Council of the European Union: conclusions on EU priorities for UN human rights forums in 2025 adopted
Every year, the Council of the European Union meets to approve conclusions regarding the main issues that will guide the European Union's (EU) work in United Nations human rights forums. The conclusions adopted on January 27, 2025, for the current year reaffirm the EU's commitment to ensuring and promoting respect, protection, and fulfillment of human rights worldwide.
The document reaffirms that multilateralism and the international order based on the United Nations system are of fundamental importance to ensure the prevalence of international law over the spread of wars and impunity in various regions of the world. The EU therefore proposes to cooperate with all countries to ensure their full participation. It also expresses its unconditional support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its willingness to prevent and stop human rights violations.
Particular attention is paid to the latest developments in the Middle East. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the achievement of the recent ceasefire agreement is recognized as an important step to end it, provided it is implemented in its entirety, hoping for the realisation of the two-state solution. The EU urgently calls for humanitarian aid and UN agencies access to Gaza, and condemns the extremely high number of civilian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank, the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, and the continued illegal construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as well as the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, by Hamas. Finally, the imperative nature of the International Criminal Court's norms is restated, which everyone must follow without any hesitation. Regarding the situation in Syria, the EU urges the implementation of necessary investigations into crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, ensuring the protection of the entire civilian population, and that the path towards lasting peace is centered on respect for human rights and the foundations of transitional justice.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the EU recognizes Russia's responsibility for the aggression and numerous violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, and calls for their rapid cessation, on one hand encouraging the establishment of a dedicated tribunal for their prosecution and supporting ICC investigations, on the other hand approving Ukraine's ratification of the Rome Statute.
Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of numerous human rights issues, from promoting gender equality to combating discrimination and violence. The implementation of a human rights-based approach is considered central in areas such as digital technology, civil society, and climate change, while promoting economic, social, and cultural rights.