive today were married before the age of 18 and it is estimated that over 100 million more girls will become child brides over the next decade if current trends continue.
Women and girls subjected to child early and forced marriage face heightened risks of sexual and gender based violence, discrimination, and abuse.
This harmful practice undermines their rights, disrupts their education, limited opportunities for economic empowerment and full equal and meaningful participation in political, economic, and social life and has lasting consequences for their health, well being, and future.
Through the adoption of sustainable development goals, the international community committed to eliminating child early and forced marriage by 2030.
While progress has been made, it remains far too slow to achieve this target.
Moreover, the increase of conflict and humanitarian crisis is exacerbating the drivers of child early and forced marriage and placing more women and girls at risk.
This makes the resolution before the Human Rights Council at this session all the more timely and important.
The European Union is firmly convinced that the draft resolution before us reflects the outcome of a transparent, inclusive, and constructive, informal negotiation process.
We particularly welcome its recognition of the heightened risks of child early and forced marriage in situations of conflict and humanitarian emergencies, as well as its emphasis on ensuring access to education, which is essential to preventing this harmful practice and advancing gender equality.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Spain, followed by UK and Slovenia.
President President Spain congratulates the core group for resolution L 241 or revised.
The Human Rights Council plays a key role in combating a practice that constitutes a grave violation of human rights and one of the most extreme forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
To eliminate it, it is essential to address the root causes including structural inequality, poverty, and discriminatory gender norms.
In Spain, measures to prevent and eradicate forced marriages have been strengthened in recent years.
Organic Law 102022 on the comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom explicively recognizes forced marriage as a form of sexual violence, expanding prevention, protection, and reparation measures for victims.
Likewise, the renewed covenant against gender violence incorporates measures aimed at improving protection and access to the right to asylum for victims of forced marriages.
However, even the best laws will not suffice without strong international cooperation anchored in human rights.
Evidence gathered by UN agencies and civil society organizations shows that progress is possible when public policies invest in girls' education and empowerment and strengthen protection systems.
Spain wishes to contribute to this goal through its feminist cooperation policy and its commitment to adequate funding for gender equality.
Presidency in combating child early and forced marriage.
Sexual and reproductive rights are an essential part of the solution.
The prevention of child and forced marriage requires comprehensive sexuality education, access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, as well as effective legal protection for adolescent girls.
We therefore reject attempts to weaken what we believe is a central component of this resolution, and we will vote against the amendments tabled.
Finally, we welcome the resolution's emphasis on the implementation of the OHCHR guidelines.
Its effective implementation is crucial to translate our commitments into real improvements for women and girls.
To summarize, Spain strongly supports this resolution and encourages all members of this council to join in a strong consensus on this text which rejects all attempts aimed at weakening it.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the UK, followed by Slovenia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Child early and forced marriage is a harmful practice and a form of gender based violence.
The UK supports efforts to tackle the root causes of the practice, including discriminatory social norms, gender inequality, and violence against women and girls.
It is in this context that we thank the core group and in particular Switzerland, the Pen Holder, for their efforts to bring this resolution forward.
The UK joined the previous request for the OHCHR to develop guidelines to prevent and redress child early and forced marriage and we thus wholeheartedly support the core group's request to implement these guidelines.
The core group held an open, transparent and lengthy process to take into consideration a broad set of views.
We welcome this approach and congratulate them for delivering a strong text which focuses on impact.
Indeed, education, empowerment, and the promotion of the rights, agency, and autonomy of women and girls remains central to preventing and ending child early and forced marriage.
We regret that several amendments have been tabled with the aim of challenging key agreed human rights language on comprehensive sexuality and education, sexual and reproductive health rights, bodily autonomy, and violence.
These concepts are firmly grounded in existing international commitments.
Attempts to replace or redefine this language risk undermining the resolution's objective and weakening protections for women and girls.
Mr.
President, the UK has co sponsored this draft resolution.
We urge all members of the council to join us in fully supporting without reservation this initiative and to reject the amendments which have been tabled.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Slovenia congratulates the core group for delivering a strong text on child early and forced marriage.
Child early and forced marriage is not a private or cultural matter.
It is a serious human rights violation, a harmful practice, and a form of sexual and gender based violence.
It disproportionately affects women and girls and deprives them of their childhood, education, health, bodily autonomy, and opportunities to participate fully, equally, and meaningfully in all spheres of society.
Slovenia highly appreciates that the draft resolution addresses child early and forced marriage in its full complexity.
We particularly welcome the resolution's strong emphasis on prevention, protection, and empowerment.
Legal frameworks are essential, but they must be accompanied by access to inclusive and equitable quality education, health services, social protection, economic opportunities, justice, and support services.
We also welcome the recognition that women and girls themselves, including survivors and those at risk, must be able to participate meaningfully in the design and implementation of policies and programs that affect their lives.
We further underline the essential role of civil society, women, human rights defenders, community actors, as well as men and boys in challenging discriminatory social norm stereotypes that perpetuate these harmful practices.
With only a few years remaining to achieve sustainable development goal target 5.3, accelerated action is urgently needed.
This resolution provides timely and valuable guidance for states and all relevant stakeholders.
As a co sponsor of the resolution, Slovenia fully supports the text as presented by the core group and hopes it will be adopted by consensus.
I thank you.
Thank you.
See no further requests for the floor.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there are PBIs for this draft resolution, and they have been made available on the HRC extranet.
We will now take action on each of the amendments one by one in the order of submission.
We will then take action on the text as a whole as amended or not.
We'll now proceed to take action on Amendment L 41.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 41 as already revised.
I recognize the distinguished representative of Marshall Islands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands, thanks to Core Group for presenting Craft Resolution 24 slash re one as orally revised entitled Child Early and Forced Marriage.
We commend the core group for their presentation of this timely initiative.
To strengthen the protection of women's and girls women rights subjected to child early and forced marriage and prevent and eliminate all forms of violence.
We further appreciate the inclusive approach they took during the negotiation of this draft resolution.
With wide ranging impacts on the realizations and enjoyment of human rights, child early and forced marriage has gendered consequences that uniquely affect women and girls.
These practices pose serious risks to their lives, security, and physical and mental health.
As the Draft Resolution recalls, Human rights include the right to freely choose a spouse to enter into marriage only with free and full consent and to have control over and to decide freely and responsibly on matters relating to sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health.
For adolescent girls and young women's sexual and reproductive health and rights free from violence, discrimination and coercion is an important tool to prevent human rights violations and health harms.
Indeed, girls and women subjected early and forced marriage are often unable to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health due to lack of accurate information and autonomy.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights are not an abstract concept, but the deciding factor in whether they can access healthcare, complete their education, avoid violence, and participate fully in society, access information and services related to reproductive health care.
It affects mensrual health and hygiene, maternal and newborn health, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, clinical management of rape, adolescent friendly services and protection and services responding to sexual and gender based violence.
Mr.
President, it is for these reasons that the Marshall Islands will vote against Amendment L 41 as orally revised.
And we urge fellow council members to do the same and adopt draft resolution L 24 slash one as orally revised by consensus.
Cool Dana I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Estonia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Estonia regrets that this amendment was tabled.
Amendment L 41 seeks to delete sexual and reproutive health and rights or right to sexual and reproductive health from the resolution.
These amendments go below internationally agreed standards from 30 years ago on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Reproductive rights explicitly endorsed at the ICPD program of action and reaffirmed in the Beijing Declaration and platform Faction and are there defined as the right to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of the children and to have the information and means to do so and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.
They have been reaffirmed in numerous intergovernmental agreements from the HRC, General Assembly, CSW, and the target 5.6 of Sustainable Development Goals.
The right to sexual and reproductive health is an integral part of the right to health in the International Covenant on the economic, social, and cultural rights as affirmed by the committee in the General Common 22.
The concept of sexual and reproductive health and rights is comprehensive term and firmly grounded in the internationally agreed language, including a number of HRC resolutions.
This term built on ICPD and Beijing and explicitly include the right to make free and responsible decisions and choices free of violence, coercion, and discrimination regarding matters concerning one's body, sexuality and sexual and reproductive health.
Sexual rights include the right to choose if, when, and with whom to become sexually active or to marry.
Ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights is essential for preventing human rights violations and serious health consequences, including child early and forced marriage, but also, for example, unsafe abortion.
Hence, it is clear that removing these references would weaken our collective response to child early and forced marriage.
For these reasons, Estonia will vote against this amendment and calls on all members of the council to do the same.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for the floor.
At the request of the delegation of Switzerland, the Council will now proceed to a recorded vote on L 41 as already revised.
I asked the Secretariat to open the voting machine and to all delegations to register their votes.
Have all delegations registered their votes? I request delegations to check if their vote is accurately reflected on the screen.
If so, I asked the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting machine is closed.
The results of the recorded votes are as follows, eight in favor, 27 against, and ten abstention.
Amendment L 41 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 42.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 42.
I recognize the distinguished delegate of Mexico.
You have the floor, sir.
Many thanks, President.
Mexico rejects Amendment L 42 to the draft resolution L 24 Rev one, which aims to weaken the only reference in the text to comprehensive sexuality education.
Comprehensive sexuality education is a tool recognized internationally, developed by UN agencies.
It is a key component to guarantee the right to health, education, and gender equality.
This is an educational approach, not ideological.
It's based on scientific evidence and designed in a way that it's age appropriate and appropriate to the development of girls, boys, and adolescents.
At each and every stage, it includes different contents adapted to their cognitive and emotional maturity.
It also prevents gender violence in child marriage, as well as early enforced marriage.
It promotes the understanding of what consent is from early ages.
President, According to UNESCO, more than 100 countries have included comprehensive sex education in their educational systems suited to their cultural realities, and this is the case in our country.
For its part, the committee on the Rights of the Child in General Comment 20 stressed the fact that adolescents are entitled to have access to information, confidential services, educational services that are tailored to their needs in terms of sexual and reproductive health without needing the consent of their parents or tutors.
Amendment 42 aims to weaken a fundamental tool to promote gender equality, protection of rights, and preventing child early and forced marriage.
Given all this, Mexico will be voting against this amendment and we would invite other members of council also to reject it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of France.
Merci.
Thank you, President.
France would like to refer to Amendment L 42 from Sudan on behalf of the Arab group on the Resolution Child early enforced Marriage.
This Amendment wants to remove any mention of comprehensive sexual education.
We categorically reject this amendment for the following reasons.
We know that comprehensive sexual education It's something that is subject debate amongst member states.
In fact, we had an opportunity to discuss this yesterday and I invite everybody to recall the context of this mention.
It's a question of recognizing that it's a very useful tool to combat forced marriages.
Every year, about 12 million girls are married before 18.
In other words, just about every 3 seconds and one boy out of 30 is married without their consent.
The responsibility of counsel is to provide effective answers to this and comprehensive sex education is one of them.
This is not a position of principle that I'm expressing here.
It is based on science.
In fact, I'd refer you to a study carried out by the University of Oxford in 2016.
Comprehensive sexual education equips young people to better resist social and family pressures, reduces by 30% teenage pregnancies, which is the main cause of forced marriages, and it keeps girls in school.
Secondly, the UN has established a clear definition of what we understand by comprehensive sexuality education.
It allows young people to have information regarding cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality that are exact and age appropriate and culture appropriate.
Therefore, caveats are meaningless.
I think there are 12 lines of caveats.
Thirdly, we recognize that forced marriage and child marriage, often the outcome of economic and gender inequalities, we respect the capital responsibility of parents in terms of protecting and helping develop their children.
But given the context of resolution, we don't think it's this opportunity to refer to that because parents and tutors all too often are those who are handing over their children to be married.
For the above reasons, France will be voting against this amendment.
We support the text as it was submitted by its proponents and invite member states of council to do the same.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for explanation of vote.
At the request of the Delegation of Switzerland, the council will now proceed to recorded vote on L 42.
I asked the Secretariat to open the voting machine and I ask all delegations to register their vote.
I request all delegation to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, I asked the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting machine is now closed.
The results of the recorded vote are as follows, nine in favor, 25 against, and 11 abstention.
Amendment L 44 42 is therefore rejected.
A copy of these results of the votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
We will now proceed to take action on Amendment L 43.
I give the floor to council members for explanation of vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 43.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan, followed by Iceland.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We would like to explain Japan's position on Amendment 43.
Body autonomy enables all persons, especially women and girls, to make free and informed decisions about when and with whom to marry, to choose when to have a family, and to decide the number and spacing of their children.
Respect for bodily autonomy protects women and girls from human rights violations against them, including child early and forced marriage and sexual and gender based violence, which perpetuate inequality and discrimination.
We are concerned that replacing this language could dilute the clarity and undermine the objective of the resolution, thereby hindering our collective ability to respond effectively to these challenges.
For this reason, Japan will vote against L 43, and we encourage other delegations to opt for retaining the original language by also voting against the amendment.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Iceland.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Child early and first marriage prevents women and girls from fully enjoying their human rights and is both a cause and the consequence of gender inequality.
For millions of women and girls around the world, this continues to be a lived reality.
Bodily autonomy is the notion that all individuals are able to make decisions about their own body, life, and future.
The recognition of women's sexual and reproductive rights, including their ability to make decisions in relation to their bodies, is a prerequisite for ensuring their full enjoyment of rights.
Harmful practices such as child early and forced marriage deny women and girls this autonomy and constitute serious violations of their human rights.
It is therefore essential that this council continues to recognize bodily autonomy as a core component of protecting the rights, dignity and equality of women and girls.
Given the specific context of this draft resolution, Iceland cannot support amendment L 43, which seeks to weaken previously agreed language on this issue.
The Human Rights Council has repeatedly recognized bodily autonomy as an integral part of the human rights of women and girls, including in resolutions on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, the discrimination against women and girls, and on the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Weakening language and bodily autonomy would undermine the council's efforts to fully address the human rights violations associated with child early and forced marriage.
Iceland will therefore vote against Amendment L 43 and urges other council members to do the same.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of the UK.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We are compelled to intervene once again to reject Amendment L 43, which undermines a core tenet of this resolution.
Child early and forced marriages are rooted in the presumed superiority of men and boys over women and girls, attempts to exert control over their bodies and sexuality, social inequalities, and the prevalence of male dominated power structures.
We cannot address this harmful practice without defending women's and girls agency and freedom of choice.
The OHTHR guidelines referenced in this resolution rightly underlined the importance of education and access to information to empower girls and women to be central actors of change as right holders entitled to dignity, equality, bodily autonomy, and free and full consent to marriage.
Moreover, the ability to control their own bodies to marry or not, to have children or not is fundamental in reducing maternal mortality as it depends on increasing use and accessibility of critical reproductive and maternal health services.
Mr.
President, let this council make it clear that it values women and girls equally to men and boys.
The UK urges all members to reject this amendment.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for explanation of vote before the vote.
I now ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine.
Oh, sorry.
I think I skipped the part.
Apologies for that.
At the request of the delegation of Switzerland, the council will now proceed to recorded vote on L 43.
And now I ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine and to all delegation to register their vote.
I request delegations to check whether their vote is accurately reflected on screen.
If so, I ask the Secretariat to close the voting machine.
The voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded votes are as follows, nine in favor, 23 against, and 13 abstention.
Amendment L 43 is therefore rejected.
A copy of the results of these votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
We will now proceed to take action on Amendment L 44.
I give the floor to council members for explanation or vote before the vote on draft Amendment L 44.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Cyprus.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Allow me to thank the Core Group of resolution L 24 Revoin on Child early and forced marriage for their constructive, inclusive, and transparent approach throughout the negotiations.
According to internationally recognized terminology used by the WHO and UN entities, intimate partner violence refers to behavior by an intimate partner, including current and former spouses that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm, such as physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behavior.
As such, it complements the term domestic violence, giving greater legal and policy precision and cannot be replaced by it.
Recent data shows that nearly one in three women have experienced physical and or sexual violence by an intimate partner.
The actual numbers are likely to be much higher given the stigmatization and culture of fear or intimidation surrounding violence against women and girls.
Deleting such references from the resolution erases the lived realities of victims and ignores the unique dynamics of coercive power, isolation, and imbalances that define abuse within domestic relationships, especially when we are referring to underage children.
For these reasons, Cyprus will vote against Amendment L 44 and urges all members of the council to do the same.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of Slovenia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Slovenia opposes the amendment that seeks to delete the concept of intimate partner violence from three parts of the text.
Globally, nearly one in three women have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime.
Progress on reducing intimate partner violence has been painfully slow with only 0.2 annual decline over the past two decades.
Intimate partner violence is a crucial reference to retain in a resolution that aims to address child early and forced marriage in a comprehensive and human rights based manner.
The references to intimate partner violence in PP 20 and PP 25 are important as they rightly recognize that child early and forced marriage exposes women and girls to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence throughout their lives, intimate partner violence being one of them.
The reference is also essential in PP 18, where the text addresses the support women and girls need to overcome the consequences of child early and forced marriage, including through education, counseling, social services, healthcare, and economic independence.
In this context, intimate partner violence is identified as one of the barriers that can prevent women and girls from accessing these rights and services remaining in or returning to education, seeking protection, and exercising autonomy over their lives.
Intimate partner violence has been recognized in numerous HRC and General Assembly resolutions.
This concept complements rather than replaces domestic violence.
It reflects internationally recognized terminology used by the World Health Organization and many other UN entities and is also reflected in targets and indicators of SDG five.
It thereby promotes greater legal and policy precision and clarity.
Deleting this reference would therefore weaken the text and risk narrowing the protection it seeks to provide.
Slovenia, preventing combating all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic and intimate partner violence is one of our goals in the National Gender Equality policy, also reflected in our 2023 2030 National Program on Equal Opportunities.
Slovenia will therefore 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 Switzerland, the council will now proceed to recorded vote on L 44.
I ask the Secretariat to open the voting machine and to 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, and the voting is now closed.
The results of the recorded vote are as follows, seven in favor, 26 against, and 12 abstention.
Amendment L 44 is therefore rejected.
A copy of the results of the votes will shortly be posted on the extranet.
The council will now proceed to take action on draft proposal L 24 slash ref one as already revised.
I will now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make explanations of vote before the vote on draft resolution L 24 slash ref one as already revised.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan, followed by Egypt.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Pakistan, thanks the core group for presenting draft resolution L 24 as already revised.
We also acknowledge the constructive approach of the core group and its continued availability to engage with delegation throughout the process.
Pakistan attaches great importance to the protection and well being of children and remains firmly committed to preventing child early and forced marriage.
There should be no doubt that this is a harmful practice that violates the right and dignity of children, particularly girls and deprives them of opportunities for education, health, and development.
Mr.
President, Pakistan voted in favor of the three amendments relating to comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and bodily autonomy for the reasons we explained previously on behalf of the OIC.
Pakistan abstained on the Fourth Amendment concerning intimate partner violence.
We unequivocally condemn all forms of violence within domestic settings and our domestic legal frameworks provide protection against such violence through relevant federal and provincial legislation.
However, the term intimate partner is not recognized in Pakistan's domestic legal framework.
Our abstention should therefore be understood as a position on terminology, not on the protection of women and girls from violence.
We hope that future iterations of this resolution will be firmly grounded in internationally agreed language and foster broader consensus across this council.
Pakistan joined consensus on the draft resolution L 24, and I thank you very much.
Thank you.
I give the floor to Distinguish representative of Egypt, followed by Iraq and India.
Child deserves the opportunity to grow, to learn, and to develop before being the responsibility of adulthood.
Child early and forced marriage deprives the children from that opportunity and undermines their full enjoyment of their rights.
For Egypt, ending the child early and forced marriage is more than a national priority.
It's a firm commitment to safeguarding every child's rights to a safe childhood.
This commitment is reflected in Egypt's policy of zero tolerance towards this harmful practice.
We acknowledge the efforts undertaken by the core group throughout the negotiations and we welcome the draft resolution emphasis on addressing the root causes of the child early forced marriage and strengthening national efforts, including access to education, health care, protection services, and family support as key elements in preventing this harmful practice.
We also value recognition that armed conflicts, including occupation are among the factors that increase the risk of a child early forced marriage.
At the same time, Egypt regrets that draft resolution retain a number of concepts and formulation that don't reflect internationally agreed language, despite this concern repeatedly raised during the negotiation and have been a subject of amendments in the previous iteration of this resolution, as well as reflected in the amendments d in this draft.
Given the importance of the subject matter, Egypt joined the consensus while placing on record its position regarding a number of references contained in this resolution.
First, Egypt dissociate itself from the language contained in the amendments that Egypt joined or co sponsored.
Two, While Egypt acknowledged the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner in developing the guidelines on child early and forced marriage, it recalled that they are neither intergovernmentally agreed or legally binding.
Their implementation should be carried out in accordance to the state's international human rights obligations, national priorities, and legal system and cultural contexts.
Our position and interpretation for other references contained in this draft resolution are reflected in our full written statement uploaded on the Council extranet.
With this consideration in mind, Egypt joins the consensus on this resolution.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq, followed by India and Gambia.
Thank you, President.
We are committed to protecting the rights of children and preventing child early and forced marriage.
Iraq fulfills its commitments under the Convention of the Rights of the Child.
We have legislation aligned with the convention.
We thank the core group for the negotiations.
We supported the amendments presented by Sudan for the Arab Group and voted for them.
We will align with the consensus given the importance of this subject.
This is a text for children.
We would have wished it to avoid problematic issues, but that has not been the case.
We distance ourselves from the problematic concepts.
These were covered by the amendments by the Arab Group and we reserve the right to explain that in line with our national legislation and international commitments.
We request that this statement be consigned in the report of the meeting.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of India, followed by Gambia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
India supports this resolution's important objective of ending child early and forced marriage and would welcome its adoption by consensus.
India has taken sustained measures through law, policy, and community mobilization, including the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, and the national campaign, Balwa Mugharat, which aims to strengthen awareness, reporting, prevention, and protection efforts across the country.
At the same time, we wish to clarify that the references to reforms relating to family law, marriage, divorce, inheritance, child custody, and property rights are to be understood in a general sense and without prejudice to India's constitutional and statutory framework.
India further notes that the OHCHR guidelines are intended to serve as advisory guidance and that their implementation as envisaged in the resolution, including an OB three and OP four, should rest with states as appropriate in line with national legislation and domestic priorities.
India also wishes to place on record that this resolution should not be interpreted as creating new international obligations, as prescribing a uniform model for all domestic legal systems or as intruding upon areas that remain within national competence.
With these clarifications, India would join consensus in support of the resolution, reaffirming our commitment to the progressive elimination of child early and forced marriage.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gambia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Gambia Welcome draft resolution L 24, entitled Child Early and Fst Marriage.
We thank the members of the core group for bringing forward this very important resolution and for their continued engagement on the matter.
Gambia attaches great importance to this issue, which remains a human rights concern with far reaching consequences for women and girls and society as a whole.
Child and forced marriage prejudices the enjoyment of several other core human rights, including the right to education, health, dignity, protection from violence, and the full and equal participation in public social and economic life.
The Gambia supports the central objective of this draft resolution to prevent and eliminate child early and forced marriage and to ensure protection, support, access to justice, and effective remedies for victims and survivors.
The objective is consistent with the Gambia's efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls and address harmful practices that undermine their dignity, safety, and development as embodied in several legislative and policy instruments.
We also welcome the draft resolution's recognition that child Allie and forced marriage cannot be addressed solely through legal means.
Sustainable progress requires a comprehensive and multi sectoral approach involving state institutions, communities, families, traditional and religious leaders, as well as women and girls themselves.
We particularly value the resolution's emphasis on education, birth and marriage registration, access to support services, protection from violence, and the need to address the root causes of child and forced marriage, including poverty, insecurity, and harmful social norms and agrees that responses must be victim and survivor centered, practical and respectful of the dignity and needs of those affected.
However, the Gambia supported three of the amendments, namely on the comprehensive sexuality education on bodily autonomy and on sexual and reproductive health and rights during the consideration of this draft.
Purely guided by our national position and by the need to preserve a balanced and implementable text that remains focused on preventing and eliminating child early and forced marriage.
For these reasons, the Gambia is pleased to join the consensus on draft resolution L 24 as revised.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I see no further requests for explanation or vote before the vote.
Is there a request for a vote on L 24 slash ref one as already revised? I see no such request.
May I take it, therefore that draft proposal L 24 slash ref one as already revised may be adopted without a vote? It is so decided.
Excellency's distinguished representative, colleagues.
The Council will now consider draft resolution L 26 slash ref one entitled Protection of Healthcare in Armed Conflict.
Now, I do ask Your Excellencies to consider the timing that we may not have adequate time to finish the whole consideration.
And therefore, with your permission, we shall break after we try to get through general comments, but we do not start the voting process, and we'll see how it goes.
Now, with that, I give the floor to a distinguished representative of Qatar to introduce the draft text.
You have the floor, Madam.
The compassionate.
Thank you for giving me the floor to present L 26 as amended, Protection of Healthcare and Armed Conflict.
We submit this text because there are increasing attacks on health facilities and health workers in armed conflict with consequences in humanitarian terms, threatening the lives of civilians and preventing health care in conflict zones.
The text refers to the principles of the charter, International Human Rights Law and IHL, especially the Four Geneva Conventions and the two additional protocols.
Providing healthcare and armed conflict is a basic right and a humanitarian obligation.
This cannot be affected even during armed conflict or occupation.
The draft resolution seeks to require countries to respect their international obligations.
We must protect health infrastructure and health care workers And ensure that all victims receive high quality health care without discrimination.
Parties to conflict must allow the delivery of medical assistance.
The text refers to the consequences of armed conflict for public health, especially where health infrastructure is dismantled, epidemics occur, as well as malnutrition.
This can affect the maternal health and mental health with an impact on women, children, persons with disability, IDPs, and others.
The text refers to the protection of health infrastructure and health workers as obligations for parties to conflict.
An obstacle to these is a grave violation of international law and a war crime, a crime against humanity.
Need to be follow up mechanisms and reparation mechanisms for victims.
Informal consultations and bilaterals led to constructive conversations on this important matter for health policy.
This led to a balanced text which shows the nexus of commitments in IHL and international human rights law, the right to health and health care.
Remains clear, in the case of armed conflict and occupation, I thank all states who provided constructive comments.
I thank WCH and the other organizations, as well as Min Frontier for the comments which have enriched this text, I thank for 62 co sponsors of the draft resolution.
We encourage other countries to follow their example.
We hope that this council will adopt the draft resolution by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I've been informed by the Secretariat that there is one additional co sponsor.
Oh, sorry, 11.
There are 11 additional co sponsors.
I now give the floor to members of the council who wish to make general comments.
And I give the floor to distinguished representative of Kuwait, followed by Cuba.
Sunday Hauri Thank you, President.
I speak on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
We thank Qatar for presenting this draft resolution, which is so important and for its efforts during the negotiations.
L 26 rev one sheds light on the challenges linked to providing health care in armed conflict.
It is crucial to protect medical staff Transport of medicines and related services.
These are encountering challenges in providing their services, and that is a violation of IH and international human rights law.
States must provide health services in particular to victims During armed conflict, we call for all necessary measures to be taken to protect medical workers and civilians.
The GCC states support this draft resolution and hope that it will be adopted by consensus.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by Spain and Egypt.
President President, we thank Qatar for presenting L 2631.
International Humanitarian Law is very clear.
Health facilities such as hospitals and other infrastructure for provision of medical care must be respected and protected.
They cannot be objects of attack and access cannot be limited.
Cuba rejects any attempt to re interpret this standard, which in recent years has been violated with increasing frequency.
These violations are unacceptable.
They may not be normalized.
A clear example is the alarming situation of the Palestinian health care system because of the repeated attacks by Israel with the support and complicity of the USA.
Cuba supports the call in L 26 to protect essential health care services and related services, including water, electricity, fuel, oxygen, communications, and medical supply chains.
We recognize the link in the text between the right to health and the underlying determinants.
Protection of medical staff and services must prevail in all circumstances.
Nobody is exempt from this obligation.
Cuba hopes that this standard will be strengthened at the international conference, the high level conference on humanitarian war to be held in Jordan on the 7th of December.
I thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to a distinguished representative of Spain, followed by Egypt and Pakistan.
Thank you, President, Spain is fully committed to protecting health care and armed conflict in line with international humanitarian law as reflected in the Geneva Conventions.
This year, we celebrate the tenth University of UNSC Resolution 2286, which Spain has helped to promote and which the resolution presented today includes as a fundamental milestone in these efforts.
The same time, the current context makes it necessary to increase political commitment to respect and show respect for international humanitarian law.
Spain is actively participated in a global initiative to galvanize compliance with international humanitarian law promoted by a group of countries and the ICRC.
Precisely in its access on the protection of hospitals.
We are convinced that the discussions and practical recommendations of the different streams of work, including the one that Spain co chairs, which is the subject of this resolution will be fundamental contributions to the renewed commitment reached at the conference on Humanitarian War to be held in Jordan in December.
This commitment by Spain to the protection of hospitals, medical infrastructure, health personnel, and access to medical supplies is an essential part of our humanitarian diplomacy strategy.
We call for particular attention to international standards without any prioritization with international law.
In this spirit, we trust all the efforts of the council in relation to protection of the medical mission can be contributed to and challenged through these valuable initiatives that maintain a clear vocation to ensure that hospitals and medical infrastructure receive the real protection guaranteed to them by international law with the aim of guaranteeing the dignity of all people, including in the most adverse conflicts the context of armed conflicts.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt, followed by Pakistan and Japan.
26, Hamez.
In the Hamez esse the delegation of Egypt.
I have no English translation.
The interpreter apologize.
Let me just let us sort this outwards.
Do you have English translation? We do.
Apologies.
Can we ask you to start again? Thank you.
President, Egypt thanks the state of Qatar, the brotherly country of Qatar for presenting L 26 Rev one on the protection of health care in armed conflict.
This is a priority, particularly in such times.
Protecting healthcare in war and occupation is a priority question to preserve what remains of humanity and dignity during wars.
When ambulance personnel are running to help victims, this is a heroic act.
When victims are deprived of healthcare, we are facing an inhuman violation of international law and human rights, human dignity.
What we are seeing now racist questions targeting health care.
Has this become normal during war? Is this something that we can be tolerant of? Because of the importance of this, we attach the greatest priority to health care and armed conflict and thus, we have co sponsored and supported this resolution and the Security Council resolution, we have closely followed or attacks on hospitals and ensured that humanitarian assistance is provided to victims of such attacks in our region.
We do not consider that this is an isolated matter.
This is linked to the lives of civilians who are suffering through deprivation of essential services.
We support this resolution.
This resolution identifies a global need to protect health care and to protect international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
It is crucial to provide humanitarian and medical assistance during war to all parties.
Even in time of war, saving lives is a priority vocation and it must not be violated on any grounds.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan, followed by Japan and the UK.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
The OIC Group welcomes resolution L 26 stoke Web one as orally revised and commends the state of Qatar for presenting the draft to underscore the protection of healthcare in armed conflict.
This initiative is both urgent and necessary in view of the unprecedented increase in the frequency, scale, and severity of attacks on health facilities and healthcare workers in violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
In far too many situations of conflict or foreign occupation, the protective status of healthcare infrastructure and personnel is being disregarded with brazen impunity.
Ambulances are targeted, hospitals are bombed and medical workers are killed or detained.
The perpetrators act with impunity knowing that accountability is rare.
The consequences are catastrophic and long lasting with entire populations are denied access to lifesaving care.
The draft resolution reaffirms the complementary legal framework protecting health care under both IHL and IHRL and underscores that human rights law continues to apply to situations of armed conflict or foreign occupation.
It reiterates the binding obligations to protect medical personnel, hospitals, ambulances, medical supplies, and the wounded and sick and to ensure access to medical care without adverse distinction.
We welcome also the resolution's attention to new methods of warfare and emerging technologies.
Call for stronger preventive measures and to uphold the principle that the wounded and sick and those who care for them must never be targeted.
Mr.
President, protecting health care in armed conflict remains a legal and moral obligation.
The OIC group urges all delegations to join consensus on this draft resolution.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan, followed by the UK.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
At the outset, Japan would like to express its sincere appreciation to the delegation of Qatar for the tireless efforts to present this draft resolution.
Japan has consistently emphasized the importance of ensuring respect for international humanitarian law.
Compliance with IHL requires the protection of medical personnel and their means of transport as well as medical facilities during armed conflict.
It also calls for ensuring rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access.
From this perspective, Japan as a non permanent member of the Security Council work together with Egypt, New Zealand, Spain, and Uruguay as co holders to lead the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2286 on the protection of medical personnel and medical facilities in armed conflict.
In line with this longstanding position, we welcome the theme of this resolution.
Japan understands that this resolution alters neither the existing framework of public international law nor the respective fields of application of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
In situations of armed conflict, obligations under the international humanitarian law and the international human rights law should be interpreted and applied in accordance with the applicable rules of international law.
Japan strongly condemns attacks, threats and violence against medical personnel and their means of transport as well as against medical facilities.
We call upon all the parties to the armed conflict to comply with the obligations under international law, ensure that the wounded and sick have access to the medical care they require without discrimination, and guarantee rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to persons in need.
Japan remains firmly committed to working with the International Committee to promote respect for international humanitarian law, strengthen the protection of medical care in armed conflict, facilitate humanitarian access, and ensure that the human rights of all persons are respected and protected, including situations of armed conflict.
In light of these consultations, we express our support for the adoption of this draft resolution by consensus.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the UK, followed by Indonesia and Iraq.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Ten years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2286, a landmark commitment to protect the wounded and sick and the medical and humanitarian personnel caring for them during armed conflict.
Yet in 2025, the number of medical personnel and patients killed in conflict zones reached record levels.
This is appalling.
The UK calls on all parties to armed conflict to comply fully with international humanitarian law.
We are proud to co chair a workstream of the global Initiative on international humanitarian law.
We thank the delegation of Qatar for its constructive engagement on draft resolution L 26 and sincerely appreciate efforts made to address several of our comments during negotiations.
We share the objective of protecting medical personnel and medical facilities in armed conflict and of calling for international law to be respected.
However, we wish to clarify our position on elements of the text.
While international humanitarian law and international human rights law are often referred to as complementary, they remain distinct legal frameworks with different sources, scope, and obligations.
Preserving that distinction is essential to maintaining legal clarity and the coherent application of international law.
We note that international humanitarian law provides specific protections for the wounded and sick medical personnel and medical facilities rather than establishing a freestanding right to health care.
Parts of the resolution could be read as seeking to extend or modify existing legal obligations beyond their established scope.
We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to protecting medical personnel, medical facilities, and civilians, including humanitarian personnel in armed conflict.
We also reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the progressive realization of the enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of health.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Colleagues, it's 1:00 P.M.
Now, and therefore, we'll break this discussion.
We'll continue with general comments at three with Indonesia and Iraq.
Um Now, I'll go back to the text.
Excellency's distinguished representatives.
This brings us to the end of this meeting.
We will reconvene this afternoon at 3:00 P.M.
To continue with the consideration of the draft proposals and where we left off on this one.
I hereby close the 33rd meeting of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.