General Assembly: 26th plenary meeting, 80th session

Human Rights Council President presents report, as General Assembly speakers call for end to double standards, collaboration between Geneva, New York.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / General Assembly
• Video Length: 03:06:34
• Production Date: 31 October 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: ANNALENA BAERBOCK
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - UNHRC
• Subject Topical: EQUALITY; HUMAN RIGHTS; INTERNATIONAL LAW; JUSTICE; UNITED NATIONS BUDGET
• MAMS Id: 3489632
• Parent Id: 3487402
• Alternate Title: MTG GA 80 SESSION 26 PLENARY 31 OCT 2025 AM

Description

The Human Rights Council must serve as a “sanctuary of humanity” that not only protects but also delivers on the promise of human rights as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the General Assembly heard today, as it considered the body’s report.

“Today, both international law and human rights are under growing pressure,” said Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, noting that — despite the vision of the UN’s founders — some countries brazenly dismiss the rule of law, while others question the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In their most extreme form in Afghanistan, the Taliban deny women and girls even the most basic human rights.

“The frequency of such abuses is shocking,” she said. “We cannot remain passive […] nor allow cynics to weaponize these failures to discredit the institutions that protect human dignity”.

Statements Delivered:

• Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly
• Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council
• Iceland (on behalf of the Nordic Countries)
• Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (on behalf of Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations)
• European Union (on behalf of the EU and its member States)
• Benin
• Switzerland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Indonesia
• Croatia
• Iran (Islamic Republic of)
• Costa Rica
• Nicaragua
• Cuba
• Egypt
• Algeria
• Liechtenstein
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Brazil
• Dominican Republic
• Colombia
• Russian Federation
• Morocco
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Nigeria
• Pakistan

Related Sites and Documents

UN Meetings Coverage

A/80/4

A/80/338