IADL joined our partners in the Transnational Institute, CETIM, the American Association of Jurists, FIAN International and MRAP to issue the following statement for the 60th session of the Human Rights Council:
60th session of the Human Rights Council (8 September – 8 October 2025)
General debate Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
Joint-statement
Mister President,
We take the floor today to express our profound concern regarding the intensification o violations of international law and human rights by the United States of America.
Recently, the US administration has escalated its attacks on the multilateral system and the United Nations itself. These actions include successive withdrawals from UN bodies and agencies, the refusal to meet financial obligations, the imposition of unlawful sanctions on UN mandate holders —including Ms. Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur—and continued support for the ongoing atrocities against the Palestinian people, amounting to genocide.
Such practices represent not only grave violations of human rights, but also a direct assault on the independence and credibility of the international human rights protection system.
Most recently, the refusal to issue visas to representatives of the State of Palestine, preventing them from participating in the General Assembly in New York, constitutes a flagrant breach of international law and of the US’ responsibilities as the host country of UN headquarters. To deny a people their right to international representation is an egregious and unacceptable violation. No State should place itself above international law, nor impose unilateral and arbitrary decisions on the rest of the world.
In light of these serious and repeated violations of the UN Headquarters Agreement, we propose that the Organization consider relocating its headquarters elsewhere, at least on a temporary basis to Geneva. Such a step would help safeguard transparency, fairness, accessibility, and independence in the work of the United Nations.
We call on all Member States to assume their responsibility to defend and strengthen a truly democratic multilateral system, rooted in the principles of the UN Charter and respect for the sovereignty of States and peoples.
We further urge social movements and civil society organizations to remain engaged in the defense of international law, grounded in the Charter and in the inalienable rights of peoples to determine their own future.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Geneva, 23 September 2025.