HRC58: Human Rights Concerns that Require the Council’s Attention
The 58th Session of the Human Rights Council
24 February – 4 April 2025
General Debate on Item 4
20 March 2025
By Dilinna Nwabueze / GICJ
Executive Summary
During the General Debate on Item 4, many delegates called for the Human Rights Council to bring attention to the importance of objectivity, transparency, and double standards that are being accepted in face of human rights violations. Delegates were deeply concerned about the atrocities and blatant human rights violations in Palestine, Ukraine, China, Sudan, Myanmar, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Iran, Venezuela, Niger, North Korea, Belarus, and Nicaragua. There were calls for new fact-finding missions that would not only bring greater awareness but also formulate concrete plans for action. To effectively address human rights violations, the Human Rights Council must be non confrontational and non-political, respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity and considering political, cultural, historical, social, and religious particularities.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) calls on the international community to demand accountability and justice, while condemning all human rights violations: humanitarian and international law must be followed.
In particular, GICJ advocated for justice and accountability for Iraq following the US-led invasion of 2003. During the general debate on Item 4, the organisation delivered two oral statements reminding the Council of the vast destruction of the country and the utter disregard of international humanitarian and human rights law that characterised the invasion.
Moreover, GICJ stands for the development of mechanisms that will protect vulnerable and persecuted individuals, communities, and nations.Taking into account the widespread and systematic attacks on vulnerable communities, GICJ recognises these acts of persecution as crimes against humanity and calls on the international community, human rights organisations, and United Nations bodies to take immediate action. It is imperative that all human rights violators are held accountable for ongoing violations of international law. All persons are entitled to the protection, dignity, and justice under the universal human rights principles.
Background
In the present report (A/HRC/58/61) [1], which covers the period from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2024, the High Commissioner describes the activities undertaken by OHCHR – including its field-based structure in Seoul – during the reporting period to implement the Council mandate, highlighting the progress made and the challenges encountered. The High Commissioner examines, in ight of the relevant international legal standards, information gathered by OHCHR on patterns of human rights violations committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with a particular focus on freedom of expression and the right to food, as well as efforts by OHCHR to strengthen, institutionalise and further advance its work on accountability and the consultations process.
In August 2023, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea partially reopened its borders, which had remained closed since the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, movement within the country and freedom to leave the country remain restricted. During the period under review, the number of people arriving in the Republic of Korea from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has significantly decreased compared with pre-pandemic figures. The Government of the Republic of Korea reported that 181 escapees had arrived in the first nine months of 2024 and 196 escapees had arrived in 2023, compared with the arrival of 1,047 escapees in 2019. During the period under review, OHCHR conducted 175 interviews with escapees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, victims of human rights violations, and families and relatives of victims. OHCHR also interviewed former high-ranking officials, providing critical information about State policies, structures, and decision-making processes.
Summary of the Report by the High Commissioner
Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, presented a report on North Korea and an update on the human rights situation in Venezuela. The report covered the two years between November 2022 and October 2024. It focused on human rights violations related to food, freedom of speech, enforced disappearances, abductions, and forced labor. She highlighted the lack of significant movement towards criminal accountability in North Korea. However, there has been international progress, such as the central repository of evidence documenting the ongoing violations. This repository was done by the Human Rights Council and includes witness testimonies that cover hundreds of human rights violations. Ms. Al-Nashif noted that further investigations are needed to build more evidence and link it to the specific individuals responsible. She affirmed that the Council is ready to cooperate with member states on judicial investigations or other approaches to provide redress to victims.
General Debate
Country Statements
The representative of Venezuela highlighted the United States Alien Enemies Act, which allows for the removal of native citizens who are not naturalised citizens within the United States and are subject to the authority of the hostile country. He claimed that the United States is using this Act to detain and expel Venezuelan migrants without giving them due process, a right to defense, or appeal to a higher instance. He likened this occurrence to when Japanese Americans were wrongfully detained within the United States during World War II. The representative believed this Act would soon be applied to other Latin American countries. Moreover, he argued how the United States paying high rates to the El Salvadoran government to take in Venezuelan migrants creates a normalisation of migrant trade as an economic activity. He called for such conduct to be condemned.
The representative of Poland stated his country is deeply alarmed at Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and condemned in the strongest possible terms the increase of summary executions of Ukrainian military service personnel captured by Russian forces. They are alarmed by reports that Russian authorities have acted under a coordinated state policy and have committed crimes against humanity, including systematic and widespread torture. They condemned the devastating impact of the war on Ukrainian children, their deportation, indoctrination, and militarisation. Additionally, the delegate called on Russia to end the unlawful practice of child deportation and forcible transfer, to stop the illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children, and to ensure their immediate and safe return to Ukraine. They also demanded that Russia stop the militarisation and indoctrination of Ukrainian minors and youth. They condemned Russia's harassment and intimidation of journalists covering war zones and frontlines.
The representative of Uganda reiterated that in addressing human rights situations, this Council needs to do so with objectivity, respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, impartiality, non-selectivity, and transparency as the guiding principles, taking into account the political, historical, social, religious and cultural particularities of each country. She expressed deep concern over the proliferation of the practice of selective adoption of country-specific resolutions in the Council, which is a tool that exploits human rights for political purposes and breaches the principles of universality, objectivity, and non-selectivity in addressing human rights issues which undermine cooperation as the essential principle to effectively promote and protect all universally recognised human rights for all.
The representative of Pakistan underscored that in the pursuit of fulfilling its mandate, the Council must keep in view the interdependence, indivisibility, and interrelatedness of all human rights. He stated that selectivity in approaches undercuts and contradicts these cherished principles and that the hierarchy of human rights ultimately suits neither any state nor any individual. Ultimately, a balanced and impartial approach to all human rights must be adopted. He also rejected the prejudiced approach, taken by some, to equate the oppressed and the oppressor and the occupier and the occupied.
The representative of Iceland stated that minorities also face marginalisation, underrepresentation, discrimination, and lack of protection; the Taliban have continued to deepen broader restrictions on civic space and arbitrarily detained and tortured journalists and other critics, among other violations. He cited that the Special Rapporteur has recommended the creation of an additional independent investigation mechanism, with a comprehensive mandate and broad scope, to support efforts towards criminal accountability, recognising broad calls for such a mechanism among Afghan and international rights groups. Such a mandate would be, as in other situations, complementary to the important ongoing work of the Special Rapporteur.
The representative of Iran stressed the utmost importance of the promotion and protection of both collective and individual human rights, without distinction of levels or categories, and also considered that their promotion and protection are strengthened based on dialogue and cooperation. All human rights should be treated with the same emphasis, with sufficient importance attached to economic, social, and cultural rights and the right to development in particular. She stated that monitoring mechanisms under Agenda Item 4, which do not have the support of the countries concerned, fail to protect human rights by disregarding the cooperation of the state concerned. She concluded by saying the application of Unilateral Coercive Measures is illegal and infringes the UN Charter and the international law, violating the human rights of the populations of the States affected and third countries due to extraterritoriality.
The representative of Germany condemned, in the strongest terms, Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Russian armed forces have committed atrocities and severe violations of international law on Ukrainian soil. They urged all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law, and to resume talks on the second phase of the ceasefire and further hostage releases without delay. Israel must take all necessary measures to ensure the unhindered provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian support to Palestinians throughout Gaza, including the supply of water and electricity.
The representative of Azerbaijan stated that the international community should endorse multilateralism, strengthen solidarity and coordination, respond jointly to global challenges, advance world peace and development, and promote and protect human rights. They reaffirmed their support for the One-China principle. They commended China’s active fulfillment of international human rights obligations and welcomed a constructive exchange and cooperation with human rights mechanisms, including the OHCHR, the special procedures and treaty bodies.
The representative of Armenia called for the attention of this Council to the sham “trials” of the Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees in Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, authorities are using this judicial spectacle as a tool for political pressure on the Republic of Armenia and manipulation within society, given the sensitivity of the issue for every family member and the entire society. They stated that the grave violations, including torture and intimidation, that Armenians are enduring in Baku, must be equally unsettling for anyone caring for peace and human rights.
The representative of Austria firmly reiterated the strong condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. They expressed concern about the situation in the Middle East and urged states to ensure no arms are sold, transferred, or diverted to Myanmar. All parties must respect international humanitarian and human rights law, and perpetrators must be held accountable.
Civil Society Organisations Statements
Many organisations expressed deep concern over the ongoing human rights violations in Iran, China, Sudan, India, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and many other countries. They called for urgent reforms to prevent unchecked censorship and to ensure regulations fully align with international human rights law. Many members of organisations urged all relevant UN human rights bodies and mechanisms to address and respond to violations of freedom of expression arising from its enforcement. There were many references to International Women’s Day and calls on the Council to act to demand accountability for women and girls everywhere.
Position of Geneva International Centre for Justice
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) calls on the international community to demand accountability and justice, while condemning all human rights violations: humanitarian and international law must be followed.
In particular, GICJ advocated for justice and accountability for Iraq following the US-led invasion of 2003. During the general debate on Item 4, the organisation delivered two oral statements reminding the Council of the vast destruction of the country and the utter disregard of international humanitarian and human rights law that characterised the invasion.
Moreover, GICJ stands for the development of mechanisms that will protect vulnerable and persecuted individuals, communities, and nations.Taking into account the widespread and systematic attacks on vulnerable communities, GICJ recognises these acts of persecution as crimes against humanity and calls on the international community, human rights organisations, and United Nations bodies to take immediate action. It is imperative that all human rights violators are held accountable for ongoing violations of international law. All persons are entitled to the protection, dignity, and justice under the universal human rights principles.
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