HRC61 - EU Statement - Item 3
United Nations Human Rights Council
61st Session
(23 February – 31 March 2026)
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Item 3
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Statement by
H.E. Mr. Michele Cervone d’Urso
Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union
Geneva, 11 March 2026
HRC61: Item 3 General Debate; Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development
EU Statement
Thank you, Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Moldova (Republic of), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
We thank the Secretary General, the High Commissioner and his Office for their reports and unwavering defence of the universality of human rights. We firmly believe that constructive engagement and cooperation between states and multilateral institutions remain the best means of protecting human rights and ensuring prosperity, peace and sustainable development. At a time of increasing geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts and growing pressure on multilateral institutions, the protection of the human rights pillar is more essential than ever, including in the context of UN80. We continue to support the UN’s human rights system including its monitoring mechanisms and we underscore the essential role, independence and integrity of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN special procedures mandate holders.
The EU reiterates its strong commitment to promote and protect all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, education, food, health, social security, decent work, adequate housing, a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as well as access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and to safe, sufficient and affordable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Lasting peace, sustainable prosperity, and progress toward SDGs can only be achieved when the rule of law, democracy, and all human rights are fully upheld. In this regard, we recall the obligation of states as primary duty bearers for the full realisation of all human rights, which are rooted in the universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing nature of all human rights with individuals at the core.
The EU's policy and legislative frameworks, such as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, reflect this commitment. As the world’s largest Official Development Assistance provider, accounting for 42% of all ODA in 2024 and cooperating with 150 partner countries globally, the EU and its Member States reflect it in our development policy and cooperation. At the same time, we are continuing to reinforce cooperation with the OHCHR including through voluntary financial contributions and we encourage others to do the same.
Mr President,
We are witnessing a rise in transnational repression, increasing restrictions of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the crackdown of peaceful assembly and association, civil society and human rights defenders and independent media, and disproportionate responses to protests, including through the use of force. The EU will continue to strive towards strengthening and promoting information integrity, and societal resilience, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information, media freedom, the right to freedom of opinion and expression both online and offline, responsible digital transformation, human centric AI that respects international human right law as well as promote and empower a diverse and independent civil society. We stress the importance of accountability on all levels to prevent impunity, violations and abuse of international law including international human rights law.
Pushback against gender equality, including established norms and language persists. We will continue to champion gender equality, the full equal and meaningful participation and enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls, in line with international commitments. It is crucial that gender equality not be further undermined. The EU supports an ambitious and transformative approach to address root causes and risk factors of gender inequality, discrimination and all forms of violence against women and girls including sexual and gender based. In today’s increasingly digital world, violence against women is no longer limited to physical spaces – it also occurs online, through harassment, bullying, hate speech, privacy violations, and other forms of abuse. At the same time, we remain committed to protecting the rights of all persons in vulnerable situations including children, older persons and persons with disabilities. We reaffirm the prohibition of torture and remain committed to the universal abolition of the death penalty
We remain convinced of the centrality, indivisibility and mutually reinforcing nature of all human rights and will continue to work with all partners, including civil society, to advance the observance of international law and human rights, accountability and the rules based international order.
Thank you.