Thank you, Chair.

This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the adoption of two core human rights treaties: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Sixty years later, their promise remains as vital as it was in 1966: every person is entitled to the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms – every day, everywhere. Human rights are universal – they unite us, transcending the different political, economic and cultural circumstances under which we live.

Germany is a strong supporter of the UN Human Rights System. This is why Germany is seeking election to the Human Rights Council for 2027 to 2029.

The history of our own country has shown what happens when human rights are systematically denied, when the foundations of freedom and peace are destroyed by terror.

We are aware of our responsibility: to stand up for human rights where they are violated or challenged – both at home and around the world. The full realization of human rights is essential to human dignity, peaceful and inclusive societies, and sustainable development.

Allow me to highlight four thematic points:

First, Germany is deeply alarmed by the sharp surge in the use of the death penalty by only a few remaining States worldwide, including the application of the death penalty in relation to drug-related offences. There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty contributes to curbing or preventing drug trafficking more than other types of punishment.

We remain equally concerned about extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Second: we are deeply concerned by threats, intimidation and reprisals, including acts of transnational repression, aimed at silencing voices beyond national borders. The protection of human rights also depends on those who have the courage to defend them: Human rights defenders, journalists and civil society representatives. They give a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard, they expose violations and strengthen accountability and contribute to more open, resilient, inclusive and democratic societies. Human rights need defenders and they need alliances across regions and political divides.

Third: the commitment to human dignity and equality must extend to the digital sphere, including the right to privacy. We are therefore proud to again co-facilitate with our Brazilian colleagues the resolution on the Right to Privacy in the Digital Age to ensure a human-rights based approach to rapid technological developments, especially artificial intelligence.

Fourth: we remain firmly committed to the principles of equality and non-discrimination. No one should face discrimination, violence or persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The deadly attack in Berlin this July reminds us that violence against LGBTI people is equally an attack on human rights as a whole and the foundations of the rule of law.

Chair, human rights and fundamental freedoms are all the more urgent as they are under increasing pressure around the world.

During the more than four years of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, we have witnessed blatant and systematic violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by Russia in Ukraine, including in the temporarily occupied territories. We are gravely concerned about the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and unlawfully detained civilians as well as the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia.

The link between external aggression and internal repression is evident: We are alarmed by the widespread repression and serious human rights violations directed against its own people inside Russia and transnationally.

We are appalled by the brutal suppression of the protests in Iran at the beginning of 2026, including findings of severe human rights violations which amount to crimes against humanity. We condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and the use of the death penalty by Iran to punish individuals exercising their basic human rights. Moreover, we call on Iran to end its systematic repression against women as well as ethnic and religious minorities.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban’s systematic oppression of women and girls denies them even their most basic rights and effectively excludes them from public life.

Syria deserves our continued support as the country works on its transition from decades of repression and from fourteen years of war. We reiterate our support for the Syrian-led, Syrian-owned transition process, for the UN’s mechanisms set up to support this transition in the areas of transitional justice, accountability, and the search for the missing: the IIIM, IIMP and the Commission of Inquiry, and for Syria’s civil society, whose meaningful participation in the transition is needed for it to succeed.

Germany will continue to work towards achieving lasting peace through a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East. This can only be achieved if human rights and dignity of all are respected and protected. We continue to make concrete contributions to the implementation of the 20-Point Plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803. Urgent progress is needed on the ground. At the same time, Germany remains concerned about unprecedented levels of violence in the Occupied West Bank.

Chair, Germany is fully committed to the UN Human Rights System.

Foreign Minister Wadephul has just announced in Geneva that Germany provides an additional voluntary contribution of six million euros to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

At a time when human rights and international law are under pressure, our answer must be better and stronger cooperation. Germany stands ready to work with all partners to ensure that the promise of human rights becomes reality for all.

Thank you.