HRC63 - EU Statement - High-level panel discussion on the sixtieth anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights: universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

63^rd Session 

High-level panel discussion on the sixtieth anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights: universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights

17 September 2026

EU statement

Thank you President.

The EU thanks the High Commissioner and Panellists for their statements. 

All EU Member States are parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and are actively committed to their implementation, including through meaningful participation in reviews conducted by the corresponding treaty bodies and the effective follow-up to their recommendations.

Given the importance we attach to the Covenants, and deeply committed to the principles of universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness and interdependence of all human rights, we strongly encourage their ratification and implementation by our partners across the world. We extend practical cooperation, technical assistance and capacity building to support the respect for, protection and fulfilment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of each individual person.

We deeply appreciate the crucial role of the two Committees [Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Human Rights Committee] to foster implementation and observance of the Covenants, and are highly concerned about the current UN budgetary and liquidity crisis which has significantly reduced the session time of these and all the treaty bodies and constrained their ability to discharge their mandates effectively, including delaying the vital review of States and the ensuing reports.

Distinguished Panellists,

What more can States and other stakeholders do to advance universal ratification of the Covenants and their Optional Protocols, as well as their effective implementation at the national level?

President,

In these times of huge global challenges and extremely scarce resources we believe that the most meaningful way to celebrate the 60th anniversary this year, alongside the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, is through the sincere respect for, protection and fulfilment of the universal human rights enshrined in the Covenants.

Thank you.