17th Meeting - 62nd Session of Human Rights Council

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Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Georgia thanks the working group for presenting the report and my government considers the protection of women's rights a key state priority.
Let me underline that Georgia recognizes the need for legal safeguards and practical measures to address barriers faced by women and girls.
In this regard, gender perspectives are increasingly integrated into public policies supported by sex deggregated data and gender sensitive HR policies.
Women's representation in public administration continues to grow, including the senior management positions.
Four of Georgia's ministers are women, reflecting progress in women's leadership.
Georgia also strengthens measures to prevent discrimination and sexual harassment in the public sector.
It's noteworthy that annual reporting on the National Human Rights Strategy supports accountability and monitoring on human rights commitments.
Russia's occupation of Georgia, Abkhazia and Skin Vali regions prevents the effective implementation of these measures in the occupied territories where women and girls remain particularly vulnerable to human rights violations.
To conclude, Georgia remains committed to advancing its legal institutional and policy framework for prevention and response to violence against women and domestic violence in full alignment with the Istanbul Convention.
I thank you.
Representative on the program.
Thank you.
UNDP welcomes the working group's timely report.
Digital transformation holds immense promise, yet it is increasingly clear that without safeguards, it can reinforce discrimination and enable new forms of gender based violence.
Technology facilitated gender based violence is a growing and systemic threat.
At UNDP, we see TFGBV not as a peripheral issue, but as central to democratic governance and human rights.
Our work spans more than 130 countries supporting governments and developing rights based digital governance frameworks, strengthening legal and institutional responses, and expanding access to justice for survivors.
We're also leveraging AI power tools such as social media monitoring systems like our flagship eMnitoring plus to track gendered hate speech and disinformation, helping to inform prevention and response efforts.
Moving forward, we echo the working group's call for urgent action in line with the report's recommendations, including on privacy by design, accountability, and strengthening human rights based regulation of digital spaces.
We further underscore the importance of investing in data systems and methodologies to measure and monitor technology facilitated gender based violence, including internationally comparable indicators and disaggregated data and supporting survivors through accessible reporting, helplines, and frontline services.
I thank you.
Note.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
The UK is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls in all their diversity, including through tackling discrimination.
The Foreign Secretary has placed women and girls globally at the heart of the UK's foreign policy and is committed to championing their ability to live in a world free from violence and discrimination.
Women and girls are disproportionately targeted by AI enabled harms, including deep fakes and online abuse at scale.
The lack of safety by design in AI is intensifying technology facilitated gender based violence with real world impacts on safety, participation, and well being.
States should adopt a human rights based approach to AI with gender equality at its core.
Artificial Intelligence for Development, AI four D, is a major international development program co funded by the UK, Canada, and Sweden that aims to ensure AI works for inclusive, safe, and equitable development outcomes in the global South.
Through AI for D, Africa, the UK has supported woman led AI research and strengthened the pipeline of female AI leaders.
Mr.
Vice President, how can member states work with the UN to ensure that protection from discrimination is embedded in the design of AI systems? Thank you.
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Vice President, my delegation takes note of the report presented by the working group.
We stand at the pivotal moment in human history defined by the unprecedented acceleration of AI digital transformation and emerging technologies.
While these innovation hold immense potential to advance sustainable development, promote human rights and expand opportunities for all, there is a tangible gap of ensuring equitable access to digital technologies.
In this context, discussion on digital justice and bridging the global digital divide cannot be meaningful if they overlook the structural barriers that impede equal participation in the digital ecosystem.
Years, women and girls in Iran have been adversely affected by UCMs.
These broad restriction undermined the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by limiting access to educational technologies, international digital learning platform, advanced research tools, and critical technological infrastructure.
The international community cannot remain indifferent to forms of technological exclusion.
That hinder inclusive and equitable digital development, restricting some women from participation in the knowledge economy, develop digital skill, and benefit from AR driven innovation is a clear form of discrimination.
Finally, our question is that how the working group can increase the awareness of the discriminatory impact of UCMs and women and girl in affected countries.
Thank you.
Representative on Dembia.
Vice President Zambia welcomes the report before us that examines the impact of digital technologies on the rights of women and girls.
As countries embrace digital transformation, it is important to ensure that technology serves as a tool for inclusion rather than a source of new inequalities.
For many developing countries, the challenge extends beyond access to technology.
It is about ensuring that women and girls are able to participate meaningfully in the economic, educational, and leadership opportunities that digitalization creates.
Particular attention should be given to women and girls in rural communities, the informal economy, and other underserved sectors who risk being left behind as economies become increasingly digitalized.
Zambia therefore supports efforts to expand digital literacy, strengthen STEM education, promote digital financial inclusion, and create pathways for women and girls to participate in innovation and entrepreneurship.
We also commend Zimbabwe for its progress in advancing gender equality.
Working group, how can states ensure that digital transformation contributes to the economic empowerment of women and girls, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, while addressing persistent forms of discrimination and exclusion.
I thank you.
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Mr.
Vice President, the delegation thanks the working group for the presentation of the report and take notes of the recommendation.
While artificial intelligence and digital technologies offer significant opportunities for empowerment, women and girls continue to face challenges including unequal access to digital tools and skills, online violence, and the risk of bias in emerging technologies.
Cambodia is committed to ensuring that digital transformation advances gender equality.
Through the Pentagon, pentagonal strategy phase one, the digital economy and society Policy Framework 2021 and 2035, and the ongoing development of the National TSO Intelligence Strategy 2025 and 2000, Cambodia is promoting inclusive digital development, strengthening digital literacy, and fostering the responsible and ethical use of AI.
Complementing these efforts, the near the strategic promotes women participation in STEM, innovation and digital entrepreneurship, helping to expand opportunities for women and girls in the digital economy.
We believe that AI governance should be human rights based, inclusive, transparent, and gender responsive.
We therefore support enhanced international cooperation and capacity building to ensure that AI and digital technologies empower women and girls and contribute to sustainable development for all.
I thank you.
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Vice President.
The Moldives thanks the working group for its timely report and welcomes the emphasis on the meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls in shaping the digital future.
The Moldives shares this vision.
Under government's digital molds 2.0 transformation agenda, we are working to remove systemic barriers and build an inclusive digital economy where women and girls can thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
We remain committed to expanding opportunities for women and girls across STEM disciplines and strengthening pathways to leadership in science, technology and innovation.
Efforts are also under way to strengthen digital literacy, broaden access to technical and vocational education, and encourage greater participation of women and girls in emerging fields such as AI, robotics, and computer programming.
The molds firmly believes that girls and women must not merely be consumers of technology, but drivers of technological innovation and change.
Their active involvement in AI development is not merely a matter of representation, but a necessity for social equity and for ensuring that emerging technologies remain inclusive and responsive to the needs of all.
We therefore call for strengthened international cooperation to bridge digital divides and harness AI and digital tools as a force for empowerment, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
I thank you.
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Distinguished colleagues, excellences.
Protection of rights of women and girls and exclusion of discrimination is of crucial importance for the Human Rights Defender's Office of Armenia and is one of the priority areas of my activities.
I monitor and address women's rights issues, implement awareness raising campaigns, present recommendations while seeking to advance equality.
In this context, the cooperation with civil society state and local bodies as well as international actors is of crucial importance.
This year, the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls highlighted important developments in Armenia, welcoming the adoption of the gender policy and its implementation strategy.
The persistence of gender based violence is closely linked to stereotypes about women's roles in our society.
Hindering prevention efforts and victim protection.
It is imperative for the competent authorities of Armenia to ratify the Istanbul Convention, to implement educational reforms in order to promote gender equality, human rights awareness, and respect for fundamental freedoms.
In addition, prevention, identification, and handling of domestic violence cases should be properly ensured, guaranteeing effective protection and support for women and girls affected by violence.
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Vice President, distinguished members of the working group.
The National Human Rights Council of Morocco, thanks to working group for its report and agrees that AI and related digital technologies can create new opportunities for equality if the governance is grounded in human rights and fully reflects the lead realities of women and girls.
In its thematic report on human rights protection in the digital world and AI systems, the SN highlights that in the absence of adequate safeguards, these technologies may reproduce and amplify discriminatory biases, undermine the right to privacy and facilitate new forms of violence and exploitation.
Sandage therefore, considers that technological innovation can only be sustainable if human rights are integrated from the design stage and throughout the development, deployment, and evaluation of digital systems.
This requires strengthening the accountability of private actors and ensuring that victims have effective access to remedies and redress mechanisms.
As part of this effort to promote human rights, the SNDage launched in 2025 and over 16 days a national campaign to combat digital violence against women and girls.
This campaign created the spaces for dialogue and awareness rising while encouraging reporting as a key step towards accountability.
C therefore recommends strengthening AI governance based on equality, non discrimination, and the protection of personal data while ensuring the meaningful participation of women and girls in decision making processes that shape the digital space.
I thank you.
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Vice President, woman deliver welcome the work and the report of working group on discrimination against women and girls.
At the time where AI is being portrayed as inversal solution, echo the concern raised in the working groups report with regards to inter alia, the gender climate impact of AI.
Women and girls are already disproportionately impacted by climate injustice.
The acceleration of climate crisis brought about AI and its massive water conception will only further exacerbate structural gender based discrimination with dire consequences on the right life and health of women and girls.
We also share the concerns highlighted in the report around the militarization of AI and its deployment.
Conflict and humanitarian settings.
As this council is currently discussing the protection and promotion of rights of women and girls in humanitarian institutions, we expressed strong concern as to how AI is being used to violate the rights to life and house of women and girls and how it's contributing to the erosion of international human rights law and humanitarian law.
In global context of erosion of human rights towards ever growing militarization of societies, even in times of peace, the deployment of AI, For surveillance and information oppression raise risk of violation and abuse against women and girls, especially women human rights defenders.
We therefore echo the working group's recommendations to ensure that AI tools must be grounded in the feminist and gender responsive approach in compliance with international human rights law principles and standards and to ensure that both states and private sector are held accountable to their obligation to do so.
Thank you, Vice President.
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Vice President, Cota Sosa Brazil, Gide democracy and democracy, which should draw attention to legislative initiatives in Brazil that weaken the protection of rights and have been advanced without the great public scrutiny.
As reflected in the workings group report, political violence enabled by AI disproportionate to tax human and other marginalized groups have actually pushing them away from public life.
Concern is among the issues addressed in the decree number 12,976 of this year, which proportionally strength Brazil regulatory framework through legally stabilized mechanism, although it has recently been subject to challenge in the legislative proposals.
In the context of approaching general elections, particular attention should also be given to the progress of the B 4,823 22 of 2025, which seeks to overtime establish electoral quity stance, including the prohibition of mice message in the electoral campaigns.
Such a measure risk exemplifying the spread of disinformation, undermining, the fairness, the balance of the electoral process.
This legislature should actually stands in tension with constitutional principles.
We call the council and the council and its mechanism to closely monitor the resin election process and to the national authorities to ensure its integrity.
Thank you.
Representative on the Action Canada for Population and Development.
Thank you, Vice President.
Action Canada made this statement together with Swan on behalf of the SRI.
We welcome the reports recognition that digital technologies and AI increasingly reinforce existing inequalities and expose women and girls to new forms of violence or violence and exclusion from public life.
Across the Sica region, women continue to face discrimination that undermines their bodily autonomy, safety, and equal participation in society, which disproportionately affects sex workers, LGBT women, and other vulnerable groups.
Eastern Europe continues to experience some of the highest levels of violence against women in Europe.
Some of the recent examples include Latvia with the highest recorded femicide rate in the European Union, Russia where access to abortion is widely restricted in practice, despite its legality, or Lithuania that seeks to adopt a harmful legal model targeting sex workers and increasing their exposure to violence.
These examples demonstrate that women in the region already face significant barriers to safety, justice, and autonomy.
Digital technologies increasingly compound it harms.
Women from marginalized communities are exposed to online surveillance, non consensual disclosure of personal information, cyber harassment and other forms of technology facilitated gender based violence.
So these partners have documented case of violence, torture, and ill treatment against sex workers and transgender women in the region.
In such context, digital surveillance and online targeting don't occur in isolation.
They reinforce existing patterns of discrimination and violence further excluding marginalized women from public life and safe participation.
Thank you.
The Reproductive Health Network, Keny, and IPPF member Association in Kenya delivers a statement on behalf of IPPF.
We warmly welcome this report.
The report recognizes the genuine potential of artificial intelligence to advance gender equality and address historical inequalities, while making clear that the design and deployment of AI system must be grounded in feminist and human rights based approaches.
We strongly support its call to state to resuscitate leadership in AI governance in light of profound and gendered power asymmetries and risk related to health data.
We would respectfully encourage the working group to further explore the specific opportunities and risk of AI for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
AI can expand access to information and care, but sensitive reproductive health data increasingly generated outside clinical settings can be shared or used to track those seeking an abortion.
AI can spread disinformation designed to discourage access to safe services and biased data can reproduce discrimination in the care women and girls receive and larger data is now used as a commodity.
We would like to ask the working group, how can states ensure that AI governance explicitly safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the privacy of reproductive health data.
Thank you.
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Since the 1980s, women's rights education in China has been advanced my younger sisters and I went to university.
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Thank you, Mr.
Vice President, Excellencies, allow me to begin by thanking the representative of Zimbabwe for the update yesterday on progress made and for its sustained engagement with the working group.
Turning to the working group thematic report, I wish to express our deep gratitude for the breadth and substance of engagement it has generated as reflected in the interventions submitted and delivered yesterday and this morning.
The working group is heartened by the many states that have responded to the report's call for comprehensive regulation.
State interventions have rightly recognized that AI regulation must serve multiple essential goals, promoting sustainable development, preventing violence and discrimination, creating employment opportunities, and protecting our environment.
In every one of these goals, the same imperative holds.
AI must be made to work for human rights and their equal enjoyment by women and girls.
I would like to address the interventions that raised the question of regulatory best practices.
The working group identifies a range of best practices in its report, including requiring gender responsive human rights due diligence by AI developers and technology companies, enacting and enforcing data privacy legislation, including strict regulation of the collection, use, and retention of personal and identifying data through AI, prohibiting non consensual data sharing for profit or unlawful targeting, and recognizing data centers as gendered environmental infrastructure, including requiring gender responsive environmental and human rights impact assessments prior to licensing.
On the question of private sector engagement, a noted with concern the limited engagement of technology companies with the United Nations on these issues.
Market incentives and competition create real barriers to open dialogue, making bilateral and multilateral engagement difficult.
That engagement should increase, but it must be kept in perspective.
The private sector is a relevant constituency, but it is neither the ultimate beneficiary nor the duty bearer of human rights protections.
States hold sovereign authority over essential public services and safeguards and their human rights obligations are non transferable.
Let me turn now to important questions raised on two cross cutting themes addressed in the report, the preconditions for a gender equal digital future and gender responsive approaches to the red line debate.
As our report discusses and as member states have raised, TFGBV is among the most visible ways AI has made possible previously unimaginable forms of discrimination and harm.
The regulatory vacuum has had severe consequences, infringement on women's and girls' political and social participation to dignity, autonomy, and even physical safety.
The devastation wrought by deep fakes and other forms of online violence and harassment needs no elaboration.
But the harms of AI extend far beyond what is already visible.
We must confront now the less visible because it is rendered so by the absence of transparency, accountability, data, and regulatory oversight.
Conditions that are already producing discriminatory effects and carry significant potential for future harm.
We must also confront it because the application of AI across governance functions is expanding rapidly and will likely continue to do so.
As many states have noted, algorithmic bias is of great concern, rooted in datasets that exclude the diversity of women and girls, reproduce harmful stereotypes, and reflect the persistent absence of women from the design, development, and leadership of AI.
These gaps shape not only the technology itself, but the world it is building around us.
Perhaps still less visible are the harms already borne by women and girls in the development of AI.
The women employed in data centers to monitor sensitive and deeply disturbing content, training algorithmic models under dehumanizing conditions and exploitative wages.
The women and girls whose water supplies have been depleted as AI data centers consume millions of gallons of water daily, and the migrant women and girls who have been targeted as companies develop surveillance technologies for profit.
These harms have received insufficient attention in public and diplomatic discourse.
They are no less urgent and no less reflective of the structural discrimination that AI can be used to perpetuate.
On the question of innovation, scientific and technological advancement is essential, but innovation cannot be premised on noncompliance with international human rights.
Regulation is not the enemy of innovation, it is a necessary condition.
What is needed is governance that channels AI's transformative potential beyond profit motives towards the genuine improvement of human lives.
The question of AI and the use of sexual and reproductive health data, data privacy is foundational.
States must enact strong data protection laws that strictly regulate the collection of sensitive health information and require meaningful informed consent, prohibit the use of such data for commercial purposes or surveillance, and ensure transparency and accountability.
Finally, there was a question on the working groups guidance document on the family that I would like to address.
The working group issued this document to correct a persistent misunderstanding.
International law does not require states to adopt any single definition of the family.
The guidance reaffirms the family's central role in human rights protection as a site of care, support, and state services.
But the reality of families is diverse.
Migrant families living across extended families providing mutual care across generations.
Recognizing this diversity and ensuring these families receive adequate support is not a departure from human rights.
It is their fulfillment.
The working group thanks member states for their active engagement in this pivotal moment.
AI holds real potential to advance gender equality, but that potential will not be realized without deliberate, rights based feminist and gender responsive regulation and governance.
Thank you so much.
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Excellency honorable participants, it's a pleasure to be here for my fourth interactive dialogue with you, a special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
I'd like to begin with my official visit to Guatemala.
At the government's invitation, I visited Guatemala from the 12th to 23rd of May 2025.
I'm grateful to the authorities of Guatemala for the invitation and for their outstanding collaboration before, during, and after the visit.
I was encouraged by the commitment that many, including officials in key government positions expressed to an inclusive, accountable justice system.
Nonetheless, my findings show that Guatemala's justice system is experiencing a deep crisis.
Despite a strong constitutional framework and past anti corruption efforts, I found that a convergence of political, economic, and criminal interests are eroding the integrity of judicial appointments, concentrating disciplinary power, and instrumentalizing criminal proceedings.
The instrumentalization of criminal law and the concentration of power within key institutions and the persecution of independent justice operators have gravely undermined judicial independence and public trust.
As I note in my report, justice is too often applied selectively and influenced by political interests, economic power, and personal connections.
Was particularly alarmed by the well established pattern of criminalization targeting judges, prosecutors, lawyers, journalists, indigenous authorities, human rights defenders, and others.
My findings demonstrate how prosecution has in too many cases been transformed into persecution through the misuse of criminal proceedings, arbitrary detention, disciplinary measures, transfers, and online harassment.
These dynamics disproportionately affect indigenous peoples, women, and other groups in situations of vulnerability.
Indigenous leaders continue to face criminalization for defending their lands and territories and for their democratic participation.
Women face persistent barriers to accessing justice and are subjected to specific gender related harms, including threats of sexual violence and other forms of intimidation.
The forced exile of justice operators has further weakened institutional capacity and denied victims effective remedies.
The government must guarantee that people in exile are able to come back.
And that criminalized individuals are granted the necessary reparations.
In my report, I stated that the appointments to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, and the prosecutor General's Office in 2026 would be decisive in determining whether the current patterns of capture and impunity would be consolidated or reversed.
These appointments have now taken place.
These processes attracted significant national and international attention and demonstrated a strong public commitment to the rule of law.
However, observers have also raised concerns about transparency, candidate evaluation, conflicts of interest, and efforts to influence improperly the appointments.
I celebrate the appointment of a new attorney general, which brought an end to the tenure of a figure who I and others had identified as central to the criminalization process.
Whether this change will translate into a different institutional approach remains to be seen.
The election of a new Supreme Electoral Tribunal produced mixed reactions.
While some of the most contested candidates were not selected, concerns remain regarding several of those appointed and the process resulted in a significant underrepresentation of women.
As for the Constitutional Court, its new composition appears to have consolidated a balance of power broadly favorable to actors associated with entrenched networks of impunity and institutional capture.
Although some independent voices were appointed, they remain in the minority.
The question today is whether these institutions will contribute to restoring an independent and impartial justice system or whether the patterns of instrumentalization, criminalization, and selective justice identified in my report will continue.
My findings offer some grounds for hope.
Guatemala has the constitutional framework, legal tools, institutional experience, and human capital necessary to restore an independent and impartial justice system.
There's broad agreement on the need to depoliticize judicial appointments, re establish a merit based judicial career system, and ensure effective oversight of prosecutorial power.
President, Chair, Excellencies, and honorable participants.
My thematic report sets out principles on judicial appointments.
I want to warmly thank Aloisia So for her valuable and extensive contributions to the report, as well as Carla Ra Gonzalez, Sang Min Kim, and other partners for their assistance in preparing the report.
Judicial appointments are the entry point into the judiciary.
They determine who is entrusted with the authority to decide cases, interpret the law, protect rights, and hold power to account.
For that reason, the way judges reach office is central to the right of every person to a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal established by law.
This report builds on my previous work on safeguarding the independence of judicial systems in the face of contemporary challenges to democracy.
As I emphasized in my previous report, attacks on democracy increasingly target justice systems.
Appointment procedures are one of the places where those pressures appear most clearly.
Changes to appointment rules, the weakening of judicial councils, the use of temporary appointments and strategic appointments to senior judicial office can all be used to reshape or even capture institutions and undermine their independence.
These principles were developed through the mandates engagement with states, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and civil society and academic experts, including nine regional consultations and over 65 written submissions.
They draw on universal and regional human rights law and the jurisprudence of international and regional courts and bodies, as well as authoritative standards developed across different legal traditions.
The purpose is practical.
These principles are intended to help states review existing appointment systems, guide reforms, identify risks of capture, and strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice.
There are minimum safeguards.
The implementation requires adaptation to national and local contexts through genuine consultation with the judiciary, legal professionals, civil society, and affected communities.
The report does not prescribe one universal model.
International Human rights law leaves room for different constitutional traditions and institutional arrangements.
What matters is whether the system contains sufficient safeguards to protect judicial independence, impartiality, equality, and public confidence.
The report therefore sets out 15 principles organized into three groups.
The first group concerns the institutional preconditions for appointment.
Appointment systems should have a clear legal basis.
The law should identify the authorities involved, the applicable procedure, the criteria to be applied, and the safeguards against undue discretion.
Selection bodies should be independent and impartial in law and in practice.
Where political branches participate, their roles should be carefully limited and legally constrained, so that political influence cannot displace objective assessment.
Provisional, temporary, or acting appointments should remain exceptional, time bound and subject to the same guarantees as permanent appointments.
The second group of principles concerns the criteria for selection.
Merit must be the determining criteria.
This includes integrity, legal training, and professional competence, as well as the qualities required to judge fairly in diverse societies.
Integrity assessments may be necessary, but they must be lawful, objective, proportionate, and protected against political misuse.
Criteria must be established in advance, made public, and applied fairly.
Diversity and representativeness are also essential.
A judiciary that reflects the society it serves strengthens equality, access to justice, legitimacy, and public trust.
The third group of principles concerns the procedure for appointment itself.
Transparency is required at decisive stage of the process.
Candidates should have equal access to judicial office without discrimination.
Evaluation should be structured, fair, and based on pre established criteria.
Decisions should be reasoned sufficiently to allow scrutiny and where appropriate, challenge.
Appointment procedures should be completed within a reasonable time and effective mechanism should exist to contest serious irregularities.
Civil society and the public should also be able to contribute meaningfully, particularly in processes concerning high judicial office.
I wish to emphasize that judicial independence is ultimately owed to the public.
It protects the person who appears before a court seeking justice or a defendant charged with a crime.
When judicial appointments are governed by law, merit, equality, transparency, courts are better able to serve their function.
When appointments are used as instruments of control, the right to a fair trial and the protection of all other rights are placed at risk.
I therefore urge states to examine their appointment systems in light of these principles and to address gaps in law and practice to ensure that the path to judicial office strengthens the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
I stand ready to offer technical assistance or advice in these processes.
People turn to judicial systems for protection, accountability, and the vindication of their rights.
Human rights law reflects this expectation by guaranteeing equal access to the protection of the law.
Yet in my work as special rapporteur, I increasingly see justice systems being diverted from this purpose.
Across regions, I've observed that courts, prosecutors, and legal procedures are being used as tools to powerful economic or political interests, to silence and punish those claiming their rights, and to punish those investing in corruption or abuse.
Following expert consultations and with the support of the Office for High Commissioner for Human Rights, I've developed a position paper that proposes the term instrumentalization to encompass the many ways justice systems are being misused to punish, intimidate, and inflict harm.
The instrumentalization of the justice system is a human rights violation.
To help states, civil society, and international community identify and address this problem, my paper proposes a working definition and sets out applicable human rights standards.
I'll retain some minutes to address communications I've sent to governments this year, and I look forward to this dialogue.
Thank you.
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Vice President.
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Benedicx countries, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and my own country, Belgium.
We align ourselves with the EU statement.
Thank you, Madam Special Reporter, for your report on minimum international principles for judicial selection and appointment systems, providing valuable guidance for the strengthening of judicial systems.
Robust, transparent and merit based appointment procedures are a cornerstone for protecting the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and consequently, for ensuring the effective enjoyment of the right to a fair trial.
As mentioned in your report, there is no single model of appointment.
Your principles serve as adaptable safeguards to ensure that diverse and context specific processes are aligned with international human rights law.
Madam Special Rapporteur, in many countries, public trust in the judiciary is declining, caused by and resulting in increasing political pressure and attacks on judicial independence.
Could you elaborate on positive examples or good practices in shielding judicial appointment processes from political interference while maintaining transparency and public trust.
I thank you.
Side.
The European Union thanks the Special Rapporteur for her reports.
The EU emphasizes that an independent and impartial judiciary, as well as an independent legal profession are indispensable for the full and equal realization of human rights and to the functioning of democracy and the rule of law.
Procedures governing the selection, appointment, promotion, and removal of judges are structural safeguards of judicial independence.
The EU concurs that judicial selection processes should be based on objective, merit based, and pre established criteria in corporate integrity screening and safeguards to ensure impartiality and be applied in a manner that eliminates both direct and indirect discrimination and bias while promoting diversity, gender equality, and representativeness of the society it serves.
Selection process must also be transparent, rely on structured and fair assessment methods, and provide effective mechanisms to challenge irregularities.
Violence, threats, or any form of intimidation, reprisal, coercion, or inappropriate interference against judges, prosecutors, or lawyers should be duly investigated and addressed.
Madam SpeciRporter, could you elaborate on good practices to protect lawyers from harassment, reprisals, or undue restrictions, particularly in politically sensitive cases? I thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
I deliver this statement on behalf of the core group of the resolution on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors, and assessors, and the independence of lawyers and judges composed of Australia, Botswana, Maldives, Mexico, Thailand, and my own country, Hungary.
We welcome the Special Reporter's report setting out guidance member states for judicial selection and appointments.
Transparent and merit based appointment processes are essential to safeguarding judicial independence and impartiality and strengthen public confidence.
This ensures the fair administration of justice and the promotion and protection of all human rights.
Such processes should also promote diversity and representativeness within the judiciary and address barriers to equal access to judicial office, ensuring that courts reflect the societies they serve and draw on the full breadth of legal talent.
We reiterate our firm condemnation of threats, intimidation, and reprisals against judges, lawyers, and legal professionals for carrying out their legitimate professional functions.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for her valuable contribution to supporting independent, impartial, and representative justice systems and reiterate our strong support for her mandate.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic Baltic States.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for her comprehensive report.
A strong independent judiciary is essential to any democratic society governed by the rule of law.
We emphasize the importance of robust and independent institutional frameworks for judicial selection and appointment.
They are key to safeguarding public trust and effectively protecting the rights to a fair trial, equality before the law and access to justice for all.
Although legal systems differ globally, certain core principles must guide their selection at the appointment of judges.
We strongly support merit as the central criterion complemented by objective pre established criteria set out in law, integrity screening, safeguards for impartiality, and promoting diversity as essential to ensure the judiciary reflects the society it serves.
Fully share the special Rapporteur's view that strong safeguards against undue influence are essential in judicical appointments and functions.
We also stress the importance of timely appointments and opportunities for civil society participation as these contribute to the transparency and legitimacy of the process.
Madam Special Rapporteur, how can states best balance the need for public transparency in judicial appointments with the protection of candidates rights to privacy.
I thank you.
Go.
Mr.
Vice President, the African Group welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur and thanks her for her clarity and depth of the analysis presented to guide judicial selection and appointment.
We note with concern the global context outlined in the report, including the rise in democratic regression, the resurgence of authorization, and documented attempts to capture or constrain the judicial branch.
These troubling trends undermine the rule of law, weaken equal access to justice and erode protection of fundamental rights across all regions, including our own.
The group strongly supports the report's emphasis on clear legal frameworks, impartial selection bodies, and robust safeguards against undue political influence.
As the report highlights, poorly designed appointment processes leave judicial systems vulnerable to politerization and capture.
These risks must be decisively addressed to preserve public interest, public trust, and hold constitutional order.
We also welcome the report's recognition that just judicial system must reflect the diversity of the societies they serve, a judiciary that is inclusive and representative, enhances legitimacy, strengthens public confidence, and improves the protection of rights.
In this group, in this regard, the group underscores the relevance of regional African standards, including the principles and guidelines on the right to a fair trial and the legal assistance in Africa and the longer principles on selection and appointment of judges.
In conclusion, the African group reaffirms its readiness to engage constructively with all stakeholders to advance these principles and to ensure that judicial appointment systems across the continent remain resilient, transparent, and anchored represent International Development Law Organization.
E.
The International Developmental Organization thanks the Special Rapporteur for a timely report on principles for judicial appointments and for the opportunity to provide its contribution.
IDL welcomes the report's comprehensive framework, which identifies merit, integrity, transparency, diversity, and independent selection processes as essential safeguards for judicial independence and public confidence in the administration of justice.
Drawing on its support to judicial reform processes in Ukraine, including assistance to judicial governance bodies responsible for selecting judges to the high anti corruption court, IDL has seen firsthand the value of transparent and merit based appointment systems.
Competitive examinations, practical assessments, objective scoring methodologies, robust integrity patting, and meaningful opportunities for candidates to respond to concerns have proven effective in strengthening both the quality and legitimacy of judicial appointments.
Equally important has been the involvement of independent experts and civil society actors in enhancing public trust and accountability throughout the process.
We therefore particularly welcome the emphasis of the report on objective and pre established criteria, integrity assessments accompanied by due process guarantees, transparency at key stages of selection and structured opportunities for public participation.
Special Rapporteur, in contexts where public trust in judicial institution is law, which judicial appointment reforms should states prioritize to achieve the greatest impact on both judicial independence and public con Lithuania.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report on the principles for judicial appointments.
As rightfully emphasized in the report, judicial selection and appointment reinforce independence and impartiality and sustain public confidence in the administration of justice.
Transparent, merit based criteria for judicial appointments are crucial to a decently functioning justice system.
Whereas considerations such as political alignment, loyalty to an ideology or connections to economic or social elites lay firm foundations for a corrupt justice system.
Furthermore, this is not only an internal issue.
Judicial systems vulnerable to politicization at some point start rubber stamping political decisions which have external effects, encroaching on the independence of the judiciary of other sovereign states.
For instance, Russia refused to cooperate and actively harbored perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Soviet Union in Lithuania on January 13th, 1991, leaving 14 dead and nearly 800 injured.
Additionally, Russia initiated criminal proceedings and issued Interpol arrest warrants against Lithuanian judiciary who handled the case.
In addition, a disinformation campaign was launched in the Russian state controlled media developing conspiracy theories regarding the case.
Madam Special Reporter, what are your insights regarding the ex territorial effects that the lack of the application of proper judicial appointment criteria causes? Thank you.
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P Adré Davantage for sale equation, social ducto de mi Venise Fuca institution traditional confer cutier a traditional local function local delegation The University for Peace thanks the Special Repertoire for an informative and comprehensive report.
UPeace firmly agrees and stands with the Special repertoire and her findings on the independence of judges and lawyers around the globe.
Peace building and human rights are connected in ways that go beyond the basic call for countries to simply lay down arms and stop the conflict.
In order to truly have peace, human rights must be given equally for all.
UPeace finds the fact that judges and lawyers are being pointed for personal gain and falling victim to outside influences deeply disturbing and agree with the special repertoire that this must be dealt with.
Judicial appointments should be merit based, and no judicial appointees, nor those appointing them should have any personal bias or any desire for political gain.
When judges and lawyers are engaged in practices of distrust with those appointing them, they stray from the code of ethics they swore to obey.
This creates a lack of faith in the judicial system that is meant to protect and treat all citizens equally.
The right to a fair trial that does not have judicial appointees who are actively engaged in illicit or criminal activities is a primary function of human rights and thus a primary function of peace.
We firmly believe that judicial appointments should be made by an independent body, such as the judicial council to prevent corruption within the system.
When citizens begin to lose faith in the system that is supposed to protect them, this creates conflict within the states and can lead to violence.
In order to fully promote peace and human rights, judicial systems must be independent from political and personal bias.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
We thank the Special Rapporteur for her report and its focus on independence and impartial judicial counsels and a selection based on merit, particularly in the global context of the weakening rule of law where judicial systems are vulnerable to capture or politicization.
Lawyers are an essential part of well functioning justice systems and they are a guarantee of effective access to justice and a fair trial for The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the profession of Lawyer was adopted and open for signature in 2025 to respond to increasing reports of attacks on lawyers practicing their profession, whether in the form of harassment, threats, attacks, or interference with the free exercise of their professional duties.
The convention is the first international treaty that affords protection for lawyers and the professional organizations.
Over 30 states have already signed a convention, which is a testament to its relevance.
Importantly, entry into force does not only give effect to the convention, but also makes it possible for states worldwide to accede to it, thereby giving it a global reach.
Madam Special Rapporteur, amid the global trend of autocratization, how can the principles referred to in your report be used to address the observed wave of democratic decline? Thank you.
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We thank the Special Reporter for a report.
One of the fundamental principles of any democratic society is the strict observance of the rule of law and the separation of powers between executive, legislature, and judiciary.
As custodian of the laws, judges must be and be seen to be impartial and responsible to achieve this, selection and appointment process should be devoid of any controversy or criticism.
A malicious appointment of judges and magistrate is made by the president of the Republic following a recommendation by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
This commission uses criteria of qualifications and experience in the decision making process, and successful candidates are allowed to contest appointments through judicial review before the Supreme Court.
Security of tenure is also an important principle.
Judges are holders of constitutional posts and retire at the age of 67.
They may, however, be offered on retirement a contract of employment, but this is rarely used and usually only in situations to enable retiring judge to complete a case which hearing has started or to deliver a judgment in a case that has already been heard.
Thank you very much.
Represent.
Mr.
Vice President, Poland aligns itself with the EU statement.
Independent, impartial and professional judiciary separated from and in balance with other branches of the government is crucial for seamless functioning of a diplomatic state based on rule of law.
The role of courts in providing protection of human rights and contributing to their full realization is essential.
Equality before the courts and access to fair trace cannot be guaranteed without judges guided by these principles of international human rights law.
It is an obligation of each state to adopt a system of judicial selection and appointment which will ensure that judges will be free to the adjustable without undue interference.
Such system can be an effective safeguard against the decline of fundamental freedoms and the rise of authoritarism.
In this context, we are grateful to the Special Rapporteur for her report, presenting and well structured set of principles for judicial appointments based on applicable legal standards and good practices.
Madam Special Rapporteur, please allow me to use this opportunity to convey the gratitude of my government for your recent visit to Poland.
We look forward to your observation to be presented to the council next year.
I thank you.
Mujeres.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
U and women welcome to the Special Repertois Report and it's clear recognition that diversity and equality within the judiciary are not secondary to independence but integral to it.
Women remain profoundly underrepresented across justice systems globally, not only as litigants, but as judges, prosecutors, and policymakers.
Bas and appointments and promotion, exclusionary social norms and structural inequalities persist throughout their careers, weakening the very institutions meant to serve them.
The gender justice platform, a joint UN Women and UN DPD initiative to close the global gender justice gap demonstrates how the report's principles can be applied in practice.
In Tanzania, UN Women supports judges and magistrates to apply gender responsive adjudication principles contributing to a more consistent rights align judicial reasoning.
In Liberia and Colombia, UN women led legal assessments identify discriminatory provisions and national laws informing the reforms needed to make justice systems more equal and accessible for women.
These examples show that building independent impartial judiciaries require not only fair appointment processes, but sustained investment in women's capacity to lead and shape justice systems.
UN Women is ready to work with states to implement the report's principles with a focus on gender equality, including addressing structural barriers to women's access to an advancement in judicial institutions.
I thank you.
Vice President, we thank the Special Rapporteur for the presentation of the report.
We strongly believe that appointment procedures for members of judicial bodies should be transparent and structured to prevent capture by political or other vested interests.
Armenia shares the view that an independent and impartial judiciary is more likely to public trust and is best able to protect the right to fair trial, equality before the law and access to justice for all.
We agree that selection frameworks should be designed and applied so as to ensure that the composition of the judiciary reflects the diversity of society and that groups which are underrepresented, including women are able to achieve adequate representation.
In this context, Armenia continues efforts to promote equality and non discrimination within the judiciary, including by increasing participation of women judges at different levels of the judicial system.
It is noteworthy that the president of the Court of Key and the prosecutor G in the Republic of Armenia are women.
Armenia reffirms its commitment to ensuring the independence of the judiciary, strengthening anti corruption measures, advancing comprehensive legal reforms, and eliminating all forms of discrimination.
I thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Albania affirms unwavering support for mandate of special apportur and for the global promotion of the independence of judges and lawyers.
The major and ambition justice reform in Albania since 2016 represents an historic and unprecedented commitment to the rule of law.
It is a transformative judicial reform that has strengthened the independence, effectiveness, and accountability of judicial institutions.
The vetting of all judges and prosecutors have been completed.
The judiciary system has been restructured and introduce political interference.
The magistrate school is the sole pathway to the judiciary guaranteeing selection based exclusively on merit and competence.
On the crucial issue of lawyers, Albania maintains a full autonomous and self governing bar association.
Albania has established an independent public prosecutor office specializing in combating corruption and organized crime, protecting those who uphold the rule of law and justice.
The results of the justice reform are already evident, particularly in the fight against impunity, corruption, especially at the highest levels and organized crime.
This is why the 2024, 2030 strategy on judicial system in Albania continues to strengthen the integrity, transparency, and effectiveness of our judicial institutions.
Albania remains committed to preserving and improving the justice system.
I thank you.
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Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Lichtenstein thanks to Special Rapporteur for this timely and important report.
Across all regions, countries are affected by democratic decline and autocratization, increasingly threatening the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
In this context, the principles set out in the report could not be more relevant.
We underlined the importance on a merit as a crucial criterion for judicial appointments, which encompasses integrity, qualifications, and ability assessed through objective and transparent methods.
Legal safeguards must ensure that political preference and ideological alignment play no role in which candidate is appointed.
Mr.
Vice President, we reject any attempts of intimidation of and reprisals against judges at the International Criminal Court, including by imposing sanctions.
Undermining criminal justice has a negative impact on the rule of law and fosters instability and uncertainty.
Justice cannot only be called for when it's politically convenient but needs to be upheld in an independent and impartial manner.
I thank you.
Urania.
Mr.
Vice President, we thank the Special Rapporteur for the comprehensive report and commend her unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the independence of judges and lawyers worldwide.
We welcome the report's emphasize on merit based selection, integrity, and safeguards against undue influence, prerequisites indispensable not only in peacetime, but especially when justice system face existential threats.
Ukraine remains firmly committed to judicial independence as a cornerstone of the rule of law.
Despite Russia's full scale war of aggression, Ukraine has undertaken significant reforms, strengthening the integrity and transparency of judicial governance institutions, including the High Council of Justice and the High qualification Commission of Judges with the participation of international experts.
At the same time, the justice sector continues to operate under devastating conditions.
Russian strikes have systematically damaged and destroyed court buildings and legal infrastructure.
In temporarily occupied territory, judges, prosecutors, and lawyers face systematic intimidation, prosecution, enforced disappearances, and coercion to collaborate with the occupying authorities in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
Madam Special Rapporteur, what additional safeguards and international support mechanisms could help protect judges and justice institution operating under armed conflict and occupation? Thank you.
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Vice President, Zimbabwe welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur.
We concurre that safeguarding judicial independence through clear legal reforms, impartial selection systems, merit based criteria, and transparent appointment processes sustains public confidence in the administration of justice.
We take note of the findings regarding global trends of politicization and capture of judicial systems and recognize the special rapporteur's question regarding provisional and acting appointments.
Zimbabwe has embedded strong constitutional safeguards.
Judicial appointments are governed by precise legal provisions that stipulate qualifications.
Merit and integrity is central criteria.
Section 180 requires the Judicial Service Commission to advertise vacancies invite public nominations and conduct public interviews, thereby ensuring transparency, equality of access, and meaningful public participation.
Section 184 further mandates appointments to reflect the diversity and gender composition of Zimbabwe.
We reiterate our commitment to upholding the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the judiciary.
Special rapporteur, what further steps can states take to insulate judicial councils and appointment bodies from certain forms of political or economic capture while still respecting constitutional traditions of executive involvement.
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We thank the Special Reporter for her report and for highlighting how across many contexts, justice operators are increasingly targeted to politicized criminal and disciplinary measures.
Afghanistan under the Taliban represents an extreme manifestation of these very risks.
The Taliban have radically overhauled the courts and criminal justice system.
The entire legal system is anchored in the decrees of the Amir, with courts mandated to obey repeatedly over 200 such orders, many targeting women and minorities.
Central to this system is the doctrine of Taser granting judge discretionary authority to impose penalties from fines to execution based on the accused status.
Defense lawyers have been marginalized.
The Afghanistan Independent Bar Association was dissolved, thousands of license revoked, and lawyer now required to pass extra examinations.
Female lawyers have been almost entirely excluded from the profession while male lawyers face restricted access to case files and limited ability to present arguments before judges.
The removal of women from the judiciary and legal profession is a direct extreme violation of the report's call for diversity and representativeness within justice system.
Afghanistan called for sustained international attention to the elusion of judicial independence and the rule of law in Afghanistan.
I thank you.
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Representative.
Mr.
Vice President, the Maldives thanks the Special Rapporteur for her comprehensive report.
In the Maldives, judicial appointments are governed by the Constitution, several specific laws and regulatory frameworks designed to safeguard the independence of the judiciary.
Supreme Court justices appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Services Commission, an independent constitutional body responsible for judicial appointments, discipline, performance, evaluation, and the establishment of recruitment standards.
Justices are also approved by the Parliament.
Judges of all other courts are appointed directly by the Judicial Service Commission.
Mr.
Vice President, the Maldives is currently undertaking one of his most significant periods of legislative reform.
In November 2025, amendments have been brought to the Judges Act to strengthen safeguards relating to conflicts of interest, impartiality, and judicial conduct.
At the same time, substantial investments have been made in judicial capacity building with the judicial academy delivering more than 900 training opportunities to judges and judicial staff in 2025 alone.
While challenges remain, our democratic institutions have continued to mature since 2008.
The Maldives remain firmly committed to strengthening the rule of law and safeguarding judicial independence and enhancing public confidence in the justice system.
I thank you.
Brazil.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Brazil thanks the Special Rapporteur for her insightful concerning principles for judicial appointments.
I'd also like to thank the rapporteur for her academic visit to Brazil earlier this month, during which he met with government officials, including the president of the Supreme Court to discuss current global challenges.
An independent judicial branch is a foundational pillar of democracy, and a society that distrusts its justice system cannot trust its government.
Brazil combines impartial and merit based judicial selection with affirmative action, reserving exam quotas for black and mixed race, indigenous peoples, and traditional community candidates to enhance system diversity.
Judicial promotions in Brazil are primarily merit based and to boost female leadership, gender has now been introduced as a criteria.
There's also a limited number of appointments all completely independent of political views.
Any undue interference in the judiciary, whether from national or foreign authorities undermines the separation of powers, compromises national sovereignty, and erodes public trust in the administration of justice.
Brazil views such actions with a grave concern.
Madam Rapporteur, what are the best practices for safeguarding individual justices from interference, whether domestic or international so that courts can maintain the necessary institutional independence.
Thank you so much.
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Pakistan thanks the SR for the presentation of her report.
We welcome its recognition that judicial appointments are the gateway to an independent and impartial judiciary and that transparent, merit based, and objective appointment process is essential for strengthening the rule of law and maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice.
We appreciate the report's recognition that international law does not impose one uniform model.
This point, in our view, is critical.
Judicial systems are rooted in national constitutions.
Histories and legal traditions.
Reform cannot become a vehicle for exporting institutional templates or questioning legitimate constitutional choices.
Pakistan supports safeguards against politicization, arbitrariness, and undue influence, but these safeguards must apply consistently.
Judicial independence is weakened not only by domestic political pressure, but also when external actors seek to shape judicial systems through selective scrutiny, conditional assistance, or prescriptive reform agendas.
Diversity Mr.
Vice President, and representations are important, but they must reinforce, not replace merit, competence, and integrity.
A judiciary gains public trust when it is independent, capable, impartial, and anchored in the society it serves.
Madam Special Rape, we have two questions.
How can these principles be applied without turning technical guidance into external prescriptions? Second, how can the mandate ensure that concerns of a judicial appointments are assessed subjectively without selectively or politic I president Venezuela that guante independent Venezuela com character represent representative in the Ethiopia.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Etop I recognize that judicial independence is a corner store of constitutional governance and an essential guarantee for the protection of fundamental rights and freedom.
Our constitutions provides for an independent judiciary and ongoing judicial reform efforts to continue to strengthen institutional capacity, accountability, professionalism, and public confidence in the administration of justice.
Etopia believes that judicial appointment process should be guided by objective criteria that ensure competence, integrity, and impartiality while reflecting the diversity of society.
Maintaining public trust and judicial institutions.
At the same time, Etop emphasized that judicial systems are shaped by distinct constitutional, legal, and institutional traditions.
Accordingly, reforms aimed at strengthening judicial appointments should respect national ownership and be adapted to specific national context through inclusive consultations involving relevant stakeholders.
ETO welcomes the reports recognition that there's no one size fits all model for judicial appointments and that international principles should serve as a guiding safeguards rather than prescriptive frameworks.
In conclusion, Ethiopia remains committed to strengthening the independence, efficiency, and accessibility of the judiciary, enhancing professional standards and promoting equal access to justice for all.
I thank you.
Mr.
Vice President, Maia thanks to Special Reporter for the presentation of the report.
An independent, impartial and competent judiciary remains indispensable to the rule of law and effective protection of human rights.
Judicial appointment processes must therefore be guided by clear legal frameworks, objective criteria, and institutional safeguards to protect the judiciary from undue influence or arbitrary interference.
This is in line with the universal principle enshrined in the UDHR, the Human Rights Council 15 principles on judicial appointments, the UNBC principles on the independence of the judiciary and other irrelevant international human rights instrument relating to fair trial rights and judicial independence.
Merit based selection, transparency, integrity, and diversity remains important safeguards in strengthening judicial independence in our system.
Appointment processes ensure that judges are selected based on competence, professionalism, and integrity with the aim to maintaining public trust in the administration of justice.
Malaysia remains committed to constructive engagement and the exchange of best practices in promoting an independent and effective judiciary in accordance with constitutional principle and international standards.
Before we conclude, we will appreciate a special reporter's view on the most effective measures to prevent undue political influence and capture of judicial appointment processes observed in different regions.
I thank you.
I represent.
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Thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
India thanks the Special Reporter for her useful report.
We share the view that transparent, merit based, and impartial judicial selection process are indispensable for safeguarding judicial independence and sustaining public confidence.
As a proud and flourishing democracy, India's constitutional architecture establishes an independent judiciary insulated from external influence.
Our Supreme Court has consistently affirmed judicial independence as a part of basic structure of the Constitution.
Our judicial appointment systems firmly reflect the report's core principles.
Regulated by the constitutional provisions, higher judicial appointments are managed by the collegium system to ensure a clear legal basis and impartial selection free from political interference.
To strictly uphold merit and integrity, professional competence, domain expertise, and rigorous background screening must ensure that only candidates of unimpeccable integrity are selected.
Furthermore, India actively champions diversity and access by continually broadening representation for women, minorities, and marginalized groups.
While ensuring that judges in the trial courts are recruited through fair competitive examinations.
Our Collegium resolutions are published online, bringing in transparency.
We reaffirm our commitment to an independent, impartial and diverse judiciary as an essential pillar of democracy.
I thank you.
Botswana.
Mr.
Vice President, Bosono commends the Special Rapporteur for her timely report and appreciates the clear articulation of the principles essential to safeguarding judicial independence and ensuring merit based appointments.
As highlighted in the report, poorly designed appointment processes leave judicial systems vulnerable to politicization and issue of global concern.
Bono's own experience underscores the value of strong and resilient institutions.
Since independence, our constitutional framework has placed the rule of law at its center and our Judicial Service Commission plays a central role in ensuring that appointments are grounded on merit, integrity, and professionalism.
Ongoing national reforms continue to enhance transparency and broaden access to judicial office, reflecting our commitment to a justice system that is both independent and representative of our diverse society.
In conclusion, Motana supports the report's emphasis on clear legal frameworks, independent selection bodies, and objective pre established criteria.
We further endorse the call for timely appointments, decision making, and effective avenues to challenge irregularities, all of which reinforce public trust in the judiciary.
Thank you.
Palestine.
Thank you, Mr.
Vice President and many thanks to the Special Rapporteur for her insightful report and presentation.
The report's principles on judicial appointments explicitly apply to military courts and it is through that lens that we must speak today.
As highlighted by the SR in a joint press release in July 2024, In the occupied West Bank, the functions of police, investigator, prosecutor, and judge are vested in the same hierarchical institution, the Israeli military.
In these courts, the judges and prosecutors are always Israeli soldiers, Palestinians are always the defendants, and they are almost always convicted.
Measured against the principles described in the Special Rapporteurs report, the Israeli military court system fails every single one of them.
It is not a judiciary.
It is an instrument of occupation purpose built to deny Palestinians justice.
Israel has also directly attacked Palestinian judicial infrastructure.
In Gaza during the genocide, Israel bombed the headquarters of the Palestine Bar Association, destroying its archives and blasted Gaza's courthouse.
Lawyers defending Palestinian rights have faced harassment, while Israeli ministers have publicly labeled judges enemies from within, for upholding the rule of law, conduct that the Special Rapporteur found in her April 2024 joint press release to constitute direct interference with judicial independence.
The rule of law is indivisible.
States cannot affirm judicial independence in the abstract while remaining silent on its systematic destruction in Palestine.
Palestine invites the Special Rapporteur to continue her vital engagement and to examine what obligations arise, including for third states when an occupying power both imposes a structurally dependent military court system and destroys the civilian judicial infrastructure of the occupied people.
I thank you.
Vice President, Kenya aligns itself with a statement delivered by the African group and thanks the special rapporteur for her timely report.
Kenya welcomes the report's focus on principles for judicial appointments, recognizing that the manner in which judges are appointed is fundamental to safeguarding judicial independence, impartiality, and the rule of law.
We particularly welcome the report's recognition that merit should remain the governing criterion for judicial appointments, while also acknowledging the importance of diversity and representativeness within the judiciary.
These principles are complementary and contribute to the strengthening public confidence in administration of justice.
Kenya emphasizes that transparent, accountable, and independent judicial appointment processes are indispensable to preserving the integrity of the judiciary and ensuring equal access to justice.
We further recognize the value of objective and fair appointment procedures in reinforcing public trust in judicial institution.
Special Rapporteur, in jurisdictions where constitutional and legal frameworks already provide for merit based and transparent judicial appointment processes, what additional measures would you recommend to further strengthen public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary? I thank you.
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Vice Presidents, my delegation takes note of the report presented by the S Reporter.
Iran maintains a structural legal framework for judicial selection grounded in the in constitutional provision, consistent with the principle one of the report, merit, integrity, training, and ability serve as a core criteria supported by competitive examination and integrity assessments that emphasize professional qualification and ethical standards, objective and pre established criteria guide appointment while effort to promote Diversity and representativeness aim to reflect societal composition within the judiciary.
Transparency mechanism and reasoned decision making underpin the process with avenue for review, ensuring accountability.
Provisional appointment remain exceptional and public participation channel facilitate stakeholder input.
These elements reinforce judicial independence and impartiality, sustaining public confidence in the administration of justice as emphasized in the report.
Iran continue to strengthen alignment with these minimum safeguard through ongoing institutional reforms.
Thank you.
Rafa representative Fion Nm Awen.
Mr.
Vice President, Mala welcomes the report of the Special Order on principles of judicial appointments and commends the comprehensive framework it offers to safeguard judicial independency.
Malay aligns itself with the report's emphasis on merit, transparency, and diversity as an indispensable pillar of any judicial appointment system.
We further concur that poorly designed appointment processes leaves judicialies vulnerable to politicization and capture, eluding the right to fair trial and equal access to justice.
At the national level in 2025, Mala enacted a suit of judicial reform legislation, including Judicial Administrative strengthening the violation of independency, efficacy, and institutional capacity of the judiciary.
These reforms establish clear framework for judicial appointments and court admination reflecting May's commitment to the judiciary that commends public confidency and ensured to undue external influence.
Mala also notes with the application the principles and guidelines on the selection and appointments of judges adopted by Southern African Chief Justice Forum as a variable regional instrument directly relevant to our context.
In conclusion, Mala wishes to pose a question to special reporter Given the resources cost front and limited pools of qualified candidates facing small developvolving state, how does the special aboral recommend balancing strict merit based criteria with the equal criteria imperative of achieving diversity and representative in judicial appointments? Thank you.
Char representative.
President.
My delegation welcomes the report of the Special Reporter and would like to make the following comments.
Algeria agrees with the Special Reporter that the judicial appointment system must be designed to safeguard the independence of the judiciary while ensuring merits, competence, and ethics.
In Algeria, entry into the judiciary is primarily through a competitive national exam, coupled with a three year training divided between the National School of the Judiciary and courts partnerships.
After completing the training and the probationary period, trainees are appointed subject to the approval of the High Council of the judiciary.
Which subsequently manages their career.
The High Council for the Judiciary is a constitutional institution responsible for guaranteeing judicial independence.
It is chaired by the president of the Republic and composed of 26 member between ex official and elected representatives.
The council ensures respect for ethical standards and may be consulted by judges if they believe their independence is threatened.
Women represent 49.2% of the judiciary system in Algeria and preside over 72 courts, the amount of 49.73% of the total number of lawyers in the country.
In conclusion, remain committed to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur to strengthen national and international efforts in guaranteeing the independence of judice and lawyer.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Included in Bangladesh.
Mr.
Vice President, Bangladesh takes note of the report of the special reporter.
We reaffirm that an independent, impartial, and competent judiciary is a cornerstone of the rule of law, a pillar of democratic governance, an essential safeguard for the protection and promotion of human rights.
We recognize the importance of transparent, objective, and merit based judicial appointment.
Selection process should ensure that judges possess the highest standard of professional competence, integrity, and ethical conduct.
To this end, appointment procedure should be guided by transparency, equal opportunity, and due process, while merit remains the primary criterion for judicial selection.
Efforts should also be made to address barriers to ensure broader representation in judiciary.
At the same time, we underscored that there is no universal model for judicial selection and appointment.
Instead have different legal system frameworks and institutional arrangement.
Accordingly, judicial appointment mechanism should be developed and implemented in accordance with national legal frameworks, needs and circumstances.
Finally, we emphasize the value of technical cooperation, capacity building, and the exchange of experiences and good practices in supporting national efforts to strengthen the judicial system and uphold the independence of the judiciary.
I thank you, Mr.
Vice President.
Institutional International Bar Association.
Association Cuman rights Institute and the ICJ concur with your report, Madam Special aporte.
This Council has a critical role to promote independent and impartial judicial systems capable of upholding the rule of law.
Tparent merit based judicial selection processes constitute essential safeguards against political interference and undue influence and are fundamental to maintaining public confidence in justice institutions.
Establishing or strengthening such appointments procedures in many countries remain essential to safeguarding judicial independence, ensuring accountability, and reforcing the rule of law.
The concerns highlighted in the report are particularly relevant in Guatemala in the wake of the 2026 judicial selection processes.
Judicial appointments in Guatemala have long been markred by undopolitical influence and lack of both a transparency and an objective criteria.
The recent institutional renewal is an important opportunity to reinforce impartiality, independence, and credibility in the public prosecutor's office and restore confidence in justice institutions.
The report's content should also be taken into account judicial election process for the International Criminal Court, state parties should ensure that nominations and elections are conducted in accordance to the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, and impartiality and the selections of highly qualified candidates with demonstrated expertise, independence, and the ethical standing is essential to preserving the legitimacy, effectiveness, and credibility of the ICC.
Thank you.
I am doctor Henry Ho and I was born and grew up in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has a strong tradition to the rule of law and the city managed the complicated period of transition following enactment of the two pieces of national security legislation in a constructive way.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are not my words, but those of Mr.
Claudio Vis, president of the International Bar Association, who attended the opening of the Legal of Hong Kong this January.
I was there, and he pledged that the IBA will speak out against any unjustified sanctions to Hong Kong's judges and lawyers.
What a stark contrast it is.
Two years ago, the IBAs Human Rights Institute launched harsh and unjustified attacks to our national security laws.
So I'm pleased to see that our international peers are gaining a renewed evidence based assessment to our rule of law.
National security laws protect the rights of all people, including the prosecuted.
Take the case of Jimmy Lai, his open trial took more than 150 days and over 80,000 pages of evidence represented.
The final judgment contains more than 800 pages, and you can download it from the Internet.
We urge the international community to support Hong Kong judges and say no to the bullying and illegal sanctions of the United States.
Our judges will continue to administer justice without fear or favor.
Thank you.
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Thank you very much Lawyers Rights Watch Canada.
Mr.
Vice President, Madam Special Rapporteur, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, Lawyers for Lawyers, the Law Society of England and Wales, Zagros Center for Human Rights, and the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, with endorsement by the Center for Supporters of Human Rights are gravely concerned by escalating attacks against lawyers in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
For years, Iran has systematically persecuted lawyers to obstruct the defense of human rights.
Since nationwide protests in December 2025, access to independent counsel has been severely restricted, especially in security cases.
At least 24 human rights lawyers have been detained, while more than 30 face or have received heavy sentences.
Authorities misuse legal provisions and court appointed lawyers to sideline trusted counsel, accelerate convictions, and facilitate death sentences without proper case review.
Lawyers continue to face arbitrary arrest, persecution, torture, prolonged pretrial detention, unfair trials, and imprisonment for their professional work.
Recent cases include Mahmoud Tabat Ri, Nazan Sowa, and Masud Amedan sentenced to three years imprisonment each, and Abu Faz Ranjwri sentenced to 22 years after a year's pretrial detention on security charges.
We urge this council to call for immediate release of all arbitrarily detained lawyers and to demand unhindered access to medical care and contact with families and lawyers.
Thank you.
Madam Sciuor in Tunisia, the systematic dismantling of judicial independence and the rule of law and the criminalization of the legal profession have severely undermined the protection of human rights, including fair trials.
Since 2021, President Kayah took a series of unconstitutional measures, subordinate the judiciary to the executive.
In June 2022, he summarily dismissed 57 judges, prosecutors.
Thereafter, the Ministry of Justice has interfered in judicial carriers.
Informal means outside any legal framework.
You have denounced as an evident reprisal the one year sentence of Judge Annas Hamdi, the Association of Idunisian magistrates President for his role in the 2022 judicial strike.
The targeting of defense lawyers is equally alarming.
Authorities have weaponized anti terrorism, defamation, and fake news legislation prosecuting lawyers solely for discharging their duties and legitimately exercising freedom of expression.
Lawyers targeted include Aashi Hami currently serving a five year sentence and Sonya Dhamani who was detained for 18 months.
In addition to lawyers currently detained, at least 12 others face judicial harassment, arbitrary travel bans and asset freezes based on unfounded accusations.
Such attacks on the judiciary and legal profession flagrntly violate Tunisia's international Human rights law obligations.
The government's failure to schedule your visit only confirms that this government resists scrutiny.
Madam Special Reporter, what can the HRC and individual states do to enable your access to the country and address the attacks on judges and lawyers? Thank you.
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In Guatemala the Law Council of Australia.
Council of Australia, Law Asia, and the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, thank the Special Rapporteur for her report setting out principles for judicial appointments.
We welcome the report's emphasis on transparent, merit based, and accountable appointment processes as an essential safeguard of judicial independence and the rule of law.
Our organizations have adopted resolutions that reflect these foundational principles.
A judiciary that reflects the society it serves, enhances public confidence and strengthens institutional legitimacy.
We support the transparent application of publicly available, detailed selection criteria that cover both professional and personal qualities to ensure meritorious appointments that reflect the diversity of each jurisdiction.
Personal qualities include understanding of variations in lived experience, including with respect to gender, sexual orientation, cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic background, and disability.
We stress the importance of data collection and public reporting to monitor representation in the judiciary and evaluate the effectiveness of appointments processes.
We call for continued international collaboration, including between states, judiciaries, and legal professional associations to promote and implement these principles and to enhance public understanding of the vital importance of a competent, independent judiciary.
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Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
The United States of America asserts in the confidential Memorial of 18 24, the complete independence of Alaska and denies the imperial Tsarist monarch of Russia, it did not acquire possession of Alaska and declares no discovery title can apply in Alaska.
Despite this, in 2005, the US Supreme Court in today's world applies this opinion that racial discrimination applies to indigenous peoples in the United States of America.
Alaska we diplomatically protest GA resolution 14 69 of 1959.
It creates a foreign occupation based on the military vote paid $5 and the Whites only constitutional apartheid status.
This intervention serves as notice of complicity in denying the right of self determination on grounds of racial discrimination.
They are crimes against humanity, apartheid genocide and a violation to the Nuremberg principles to the United States General Assembly, who fraudulently said the peoples of Alaska, meaning the Whites and the military exercise self determination in Alaska.
The Migrant Associations of Geneva unanimously advise that I appeal to the United Nations General Assembly, Human Rights Council, and to all four to address my case.
Thank you.
Very much, Mr.
Vice President.
I'd like to start by thanking again, the government of Guatemala for the very helpful and constructive comments and also to congratulate them for the steps they're taking to re establish judicial independence and an independent justice system available and accessible to all.
I would like to just briefly respond to some of the comments and some of the really excellent questions.
But before I do that, I'd like to say just a bit about the communications that I have sent to different governments in recent times since the last time I spoke to you.
I'm just going to mention two major trends that I've observed.
The first is a marked increase in attacks against lawyers, and this has already been commented on by several of the NGO intervenors.
The second is a set of growing reprisals against judges for the content of their rulings or for their work to protect judicial independence.
I'd like to use that as a transition into engaging with some of the questions that were raised about my Sbatic report.
I think the contrast between the fact that there are these reprisals happening in many, many places with the engagement with the report is very interesting.
It suggests to me that it might be helpful to think of these principles that I've presented as a whole and not as a menu to choose from a la carte.
It is important not only to have protections of independence institutionally, but also very careful ethical standards and the ability to conduct vetting and integrity checks, just as an example, all of these things are important together.
Just a few responses.
First, I'd like to comment on Belgium's question about good practices.
One thing I would say very clearly here is the need for transparency and the need for public participation.
One of the comments that many of you is that there's a real concern about public confidence and trust in the judiciary, and I think that the ability to participate in commenting on and engaging with judicial appointments is one of the ways to help build that trust as well as transparency.
I had the question from the European Union about good practice to protect lawyers.
Here I'll also respond to the Council of Europe by again calling on member states and then eventually broader states in general to consider ratifying the new Convention on the profession of lawyer, which I think offers a really wonderful set of good practices for protecting lawyers.
I want to thank Hungary and the group of friends for the support of the mandate and I'm looking forward very much to engagement with you all.
Um, Mexico's really important question about the space for national contexts can really be answered by saying that there are ways to ensure the protection of these principles while also adapting them to national contexts.
I think many of you actually came up with good practices in your comments today.
I'd like to thank Poland for the visit, and I look forward to reporting on that next year.
It was a very fruitful and helpful, I think, visit.
To Switzerland that asked about how can judicial independence be protected in connection with judicial associations? What is their role? This is a great question because judges often face reprisal for speaking out and sometimes for their work within judicial councils.
It's really important to protect those coils and their ability to respond to attacks and their ability to protect and speak out about the independence of the judiciary.
I do believe that is one of their important roles.
Lichtenstein importantly raised the issue of sanctions against the ICC.
I'd just like to reiterate my call to the US to lift those sanctions, which I find to be contrary to international law and a real attack on international justice.
Some excellent questions from Tunisia and some comments about, the importance of the judicial council, I would reiterate my request that I have dates for a visit to Tunisia that has been postponed for a few years now.
Brazil, I really appreciated your comments about the use of affirmative action in judicial appointments, and I would commend others to have that discussion with you.
I'm about to run out of time.
I'll just finish by saying thank you very much for the really wonderful engagement and I look forward to continuing work of the mandate.
Thank you.
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La stats mas ad politics Larmarut I would like now to present the finding of my predecessor following his visit to Rwanda in May 2025.
He wishes, first of all, to warmly thanks the government for their collaboration before, during, and after the visit.
Rwanda has achieved significant progress in reducing poverty with rates declining sharply since 2017, an extreme poverty more than half.
This gain reflect sustained economic growth and strong public policies.
Yet, a number of challenges need to be addressed.
Poverty reminds overwhelming rurals with clear disparities between urban and rural population.
Inequality is pronounced and economic growth has not translate into sufficient job creation, leaving many workers, particularly in agriculture still in poverty.
At the same time, social rights require greater investment.
Education at com remain low with high dropout and repetition rates, while health care coverage is broad, underfunding and malnutrition, especially child stunting remain major concept.
Social protection programs are vital but insufficient in both coverage and adequacy.
My predecessor called for more inclusive, right based development, increased investment in social sector, and a stronger level protection as well as expanded social one.
Of course, as well support for rural livelihood.
Finally, meaningful participation and open dialogue are essential to ensure uncountable and effective policies.
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Mr.
Vice President, Madam Special Rapporteur, Excellencies, I want to thanks to the immediate former mandate holder, Mr.
DeSter, for his mission to Rwanda last year, and welcomes the new mandate holder, misses Elena Carolina Diaz Galan.
We value this opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue on extreme poverty and human rights, to share progress, acknowledge remaining gaps, and identify practical ways forward.
Rwanda engages in this dialogue in a spirit of partnership to build on what has already been achieved, review what needs to be improved, and provide national context, and confident about what has worked, honest about what still needs to improve and clear where we believe the analysis should better reflect our national context.
We welcome first the recognition of Rwanda's achievements in poverty reduction in the last three decades since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Monetary povert has fallen substantially and extreme povert has more than halved, lifting around 1.5 million Wandans out of povert over seven years.
These outcomes reflect deliberate governance, public accountability, and long term investment in people, even as we confront global shocks from COVID 19 to rising food and energy prices and climate impacts that make povert harder to defeat everywhere.
Marit dimensional poverty has also declined with improvements in housing, electricity, education, and nutrition.
These gains are grounded in the vision in 2015 and a national strategy for transformation, which placed human development, social protection, and inclusive growth at the center of policy.
We also appreciate the acknowledgment of progress in social protection and remain committed to expanding adequacy and coverage in line with the fiscal realities, and we focus on the poorest and most vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, older persons, and female headed households.
On health, the report correctly highlights progress, life expectancy approaching seven years, high coverage of skilled birth attendance and immunization, and community based health insurance covering almost 90% of the population with subsidies for the poorest.
We will continue strengthening primary health care, workforce capacity, and sustainable health financing, including through domestic resource mobilization.
On education and human capital, from universal school feeding and infrastructure expansion to teacher training and ICT investments, we are responding to the challenge of a young and rapidly growing population.
We will continue addressing dropouts, reputation, and quality gaps, particularly for children from low income and rural households.
Wanda's recent performance on the expanded Human Capital Index plus demonstrates that coordinated investments across health, education, and employment are producing measurable results.
We welcome recognition of our rights based refugee policy.
The world has adopted a development and self reliance approach.
Refugees enjoy the right to work, freedom of movement, access to identification and financial services, and integration into national systems.
Responsibility sharing by the international community remains essential if host countries are to sustain inclusive refugee policies.
Mr.
Vice President, Rwanda has submitted detailed comments on the report before this council.
Allow me to highlight briefly some key points that are important to us.
First, we urge balanced language that reflects both progress and gaps and streets Rwanda's trajectory in its post genocide low income starting point.
Second, we caution against ethnic or group based classifications that conflict with Rwanda's constitutional commitment to unity and equal citizenship.
Vulnerability should be addressed through needs based, life cycle and shock responsive frameworks, consistent with our principles.
Third, on RBR and employment, our rules and ongoing reforms protect workers across formal and informal sectors while supporting job creation for youth.
Fourth, our climate and resilience programs, watershed restoration, clinic working initiatives, and early learning systems, reduce poverty and disaster risk through participatory and compensatory measures where relocations are necessary.
Fifth, on gender, R underscores strong women's leadership and gender responsive policies.
Reported increase in GBV reporting reflect improved awareness and accountability, and combating GBV remains central to our work.
We will implement recommendations that align with our national context.
We will maintain inclusive approach with the mandate and the council.
As this dialogue advances, we encourage reporting that reflects nationally owned policies, measurable progress, and constitutional choices framed in a spirit of partnership rather than presictive judgment.
Uganda remains committed to eradicating extreme poverty, strengthening social protection, and ensuring growth translates into toial improvements in people's lives.
A longer version of this statement would be applauded to the extranet.
Thank you.
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