Delivered by Albania’s Ambassador and co-led by Chile, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and the Netherlands, the statement** asserts that peaceful coexistence of sovereign nations and peoples, and the realisation of universal human rights, are only achievable within an international order centred on the United Nations and full respect for international law.
The joint statement also emphasises that the UN’s three pillars – peace and security, development, and human rights – are interdependent. ‘By addressing the root causes of conflict and empowering individuals, communities and civil society, human rights make our world safer and ensure that development is inclusive, equitable and fair,’ the coalition of States said.
Together with partners, ISHR was pleased to work with the core group of States to develop the declaration and ensure widespread and diverse, cross-regional support for it.
Speaking as a large group dubbed the ‘Friends of Human Rights Multilateralism,’ signatories of the declaration said they seek to renew ‘political will, vision and ambition’ and ‘unwavering commitment’ to the UN human rights system, by pledging to:
- Renew commitment to a multilateral human rights system grounded in full respect for the UN Charter and international human rights law.
- Defend the universality and indivisibility of all human rights, and commit to their promotion, protection and fulfilment as indispensable for global peace, security and sustainable development.
- Engage in the UN80 reform process to maintain a credible, adequately resourced human rights system, responsive to State’s needs for technical assistance and to the demands of victims and affected communities for justice and accountability.
- Prioritise securing adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for the UN human rights pillar.
- Cooperate in good faith with all UN human rights bodies, safeguard their independence, and ensure a safe and enabling environment for civil society engagement, preventing and addressing intimidation, reprisals and sanctions against such bodies and those cooperating with them.
- Enhance the Human Rights Council and strengthen its complementary relationship with other UN bodies in order to contribute to prevention, peace, security, and sustainable development, and to uphold international law.
States also highlighted that, despite significant political and financial obstacles, the UN human rights system continues to achieve transformative results, from supporting local legal reforms to advancing global standards in equality, environmental protection, and digital rights.
The signatories further emphasised the chronic underfunding of the UN human rights pillar, echoing a joint statement delivered by Chile on behalf of over 40 States last December that warned of devastating funding cuts to UN rights bodies.
In a major report launched last October, ISHR uncovered how States have attacked the UN’s human rights funding, and most recently analysed the catastrophic outcomes of the latest budget negotiations for human rights in the context of UN reform.
As of the UN’s last public update (26 February), only 73 Member States have paid their contributions to the organisation’s regular budget in full.
Countries from all regions endorsed this latest declaration, which built on a first joint statement on human rights multilateral cooperation led by the same group (minus Kenya) and delivered by Kyrgyzstan at the 58th Human Rights Council, in March 2025 – endorsed by more than 70 States.
Also today, ISHR spoke on behalf of 13 NGOs to call on the Council to adopt an ambitious reform agenda to strengthen human rights multilateralism, welcoming the new coalition of States, and urging for joint action to ensure adequate funding for human rights, enhance the Council’s work, and defend human rights mandates during the UN80 reform process. See full statement here, and video of statement as delivered below.
**List of signatories (as of 6 March 2026, 7:00pm CET), 90 States:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Palestine, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vanuatu.
