Delivered by Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Rights At New York Mr. Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a pleasure to engage with this Committee today following the rich discussion you had with the High Commissioner for Human Rights yesterday. I am honored to introduce 16 reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights under agenda item 71 (a) to (d) on the promotion and protection of human rights, as mandated by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Under sub-item (a) Implementation of human rights instruments, the Secretary-General’s report on the status of the human rights treaty body system (A/79/336) updates on progress in implementing resolution 68/268 on the treaty body system. It assesses the meeting time and financial resources needed to support the treaty bodies in 2026-27, highlighting existing gaps. The report identifies challenges such as delays and backlogs resulting from increased workload and inadequate resources. It also presents proposals from the treaty body Chairs to strengthen the system through a predictable review schedule, harmonized working methods, and digital enhancements. I echo the Chairs’ call on the General Assembly and Member States to support these efforts, while also ensuring sustainable resources to cover all mandated activities. The Secretary-General’s report on the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (A/79/283) details support provided to national preventive mechanisms. In 2023, grants amounting to USD 385,000 were awarded to 14 torture prevention projects in 12 States parties. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is grateful for these contributions but notes that they do not currently meet the increasing demands for greater support for torture prevention efforts from eligible countries and mechanisms. Four decades after the General Assembly adopted the Convention against Torture, the Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (A/79/291) highlights the Fund’s ongoing fundamental role in enabling the right to redress for victims. In 2023, the Fund awarded 190 grants, reaching over 48,000 survivors and their families across 93 countries. The report underscores the increasing obstacles and risks to supporting survivors due to shrinking civic space and armed conflict. The Secretary-General’s report on the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery (A/79/279) notes that 45 grants were awarded this year to provide essential services for more than 10,800 victims across 35 countries. The Fund also awarded nine grants to assist over 5,000 survivors of descent-based slavery through a special initiative in the Sahel, which was launched in 2022 in collaboration with the International Labour Organization. There is a high demand for support as contemporary forms of slavery continue to impact over 50 million people globally. Turning to agenda sub-item (b), Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, I am honoured to present the Secretary-General’s report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights (A/79/140), as the designated senior official leading system-wide efforts to prevent and address reprisals. This year’s report includes cases from 32 Member States, affecting a large number of individuals and groups. Regrettably, not all documented cases or Member States with verified allegations were included in the report due to serious protection concerns and victims" fear of further reprisals. For the first time, disaggregation of cases documented reprisals against young people, while women and Indigenous Peoples were once again found to face higher risks when engaging with the Organization. Overall, victims of intimidation and reprisals have suffered serious human rights violations, including kidnapping, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, ill-treatment, and even killings, due to their cooperation with the United Nations. The report highlights global trends of self-censorship, with a higher number of anonymized new cases, online and physical surveillance reported in one-third of the Member States included in the report, and the application of laws and regulations concerning civil society, counterterrorism, and national security, in ways that creates barriers with the United Nations. In line with the recently adopted Pact for the Future, I invite the General Assembly and Member States to renew their commitment to preventing and addressing reprisals. The Secretary-General’s report on the human rights of migrants (A/79/144) summarizes the panel discussion held on 15 May on preventing human rights violations against migrants in transit. Participants recommended reviewing security-driven migration policies that increase risks for migrants, countering harmful narratives creating further suffering along migration routes, and expanding pathways for safe and regular migration. They also urged States to strengthen human rights monitoring bodies at both national and international levels to ensure accountability. The Secretary-General’s report on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty (A/79/276) highlights recent progress toward abolition and the establishment of moratoriums on executions. While fewer countries are carrying out executions, the number of people executed globally increased between July 2022 and June 2024, largely due to a rise in executions in the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in executions for drug-related offenses, which accounted for approximately 42 percent of all confirmed executions in 2023, the highest figure recorded since 2016. The Secretary-General’s report on the right to development (A/79/281) examines progress and challenges in realizing this right and provides an overview of related OHCHR activities from May 2023 to May 2024. The report recommends reforms to the international financial architecture to make it more resilient, equitable and accessible to all, and to support the realization of human rights. Key recommendations include incorporating human rights principles into the risk analysis and due diligence processes of international financial institutions and conducting independent, participatory human rights impact assessments. The Secretary-General’s report on missing persons (A/79/282), outlines relevant international legal and institutional frameworks, and legislative and preventive measures to prevent individuals from going missing. It details efforts to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, including the specific situation of missing children, and discusses criminal investigations and prosecutions. Additionally, it addresses measures for the forensic recovery and identification of remains, as well as the legal status and support provided to the families of missing persons. The Secretary-General’s report on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief (A/79/284) analyzes how individuals and communities, especially religious or belief minorities, continue to face intolerance, discrimination, and violence. The report urges all governments to prevent and address such acts and calls on political,community, and religious leaders to condemn incitement to violence and hatred. It also calls on digital platforms to enforce content moderation policies that align with international human rights standards to combat hateful content. The Secretary-General’s report on the administration of justice (A/79/296) highlights human rights protection gaps related to the use of artificial intelligence by law enforcement, the judiciary, the legal profession, and court administration. While recognizing that digital technologies and artificial intelligence can enhance access to justice, the report highlights how they may also negatively impact human rights in criminal justice, including the rights to equality and non-discrimination, liberty and security, fair trial by an independent judiciary, freedom from torture and ill-treatment, access to remedy and privacy. The Secretary-General"s report on the role of Ombudsman and mediator institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights, good governance and the rule of law (A/79/307) analyzes responses from Member States and Ombudsman and Mediator Institutions concerning the implementation of resolution 77/224, presenting 10 recommendations for adequate funding to enable these institutions to fulfill their mandates. It also urges Member States to strengthen existing institutions in accordance with the Venice Principles and Paris Principles, and to seek assistance from OHCHR when necessary. Turning to sub-item (c), Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives, the Secretary-General’s report on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (A/79/258), documents events from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. It details how the Russian Federation has imposed its own legal system in these territories, increased pressure on residents to obtain Russian citizenship, transferred civilians, and enforced conscription in violation of international humanitarian law. The report highlights allegations of continued gross violations of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law, including cases of torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, violations of the right to education and property rights, and suppression of freedoms of expression and religion. It calls upon the Russian Federation to fully uphold its obligations under international law and offers several recommendations for the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the international community. The Secretary-General’s report on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (A/79/277) covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 31 May 2024, marked by a partial re-opening of its borders and ongoing tensions in the Korean peninsula. While acknowledging some engagement with international human rights mechanisms, the report highlights several concerns, including inadequate access to food, the repression of freedom of expression and movement, the use of the death penalty for less serious crimes, widespread forced labor, and lack of accountability for serious human rights violations and international crimes. Among the recommendations is a call for an immediate moratorium to be declared on the use of the death penalty, ultimately leading to its abolition. The report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar (A/79/331) documents a continued deterioration between 1 August 2023 and 31 March 2024. During this period, 1,250 civilian deaths were documented, including 298 women and 164 children, representing over a third of the total deaths since the coup. The report addresses the human rights implications of enforcing a 2010 conscription law, noting allegations of military abductions of youths, contributing to refugee flows as young people flee to neighboring countries. The report also acknowledges positive examples of local governance in non-military-controlled areas and the public announcement by the National Unity Government to repeal and replace the 1982 Citizenship Law, aiming to address the systemic discrimination that has long affected minority communities, notably the Rohingya. Finally, the Secretary-General’s report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/79/509) covering the period from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024, highlights an alarming rise in the death penalty, including for drug-related offenses and continuing serious concerns regarding prison conditions, due process violations, and severe restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. It also highlights continuing reports of ongoing discrimination against women, girls, and minorities. The excessive use of force against Kurdish and Baloch border couriers remains a grave concern, further exacerbating the suffering in disadvantaged border areas where socio-economic issues remain unaddressed. Despite these challenges, the report highlights progress in economic and social rights, particularly in promoting the rights to health and education, especially for persons with disabilities. Additionally, there is progress in protecting certain categories of migrants and refugees, although challenges persist in ensuring their protection aligns with international standards. Thank you.