No one must be punished for demanding freedom and the rule of law. Children must have the opportunity to go to school, regardless of their gender. Everyone must have safe access to drinking water. These examples show that human rights are not abstract concepts. On the contrary, they are the foundation of a life in dignity. Violations of human rights threaten fundamental human achievements.

We are firmly committed to defending these achievements and the dignity of every individual. This commitment has guided our campaign for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva – and it will guide our work there.

I thank the UN member states for their trust in Germany in today’s election in New York. We will live up to that trust. We stand with all people in need and are committed to upholding their rights. We will use our membership to strengthen the Human Rights Council together with our partners and to improve the protection of human rights worldwide.