The first Human Rights Council session of 2024, HRC55, is marked by a sad date: Russia’s brutal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine has just entered its 3^rd year. The attacks on Ukraine’s sovereignty, territory and democracy continue, with unspeakable suffering and negative impact on the respect and protection of human rights in Ukraine and beyond.

The attention of the world is also on the situation in Gaza, where too many innocent lives are lost every day and 90% of the population is being displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict. Furthermore, we continue to be confronted with dire situations in Russia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran, Belarus and Sudan. These are just a few of too many crises to highlight and of course, they are happening alongside protracted situations of conflicts and instability, such as in Syria and Yemen.

At a time of an alarming rise in authoritarian regimes and their disregard on democratic values across the globe, it is imperative to demonstrate, through concrete action, the EU’s continued commitment to human rights worldwide. Therefore, the EU together with its Member States, also called ‘Team Europe’ will lead a number of resolutions and Joint Statements at this Council session, covering a wide array of country situations as well as thematic human rights issues.

The European Union will present the following initiatives:

• A resolution on Belarus to address the gravely deteriorating situation on the ground, with systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, including some that may amount to crimes against humanity. In light of prevailing impunity in the country, continued international monitoring and a strong investigative mandate are required to ensure accountability and justice for victims.
• A resolution on North Korea/DPRK to draw attention to the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the DPRK and to express continued support for the work on accountability. Furthermore, the resolution will renew for one year the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.
• The EU-led resolution on Myanmar will address the deeply concerning and deteriorating human rights situation in the country. It will seek to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for one year and express continued support for accountability processes, including the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar as set up by the Human Rights Council.
• The EU will also present again a resolution on Freedom of Religion or Belief, in order to underline this Council’s firm commitment to the promotion and protection of the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief. All human beings, wherever they live, should be guaranteed the right to have, not to have, to choose, change or leave, to practice and to manifest a religion or belief, without fear of violence, persecution, or discrimination.

The EU is pleased to partner once again with the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) on the biannual resolution on the Rights of the child, which will focus this year on the inclusive social protection.

The EU will also continue to support the resolution by Ukraine on the situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression. It is crucial to extend the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry in order to ensure accountability for Ukraine. We will also support other initiatives and side events to this end.

The EU will continue to follow the situation in Gaza closely and call for respect of human rights, underlining the obligation to ensure the protection of all civilians at all times in line with international humanitarian law. Thus, the EU will engage in HRC55 discussions on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian territory, the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the conflict in the Middle East.

The EU will also support the resolution on Syria to ensure that the Council continues to address human rights violations and abuses in the country, as well as on violations of international humanitarian law.

Furthermore, we will be an active voice in HRC discussions, including on Iran, Sudan, Eritrea, Venezuela, Mali, South Sudan and Nicaragua.

The EU will also lend its voice to vigorously promote and scale up efforts towards gender equality, the advancement and full enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls and their empowerment, in line with its international commitments. As strong advocates for a vibrant civil society, we will defend and promote civil society’s full and meaningful participation at the Council. We will also pay close attention to advancing economic, social and cultural rights.

In a #TeamEurope approach, EU Member States will present, with partner countries, the following initiatives at HRC55 (non-exhaustive list):

• Joint statement on International Women’s Day (Finland, Mexico)
• Joint statement on elections in 2024 in the world (Romania)
• Resolution on the rights of persons belonging to minorities (Austria, Slovenia, Mexico)
• Resolution on the right to work (Greece, Romania, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico)
• Resolution on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context (Finland, Germany, Brazil and Namibia)
• Resolution on “Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (Denmark)
• Resolution on Combating Violence, Discrimination and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons (Finland, Australia, Chile, South Africa)
• Renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur (SR) on the situation of Human Rights in Iran and of the mandate of the Fact Finding Mission (FFM) (Germany, Iceland, United Kingdom, North Macedonia and the Republic of Moldova)
• Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, US, Qatar, Turkiye)
• Resolution on human rights and the environment (Slovenia, Costa Rica, Maldives, Morocco and Switzerland)
• Resolution on the role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Japan, United Kingdom, United States).
• Renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy (Austria, Brazil, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico)