HRC62 - EU Statement - Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner’s annual report

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HRC62 - EU Statement - Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner's annual report

16.06.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

62^nd session

Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner's annual report

16 June 2026

EU Statement

Mister President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

We thank the High Commissioner for his annual report. At a time when human rights face growing challenges, your role and the work of your office are especially important. The EU reaffirms its steadfast support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to operate independently and with sufficient resources. We must 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 last week. The European Union takes note of the remarks made by the High Commissioner in relation to its migration policy. The EU will continue stepping up action to uphold international law and promote and protect human rights in relation to all refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and migrants, in particular the fundamental right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement and paying particular attention to persons in vulnerable situations.

We welcome your agreement with the Government of Lebanon to conduct an impartial and independent assessment mission in the country

We thank the High Commissioner for his oral update and for the reports on Colombia, Georgia, Iran, Nicaragua and Myanmar.

We refer to the EU statements during the respective interactive dialogues on the situations in Belarus, Burundi, Crimea, DRC-Kivu, Eritrea, Venezuela, Sudan, and South Sudan as well as the Occupied Palestinian Territory to be delivered in the upcoming dialogue, where we will, inter alia, raise the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The EU reaffirms its strong and unequivocal opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and all cases. Capital punishment violates the inalienable right to life and is incompatible with human dignity. The EU expresses deep concern over the sharp increase in recorded executions in the past year. While the overall global trend continues to move towards universal abolition of the death penalty, the EU expresses deep concern over a recent series of backward steps. We are particularly concerned by the sharp increase in recorded executions in the world in the past year, primarily due to a significant rise in executions in a small number of retentionist States, including for offences that do not meet the threshold of the "most serious crimes" under international law, including drug offences. Other United Nations Member States have resumed the use of the death penalty after periods of suspension or have taken steps to reintroduce it into national legislation or to expand the types of offences for which the death penalty can be imposed, sometimes creating a framework susceptible to group-based discrimination. We express our deep concern with new laws that expand the scope of the death penalty and remain worried about the departure from international law those laws represent, including the right to equality before the law and non-discrimination, and the right to a fair trial and to enjoy due process guarantees. We call on all States that still retain the death penalty to comply with the relevant international law norms and standards and to adopt a moratorium on executions as a first step towards its full abolition, in line with the overall global trend. We look forward to the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty, to be held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026, which represents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards universal abolition.

The EU remains strongly committed to fighting impunity and ensuring accountability for all violations and abuses of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law wherever they take place. Accountability is key to the sustainable resolution of conflicts. Together with partners across the world, the EU will continue to support UN special procedures, mandate holders and other independent investigations into violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those that may amount to international crimes.

We reaffirm our unwavering support to the international criminal justice system, particularly to the International Criminal Court, as well as our commitment to upholding the Rome Statute and preserving the ICC's independence and integrity. We will continue to condemn attacks or threats against the Court, elected officials, personnel and those cooperating with the Court. We condemn attacks or threats against civil society cooperating with the Court.

We reiterate our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine that grossly violates international law, including the UN Charter.

We demand that Russia ceases its aggression, withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine immediately, completely and unconditionally, and fully respects Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's continuing violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, such as summary executions of prisoners of war and civilian detainees, arbitrary detention, systematic and widespread use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including rape and other conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.

Last week, the United Nations Secretary-General's report on conflict-related sexual violence attributed responsibility to Russia for such acts in the context of its war against Ukraine. The report documents deeply disturbing widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, based on testimonies from survivors, including former prisoners of war and civilian detainees.

We express our deepest concern about Russia's continued indiscriminate and targeted attacks on Ukraine's civilian population and civilian infrastructure. The year 2025 was the deadliest for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, according to the January 2026 report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). The EU is deeply concerned that, according to the latter's April 2026 report, in the first four months of 2026, the number of civilian casualties were 21 per cent higher than in 2025, due to the increased use of long-range missiles and drones by Russia, killing and injuring civilians across Ukraine. The Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Russian authorities have committed crimes against humanity of torture, enforced disappearances, murder and forcible transfer of population, and war crimes, including deliberate and intensified targeting of civilians. The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the increasing number of executions of prisoners of war. The EU calls for respect of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.

We call on Russia, and Belarus, to immediately end the grave violation of child deportation and forcible transfer, which - according to the Commission of Inquiry - constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity and to ensure their immediate, safe and unconditional return to Ukraine. Russia must stop the illegal adoptions of these children, which violate their right to their Ukrainian nationality, their identity, name and family relations. We call on Russia to immediately stop the militarisation and indoctrination of Ukrainian minors and youth as per the latest OHCHR reports.

The EU is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses stemming from Russia's war of aggression, including through investigations by the prosecutor of the ICC, and to uphold the rights of victims to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. In this context, the EU ratified the Council of Europe Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine on 15 May and calls for others to do so as well and for the Claims Commission's work to continue. The EU continues to support the work towards the establishment of a comprehensive compensation mechanism. The EU continues to support further efforts related to the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine and participated in the adoption of the decision establishing the Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Special Tribunal on 15 May, invites third parties to join, and we call on other countries to do the same.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, grounded in the principles of international law, including the UN Charter, and welcome all efforts towards that end.

Regarding Russia, the EU condemns the structural system of human rights violations, which are part of a further intensifying systematic, state-sponsored internal repression, including use of arbitrary detention and widespread and systematic use of torture and ill-treatment. The EU is deeply concerned about the systematic crackdown on civil society, especially on human rights defenders, lawyers, independent media and journalists, as well as the repression of political opposition, LGBTI persons and citizens with dissenting voices in Russia, alongside transnational repression. We urge Russia to abolish its repressive legislation, and to align its domestic legislation with international human rights law and to ensure a safe and enabling online and offline environment for all. We also call on Russia to end its political misuse of the judiciary and law enforcement. We remain concerned about extensive abuse of counter-terrorism, extremism, treason, espionage and other national security-related provisions in the Russian Criminal Code to target dissent, anti-war expression and peaceful protests. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners and persons arbitrarily detained. We are also deeply concerned about the Russian authorities' expanding control over internet infrastructure, including through State-directed filtering, blocking and internet shutdowns, as well as the instrumentalization of 'extremism' legislation to repress online applications and content. We recall the obligation under international law to conduct independent and transparent investigations into all deaths in detention. The EU calls on Russia to fully implement all outstanding rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. The EU also calls on Russia to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of Indigenous Peoples as set out in the UNDRIP and other international human rights law. The EU calls on the Russian Federation to cooperate fully with the UN and all special procedures.

The EU strongly condemns the ongoing, widespread and systematic human rights violations and abuses committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The systematic and systemic violations of women's and girls' rights by the Taliban may amount to gender persecution, a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute of the ICC, to which Afghanistan is a State Party. We are deeply concerned by the recently adopted so-called decree on criminal rules of courts (Decree No. 12) and the so-called Decree No. 18 "Code on Judicial Separation of Spouses", which mark a further deterioration of human rights in Afghanistan, in particular regarding equality before the law, fair trial rights, freedom of religion or belief, and the protection of women and children. The EU urges the Taliban to reverse all policies and practices that restrict the enjoyment of human rights by people in Afghanistan, and to render them consistent with the international human rights obligations of Afghanistan, including under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The EU calls for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities including ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, such as the Hazara, as well as persons in vulnerable situations and LGBTI persons, and for the respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom. Victims and survivors of human rights violations and abuses deserve accountability. In that regard, the sufficient funding and operationalisation of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan will be a decisive step. Finally, we also call for unhindered and unimpeded humanitarian access, and ensuring women can work and deliver assistance across Afghanistan. Only an Afghan-led political process inclusive of all Afghans, with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women, and representation of all segments of the Afghan society, can ensure sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.

The EU reiterates its concerns about the very serious human rights situation in China. The EU continues to urge China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own Constitution, and international law, and to respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and other persons belonging to national or ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities across China. In that regard, we recall our concerns related to the new Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and its potentially extra-territorial effects. The EU urges China to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards abolition, and to adopt rigorous procedures for reviewing capital sentences and reporting death penalty cases. China must respect the principle of non-refoulement and refrain from extraterritorial activities (including coercion and intimidation) that are not in line with international law. Numerous reports by UN Treaty Bodies and UN Special Rapporteurs and the assessment report of human rights concerns in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by the OHCHR corroborate the EU's human rights concerns. We urge China to cooperate effectively with the UN High Commissioner and his Office, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee against Torture, and with all international human rights mechanisms, including towards the implementation of the recommendations included in the assessment report on the human rights concerns in Xinjiang and follow-up to the report as well as through the facilitation of visits of the High Commissioner and the Special Procedures mandate holders to regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet. The human rights situation in Tibet continues to be equally dire. Indicators of this include large-scale coercive enrolment in obligatory boarding schools, suppression of protests, discontinuation of teaching Tibetan language and culture and insistence that students attend state schools where Tibetan is only taught as a stand-alone subject. We reiterate the rights of persons belonging to religious groups to conduct their basic affairs without interference and freely choose their religious leaders.

The EU remains concerned about the repressive use of national security legislation in Hong Kong, including its extraterritorial application, notably through repeated issuance of arrest warrants and bounties targeting individuals living outside Hong Kong. The EU is following with great concern the national security trials of politicians, journalists, civil society actors and pro-democracy representatives. The sweeping changes in the electoral system have further eroded democratic principles and political pluralism. The EU urges the Chinese government and the Hong Kong authorities to restore full respect for the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and democratic principles, and to preserve Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy under the 'one country, two systems' principle.

The EU reiterates its serious concerns about the deeply worrying situation in Türkiye and continued deterioration in the areas of democracy, rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the independence of the judiciary. Civil Society organizations remain under growing pressure. The EU remains deeply concerned about the continued targeting of political parties, democratically elected mayors, civil society representatives, journalists, academics, human rights defenders, LGBTI persons, and others, including through arbitrary arrests and detentions. The rights of elected officials as well as the right of peaceful assembly need to be fully respected.Political opposition must be free to operate, organise, and participate in the political process without fear of repression. As an EU candidate country and member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye, where the democratic process is being hampered, is expected to apply the highest democratic standards and practices. In this context, in line with Article 46 of the ECHR, we call on Türkiye to comply with the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, including the release of Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş, and regardingfreedom of thought, conscience and religion and the freedom of assembly and association. The EU reiterates its calls on Türkiye to comply with its obligations under international law, including international human rights law and to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and the rule of law - including the property rights of persons belonging to minorities and legal entities representing minorities. Human rights are non-negotiable and will continue to be an integral part of EU-Türkiye relations.

The EU deplores the appalling human rights violations, in particular in recent months, in Iran, including the brutal repression of peaceful protests across Iran in January 2026, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians. We condemn the use of the death penalty, and the widespread arbitrary arrests and detentions, as a means to suppress internal dissent. The pace of executions in Iran is appalling. We call for unconditional release of all those unjustly arrested in the rightful exercise of their freedom of expression. The EU urges Iranian authorities to fully adhere to Iran's international obligations including under ICCPR to which Iran is a party, and in particular the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. We also urge Iranian authorities to restore all communications immediately and permanently, including full and unhindered access to the internet, and to ensure the right to free access to information for all. The EU calls on Iran to end all forms of discrimination, in law and in practice, against women and girls, as well as persons belonging to ethnic, religious, linguistic or other minorities. At the same time, the EU deplores the loss of all civilian life in the context of the recent military escalation. We are deeply saddened by the loss of children's lives in Iran, including those killed in the strike against a school in Minab on 28 February. The EU calls for de-escalation and maximum restraint, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and full respect of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, by all parties.

We acknowledge the pardons in Bahrain of more than 6000 prisoners since 2024. We encourage Bahrain to continue along this path and to further align its policies with international human rights law, especially with regard to human rights defenders.

Regarding Myanmar, the EU reaffirms its support for the efforts of the UN and ASEAN, including the full and effective implementation of the Five Points Consensus. The EU reiterates its deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar and strongly condemns the continued indiscriminate aerial attacks and other violence against civilians. The EU recalls that the recent elections were neither free, inclusive nor fair and cannot be regarded as a legitimate or credible democratic exercise. The EU urges the establishment of a transparent, inclusive and credible democratic process through genuine dialogue with all stakeholders. The EU welcomed the announcement of the release of U Win Myint and other political prisoners and continues to demand the unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained persons, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and recalls the duty to guarantee all detainees access to healthcare, lawyers and relatives. The EU reaffirms its support for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and urges the full implementation of UNSC resolution 2669 (2022). The EU underscores its support for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

The EU remains deeply concerned by the human rights situation in the DPRK. UN reporting and other credible documentation continue to point to arbitrary deprivation of life, including public and secret executions, while existing laws criminalise access to foreign information and prescribe penalties including death or long-term forced labour. We recall the High Commissioner's statement of May 2026 that the situation remains a "human rights crisis", marked by pervasive surveillance, repression, lack of accountability, and violations that may amount to crimes against humanity.

The EU encourages the DPRK to engage in constructive action and dialogue with the international community, including the UN human rights system and the Special Rapporteur, and grant them long-overdue access to the country.

The EU remains deeply concerned by the escalating gang violence in Haiti and the failure of the authorities to protect the civilian population, particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups. We hope that the newly mandated force will support the Haitian security and defence forces in restoring stability and conducting free and fair elections while ensuring the protection of civilians. Given the highly volatile environment and serious human rights risks, the EU stresses the need for a strong oversight mechanism to prevent abuses.

The EU reiterates its support for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We continue to be seriously concerned about the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The EU regrets the continued lack of access of the OHCHR and UN human rights mechanisms to Abkhazia and South Ossetia and urges all actors to ensure unimpeded access to be granted without further delay.

The EU recalls Georgia's obligation to enable the exercise of fundamental freedoms and urges Georgia to repeal or substantially revise legislation that runs counter to Georgia's obligations under international human rights law and unduly restricts or violates the freedoms of assembly, association or expression, including the freedom and pluralism of media. The EU is concerned about the politically motivated use of the justice system and the criminal investigations against Civil Society Organisations. The EU continues to strongly condemn arbitrary arrests and the increasing repression and persecution, including the imprisonment of opposition leaders, independent journalists and media workers, as well as civil society actors, which contributes to the backsliding of democracy and the rule of law in Georgia. We continue to call on the Georgian authorities to immediately and unconditionally free all arbitrarily detained persons and recall the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment and stress the importance of ending impunity for violations committed by law enforcement.

The EU closely follows the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The EU remains concerned by the weaponization of legislation to silence and criminalise activities of human rights defenders, journalists, media workers, politicians and civic activists, academics and scholars. 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

The EU remains concerned about the lack of accountability for widespread human rights violations in Tanzania in the context of the 2025 general elections, which is essential to ensure guarantees of non-repetition. The EU takes note of the fact that the work of the government's Commission of Inquiry and the findings have not been published yet. The EU calls for the publication of the report as well as credible implementation of measures leading to accountability for the serious shortcomings it identified. The EU encourages Tanzania to engage constructively with UN human rights mechanisms and continues to stress the importance of developing a fully-fledged multi-party system and of open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders, in particular opposition parties and civil society.

We recall the local statement on the recent general elections in Ethiopia and call upon all stakeholders in Ethiopia to uphold human rights across the country, ensure justice and accountability for all victims and survivors of grave human rights violations and abuses including through a genuine transitional justice process and the national dialogue.

The EU continues to be seriously concerned about the deterioration of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Nicaragua. We reiterate our call for an immediate end of the repression, including transnational repression, against civil society and religious institutions, and the release of all political prisoners. We deplore the death in custody of Brooklyn Rivera and request the authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation. We urge Nicaragua to adhere to its human rights obligations and cooperate with international human rights organisations and mechanisms.