Thank you, Mr. Chair,

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues:

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, allow me to extend our warmest congratulations to you, Mr. Chair, and the members of the Bureau on your election. The Group of 77 and China assures you of our full support and cooperation during this session.

The Group thanks the Secretary-General for the submission of the reports under agenda items of concern for the group, which will enrich our discussions.

The Group of 77 and China renews its unwavering commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation and the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The Group pledges to continue to advance its three interlinked pillars, peace and security, human rights and development, in a balanced manner, and calls on all Member States to renew the multilateral spirit that gave birth to the Organization for the benefit of present and future generations.

The Group also emphasizes that we must join hands to realize the 2030 Agenda, leaving no country and no person behind, and building together a just, inclusive and better world, respecting, promoting and protecting human rights for all. The Group also reaffirms that the Commission for Social Development has the primary responsibilities for the follow-up to the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, and stresses its role in contributing to the follow-up to the 2030 Agenda.

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms that all humans are equal in dignity and rights, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme for Action. The group also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated, and the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing, and with the same emphasis.

Mr. Chair,

The Group would like to remind Delegations that is the traditional proponent of four draft resolutions, reflecting our shared priorities and collective commitments, meaning:

- Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the Twenty-Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly
- Follow-up to the Thirtieth Anniversary of the International Year of the Family and Future Needs
- Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing
- Global Call for Concrete Action for the Total Elimination of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and for the Comprehensive Implementation of and Follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Thirty years after the World Summit for Social Development, we acknowledge the progress made in advancing the core pillars of Copenhagen declaration; yet, we remain deeply concerned that poverty, inequality, exclusion and challenges to achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all persist, compounded by new and emerging global challenges. In that regard, we welcome the hosting by the State of Qatar of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held from 4 to 6 November 2025, which reaffirmed the commitment to the Copenhagen Declaration and its Programme of Action on Social Development and to its implementation, while providing renewed momentum towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Group also underscores the need to strengthen inclusive social policies and programmes, including family-oriented policies and programmes through concrete strategies that build national capacities within a comprehensive approach to development, as catalysts for reducing poverty and hunger, promoting the well-being of all at all ages, supporting children's development, and breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

At the same time, as the global population ages, we must also foster an enabling environment for the equal and meaningful participation of older persons, by combating discrimination and safeguarding their rights and dignity.

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms its strong opposition to all forms of discrimination, including racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and expresses concern at the alarming rise in religious hatred and intolerance. The Group calls upon Member States and the international community to condemn religious intolerance and hatred, foster dialogue, tolerance, and respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. The legacy of colonialism, slavery, and systemic exploitation has created deep-rooted global inequalities that persist across generations. Advancing reparatory justice is vital in addressing global inequality through structural reforms in global governance, trade, debt, finance to advance the SDGs.

Mr. Chair,

The Group of 77 and China recommits to eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against all women and girls and to ensuring their empowerment in all spheres of life, since achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as well as the full, equal and meaningful participation of women are also indispensable to just and inclusive societies. The G77 and China also stresses the importance of redoubling efforts to ensure full and equal access to education, employment, and healthcare for persons with disabilities, and of strengthening support for youth through inclusive education, training, skills development, addressing digital literacy challenges and promoting employment.

The Group of 77 and China reaffirms it is crucial to cooperate internationally to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants, regardless of their migration status, refugees and displaced persons. Such cooperation should also strengthen the resilience of communities hosting refugees, particularly in developing countries. The Group also stresses that migrants positively contribute to sustainable development, while recognizing that the roles and responsibilities of the countries of origin, transit and destination should be appropriately balanced. The Group further commits to combat misinformation and disinformation, negative stereotyping and misleading narratives that generate negative perceptions of migration and migrants.

In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and to advancing social development. We wish this session of the Third Committee every success and look forward to counting on the constructive participation of all delegations in the consultations on the resolutions that the Group will be introducing during this session.

I thank you.