HRC 63 Oral Statement Delivers Oral Statement on Denmark at UPR Outcome

Geneva, 25 September 2026 — During the adoption of the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Denmark at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, we delivered an oral statement addressing gaps in Denmark’s first National Action Plan Against Racism and ongoing concerns regarding freedom of religion or belief.

The statement builds directly on the joint stakeholder submission CAP LC filed for the 52nd UPR session in May 2026, prepared together with its partners Mr. Bashy Quraishy, Secretary General of the European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion (EMISCO), and Mr. Gregory Christensen, Leader of Youth for Human Rights Denmark. The submission, titled “Denmark’s Anti Racism Efforts”, examined whether the plan constitutes an adequate response to recommendations Denmark received during its previous UPR cycle, and it identified critical shortcomings, including the omission of Muslims, Afro Danes, Roma and migrants from the plan’s named target groups and the absence of clear prohibitions on racial and religious profiling.

In its statement, we welcomed the adoption of the National Action Plan Against Racism but echoed recommendations 125.39 and 125.223, calling on Denmark to discontinue the stigmatizing “non Western” classification and review the discriminatory Parallel Societies Act. On freedom of religion or belief, we welcomed the Office of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief, regretted that Penal Code section 110(e) remains vague and chills free expression, and deplored hate incidents against Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as the normalization of Islamophobic “remigration” rhetoric by political leaders.

The full oral statement read as follows:

Mr. President,

We welcome Denmark’s first National Action Plan Against Racism, yet regret its shortcomings. It names only Jewish and Greenlandic communities, omitting Muslims, Afro Danes, Roma and migrants. We echo recommendations 125.39 and 125.223: discontinue the stigmatizing “non Western” classification, review the discriminatory Parallel Societies Act, and set goals covering all minorities.

On freedom of religion or belief, we welcome the Office of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief and encourage cooperation with civil society. We recall recommendations 125.80 and 125.37 on protecting religious minorities and accountability for religiously based violence. We regret Penal Code section 110(e), on improper treatment of religious objects, remains vague and chills free expression. We deplore hate incidents against Jehovah’s Witnesses and the normalization of Islamophobic “remigration” rhetoric by political leaders at the Copenhagen march of 5 September 2026.

We urge Denmark to broaden its plan, guarantee equal protection of religious minorities, and reject discourse degrading people because of their faith. Thank you.