UN General Assembly 80th session, Third Committee General Debate
Statement delivered by Permanent Representative of Estonia H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar
6 October 2025, New York
Chair,
Distinguished colleagues,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to add the following.
The world today is marked by deepening conflicts, shrinking civic space and growing humanitarian needs. Human rights violations are not isolated cases – they are a pressing systemic challenge to peace and security. Against this backdrop, Estonia stands firmly for international law, accountability, human rights and dignity of every human being.
In Afghanistan, the systematic denial of women and girls’ rights remains one of the gravest human rights crises of our time. The international community must remain united in defending the rights of Afghan women and girls, whose participation is essential for lasting peace and stability in this country.
In Sudan, civilians endure mass atrocities, sexual violence, and starvation. Millions are displaced, and humanitarian agencies struggle to gain access. We reiterate joint calls for immediate and safe humanitarian access.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed groups continue to terrorise communities, recruit children, and commit horrific crimes against women. Protection of civilians must remain at the core of our collective response, alongside investment in peacebuilding and development.
In Gaza, President Trump’s recent plan represents a promising new opening that has already generated momentum and raised high expectations across the international community. At a time when the humanitarian situation is catastrophic and political trust is at a low point, it is crucial that all sides seize this opportunity constructively. Ending the violence, improving the daily lives of civilians, and restoring a credible political horizon, with the two-state solution as its foundation, remain the foremost goals of the international community.
In Russia, independent journalists, civil society and ordinary citizens face harassment, arbitrary detention and politically motivated prosecutions. The Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine and growing repressions at home are two sides of the same coin. Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, with daily missile and drone strikes targeting cities, schools, hospitals, residential areas and energy infrastructure that constitute war crimes. We are in particular appalled by Russia’s forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children. Russia continues to be listed as responsible for committing grave violations against children in the report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict. The systemic and widespread use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, is also documented in the report of the Secretary-General. Russia´s actions are not compatible with its status as a permanent member of the Security Council and are undermining international peace and security.
While portraying itself as a champion of decolonization, Russia pursues neo-colonial ambitions in Ukraine and beyond, and tries to justify its war of aggression with combating Nazism. This is all too familiar. During the illegal occupation by Soviet Union that lasted for almost 50 years, people of the Baltic and many other states suffered executions, repressions, mass deportation and forced russification. While remaining fully committed to the agenda, Estonia therefore does not support the resolution cynically tabled by Russia, titled ‘Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance’.
Chair,
Estonia firmly believes that international law based multilateral cooperation is the only way to address global challenges. We reiterate our full support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and commend the High Commissioner for his tireless efforts in defending human dignity worldwide.
In this spirit, Estonia is seeking election to the Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term. Our main priorities are the promotion and protection of children’s rights; safeguarding digital rights and reducing the digital divide; and advancing media freedom. We count on your most valuable support in the elections on October 14th, and remain committed to working closely with civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
As a recent co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, Estonia contributed to strengthening press freedom, combating disinformation and ensuring the safety of journalists across the globe. Journalists and media workers must be able to operate without fear of censorship, harassment and violence. Their safety is a prerequisite for a functioning democratic society.
Human rights must be protected both online and offline. Digital transformation and AI bring enormous opportunities, but also new risks. It can accelerate gender equality and empower women and youth economically and politically but also facilitate the spread of disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference. As a chair of the Freedom Online Coalition, Estonia is dedicated to countering these threats. Among our priorities is closing the digital divide by sharing our expertise in secure digital infrastructure and e-Government solutions. We would also be honoured to share our experience in introducing AI in our school curriculum, including in partnership with UNICEF.
This year marks thirty years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most ambitious and transformative vision for gender equality. Together with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, it remains a milestone in advancing women’s rights and strengthening their role in decision-making. Instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) establish binding legal obligations for States Parties, while UN Women provides essential normative leadership and operational support to translate those obligations into actions. Strong, independent experts on the CEDAW Committee are indispensable to ensuring those standards are implemented effectively. Estonia – together with the Nordic-Baltic countries – has nominated Ms. Marianne Mikko for election to the CEDAW Committee for the 2027–2030 term. We believe her long-standing commitment to gender equality and experience as the current vice-chairperson of CEDAW enables her to contribute to the Committee’s work, and invite Member States to support her candidacy. For Estonia, gender equality is not only a matter of fairness but also a foundation for resilient democracy and sustainable peace.
In darker days for democracy, civil society and human rights defenders are our front line of defence. Around the world, they face harassment, intimidation, and violence – often amplified in the digital space. Estonia denounces these practices and will continue to advocate for the protection of those who speak truth to power.
Chair,
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. It is a milestone that reminds us of the power and potential of multilateral cooperation. Over these eight decades, the UN has been inter alia instrumental in establishing universal human rights standards that form the foundation of global peace and dignity. However, as pushback against human rights continues to grow, we must recognize that defending these hard-won achievements is our collective responsibility and interest. The principles outlined in the UN Charter must be preserved and upheld for generations to come.
Allow me to hereby reiterate our position that after 80 years of men only leadership, it is high time to appoint a woman UN Secretary General.
Thank you.