Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the core group on the role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights – Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, United Kingdom and my own country Ukraine.

We sincerely thank the HRC Advisory Committee for its comprehensive report and the OHCHR for convening the expert workshop and presenting its summary.

Both reports reaffirm that disinformation is not merely a communications challenge - it is a systemic threat to the enjoyment of human rights. It undermines freedom of expression and access to information, erodes public trust, weakens democratic institutions, fuels discrimination, and disproportionately targets women, minorities, journalists, human rights defenders and other vulnerable groups.

Disinformation thrives where transparency is absent, independent media are weakened, and civic space is constrained. Strengthening societal resilience through media literacy, protecting journalists, ensuring transparency of digital platforms and promoting accountability of technology companies are therefore essential components of an effective response.

We firmly believe that the negative impact of disinformation on human rights warrants the continued attention of this Council. Thus, the core group intends to present a renewed resolution on this topic at the next session, building upon the important work carried out since 2024.

I thank you!