European External Action Service

07/09/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/09/2025 08:25

Achievements at the Human Rights Council

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Achievements at the Human Rights Council

09.07.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

After three intense weeks, the 59th session of the Human Rights Council closed its doors on 8 July 2025. The EU human rights team can look back at some major achievements.

© EU Geneva

The Council adopted an EU-led resolution to maintain international scrutiny of the human rights situation in Eritrea by extending the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur. As reported by the Special Rapporteur, persistent systemic human rights violations and abuses have continued in Eritrea, including widespread arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, as well as systematic suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, association and religion. Eritrea continues to impose an indefinite national service, which has been linked to forced labour and other grave human rights violations. It has also had profound impacts on economic, social and cultural rights. These violations and abuses take place against the backdrop of a continued lack of accountability.

"There is an urgent need to maintain sustained international scrutiny and engagement on the human rights situation in Eritrea by renewing the Special Rapporteur's mandate. His work is essential to support victims and their families, and to ensure sustained efforts towards accountability and reform in a context where no domestic avenues for justice or redress exist." EU statement


The EU also supported a resolution presented by Ukraine, which requests the continued technical cooperation and assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in the field of human rights. This resolution underlines Ukraine's commitment to continue upholding its human rights obligations, notwithstanding the enormous challenges it faces amid the ongoing war of aggression by the Russian Federation. For more than a decade, the UN Monitoring Mission has contributed to Ukraine's progress in upholding human rights and fostering access to justice within its jurisdiction. It has also supported Ukraine's enhanced cooperation with human rights mechanisms, including UN treaty bodies and Special Procedures. The continued presence of the Monitoring Mission is critical to sustain this advancement.

Furthermore, the EU actively supported the adoption of several other crucial resolutions, such as the extension of the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

We are equally pleased that the Council has sent a strong signal on gender equality, adopting resolutions on eliminating discrimination and violence against women and girls, as well as on women empowerment. The EU also lent strong support to a resolution on protecting civil society space and a resolution on the safety of journalists.


Over the past weeks, the EU has worked closely together with a wide range of Permanent Missions and civil society organisations - their partnership is invaluable.

"The EU will continue to cooperate with all regions of the world, to listen to the legitimate concerns of its partners, and to enhance cooperation with like-minded countries across regions. It will be particularly important to deepen and broaden cooperation in the area of human rights, including beyond traditional like-minded partners, and act as a bridge-builder." EU Council Conclusions on EU Priorities in UN Human Rights Fora in 2025

In a Team Europe approach, EU Member States will furthermore present, together with partners, the following resolutions:

  • New and emerging digital technologies and human rights
  • The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
  • The negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights
  • The Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDP)
  • The safety of journalists
  • The right to education
  • Civil Society Space

The EU and its Member States also organised numerous side events to highlight certain human rights topics, including on media freedom, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the context of elections, climate change and human rights, gender equality, protecting IDPs, and women's rights in Afghanistan.

"The EU remains committed to ending impunity and ensuring accountability for all violations of international law. The EU will continue to support the process leading towards the adoption of the convention on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity, as well as efforts towards independent investigations into violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those that may amount to international crimes." EU Council Conclusions on EU priorities at the United Nations

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