Statement of Latvia at the Third Committee, 8th plenary meeting, General Assembly, 80th session, delivered by Māris Burbergs, Third Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Latvia to the UN
New York, 8 October 2025
Chair, Delegates,
The Third Committee convenes today against the backdrop of numerous conflicts - conflicts that devastate lives, destabilize regions, and challenge the very foundations of our shared international order. At the heart of many of these crises lies a common thread: the violation of human rights.
Latvia recognizes that human rights are a cornerstone of our collective efforts to prevent conflicts. The United Nations human rights system itself was born from the ashes of the Second World War. This is not merely a historical reflection - it is a foundational principle for global peace and stability.
Human rights violations are often the catalysts of conflict. There is clear evidence that countries where human rights are respected and protected are less prone to violence. Conflicts are frequently triggered by unaddressed grievances, systemic discrimination, and the absence of meaningful participation. And when conflicts do break out, human right violations escalate further. We have seen this happen in Sudan, the Middle East, Afghanistan, Haiti, Myanmar, the DRC.
Chair,
Human rights are not only a diagnostic tool - they are a solution. They guide states in exercising power responsibly and in service of their people.
The UN Charter provides the natural starting point for that guidance. As a cornerstone of international law, it affirms sovereignty, peaceful coexistence, and respect for human rights. It binds member states to resolve disputes through dialogue and to refrain from force except in self-defence or with Security Council authorization. Central to the Charter is the principle of accountability: nations and leaders must act within international norms and face consequences for violations.
Recent years have seen geopolitical ambitions and narrow national interests weaken the authority of international law and human rights. Restoring their primacy requires renewed commitment to the Charter’s rules, consistent enforcement of accountability, and a collective willingness to place rights and the rule of law at the centre of international and national policy.
Chair,
Renewing our commitment to the Charter must place gender equality at the heart of human rights and global security. The year 2025 marks a significant milestone: 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Over these three decades, we have made remarkable progress in advancing gender equality and empowering women. Yet, the journey is far from over. Around the world, women and girls continue to endure
gender-based discrimination and sexual violence. They are denied access to education and healthcare, and stripped of their most basic freedoms.
Latvia is a leader in gender equality and women’s representation, as is evident from World Bank reports and women serving in the highest political positions in our country. But our commitment to women’s empowerment is global. Latvia has increased its contributions to the UN Women and other UN bodies to address immediate needs but also long-term measures to fight inequality and oppression. Together with NGOs, we have implemented projects to rehabilitate survivors of violence in Ukraine and to empower women and girls in Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uzbekistan in the areas of entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and STEM. This is our long-term commitment.
This year marks also the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Security Council’s resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. In Latvia, we are currently working on our second National Action Plan on WPS and we encourage all States to adopt and strengthen their plans. The full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in political processes leads to ceasefires that hold, communities that heal and a peace that endures. Latvia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advance the WPS agenda, both nationally and internationally, including as an incoming member of the UN Security Council.
Building on our commitment to inclusive peace and security, Latvia also recognizes that a thriving civic space is essential for democratic resilience and human rights. Latvia is alarmed by the shrinking civic space around the world. We are particularly concerned by the spread of the so called “foreign agent laws” used to silence and eliminate civil society. Equally concerning is the use of unnecessary and excessive force against peaceful protesters. In this regard we would like to remind States that it is our obligation to respect and fully protect the rights to freedom of expression, of peaceful assembly and of association, both offline and online.
In parallel with defending civic freedoms, we place strong emphasis on protecting media independence and the safety of those who inform the public. Media freedom and raising awareness of the critical issue of safety of journalists has been at the forefront of our human rights priorities. Journalists’ safety and the integrity of their work is endangered on a daily basis. Journalists and media workers are attacked - whether they report from conflict zones, shedding light on the devastating realities of war or from their own communities. And the majority of those crimes go unpunished. States must do their utmost to prevent violence, threats and attacks against journalists and to ensure accountability for crimes committed against media workers.
As we confront traditional challenges to human rights, we must also remain vigilant against emerging threats. Hybrid warfare, cyber-attacks, AI-driven security risks, and disinformation campaigns pose a serious challenge to the protection of human rights. These tactics can undermine democratic institutions, erode privacy, restrict freedom of expression, and disproportionately target vulnerable populations. Cyber intrusions and AI misuse may lead to surveillance abuses, while disinformation can distort public discourse and incite violence or discrimination. As these threats evolve, safeguarding human rights requires robust legal frameworks, international cooperation, and adaptive strategies that prioritize transparency, accountability, and digital resilience.
Chair,
We also must remain vigilant against the cynical misuse of human rights language to cloak violations and spread disinformation, including in this Committee. Latvia strongly condemns Russia’s claim of combating Nazism in Ukraine as a pretext for a war of aggression. This narrative is a clear propaganda instrument. The Baltic States know too well how the Soviet Union cloaked its aggression against sovereign countries in the language of anti-Nazism, claiming liberation, while, in fact, realizing its imperial ambitions. Our nations endured occupation and annexation, mass deportations, and forced russification for almost half a century.
We see other states cynically tabling resolutions on human rights themes and aims they actively work against. The facilitator of the draft resolution on trafficking in persons itself instrumentalizes migrants from third countries for its political purposes, undermining human dignity of these persons.
In conclusion, Latvia is committed to working constructively within the Third Committee to strengthen human rights protection around the world. As an incoming member of the United Nations Security Council, we are dedicated to addressing human rights violations as key drivers of conflict and to integrating human rights into peace and security efforts.
I thank you.