Thank you Mr. President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her comprehensive report. The findings and recommendations, including those describing the racially discriminatory impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition technology in the Netherlands, are of utmost importance. Our national coordinator against discrimination and racism is actively monitoring and addressing such issues domestically.

As stated last year by the High Commissioner: “No country can claim to be free of racism”. This includes the Netherlands. We acknowledge that more can and must be done to combat this challenge effectively.

We are therefore dedicated to addressing racism, discrimination, and intolerance in all its forms. The principle of equality, as stipulated in Article 1 of our Constitution, is fundamental to our democracy. We actively promote this freedom, using a comprehensive approach focused on awareness, prevention, and combatting discrimination. 

We urge the Human Rights Council to continue facilitating essential debates like today's and encourage all delegations to engage in open and honest dialogues on this sensitive topic. Racism, like many of the other transnational issues we work on here, can only be effectively combatted when we do this together and learn from each other.

I thank you.