HRC61 - Joint Statement - 60th anniversary of the Covenants

HRC61 - Joint Statement - 60th anniversary of the Covenants

Human Rights Council - 61st session

Joint Statement

60th anniversary of the Covenants

General Debate ITEM 8

24 March 2026

I am delivering this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of xx states.

This year we commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the General Assembly on 16 December 1966.

Together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, these comprehensive international treaties in the field of human rights are considered the International Bill of Human Rights, the bedrock of international human rights law.

Widely ratified, the Covenants codify and give binding legal effect to human rights in international law, committing States to protect, respect, and fulfill civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of each individual person. As parties to both Covenants we remain actively committed to their implementation, including through the meaningful participation in reviews conducted by the corresponding treaty bodies and the effective follow-up to their recommendations.

In this regard we underline the important role of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in examining the progress made by States parties in fulfilling the obligations undertaken in the Covenants and in providing recommendations to States parties on their implementation including with regard to the provision of remedy for victims of human rights violations.

Given the crucial role of these treaty bodies, we are highly concerned about the current UN budgetary and liquidity crisis which has significantly reduced the session time of these and all treaty bodies, thereby delaying the vital review of States and the ensuing reports.

We underline the need for adequate, predictable, increased and sustainable funding of the UN human rights mechanisms, in line with the Pact for the Future, so that they, including the treaty bodies, can discharge their mandates effectively.

In these times of huge global challenges and extremely scarce resources we believe that the most meaningful way to celebrate the 60^th anniversary, alongside the 20^th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, is through the sincere respect for, protection and fulfillment of the universal human rights enshrined in the Covenants.

Thank you.