Mr. President,

1. It is an honor for the Republic of Iraq to take the floor on behalf of the G77 and China, whose Member States appreciate the convening of this plenary meeting of the General Assembly on such an important topic, which affects a large number of countries from the Global South, including from our grouping.

Mr. President,

2. Developing countries face great challenges, including the increase in unilateral political, economic and trade actions or policies and the weakening of multilateralism, which are flagrant violations of the principles established in the UN Charter, international law and the purposes of the United Nations. We consider that it is urgent to stop these actions that threaten the economic and social development of the countries that are subject to them and, consequently, prevent them from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

3. The Group considers that the application of these measures, together with all unilateral protectionist measures, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, also violate the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), undermine the multilateral trading system and seriously threaten free trade, the right of States to export or import goods or services from world markets, investment and sustainable development. These measures also constitute means of arbitrary discrimination against developing countries subject to them.

4. The impact of these measures also affects, among others, technical and financial cooperation, technology transfer, agricultural and industrial production in the countries, access to food, the supply of medicines, vaccines, treatments and medical equipment to treat diseases, as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and even the participation of delegations in meetings of the United Nations System or sports delegations wishing to attend international events.

5. Consequently, the Group reaffirms its firm rejection of the imposition of laws and regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions, against developing countries and reiterated the urgent need to eliminate them immediately. We emphasize that such actions not only undermine the principles enshrined in the Charter of the UN and international law, but also severely threaten the freedom of trade and investment. We therefore call upon the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries.

Mr. President,

6. The G77 and China welcomes the adoption of General Assembly resolution 78/135 on "Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries", especially because it "requests the Secretary- General to monitor the imposition of unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion and to study, inter alia, with the support and cooperation of the resident coordinators and United Nations country teams, the impact of such measures on the affected countries, including the impact on trade and development".

7. In this regard, we also welcome the launch of a uniform and universal tool, as elaborated by the Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures on the Enjoyment of Human Rights, for the purpose of monitoring and assessing the impact of unilateral coercive measures and overcompliance on human rights, as well as on the economic and social development of developing countries targeted by these measures and on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

8. Similarly, we welcome that this matter has been duly reflected in the recently agreed conclusions and recommendations of the 2024 Financing for Development Forum, as well as in the declaration of the 2024 ECOSOC's High-Level Political Forum and the Pact for the Future. We trust that this will also be the case in the outcome documents of the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025, currently under negotiations, as this matter can no longer be ignored and must be thoroughly and effectively addressed, including as part of our commitment to leaving no one behind.

9. It is in maintaining that momentum, and at a time when there seems to be growing understanding, support and solidarity on this problematic that, given its scope, has implications at the global scale, that we consider that the establishment of an "International Day against Unilateral Coercive Measures" will be a step in the right direction, giving more visibility to this issue and supporting the campaign towards the lifting of these measures, as well as ongoing efforts to raise awareness on their negative impact. Thus, in line with our principled positions, we express our support to the draft resolution presented under this agenda item.

Mr. President,

10. Finally, the Group categorically rejects the application of unilateral coercive measures and calls on those countries to refrain from imposing them, including unilateral sanctions and trade restrictions, which negatively impact the human rights of millions of people living under these illegal measures in developing countries and, in turn, deepen the gap between these countries and developed countries. Instead, countries must show greater solidarity and cooperation to support others in overcoming the huge challenges and vulnerabilities they face to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in compliance with the spirit of the UN Charter.

I thank you, Mr. President.