IIMA and VIDES Participation in the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council

The United Nations Human Rights Council held its 58th session from 24 February to 4 April 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session’s agenda included several high-level meetings and numerous discussions dedicated to crucial human rights issues.

IIMA and VIDES delivered several oral statements on item 3. In particular, during the Interactive Dialogue (ID) with the Special Rapporteur on the Sale, Exploitation and Abuse of Children (text and video), the ID with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict (text and video) and the ID with the SRSG on Violence against Children (text and video). Moreover, they also delivered an oral statement during the Annual Debate on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (text and video).

In these statements, IIMA and VIDES, emphasized the need to protect young people with disabilities from cyberbullying and online threats. They also underlined the importance of preventing and addressing all forms of child abuse and promoting children’s right to education, even in contexts of war and conflict.
IIMA and VIDES further expressed concern that minors are often victims of violence, forced early marriages, sexual exploitation, child trafficking, and forced labor. They, therefore, called on UN Member States to determine the root causes of the above problems and tackle them, involving children in decision-making and ensuring pathways for rehabilitation and family reintegration.

On the Human Rights Council Agenda Item 6, UPR Outcomes, IIMA and VIDES delivered oral statements on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Costa Rica.

IIMA and VIDES recommended to DRC (text and video) to ensure access to education even in conflict zones, to put an end to child labor in mines, and to strengthen the protection of women and girls against domestic and gender-based violence. With regard to Equatorial Guinea (text and video), they expressed concern about the lack of access to education for children with disabilities and pregnant adolescents. At the same time they called on the government of Equatorial Guinea to urgently eliminate violence against children and adolescents. The coalition recommended to Ethiopia (text and video) to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, calling for its alignment with international standards, and urged stronger action against early marriage, female genital mutilation and barriers to education for vulnerable children. IIMA and VIDES , on the other hand, recommended to Costa Rica (text and video) to greatly invest in public education, reduce school dropouts, and address discrimination against vulnerable groups. They also call on Costa Rica to improve school infrastructure and digital learning opportunities.

All texts and videos of the oral statements are available on the IIMA website.