The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.The Secretary-General and President Al Sisi discussed global developments, including the situation in the broader Middle East and Ukraine, and their global impact. The Secretary-General and the President discussed in detail the situation in Gaza and in the West Bank and reaffirmed the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people.The Secretary-General underscored Egypt's critical role in facilitating dialogue towards peace and stability in the Middle East.***

Let me begin by bringing warm greetings of Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and by thanking you, Mr. President, and the Government and people of Mongolia for bringing COP17 to Ulaanbaatar, and for the extraordinary warmth and generosity you have shown all of us.The care that Mongolia has brought to hosting this COP can be felt everywhere, and your personal leadership, Mr. President, has made it clear how much the discussions in these very difficult global times, week mean to Mongolia and to the wider world, to multilateralism – and we are deeply grateful for that.Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen,Here in Mongolia, the birthplace of Gengis Khan, and for communities across the world, land is life, and land is livelihoods, especially for our nomads and indigenous peoples.In 2023 and 2024, a summer drought followed by a severe dzud led to the loss of more than seven million livestock. Herds built over generations disappeared.For many families, the loss took away their assets, their income and the means to recover before the next difficult season.What Mongolia endured is part of a crisis that is unfolding across the world. Since 2000, droughts have increased in frequency and duration by 29 per cent. By 2050, three out of every four people could be affected.This room brings decades of lived experiences and expertise in responding. Many of you have developed national plans, tested solutions, and learned what works in your own countries.Now we need to turn that experience into delivery: by restoring land at scale, financing national action and putting the people who live in and from the land in the lead.Let’s start with the scale.Scale means moving beyond individual projects and putting national plans to work- ones that leave no one behind.Up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is degraded, weakening food production and livelihoods.Individual projects can prove what works, but they cannot restore land at the scale and with the sense of urgency that is needed.More than 70 countries have developed national drought plans with support from the UNCCD. Many of you have done that work. You know best what your countries need.The challenge now is to have the fiscal space so that those plans can go from resolutions to reality.Here in Mongolia, sustainable rangeland management protects pastoral livelihoods and the land. Across the Sahel, communities are restoring degraded land and making it productive again. The initiative of the AU great green wall is one that demonstrates this.The settings differ, but the lesson is the same: restoration strengthens resilience when it protects how people make a living and thrive.Scale also means connecting restored land to water and the wider economy. Producers need the infrastructure, skills and technology to reach markets, selling what they produce, and this includes through the new era of technology and e-commerce.All of this takes national programmes, cooperation across borders and investment that stays in place long enough for restored land to recover. And that brings me to the next point:Scaling up depends on predictable and sustainable financing, the means of implementation.Countries need long-term investment that follows their national priorities and stays in place long enough for restored land to recover and prosper. And public finance can help reduce the risk and bring in private investment for approaches that have already proven their value.We already have tools to move this forward. The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership and its Investment Facility can help countries turn drought plans into funded programmes. Business4Land can bring companies into that effort.But those tools will only make a difference if countries can reach them and can use them.You should not be asked to develop national plans and then be left to search for the means to deliver them. Finance has to be in place to invest in the priorities that countries have set for themselves.Finance gives countries not only the means to act, but to grow their economies.The people who live from the land must inform the decisions that shape its future.Pastoralists managing rangelands and farmers rebuilding depleted soil bring the knowledge of generations. They understand what their land can sustain in a way that no one else can.As you decide how restoration will be financed, bring those people into the decisions from the beginning, co-creating with them.Give them secure rights and a genuine say over how investment will be deployed.Putting people, women and men, in the lead also means ownership and improving their outcomes: restoration can create skilled work and new sources of income. Those jobs should be decent, allowing growth and prosperity, inclusion, and social protection must be an integral part of that safety net.The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions was built to deliver exactly that pairing. In Indonesia and Bhutan, they are already proving it can be done. COP17 can bring the same approach to land restoration, connecting investment in soil health with investment in the people doing the work.But jobs and income are only part of the equation. There is a much more fundamental issue of power.We cannot ask people to restore land while denying them meaningful rights over that land.And nowhere is that contradiction clearer than for women.Eighty-six per cent of the countries that report their land tenure data to the United Nations show fewer women than men with secure rights over agricultural land.But when women are given rights over the land they work, they restore it — and they keep restoring it. Mali has shown this in its demonstrations.In Bandigara, a woman named Florence Banou is leading a women’s cooperative that restores degraded land and expands local food production. When the municipality saw the results, it granted the cooperative four acres to expand its work.Four acres may look small against a global restoration target, but for those women, it meant land they could rely on, and room to grow their livelihoods.Access to land is only the beginning. Women also need access to finance, skills, technology and markets so they can build businesses and keep more of the value their work creates.Restoration should not leave women doing the work while others capture the economic benefits. It should give them a greater stake in both the land and the prosperity that it creates.And COP17 is an opportunity to give communities everywhere the same chance.Finally, let me say that on each of these three aspects – going to scale, providing sustainable and predictable finance with a people centered approach - the United Nations will continue to do its part and support Member States in that endeavor.For us, the work begins in the communities at the country level.The UN80 reforms are making our support more responsive and easier for governments to use: a single country team, working with a single joined-up strategy, under the leadership of our resident coordinators.Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,Healthy land gives people something fundamental: the ability to build a future where they already belong and can thrive.COP17 can put that future within reach by matching national ambition with finance and trusting the people who steward the land to lead.The land has sustained humanity throughout history.Let’s leave Ulaanbaatar ready to sustain and to protect this land in return.Thank you.[END]

Today, conflicts in different regions are converging in their impact on the world's most vulnerable people.In the Middle East, ongoing attacks and the disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea – around Bab al-Mandab – are constraining the movement of energy, fertilizers and other essential commodities.In the conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, attacks are threatening shipping routes vital for the export of oil, grain and other agricultural products.These crises are choking arteries of global trade and squeezing the global food system especially hard.The result is clear:  higher prices, deepening hunger, weaker harvests, and greater suffering – especially for the world’s most vulnerable people.In the Strait of Hormuz alone, transits have come to a near standstill.Meanwhile, oil prices remain about 33 per cent higher since the start of the conflict.Global container rates are 84 per cent higher than a year ago. And the costs of fertilizers and other essential inputs are also sharply increasing.  Navigational rights and freedoms are not abstract principles.They are international law.Those rights and freedoms are vital for international peace and security – and for the flow of food, energy and essential goods on which billions of lives depend.And so my appeal is clear.We need:Full respect for international law -- including the law of the sea and international humanitarian law;Protection for civilian shipping, infrastructure and civilian seafarers;The upholding of navigational rights and freedoms;An immediate end to attacks against commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the Black Sea;The full restoration and respect of navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz;And an end to attacks against shipping in the Red Sea and around Bab al-Mandab.Maritime chokepoints must never become instruments of coercion.And the world's food supply must never become collateral damage of conflict.In March, I established a Task Force to develop and propose practical mechanisms including to address humanitarian needs triggered by the Strait of Hormuz crisis.This particular effort is led by the Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS  – and includes UNCTAD, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Chamber of Commerce. They have worked with others to develop a practical and time-bound confidence-building mechanism focused initially on fertilizers and related raw materials -- but with the ability to be extended to other products.The mechanism would not authorize passage through the Strait of Hormuz or alter the rights or obligations of any Member State under international law.Sovereign decisions remain entirely with participating Member States.The United Nations would serve as a neutral facilitator.The purpose is simple: to reduce immediate risks, support more orderly and predictable transit, and help rebuild the confidence necessary for diplomacy and de-escalation.It can be operationalized quickly.International support for this effort has been encouraging, particularly from vulnerable countries that understand what is at stake when maritime lifelines are disrupted. What is needed now is the cooperation and political will of the parties.I urge all concerned to engage seriously and constructively.This mechanism is not a substitute for fully restoring navigational rights and freedoms, or for the political solutions needed to end these conflicts.But it is a practical first step.A demonstration that, even amid conflict, it is possible to reduce risks, protect civilians and safeguard the movement of essential goods.The alternative is continued disruption, deeper mistrust and mounting hardship for people far beyond the regions directly affected.But I want to be very clear. The unimpeded exercise of navigational rights and freedoms is a cornerstone of peace, security and shared prosperity and must be respected.Protecting it is a legal obligation and a humanitarian imperative.And today, more than ever, millions of vulnerable people around the world depend on the collective ability of all parties to uphold it.Thank you.Question & AnswersQuestion: Thank you very much Mr. Secretary-General. Edith Lederer from the Associated Press, and we hope you enjoyed your vacation. Can you please tell us some details, explicit details of how this mechanism is going to work? And have you discussed it with the parties and what was their reaction? Thank you.Secretary-General: The head of UNOPS has been in intense contacts with all the countries involved in order to see the possibility of putting in place a mechanism that would be a mechanism of registration, verification of the ships carrying, at least in an initial stage, fertilizer and related products, but of course, open to others, and with a deconflicting mechanism in Oman. We have everything ready to do it. Of course, it can only be done if the countries that are involved in this conflict all agree to accept the mechanism. It will be a mechanism of verification, of monitoring and deconflicting in order to make sure that these products would be circulating without impediment.Question: Just a quick follow up. When are you planning to propose this to them? Are there going to be some meetings about this?Secretary-General: We have already had, all the parties involved have a detailed knowledge of how the mechanism would work.Question: Thank you, Secretary-General, Gabriel Elizondo from Al Jazeera English. A follow up to that question. Sir, the IRGC has already claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz. Under this mechanism, would the UN still need authorization from the IRGC or Iranian authorities?Secretary-General: Let's be clear, our position is that freedom of navigation must be respected in all circumstances. What we say is that if at a certain moment this is not yet possible, we would be ready, with the agreement of the parties, we would be ready to have a mechanism that, of course, would not exercise the sovereign rights of states. This would need the sovereign agreements of the states involved. Thank you very much. 

The findings contain the Committee’s main concerns and recommendations on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as positive aspects. Key highlights include: IndiaThe Committee was gravely concerned about reports of large-scale violations perpetrated by law enforcement officials against ethnic and ethno-religious groups, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, including Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, particularly Dalits, and non-citizens. These included racially motivated violence, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary and prolonged detention without due process, torture, ill-treatment and sexual violence. The Committee called on India to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all such allegations and ensure accountability for those responsible. The Committee highlighted the increase in law enforcement operations targeting Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum-seekers, particularly following the 2017 Home Affairs order and the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir. It noted that police stops and identity checks involving racial profiling had reportedly resulted in arbitrary arrest and detention without due process, as well as torture and ill-treatment. It was also concerned about deportations and forcible returns of people in need of international protection, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement. The Committee called on India to urgently address discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes against Rohingya, Bengali-speaking Muslims, migrants and asylum-seekers, protect their rights, refrain from collective expulsions and ensure access to international protection in line with the principle of non-refoulement. FinlandThe Committee remained concerned that self-determination and participation in decision-making are not yet fully guaranteed for the Sámi, and that their traditional lands and resources are not adequately protected, particularly from wind power and mining projects carried out without sufficient free, prior and informed consent. It also noted that Sámi traditional livelihoods, including reindeer husbandry, fishing and hunting, remain under increasing pressure from competing land use, restrictions and climate change. The Committee called on Finland to ensure that decisions and projects affecting the Sámi are not approved without their free, prior and informed consent, and to strengthen protection of their lands and traditional livelihoods. It also recommended improving access to Sámi-language education, healthcare and social services. The Committee noted with concern that racist hate speech had reached alarming levels in public discourse, particularly online, in sports and in the political sphere, including speech by public figures and members of Parliament targeting migrants, Muslims and other groups. It also noted that prosecutions and convictions for hate crimes remained low, and that gaps persisted in the criminal law framework. The Committee called on Finland to reform the Criminal Code, effectively investigate and prosecute racist hate speech, incitement to racial hatred and racially motivated violence, and ensure that racial motivation is properly identified and recorded. It also recommended that racist hate speech by public officials and members of Parliament be promptly and unequivocally condemned. HondurasThe Committee expressed concern about forced evictions of Indigenous and Afro-Honduran Peoples, including allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement. It particularly underscored that usurpation and aggravated usurpation charges are being used to criminalise members of these communities for occupying or defending their lands. It recommended a moratorium on evictions until the recognition, regularisation and collective titling of Indigenous and Afro-Honduran lands, territories and natural resources are completed. It also called for laws on usurpation, aggravated usurpation and preventive evictions to be repealed or aligned with international obligations, so that they are not used to criminalise these communities or violate their rights. The Committee further recommended revising the Law for the Strengthening and Protection of the Agro-industrial Sector to prevent its use as a basis for evictions. It also urged Honduras to develop and adopt, in consultation with these communities, a legislative framework to ensure their free, prior and informed consent regarding any measures affecting their rights, lands, sacred places, and traditional ways of life, particularly regarding extractive, agro-industrial, infrastructure or environmental conservation projects. The Committee remained concerned about the high number of killings, reprisals, threats and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders, including Indigenous and Afro-Honduran leaders and community members, by both State and non-State actors, including organised crime groups and individuals linked to companies involved in disputes with these communities. It called for thorough, impartial and effective investigations, prosecution and punishment of those responsible, and adequate reparations for victims and their families. It also recommended strengthening the National Protection Mechanism and the Special Prosecutor’s Office for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, and ensuring timely implementation of precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Kuwait
The Committee underscored the persistent discrimination against migrant workers, particularly domestic workers, who continue to face heightened risks of exploitation and abuse under the kafala sponsorship system. It highlighted reports of physical, psychological and sexual violence, non-payment or delayed payment of wages, and excessive working hours. The Committee urged Kuwait to abolish the kafala system and replace it with a government-regulated residency and work permit system that better protects migrant workers. It also called for prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into allegations of abuse and exploitation, prosecution of perpetrators, and effective remedies for victims. The Committee expressed serious concern that Bidoon/stateless persons who continue to be classified as illegal residents and face discrimination in law and practice. They encounter major obstacles in obtaining civil documentation and accessing employment, social protection, housing, healthcare and education. They Committee also expressed concern about reports that Kuwaiti nationality had been revoked from a significant number of individuals without adequate, transparent and due process, placing them at serious risk of statelessness and adversely affecting their enjoyment of their rights. The Committee called for effective measures to end this discrimination, resolve their longstanding status in line with international human rights standards, and end their classification as illegal residents. It also recommended that Kuwait ensure prompt and non-discriminatory access to civil documentation and remove barriers to employment, social protection, adequate housing, healthcare and education. The Committee also called for all decisions on nationality revocation to be based on clear, objective grounds, follow an individual assessment with transparent due process safeguards, and not result in statelessness.  The above findings, officially named Concluding Observations, are now available online on the session page. [ENDS] For more information and media requests in Geneva, please contact:
Vivian Kwok at vivian.kwok@un.org 
UN Human Rights Office Media Section at ohchr-media@un.org 

For more information and media requests in India, please contact:
Chandramouli Guha at chandramouli.guha@un.org 
National Information Officer, UN Information Centre for India & Bhutan Background
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination monitors States parties’ adherence to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which, to date has 182 States parties. The Committee is made up of 18 members who are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties.