Third Committee, 1st plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session

Wars, racism, shrinking civic space threaten human rights, delegates warn as Third Committee opens general debate.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / General Assembly
• Video Length: 02:57:14
• Production Date: 1 October 2026
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; POLITICAL AFFAIRS; RACISM; SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; ACCOUNTABILITY; WAR; DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
• Geographic Subject: UKRAINE; GAZA
• MAMS Id: 3639056
• Parent Id: 3636181
• Alternate Title: MTG GA 81 SESSION THIRD CTTE 01 PLENARY 01 OCT 2026 AM

Description

From wars in Gaza and Ukraine to sanctions, racism and shrinking civic space, delegates opening the Third Committee’s general debate today warned of mounting threats to human rights, as calls for accountability competed with concerns over politicization and double standards.

Protecting human rights amid conflict and inequality emerged as a central theme, with delegates spotlighting colonialism and slavery, threats to civil society and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies.

Organizational matters (A/C.3/81/L.1, A/C.3/81/L.1/ADD.1)

Opening of the general debate

Statements delivered:

• Group of 77 and China
• European Union
• Cuba
• Ireland
• Germany
• Egypt
• Russian Federation
• Austria
• Rwanda
• Italy
• Sweden

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