Joint Statement of „Friends of Human Rights Multilateralism“, 58th and 61st Human Rights Council

During the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, Albania on behalf of a core group (consisting of the Netherlands, Albania, Chile, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan) delivered a joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of  91 States in which they reaffirmed their „commitment to multilateral human rights cooperation“. It built on a joint statement on the same topic and led by the same group (without Kenya) which was delivered at the 58th UN Human Rights Council in March 2025. Back then it was endorsed by 71 States. This year’s statement received the total support of 91 States with several countries from the African and Asia-Pacific Group joining (see in light purple). When comparing support, 66 States decided to endorse both statements (see in dark purple). Only five decided not to continue their support in 2026 (in dark grey). The wording of the latest statement is very close to the first one. States commit themselves i.a. to „safeguard a multilateral system that upholds international law, human rights and the rule of law“, to „cooperate in good faith with the OHCHR, the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, as well as other rights-based mechanisms, and safeguard their independence or to „prioritise securing adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for the UN human rights pillar.“