EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: General Debat... 2 of 6 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-new-york/eu-statement... order for decades, but we should also be ready to learn from each other. The UN80 initiative offers the opportunity to reform and revitalise all three pillars of our United Nations – peace and security, development, and human rights – with a view to keeping the UN system relevant, fit for purpose and able to deliver effective outcomes. This requires sustainable, predictable funding, in particular for the human rights pillar, which accounts for less than 1% of UN funding. Human rights are universal. Across all countries, cultures, or political systems, people are entitled to live free from the fear of intimidation, repression, discrimination, crime, and poverty. In other words, to enjoy their human dignity and rights in full. Human rights are indivisible, interdependent and inter-related. Peace and prosperity, as well progress towards the SDGs, go hand in hand with respect for the rule of law, democracy and all human rights. A true measure of our societies is how they honour all their members. Over 80 years, progress has been made in eliminating discrimination including on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. Those in disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised situations must be protected and empowered. We call on all States to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities. The EU will promote their right to participate effectively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life. During this session, the EU will also continue to engage actively in efforts to enhance the full, effective and meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions on all issues affecting them. 30 years after the landmark adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action, we have still not delivered on our promise to achieve gender equality, and the rights and empowerment of women and girls. Despite progress, gender equality remains a distant prospect for far too many women and girls, so we must scale up our action. We therefore welcome the recent agreement on revitalising the Commission on the Status of Women, bringing mandatory progress reporting. The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Programme of Action, of the International Conference on Population and Development and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights, in this context. 23/10/2025, 21:04