HRC63 - EU Statement - Item 2
European Union
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
63rd Session
(7 September – 7 October 2026)
______
Item 2
______
Statement by
H.E. Mr. Michele Cervone d’Urso
Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union
Geneva, 8 September 2026
- CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY –
HRC63 Item 2 Annual report of the UN High Commissioner for the Human Rights and report of the Office of the High Commissioner and the UN Secretary-General
EU Statement
Mister President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
Albania, Liechtenstein, Moldova (Republic of), Montenegro and North Macedonia align themselves with this statement.
We congratulate the High Commissioner for the extension of his mandate.
We thank the High Commissioner for his oral update and all the reports submitted to this session. At a time when the human rights pillar faces growing pressure from many sides, your role and that of your office is to withstand this pressure. Our support in ensuring the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to operate independently and with adequate resources will remain steadfast. We encourage all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time, and without conditions.
The wide spectrum of your Office’s essential work for the promotion of respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights across the world. We strongly support your principled human rights leadership in particular in the face of grave violations and abuses that require justice and accountability. We call on all to remain firmly committed to upholding and advancing human rights, and ensure the integrity and effective functioning of the institutions, mandates, and mechanisms established to protect them. The EU welcomes the launch of the Global Alliance for human rights.
The EU expresses deep concern over the sharp increase in recorded executions in the past year primarily linked to Iran where the pace of executions was the highest in decades. In China, it is estimated that the number of death sentences imposed and executions carried out remained in the thousands last year, although the figures remain a state secret. In the case of Jordan, the EU regrets the executions of 21 June 2026, after a de facto moratorium of nine years. Significant increases were also recently recorded in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, USA and Yemen. The EU deplores the increase in the use of the death penalty for drug offences, in contravention with international law. We recall that where not yet abolished, the application of the death penalty is strictly limited to crimes of extreme gravity involving intentional killing and even in these cases subject strict conditions and safeguards. The approval of death penalty legislation by the Israeli Parliament marks a grave regression from the long upheld de facto moratorium on both executions and capital punishment sentencing. The EU is deeply concerned about the de facto discriminatory character of the Bill. The European Union welcomes the abolition of the death penalty by the Lebanese Government and calls on all States that still retain the death penalty to comply with the relevant norms and standards of international law and to adopt a moratorium on executions as a first step towards its full abolition, in line with the worldwide trend.
We refer to the EU statements during the respective interactive dialogues on the situations in Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan and will also address throughout the session many other situations such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine or the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where we will raise, inter alia, the catastrophic humanitarian situation.
With reference to the written update of the High Commissioner on Sri Lanka, we encourage the Government to continue reforms in line with the recommendations contained therein.
We remain seriously concerned about the increasing restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms in several countries across the Middle East and North Africa.
The EU remains committed to support a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria, which enables the equal participation of all Syrians, upholds their human rights without discrimination on any ground, and ensures a safe and enabling environment for civil society and independent media. The formation of the People’s Assembly and the Constitutional Court, together with the introduction of Kurdish-language teaching into the national curriculum, are milestones in the Syrian transition. Adopting a new Constitution and building an inclusive political system, grounded in rule of law, political pluralism and transparent elections will be essential for the success of the transition. The EU will continue to support Syrian and international efforts towards accountability for all atrocities committed in Syria. A comprehensive and inclusive transitional justice process, which is Syrian-led and Syrian-owned and supported by the international community, is key for reconciliation and lasting peace. We encourage the strengthening of cooperation between the Syrian Transitional Government and all UN bodies, including the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons as well as the Commission of Inquiry and recall the importance of implementing its recommendations. The EU calls for human rights to be respected, protected and fulfilled for all Syrians without distinction of any kind, including those based on gender, ethnicity, or religion. The EU calls on all actors to uphold international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and to fully respect Syria’s unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The EU continues to monitor with concern the shrinking of civic space in Tunisia and the broader erosion of the respect for human rights and the rule of law. The EU will continue to engage with Tunisian authorities on these matters, including by convening at an appropriate time the EU-Tunisia Association council. We will continue to advocate for the respect, protection, and fulfilment of human rights, as well as the restoration of the rule of law, in line with Tunisia’s constitution and its international human rights obligations.
We acknowledge Bahrain’s recent royal pardons and its use of alternative sentencing measures, which have benefited a significant number of individuals. We encourage Bahrain to continue along this path and to further align its policies with international human rights law, including with regard to human rights defenders.
In Tanzania, we look forward to the implementation of measures necessary to comprehensively address the shortcomings identified in the report of the Commission of Inquiry, to ensure accountability for the widespread human rights violations in the context of the 2025 general elections, and to achieve national reconciliation. We call for transparency in the process in particular by publishing the full report of the Commission of Inquiry. We look forward in engaging constructively with Tanzania in the UN human rights mechanisms.
While recognizing the ongoing reforms undertaken by Pakistan regarding the death penalty, torture, gender based violence and the rights of the child, the EU is concerned by further restrictions of the freedom of expression through cybercrime, anti-terrorism and blasphemy legislation, impacting in particular journalists, dissenting voices, minorities as well as human rights defenders including lawyers.
The EU recalls Georgia’s obligation to uphold fundamental freedoms and urges the repeal or substantial revision of recent legislation that undermines international human rights standards. The EU is deeply concerned by the politically motivated use of the justice system against civil society organisations and the adoption of repressive measures targeting opposition figures, human rights defenders, and independent media. The EU strongly condemns arbitrary arrests and increasing repression, including the imprisonment of opposition leaders, independent journalists, media workers, and civil society actors. The EU emphasises the need for Georgia to address these issues, align its policies with international standards, and engage in constructive dialogue to restore trust in its democratic institutions.
The EU closely follows the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The EU remains concerned by legislation unduly restricting freedom of expression and association. We encourage measurable progress in revising NGO and media legislation and practice in line with international standards. At the same time, the EU welcomes the positive developments in dialogue and engagement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which contribute to regional stability and reconciliation
High Commissioner,
In closing, we thank you once again for your unwavering human rights leadership and assure you that we remain fully committed to supporting you and your Office in all possible ways.