STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 58th Session
High Level Segment.
Statement delivered by Mr. Espen Barth Eide,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Check against delivery
24 February 2026
Muchas gracias, Presidente.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emerged from the ashes of two world wars, from the experience of the inter worriers, from the great depression, from the rise of nationalism, of the fascism of the Nazism and eventually the holocaust and other genocides.
The people who wrote them down, as part of the post second world war foundation of this United Nations were not naive idealists. They were acutely aware of how bad it can get, and they had just seen the worst drama in mankind through these two world wars, and that is exactly why they had set up the principals as they did.
At the heart of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights lies a transformative conviction. That Human Rights and human dignity is universal. Every person has equal and inherent rights, that no government can take away.
And it is important to understand, and to remember 80 years on, that there was an intrinsic holistic triumvirate between peace and security, the prohibition against the use of force but in self-defense, the promotion of human rights in all countries, and the agreement that we should cooperate economically and otherwise for faire development and shared economic progress. They are not only three pillars; they are three pillars of the system, but they are also mutually constituting. We know that when wars are raging, we also see human rights violations.
On the other hand, if human rights are respected there are less wars and conflicts. They are mutually constituted and they have to be understood together.
In many of the wars of today, and I could mention many, but let me mention Ukraine because it is the fourth year since the full-scale invasion and we are almost at twelve years since Crimea. We are seeing both a blatant violation of the prohibition against the use of force against another country. The most principal rule of international cooperation is that “Thou shall not invade, occupy and take over the country of other states”. This is the foundation for how we can cooperate, but we also see a whole series of violations of human rights in the occupied areas for instance, and in the kidnapping of children and in all the other transgressions that the Russian Federation stands behind. There are many examples.
So, it is a very important moment to remember what our founders wanted to tell us that these things are deeply involved, and I say that at a time where we are seeing that human rights are challenged, not only by authoritarian states but also in states that traditionally were seen as closer to the champions of human rights. This is something we have to take seriously because human rights, peace and security and development still must be the pillars.
We should reform the United Nations, we should be better at solving the issues at hand, but there is no reason to move away from these core intrinsic pillars and principals. We need to stand up for them across the board.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, I am pleased to announce Norway’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the period 2028-2030. Our candidacy reflects our long-standing role as a principal supporter of international law, a consistent supporter of the UNs work to protect and promote human rights globally. We believe that these rights apply to all people, in all places at all times. And if we only refer to them when it suits us it becomes a menu from which we choose, but it is not a menu it is an obligation to all.
Norway stands firmly for the rights of women and girls, for gender equality, and equality in all its aspects. We remain a strong force for freedom of religion and belief. Freedom of expression, freedom of thought, and we will continue to support human rights defenders and civil society. This work and their work is essential for accountability and democratic resilience.
In this session Norway will lead the mandate renewal on human rights defenders. Our message is clear: those who stand up for the rights of others need special protection.
Norway will continue to support independent investigations into serious human rights situations. Accountability must apply everywhere, regardless of geography or political alignment. Nobody should be beyond scrutiny when fundamental rights are violated.
We will work with all partners to search and reach common ground. The Human Rights Council is strongest when it builds bridges and focuses on its core mandate.
I would also like to say that technological change is reshaping the human rights landscape, and we need to take that seriously. AI and emerging technologies will be integral aspects of every part of our lives. We need to understand the need to develop these technologies as forces for good in the interest of development, in the interest of equity and equality, and the interest of level playing field, in line with international human rights and international law. Used responsibly this can be a good force for mankind, if not we have a serious problem. This requires safeguarding privacy, countering discriminatory algorithms, protecting children online, and reducing the global divide.
The authority of this Council rests on our shared commitment to universal rights, fundamental freedoms, and the inherent values of every human being. When these principles are challenged, our response must be clear and consistent. If they are challenged more, we must be more consistent and stand up for the rules.
Let me also say from my own experience as a Norwegian, how our country moved from poverty to a modern, efficient democratic welfare state. It was incredibly important to understand that you need both the political and civil rights, and the economic and social rights, again they are mutually constituted. You cannot do one and then the other. It is because people were standing up for the rights of the many, that we got the economic and social rights we have today. So, the freedom of organisation, freedom of speech is also inherently important to get to the promotion of the economic and social rights that we also so much cherish.
This is our position, this is what we believe in, and we are hereby, as I mentioned, announcing our candidacy for the election to the Council 2028-2030 and I look forward to your cooperation.
Thank you.