Third Committee, 24th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session
Promotion and protection of human rights, Implementation of human rights instruments, Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives, Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action - Item 70, 70 (a), 70 (b), 70 (c), 70 (d) (A/81/169, A/81/164, A/81/128)
Agenda items · 581st session
Item 70
Promotion and protection of human rights
Item 70(a)
Implementation of human rights instruments
Item 70(b)
Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms
Source: United Nations (un.org, igov.un.org)
Speaking timeBeatriz Miranda Galarza (8.5%) · Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond (7.8%) · Chair (7.1%) + 23 more · Unattributed (12.3%)
Third Committee, 24th meeting of the 81st session. Agenda item taken up: “Promotion and protection of human rights, Implementation of human rights instruments, Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives, Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action - Item 70, 70 (a), 70 (b), 70 (c), 70 (d) (A/81/169, A/81/164, A/81/128)”. 23 speakers were heard, representing 18 delegations.
Points of disagreement
special rapporteur on the right of everyone to enjoyment of the rights of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health condemned the US government sanctions against the International Criminal Court, ICC, ICC judges and the special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, saying these actions violate international law, and urged the United States to immediately rescind them.
Cuba expressed concern about the effects of the US blockade, intensified by the oil siege and complementary sanctions, citing a surgery waiting list of a 100,000 patients, of which 12,000 are children.
Islamic Republic of Iran stated that during what it called military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime in late February, 245 healthcare units, 70 hospitals and 69 ambulances and rescue vehicles were destroyed, 26 healthcare workers were killed and 118 injured, and the Pastor Institute of Iran was damaged.
Key points
Brazil welcomed the report's recognition that health outcomes are shaped by broader socio, economic, and environmental conditions, and underscored the importance of addressing socially determined diseases that disproportionately affect populations in situations of vulnerability, poverty and social exclusion.
European Union, on behalf of EU and its member states, welcomed the focus of the Special Rapporteur's report on justice and accountability for violations of the right to health, and supported a human rights-based approach that integrates health across policies and addresses its underlying socioeconomic determinants.
Sovereign Order of Malta highlighted three priorities: protecting health care during armed conflict and keeping essential services accessible; making mental health and psychosocial support integral to humanitarian and health responses; and strengthening local health systems and empowering local health care workers and organizations.
Statement by statement · 22 speakers
special rapporteur on the right of everyone to enjoyment of the rights of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health
special rapporteur on the right of everyone to enjoyment of the rights of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health condemned the US government sanctions against the International Criminal Court, ICC, ICC judges and the special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, saying these actions violate international law, and urged the United States to immediately rescind them.
special rapporteur on the right of everyone to enjoyment of the rights of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health presented the report on the justiciability of the right to health for justice and accountability, prepared by the predecessor and OHCHR staff, stating that the right to health is not aspirational.
special rapporteur on the right of everyone to enjoyment of the rights of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health highlighted the report's recommendations, including recognition of the right to health in constitutional frameworks, removal of barriers to remedies and empowerment of communities through participatory governance.
🇮🇳 India
India recalled that the Supreme Court of India has interpreted Article 21 of its constitution, the right to life, to include the right to health, and that India has overhauled its healthcare system to ensure accessibility, affordability and equity.
India stated that the reference to India in paragraph 60 of the albinism report drew on a 2019 situational analysis limited to the state of Bihar, which it said does not establish a nationally representative finding, and encouraged direct consultation with states in future.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Brazil welcomed the report's recognition that health outcomes are shaped by broader socio, economic, and environmental conditions, and underscored the importance of addressing socially determined diseases that disproportionately affect populations in situations of vulnerability, poverty and social exclusion.
Brazil stated that eliminating socially determined diseases requires comprehensive and intersectoral responses going beyond health interventions, and that placing social determinants at the center of global health strategies is both necessary and powerful.
Brazil stated that Brazil stood ready to engage constructively with the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Mariangela Simon, and looked forward to benefiting from her expertise and recommendations.
🇸🇻 El Salvador
El Salvador highlighted efforts to promote the humanization of health services through training of health personnel in human rights, humanized care protocols, and decent dignified treatment, particularly for persons in a vulnerable condition.
El Salvador asked the Special Rapporteur which measures she considered a priority to strengthen the incorporation of the principle of human dignity in primary healthcare services, particularly in countries facing resource challenges and challenges of regional territorial accessibility.
🇲🇦 Morocco
Morocco welcomed the report and its focus on justiciability of the right to health, particularly the ability of individuals to seek remedies through the courts or other institutional mechanisms, and congratulated the newly appointed special rapporteur.
Morocco stated that equitable access to health care and access to justice are inseparable, and that judicial and nonjudicial mechanisms are complementary, citing the Court of Cassation's jurisprudence, the Shikeaya complaint platform and the National Health Insurance Agency.
🇷🇺 Russian Federation
Russian Federation stated that the long term effectiveness of a healthcare system depends on the well being of healthcare and social care professionals and on their decent working conditions, and described the national project called A Long and Active Life, including support for rural doctors and paramedics.
Russian Federation stated that it did not share the view reflected in the report that access to justice, including in healthcare matters, should be ensured through quotas, and that access should be based on equality before the law without unjustified differentiation.
🇮🇱 Israel
Israel stated that upholding the right to health means upholding the right to mental health, and that the psychological toll of what it described as decades of random unprovoked rocket fire and terror attacks, October 7th and its aftermath, onslaughts from Kizbolah and the war with Iran had been devastating.
Israel noted that psychiatric and psychological care have been included in Israel's universal health system for over a decade, and that protecting the right to health and mental health is a tremendous national priority for its country.
European Union · on behalf of EU and its member states
European Union, on behalf of EU and its member states, welcomed the focus of the Special Rapporteur's report on justice and accountability for violations of the right to health, and supported a human rights-based approach that integrates health across policies and addresses its underlying socioeconomic determinants.
European Union stressed that the EU welcomed the recognition of persons affected by Hansen's disease as rights holders, experts and agents of change, and that responses must move beyond a predominantly biomedical model to address physical, psychological, social and economic dimensions.
🇨🇺 Cuba
Cuba welcomed the Special Rapporteur and supported her mandate, stating that public health is a constitutional right in Cuba and the health system is public, free to access, universal and without discrimination.
Cuba expressed concern about the effects of the US blockade, intensified by the oil siege and complementary sanctions, citing a surgery waiting list of a 100,000 patients, of which 12,000 are children.
Cuba rejected what it called a virulent campaign by the United States to discredit Cuban medical cooperation, and asked the Special Rapporteur's opinion on South-South and Triangular Cooperation and on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the right to health.
🇬🇹 Guatemala
Guatemala highlighted the relevance of strengthening protection and accountability mechanisms and promoting equal and non-discriminatory conditions in access to health services and resources, in light of possible human rights violations.
Guatemala asked the Special Rapporteur which measures she believed to be a priority so that people whose right to physical and mental health had been violated could access effective justice mechanisms and obtain appropriate reparation, taking into account economic, administrative and other barriers.
🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran stated that unilateral coercive measures and acts of aggression violate the right to health and make it impossible for people to access certain healthcare services and essential medicines, and that essential services and health infrastructure should not be compromised under any circumstances, including armed conflicts.
Islamic Republic of Iran stated that during what it called military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime in late February, 245 healthcare units, 70 hospitals and 69 ambulances and rescue vehicles were destroyed, 26 healthcare workers were killed and 118 injured, and the Pastor Institute of Iran was damaged.
🇿🇦 South Africa
South Africa welcomed the report presented today, saying it reminds that the right to health is a legally enforceable human right, not merely a policy objective, and examines how accountability mechanisms can help individuals and communities obtain remedies when their rights are violated.
South Africa asked how the international community can be held accountable in addressing the existing gaps of health equities between the global north and south that impede access for most developing countries.
Sovereign Order of Malta
Sovereign Order of Malta highlighted three priorities: protecting health care during armed conflict and keeping essential services accessible; making mental health and psychosocial support integral to humanitarian and health responses; and strengthening local health systems and empowering local health care workers and organizations.
Sovereign Order of Malta said Malteser International, with the Order of Malta Lebanon, supported 85,500 people in Lebanon in 2025 and provided over 205,000 medical consultations, and in June the Order opened a primary health care clinic in Gaza City.
Sovereign Order of Malta stated through Order of Malta France it supports leprosy programs in 15 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, reaching approximately 20,000 people each year, and stressed that eliminating discrimination requires sustained investment in healthcare, education, rehabilitation and social inclusion.
🇯🇵 Japan
Japan recognized that persons affected by NTDs may face various difficulties and that human rights issues may arise.
Japan stated that it was problematic to simply carry over WHO or health-based groupings into the human rights framework without sufficient analytical basis, and that it considered it premature to draw a broader conclusion at this stage.
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Nigeria stated that leprosy is curable, but that stigma and discrimination remain a serious concern, with affected persons and families facing exclusion from education, employment, communal facilities and social life.
Nigeria highlighted Nigeria's National Zero Leprosy Roadmap, with co-creation workshops across 13 states, and collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and partners on socioeconomic reintegration.
Nigeria called for member states to strengthen legal and institutional protections for persons with albinism, ensure accountability for attacks, and improve access to affordable healthcare and sun protection products.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Ethiopia supported the report's call to address legacies of segregation and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy, not merely as a past public health approach but as structural injustices requiring sustained attention and remedial action.
Ethiopia stated that Ethiopia, in collaboration with the World Ead Health Organization and partners, is scaling up its efforts to achieve the elimination of leprosy by 2030, and is also working to eliminate stigma and strengthen the socioeconomic inclusion of persons affected.
🇨🇳 China
China noted the report of the Special Rapporteur on leprosy and stated that China provides free diagnosis and treatment and medical and living assistance to those affected, and that the law on basic medical and health care and promotion of health explicitly prohibits discrimination based on health status.
China stated that China is implementing the Sustainable Development Plan for comprehensively eliminating the harms of leprosy 2024 to 2030, aiming to attain that goal by 2030, and will strengthen international exchanges and cooperation.
China called for all countries to foster a proper perception of the legitimate rights of persons with albinism, step up protection efforts, and eliminate discrimination and violations against them.
World Health Organization
World Health Organization welcomed the Special Rapporteur's final report and supported its findings, conclusions and recommendations.
World Health Organization commended the Special Rapporteur for positioning leprosy's human rights dimensions within the broader neglected tropical disease agenda.
🇵🇹 Portugal
Portugal noted the experiences shared with independent experts by persons with albinism in Portugal, who described self isolation as a way of coping with stigma and rejection, and said the psychosocial consequences of discrimination must be adequately recognized and addressed.
Portugal welcomed the report's emphasis on raising awareness and challenging myths and misconceptions about albinism, while ensuring access to appropriate psychosocial and mental health support.
🇮🇹 Italy
Italy stated that Italy has supported the independent expert's mandate since its establishment in 2015 and is committed to advancing the protection of the human rights of persons with albinism.
Italy expressed concern about the impact of discrimination on the mental health and well being of people with albinism, and asked how young people can challenge deep-rooted prejudices and become agents of change.
🇹🇿 United Republic of Tanzania
United Republic of Tanzania noted the report of the independent expert on the light of personal with albinism, and stated that Tanzania upholds equality and the well being of persons with albinism in accordance with its constitution and international obligations.
Mulokane Miti Drumon
Mulokane Miti Drumon stated that the report documented over 700 cases of killings and mutilations in the past 10 years based on colour based discrimination, and that such discrimination has led to people being unable to get a good education or employment.
Mulokane Miti Drumon stressed that persons with albinism continue to be invisible in national policies and statistics, that this invisibility leads to human rights violations, and that states have a responsibility and duty to include them in disaggregated data and census.
Mulokane Miti Drumon urged states to work closely with albinism organizations and to provide support to these groups, which he said do this work independently, without much funding and voluntarily.
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