Christophe Payot

🇺🇳 Good to meet @DrTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today and to reaffirm Belgium's commitment to the @WHO. Not just in words, but in funding. Despite budgetary pressures across the board, Belgium has increased its voluntary contributions. More for research on tropical diseases. More for sexual and reproductive health. Maintained funding for equitable access to vaccines and medicines. We do this because it is smart. Viruses do not carry passports. A disease contained in one country is a crisis prevented in ours. Right now, the WHO is coordinating the response to a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship: hundreds of passengers, multiple nationalities, one organisation holding it together. That is what the WHO does, quietly, every single day. COVID taught us how interconnected we are. We should not need to learn that lesson again. Belgium also pushes for ambitious reform of the global health architecture. The WHO must be at the centre, with stronger leadership, greater coherence, and governance built on equity, solidarity and human rights. Reform is not a threat to the WHO. It is what makes it indispensable. Thank you Dr. Tedros. Belgium stands with WHO. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumUNGeneva

🇺🇳 Today in Geneva, I represented Belgium for its 4th Universal Periodic Review at the @UNHumanRights Council. An exercise where every UN member state has its human rights record examined by its peers. All 193 countries, on equal footing. Some might ask: why would a country voluntarily submit itself to scrutiny? Because that is exactly the point. Speaking openly about where we fall short is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of confidence in the system we helped build. If we ask others to uphold human rights, we must be willing to hold ourselves to the same standard. Human rights are in Belgium’s DNA. The universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights are the guiding principles of everything we do, at home and on the international stage. This review, based on the follow-up of 251 recommendations accepted in 2021, is how we turn that commitment into accountability. In a world where the very concept of universal rights is under pressure, exercises like the UPR matter more than ever. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumUNGeneva

Belgium warmly welcomes Lebanon as a new State Party to the #AntiPersonnelMineBanConvention. An important step towards the universalisation of the norm against anti-personnel mines, & a strong contribution to the reinforcement of int. humanitarian law & global peace efforts.

Congratulations 👏to Mr. Daren TANG for his reappointment as @WIPO DG! Belgium🇧🇪 values his vision for a modern, impactful Organization, that strengthens the multilateral system and delivers tangible benefits to all MS. We look forward to continuing this constructive partnership.

ITC is at the heart of EU trade policy! 🇪🇺 Our new Brussels office helps us foster the cooperation needed to support small businesses worldwide. Director-General @KoenDoens of the @EU_Commission highlighted our unique role in bridging trade policy with practical technical aid. ℹ️ bit.ly/4cI4o24

🗳️ Elections at ECOSOC today: 🙌 Belgium is elected by acclamation to @UNICEF Executive Board (2027) & UN Statistical Commission (2027-2030). Congratulations to 🇧🇪 expert Ludovic Hennebel on his re‑election to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights! 🇧🇪🇺🇳

ITC opens its Brussels office—today @UNinBrussels! As the world’s second-largest consumer market, being closer to Europe’s trade policy hub allows us to better help global small businesses access the EU. Let our ED @CokeHamilton tell you how. ℹ️ intracen.org/about-us/who-w…

🇧🇪 Belgium is actively working on the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement and officially presents its bid to host the #BBNJ Secretariat in Brussels. 🌊 🎥 Hear more from our Special Envoy for the Ocean, @SophieMirgaux, and our colleague Elisa De Raes. ⤵️

From #HumanRightsCouncil member to observer, our commitment for human rights remains strong. Team 🇧🇪 closes #HRC61 proudly, celebrating many achievements and ready to keep driving positive impact!