STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 56th Session.
Item 4 - Presentation of HC report on DPRK (res. 52/28, 55/21) and oral update on Venezuela (res. 57/36) followed by General debate
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN,
Permanent Representative of Norway.
Check against delivery
20 March 2025
President,
Marginalisation, online hate speech, injustice and repression are on the rise. When human rights and fundamental freedoms are under attack, the most vulnerable are the first to suffer.
Among those directly targeted, are minority groups and women and girls. LGBT+ persons continue to face discrimination and violence in all parts of the world.
Also affected are journalists and human rights defenders. They document violations against minorities and people in vulnerable situations and are increasingly threatened, silenced and even killed.
In Palestine, Gaza continues to be the world’s most dangerous place for journalists and media workers.
Women and girls in Afghanistan are denied the most basic freedoms.
Reports of brutal violations and abuses against women and girls in Myanmar continue to increase.
In Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan, journalists and human rights defenders face harassment, arrest, or exile, resulting in the near elimination of any form of dissent or human rights reporting.
The human rights situation in Nicaragua continues to deteriorate, including through the recent Constitutional reform, gravely affecting civic space and freedom of expression.
President,
The principle of non-discrimination is essential in international human rights law. We call on all states to implement and support it.
Thank you.