Introduction

The Human Rights Council (HRC) is the United Nations’ principal intergovernmental body responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights. Established in 2006 to replace the former Commission on Human Rights, it serves as a permanent forum for dialogue, monitoring and cooperation among states, international institutions and civil society. The Council’s mandate extends from the adoption of thematic resolutions to the examination of specific country situations through mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the system of Special Procedures. 

The 60th session of the Council (HRC60), held in Geneva from 8 September to 8 October 2025, captured how the UN human rights agenda continues to evolve, maintaining its core priorities while responding to new global challenges. While ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises, particularly those in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Myanmar, demanded sustained attention, the session also addressed new and cross-cutting issues related to social inclusion, demographic change, digital transformation and cultural rights. Member and observer states presented a broad spectrum of initiatives combining traditional concerns, such as arbitrary detentions and the death penalty, with emerging themes linked to technology, ageing and disability.

Within this framework, Italy played an active role. The Italian delegation, led by Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, and Minister Stefano Pisotti, Deputy Permanent Representative, engaged through national statements, side events and multilateral initiatives. Italy stood to reaffirm its long-standing commitment to human rights, accountability and multilateral cooperation, while also contributing to the Council’s agenda on inclusion, cultural rights and technological ethics. Italy’s engagement during the session illustrates how a European middle power employs diplomacy to advance both normative objectives and strategic interests, such as strengthening international partnerships and consolidating its candidacy for Council membership for the 2026–2028 term.

Italy’s Diplomatic Identity and Role within the Council       

Italy’s engagement in Geneva reflects a consistent approach to multilateral diplomacy, combining adherence to international norms with pragmatic negotiations. Three dimensions of this approach were particularly visible during the 60th session.

Italy within the European human rights framework 
Italy acts as a stabilizing participant within the European Union external human rights policy. Eight Italian statements opened with the formula “Italy aligns itself with the EU statement”, therefore reaffirming cohesion with the European Union while adding specific national elements. This practice reinforces both EU unity and Italy’s reputation as a reliable partner in collective diplomacy. At the same time, Italy often intervenes independently to highlight issues with particular resonance for its foreign policy, thereby maintaining a distinct voice within the European framework.

Italy’s normative discourse in multilateral settings   
Italy continues to use legal and moral language as tools of persuasion. In its interventions on the Interactive Dialogues (IDs) on the situations in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nicaragua, and Haiti, for example, Italy’s statements explicitly linked human rights protection with international peace and security, rejecting narratives that frame rights as secondary to stability. 
Most notably, in the ID on Ukraine (3 October 2025), Ambassador Grassi condemned “Russia’s most recent airstrikes on Kyiv” and emphasized the devastating impact of the war on children and persons with disabilities, reaffirming that accountability for war crimes is “essential to any just and durable peace”. 

Similarly, in the dialogue on Afghanistan (8 September), Minister Pisotti deplored the systematic repression of women and girls under the Taliban, while invoking the Doha Process as the necessary framework for coordinated international engagement. In the statement on Nicaragua (19 September), he expressed deep concern for the “backsliding of the rule of law” following constitutional reforms and the persecution of religious communities, particularly the Catholic Church - which is an unusually explicit reference for a European delegation, illustrating Italy’s readiness to address sensitive issues linked to freedom of religion.

Italy as a bridge-builder
Italy’s most distinctive function remains its capacity for cross-regional coalition-building. By co-sponsoring initiatives with Latin American, Arab, African, and Asian states, Italy positions itself as a connector rather than a partisan actor. This diplomatic posture stems from its historical position as a “middle power” situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and from its constitutional  commitment to dialogue and mediation, rather than war, as a means for the settlement of international disputes. Ambassador Grassi summarized this ethos during a side event marking the centenary of the birth of Father Oreste Benzi: “Italian diplomacy strives to be a bridge: a bridge between peoples, between faiths, between institutions and civil society”. Peace must be organized, not improvised.

Italy’s thematic priorities in the HRC 

Italy’s thematic consistency across country-specific debates is notable. Its interventions converged on a few core principles, these are: accountability for human rights violations violations, protection of vulnerable populations and support for international mechanisms. 
In the ID on Ukraine, Italy highlighted the humanitarian impact of Russian attacks on infrastructure and called for “a just, durable, and comprehensive peace grounded in the UN Charter and international Law”. In the ID related to the Russian Federation, Italy condemned the “systematic dismantling of civic space” and the persecution of dissent, urging the release of political prisoners and access for independent monitors to detention facilities.

On Myanmar, Italy reiterated support for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and insisted that “accountability cannot be postponed”. On Haiti, it expressed concern for the control of armed gangs and the use of sexual violence against women and children. 

Through these statements, Italy stood for the principle that peace and justice are interdependent, and that violations of human rights undermine stability rather than preserve it. This discourse aligns with the broader EU human rights narrative, but Italy’s interventions stand out for their humanitarian tone and legal precision, often referencing the UN Charter, international humanitarian law and the principle of accountability.

Italy’s forward-looking Agenda in the Council 

Beyond responding to crises, Italy used the session to expand the normative scope of the Council through cross-cutting initiatives that connect human rights with demographic, cultural and technological transformations.

Cultural rights of persons with Disabilities     
Perhaps the most significant outcome of Italy’s participation in HRC60 was the presentation of the Declaration on the Cultural Rights of Persons with Disabilities, together with Cyprus, Iraq and Mexico. Endorsed by the record number of 144 States across all regions of the world, the declaration is one of the most widely supported initiatives in the Council’ recent  history. The Statement reaffirms that persons with disabilities have the right to participate in cultural life and maintain their linguistic and cultural identity, while calling for accessible digitalization of cultural heritage.
Ambassador Grassi described the initiative as a step toward harmonizing legal frameworks and integrating cultural rights into educational systems, linking it to the UN commitment to “leave no one behind”. The declaration also reflects Italy’s domestic policy priorities on inclusion and cultural accessibility, transforming national experience into international soft power.

Rights of older persons   
Italy’s side event Active Ageing: Ensuring the Full Enjoyment of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Older Persons - organized with Slovenia, Ecuador, and Thailand - highlighted a demographic issue often neglected in human rights discourse. Ambassador Grassi cited projections that by 2050 the world population over 65 will double, surpassing the number of minors under 18. The event built on Italy’s leadership in the UNECE Rome Ministerial Declaration (2022) and reiterated its support for developing a binding international instrument on the rights of older persons. The initiative reinforced Italy’s long-standing emphasis on social inclusion as a dimension of human dignity.

Abolition of the death penalty and child rights At another side event, The Death Penalty and the Rights of the Child, co-organized with Switzerland, France, Belgium, Zambia and Chile, Italy reaffirmed its role as a global abolitionist leader. The discussion exposed the often-overlooked consequences of capital punishment for the children of those sentenced to death, these are social stigma, economic hardship and trauma. Ambassador Grassi framed abolition as both a human rights and child protection issue, aligning moral conviction with pragmatic coalition-building across continents.

New technologies and children in armed conflict       
Italy’s collaboration with Slovenia and the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflicts (UNETCHAC) on New Technologies and Children in Armed Conflicts represented an innovative linkage between human rights, technology and humanitarian law. Participants - including international jurists Fausto Pocar and Laura Guercio, former UN Special Representative Virginia Gamba, European Court of Human Rights Judge Vasilka Sancin, and lawyer Mikiko Otani, international children's rights expert - examined the ethical and legal implications of AI and autonomous weapons. Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi underscored Italy’s commitment to promoting international dialogue on responsibility, ethical standards, and legal frameworks governing the use of new technologies in warfare. As a candidate for the Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term, Italy will continue to advance the protection of children’s rights in armed conflict, both within the Council and in cooperation with relevant UN agencies. 

Taken all together, these initiatives demonstrate Italy’s ability to combine traditional advocacy with forward-looking diplomacy. By focusing on universal yet non-divisive issues - aging, disability, cultural rights, children rights - Italy positions itself as a State capable of producing consensus in an era of polarization and confrontation.

Interests behind Italy’s engagement     

Behind Italy’s visible activism lies a set of interrelated strategic interests.

First, participation serves to enhance international visibility. Italy’s candidacy for the 2026-2028 Council term depends on being perceived as a credible, consistent and innovative actor and the leadership on inclusive initiatives strengthens this profile. 

Second, engagement reinforces European influence within the UN system. By taking the lead on non-contentious yet normatively rich topics, Italy contributes to the EU’s reputation as a constructive and human-rights centered partner, while retaining flexibility for national diplomacy. 

Finally, Italy uses human rights engagement to cultivate cross-regional relationships. Co-sponsorships with countries from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East broaden its diplomatic reach and mitigate the perceptions of Western exclusivity. This approach reflects Italy’s foreign policy tradition of promoting dialogue between North and South, which is grounded in its Mediterranean and transatlantic ties.

Challenges

Italy’s model of human rights diplomacy faces significant constraints. The polarization of the Council reduces the effectiveness of consensus-based strategies. Specifically, the Italian bridge-building action presupposes a minimal level of trust among parties, which nowadays is increasingly scarce. Moreover, Italy’s alignment with EU statements, though essential for coherence, can limit its individual visibility. Another persistent challenge concerns domestic implementation. Italy’s credibility depends on demonstrating consistency between external commitments and internal practice. Issues such as migration management, detention conditions, and socio-economic rights remain sensitive areas that could expose discrepancies between Italy’s international rhetoric and domestic realities.

Conclusion

Italy’s participation in the 60th session of the HRC reveals a coherent and evolving model of multilateral engagement grounded in legal precision and cross-regional diplomacy. 

its interventions and initiatives, Italy reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the universality of human rights while expanding its normative agenda toward new global challenges linked to culture, technology and demographic change. 

The initiatives promoted or co-sponsored by Italy, notably the Declaration on the Cultural Rights of Persons with Disabilities and dialogues on ageing, abolition of the death penalty and technological ethics, exemplify its ability to advance consensus on themes that transcend political polarization. In doing so, Italy positions itself as a credible middle power, translating domestic experiences into international leadership and contributing to bridging divides within the Council’s fragmented landscape. 

Yet, this model of diplomacy is not without limits. The erosion of multilateral trust constrains Italy’s bridge-building capacity, while the alignment with European Union positions, though reinforcing coherence, can opacify its individual visibility. Moreover, Italy’s external advocacy must continually be matched by domestic consistency, particularly in areas such as migration governance and socio-economic rights, where international scrutiny remains high. Ultimately, Italy’s engagement at the HRC demonstrates how a medium-sized state can influence the development of norms through dialogue, legal reasoning  and coalition-building. By articulating human rights as both a universal value and a pragmatic instrument of international stability, Italy contributes to reaffirming the Council’s relevance as a forum where moral responsibility and political realism can coexist.