**UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL**
**58th Session**
**Item 4 - General debate on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention**
**20 March 2025**
**Group statement of 28 states**
Mister President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of 28 states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
With regard to the situations in **DPRK, Myanmar, Venezuela, Iran** and **Syria**, we would like to refer to the EU statements during the respective interactive dialogues.
Over 3 years ago, **Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine** violating core rules of international law. We demand Russia to cease its aggression, withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Russia’s large scale violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, include arbitrary detentions, illegal deportations, forcible transfers, ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, sexual and gender based violence as well as large-scale and systematic attacks against Ukraine’s energy and other civilian infrastructure. We are deeply alarmed at Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and condemn in the strongest possible terms the increase of summary executions of Ukrainian military service personnel captured by Russian forces. We are alarmed by reports that Russian authorities have acted pursuant to a coordinated state policy and have committed crimes against humanity, including by systematic and widespread torture. We condemn the devastating impact of the war on Ukrainian children, their deportation, indoctrination and militarisation. We call on Russia to end the unlawful practice of child deportation and forcible transfer, to stop the illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children and to ensure their immediate and safe return to Ukraine. We also calls on Russia to stop the militarisation and indoctrination of Ukrainian minors and youth. We condemn Russia's harassment and intimidation of journalists covering war zones and frontlines.
We are firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses stemming from the Russian war of aggression. Victims deserve justice. Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for this war, for the massive damage it has caused and for crimes under international law. We will support Ukraine in achieving comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in line with international law and the UN Charter.
We express our deep concern about the continuous systematic crackdown on civil society, especially on human rights defenders, lawyers, independent media and journalists, as well as the repression of democratic political opposition, LGBTI persons and citizens with dissenting voices **in Russia**. We strongly condemn Russia for the criminal prosecution of lawyers for performing their professional duties. We condemn the sentencing of defence lawyers (Vadim Kobzev, Alexey Liptser and Igor Sergunin) for performing their professional duties defending Alexei Navalny. We continue to call on Russia to abolish its repressive legislation and align it with international human rights law, to ensure a safe and enabling online and offline environment for all, and to respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals, including the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and political participation. We express our deep concern about the reports on the growing number of political prisoners and call on Russia for their immediate and unconditional release. Prison conditions have worsened, with increased solitary confinement and deaths in custody. We call on Russia to fully implement all outstanding rulings of the European Court of Human Rights as the court remains competent to deal with the cases concerning actions or omissions occurring up to 16 September 2022 when the Russian Federation ceased to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights. We remain concerned about the recent reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Russian Federation, that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are used as state-sanctioned tools for oppression in Russia and that systematic human rights violations are part of a government strategy to control all spheres of life, and to suppress dissent towards its aggressive foreign policy of waging war. We call on Russia to end its political misuse of the judiciary and law enforcement, recalling the importance of the independence of the judiciary and fair trial rights. We continue to call upon the Russian authorities to uphold their domestic and international human rights obligations, including those arising from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and to ensure equality before the law. We call on Russia to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of Indigenous Peoples as set out in the UNDRIP and international human rights law. Russia must ensure that all human rights violations are thoroughly, independently and impartially investigated and that perpetrators are held accountable. We call on the Russian Federation to cooperate fully with the UN and all special procedures.
We strongly condemn the gross, systematic and widespread human rights violations in **Belarus,** including continuing persecution and intimidation campaigns against all segments of Belarusian society. According to the Group of Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus, some of the ongoing violations may amount to crimes against humanity. We urge Belarusian authorities to stop their involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to halt the instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes, in complicity with Russia. We urge the Belarusian authorities to halt the internal as well as transnational repression against its citizens and to adhere to the country’s international obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners and ensure their effective rehabilitation and to ensure an enabling civic space and free, independent and pluralistic media. We deplore the appalling detention conditions and reports of torture and ill-treatment, including through “incommunicado” detentions, as well as systematic violations of due process and the right to a fair trial. We stress the fundamental necessity of respecting the rights of political prisoners and safeguarding their human dignity, while ensuring they have access to legal representation, medical care, and contact with their families. We regret that the Belarusian authorities have not fulfilled their international obligations with regard to the conduct of free and fair elections. We note with concern that Belarus has not invited in due time international and regional independent election observation missions, including the OSCE. We continue to support the democratic right of the Belarusian people to elect their representatives through free and fair elections in accordance with internationally recognised standards. We urge Belarus to abolish the death penalty and, as a first step, to introduce a moratorium. We will continue to support international initiatives to hold all perpetrators to account. We also lead efforts to ensure accountability for those responsible for human rights violations. We urge Belarus to fully cooperate with international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms.
We reiterate our grave concern with the **situation in Gaza** as well as the further escalating violence in the **West Bank**. We call for a rapid resumption of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza and underlines the importance of its full implementation to allow all the hostages to be released in a dignified and safe manner, and to ensure a permanent end to hostilities. We fully support Egypt, Qatar and the US for their ongoing efforts in negotiating the subsequent phases of the ceasefire deal, which we had consistently called for. We welcome the initiative of the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan as a basis for discussion on the future of the Gaza strip. We deplore the announcement of the Government of Israel on 2 March 2025 to halt all entry of goods and supplies into Gaza, including most recently the cut of electricity. We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligation to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza. Displaced Gazans should be ensured a safe and dignified return to their homes in Gaza, in line with international humanitarian law. We recall UNSC resolution 2735 rejecting any attempt at demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip and stressing the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. We condemn the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks. We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and the need to ensure that Hamas neither reconstitutes militarily nor participates in governance. We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself, which must be exercised in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law. We recall the need to respect IHRL and the rules and principles of IHL governing the use of force and the conduct of hostilities, and to fully implement the International Court of Justice orders, which are legally binding. We deplore the unacceptable number of civilian casualties in the conflict in Gaza, especially women and children. We call on all parties to take all feasible steps to fulfil their duty under international humanitarian law to protect civilian lives at all times, as well as civilian infrastructures, including medical facilities, schools and UN premises. We reiterate our calls for full and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip and that aid can be effectively distributed to those in need, including by UN agencies and notably UNRWA.
We remain deeply concerned about the recourse by **Israel** to arrests and administrative detention without formal charge. We call on all parties to grant the ICRC unhindered access to places of detention and to the hostages, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law. We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Israel and the ongoing extremist settler violence in the West Bank. Israel must make further efforts to prevent settler violence and fully ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. We condemn the Israeli government’s settlement policy and related activities, including state land declarations as well as evictions, demolitions, confiscation and forced transfers of Palestinians including in and around East Jerusalem. We recall the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024. We will not recognise changes to the 1967 lines, unless agreed by the parties. We recall that annexation is illegal under international law. We are concerned with the risk of restrictions for foreign-funded NGOs, limiting civil society and its democratic participation and activity. We reiterate our unwavering commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states. We strongly oppose all actions that undermine the viability of the two-state solution. We will contribute to this objective through support to the Palestinian Authority, to help it address its most pressing needs and support the reform agenda, and engagement with Israel and international partners in order to revive the political process towards the two-state solution.
We reiterate our concerns about the very serious human rights situation in **China.** We urge China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own Constitution, and international law, to respect, protect and fulfil the rule of law and human rights for all. We also urge China to abolish the death penalty and as a first step to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty, adopt rigorous and transparent procedures for reviewing capital sentences and reporting death penalty cases. Civil society continues to be exposed to harassment, intimidation and surveillance, including at transnational level. China must respect the principle of non-refoulement and refrain from transnational repression activities. We condemn all reprisals against individuals and/or civil society organizations. Numerous reports by UN Treaty Bodies and Special Rapporteurs, and in particular OHCHR’s assessment report on human rights in China’s **Xinjiang** Uyghur Autonomous Region, confirm that the human rights situation requires the urgent attention of the Government of China and UN bodies and the human rights system. We remain concerned about political re-education camps, mass arbitrary detentions, widespread surveillance, including Residential Surveillance in a Designated Location (RSDL), systemic and severe restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief. We reiterate the rights of persons belonging to religious groups to conduct their basic affairs without interference and freely choose their religious leaders. We remain concerned about the use of forced labour and labour transfer schemes, torture, forced abortion and sterilization, birth control and family separation policies, and sexual and gender-based violence, especially in Xinjiang. We urge China to cooperate effectively with the UN High Commissioner and his Office, and with international human rights mechanisms, including towards the implementation of the recommendations included in the assessment report on the human rights concerns in Xinjiang and follow-up to the report as well as through the facilitation of visits of the High Commissioner and the Special Procedures mandate holders to regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet.
The human rights situation in **Tibet** continues to be dire. Indicators of this include obligatory boarding schooling and the suppression of protests against hydropower projects. We are deeply concerned over reports that Tibetan schools teaching Tibetan language and culture have been shut down and that Chinese authorities have insisted that all students attend state schools where Tibetan is only taught as a stand-alone subject. We encourage China to cooperate with international human rights mechanisms, including all relevant Special Procedures mandates, and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee against Torture. We continue to closely monitor the situation and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defenders who, among others, Gulshan Abbas, Anya Sengdra, Ekpar Asat, Chadrel Rinpoche, Chen Yunfei, Rahile Dawut, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Dong Yuyu, Gao Zhen, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Hushtar Isa, Yalkun Isa, Ji Xiaolong Li Yanhe, Lu Siwei, Pastor Ma Yan, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongming, Qin Yongpei, Ruan Xiaohuan, Semkyi Dolma, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti, Wang Bingzhang, Pastor Wang Yi, Kamile Wayit, Xie Yang, Xu Na, Xu Qin, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Henjung, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, Pastor Zhang Chunlei and Zhang Zhan, as well as EU citizen Gui Minhai whose right to consular access must be respected.
We remain concerned about the human rights situation and the shrinking civic space in **Hong Kong.** We urge the Chinese government and the Hong Kong authorities to restore full respect for the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and democratic principles, and to preserve Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, in compliance with Hong Kong’s Basic Law and China’s domestic and international obligations. The repressive use of the National Security Law and of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance continues to undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms. Of particular concern is their extraterritorial application, including the decision to issue arrest warrants for individuals living outside Hong Kong. The sweeping changes in the electoral system eroded democratic principles and political pluralism.
We continue to be deeply concerned about the armed conflict in **Sudan**. Reports continue to expose grave and repeated mass atrocities committed by the parties to the conflict, inflicting devastating consequences for millions of Sudanese civilians, notably for children, and including a sharply increasing death toll. Sudan’s social fabric continues to be torn apart. Widespread use of rape and sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence targeting on the basis of ethnicity, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, child recruitment, man-made hunger and starvation as well as forced displacement of over 12 million people continue to top the list of massive violations being committed in the armed conflict. The parties’ repeated violations of international humanitarian law further significantly aggravates the humanitarian crisis. We call upon all parties to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law. We support the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor’s efforts in investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur in connection with current hostilities. We also support the work of the Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. Persistent impunity is a driver for new atrocities. All perpetrators have to be held accountable. We call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, enforced through a monitoring and verification mechanism that international actors could support, in order to create the necessary conditions for reaching a sustainable peaceful solution to the conflict.
The escalation of the conflict **in eastern DRC** with the offensive of the M23 supported by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has led to a grave deterioration of the humanitarian and human rights situation. There are reports of grave human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, summary executions, forced recruitment and killing of children. Humanitarian aid is not reaching those in need. We condemn these violations in the strongest terms. All these reports must be thoroughly investigated, victims recognized and perpetrators held accountable. In this regard, we note the ongoing investigation by the ICC Prosecutor of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the DRC. We welcome the decision initiated by the DRC and taken by the Human Rights Council to establish an independent fact-finding mission to be followed by an independent commission of inquiry to investigate and document violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law in eastern DRC. We strongly condemn the offensive of the M23 and Rwanda’s direct and indirect support thereto, together with Rwanda’s unauthorised military presence and operations in the DRC. They constitute a violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the territorial integrity of the DRC. We urge the M23 and Rwanda to stop their advance and withdraw immediately. Rwanda must end all forms of support to M23. We urge the DRC to cease any cooperation with the FDLR armed group and other armed groups. We call upon all parties to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law. We urge the rapid implementation of the outcome of the joint EAC-SADC Summit of 8 February 2025 on the security situation in the DRC and welcomes the unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2773. We call on the DRC to abolish the death penalty, the use of which we oppose unequivocally in all cases and in all circumstances.
**Mali** and **Burkina Faso** have been facing the expansion of conflicts, inter-communal violence and terrorism, separatist dynamics, organized crime, democratic backsliding, military rule, restrictions of freedoms and a serious humanitarian crisis marked by forced displacement and food insecurity. In Mali and Burkina Faso, the social and political context in 2024 remained marked by serious human rights violations and abuses, murder and serious violence perpetrated against civilians. As regards the rights to freedoms of opinion, expression and assembly, 2024 saw a very sharp deterioration in West/Central Africa including in Niger, leading to a deep shrinking of civic and political space which continues to date.
We reiterate our serious concerns about the continued and deeply worrying backsliding situation in the areas of democracy, rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the independence of the judiciary in **Türkiye.** We remain concerned about targeting of political parties, democratically elected mayors, civil society representatives, journalists, academics, human rights defenders, LGBTI persons and others, including through detentions. As an EU candidate country and member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye is expected to apply the highest democratic standards and practices. In line with Article 46 of the ECHR, we call on Türkiye to comply with the judgements of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), including regarding the release of Osman Kavala. We reiterate our calls on Türkiye to comply with its obligations under international law, including human rights law and to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and the rule of law - including the property rights of persons belonging to minorities and legal entities representing minorities. Human rights are non-negotiable and will continue to be an integral part of EU-Türkiye relations.
We continue to be seriously concerned about the deterioration of democracy, human rights and the rule of law aggravated by the recent rewriting of the Constitution which consolidated the concentration of power in **Nicaragua**. We reiterate our call for an immediate end of the repression, including transnational repression, against civil society and religious institutions, and the release of all political prisoners. We urge Nicaragua to adhere to its human rights obligations and cooperate with international human rights organisations and mechanisms.
Thank you.