Geneva –On  February 23, 2026,  President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, J. Ramos-Horta delivered a powerful keynote address at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, framing human rights as the essential “bedrock of stable and equitable societies.”

Drawing on Timor-Leste’s own history of reconciliation, the Nobel Peace Laureate warned against the erosion of international norms caused by geopolitical rivalries and extreme polarization. The Head of State made a stirring appeal for global debt relief for developing nations and urged world leaders to pursue compassionate, diplomatic solutions to the devastating conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Myanmar, emphasizing that human rights cannot exist in a vacuum of poverty and inequality.

Drawing on Timor-Leste’s history of reconciliation, the President emphasized that Timor-Leste’s peace was built on recognizing the humanity of former adversaries rather than seeking retribution and  offered a bold vision for global peace, urging “compromise without loss of face” in the Ukraine conflict and calling for a viable two-state solution in the Middle East that protects women and children “at all costs.” 

Outside the plenary hall, the President’s agenda reinforced these calls for global resilience through high-level meetings with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. These engagements, alongside a diplomatic lunch hosted by the Timor-Leste Mission for ASEAN and CPLP representatives, highlighted the nation’s role as a bridge-builder.