Middle East and Africa (MAD)

We thank the  Fact-Finding Mission for carrying out their invaluable work to investigate the alleged human rights violations that took place after the tragic death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini and subsequent nationwide protests.

We believe that membership of the Human Rights Council should reflect the diversity of the UN as a whole, and that all countries, irrespective of their size, wealth or power should have an equal opportunity to serve as members of the Council.

We welcome the Government’s stated commitment, and urge the Government to swiftly establish a policy framework, based on the recommendations by the expert group, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the OHCHR.

We commend the efforts of the Government of the Philippines and various UN agencies under the UN Joint Programme for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Philippines between 2021 and 2024.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.

We welcome the organisation of a humanitarian conference for Sudan and neighbouring countries next month in Paris, exactly one year since the beginning of a conflict that has had catastrophic humanitarian consequences for the Sudanese people.

Local governments also have an important role to play since they are at the forefront of bringing human rights to all. Indeed, local governments often have competencies in key areas such as housing, water and land management, health, and education, among many others.

We thank the High Commissioner for his report and take this opportunity to draw attention to the linkages between climate change and atrocity risks.

I deliver this statement on behalf of 28 States of the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict co-chaired by Belgium and Uruguay, reaffirming our unwavering support to the CAAC mandate.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his unwavering commitment to his mandate over the past six years.