Human Rights and Dignity in Global Context

The failure of states to adopt an anti-racist, anti-colonial, and dignity-based approaches

through extractive capitalistic practices, pillaging of resources, coloniality, genocides,

and then crushes people under the weight of indignity.

Health cannot be realized without dignity.

South Africa commends her distinguished tenure grounded in dignity, equality, and inclusion.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her principled voice and solidarity.

The Arab Group thanks the Special Rapporteur and we commend her prioritization.

We celebrate the incredible legacy of Dr. T. She has made clear the intersectional links

between colonialism, racism, patriarchy, and power.

We also commend your courage in documenting genocidal acts perpetrated in Gaza.

I'm a proud African trans woman delivering this statement on behalf of 37 feminist organizations.

We commend the Special Rapporteur for her calling for the decriminalization of abortion

She has recognized Israel's genocide.

We call on this Council and its Special Rapporteurs to build progressively on Dr. Mofukeng's

considerable legacy of body of work.

Thank you.

I call on the United Nations Watch.

Special Rapporteur Mofukeng, your report focuses on human dignity, including protection from

exploitation.

Now, on page 21, you refer to sex workers.

In that regard, you've published an article for Teen Vogue magazine encouraging adolescents

to view prostitution as legitimate work.

Given the widespread exploitation, trafficking, and abuse in the prostitution industry, do

you still stand by those remarks?

On page 2, you write that health cannot be realized without dignity.

Do you believe your own conduct reflects that principle?

As documented in UN Watch's latest report, you have repeatedly used profane and abusive

language against those with whom you disagree.

On July 1st, 2024, you called former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, quote, filthy.

In a tweet about him on December 8th, 2023, you wrote, quote, effed up.

Is this dignified behavior?

On pages 1 and 3, your report opposes stigma and racism, yet when I criticized your conduct,

you called me evil scum white man.

As a result, South Africa's health authority found you guilty of bringing the medical profession

into disrepute.

Do you now regret those remarks?

Special Rapporteur, you were elected chair of the UN Human Rights Experts.

Is your conduct setting the right example?

Finally, South Africa gave the world Nelson Mandela, who taught that human dignity belongs

to every person, including one's political opponents.

Special Rapporteur, do you believe that Nelson Mandela would have approved of your conduct?

I thank you.

And in the face of fierce personal targeted attacks, incitement of violence against me,

escalating into domestic spaces as professional harassment and intimidation, both in real

life and in online spaces, I stand here today with very few answers to the grand scale of

human suffering.