The European Union will, as in previous sessions, raise strongly its voice against human rights violations and abuses wherever they occur. We will engage in all interactive dialogues and panel discussions, and all EU statements will be published on our website. 

The EU will also lead a resolution at this session to ensure the Council’s continued attention on the human rights situation in Belarus. OHCHR’s latest report states that the practice of incommunicado detention of members of the political opposition and prominent figures sentenced to lengthy prison terms for voicing dissent increased in 2023. The EU-led resolution will therefore seek to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus to ensure continued scrutiny and monitoring.  

The EU will also present a resolution on the human rights situation in Eritrea. The situation in Eritrea shows no sign of improvement and requires continuous monitoring. Therefore the EU-led resolution will ask to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. 

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its blatant violations of international law will remain high on our agenda throughout this Council session. Furthermore, the EU will engage in discussions at the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation, among others, in Burundi, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, Israel/Palestine, Iran and Venezuela.  

Women’s and girl’s human rights will have a major focus at this session and we will vigorously promote international efforts towards gender equality and the advancement and full enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls and their empowerment. We will also engage in the interactive dialogue on discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). We will remain strongly engaged in ensuring that voices of civil society and human rights defenders are heard and will continue to condemn any form of reprisals against HRDs and civil society organisations that cooperate with the UN system. At HRC53 we will actively promote universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and democratic principles in the digital space. In this vein, the EU will lead a Joint Statement on Internet Shutdowns.  

We will continue to support measures to address the impact of climate change, the loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation on the full enjoyment of all human rights. Ensure transparent, inclusive, safe and meaningful participation by civil society in international climate discussions, including the upcoming COP28, is a crucial element of this agenda, which we will highlight in an EU-led Joint Statement.