In a stark address at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres painted a grim picture of the world’s human rights landscape. He described deliberate and strategic assaults on fundamental freedoms across the globe, from war-torn regions like Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine to broader violations of international law.
“The rule of law is being overtaken by the rule of power,” Guterres declared, highlighting how conflicts are inflicting unimaginable suffering on civilians. He pointed to systematic humiliations of human rights, often carried out with brazen arrogance.
Guterres expressed deep sorrow over the UN’s own struggles. The organization, he said, is fighting for survival amid funding cuts that have pushed its human rights office into ‘survival mode.’ This crisis is exacerbated by pressures on UN experts and the withdrawal of major contributors like the United States.
Human needs are skyrocketing, yet resources are dwindling, the UN chief lamented. Meanwhile, High Commissioner Volker Turk echoed these concerns, noting large-scale human rights abuses fueled by global power struggles and resource shortages since World War II.
Turk stood firmly behind Guterres’ call to end conflicts in hotspots including Myanmar. He warned of a dangerous race among nations to assert dominance, while independent voices face threats regardless of the potential fallout.
Funding shortfalls have already derailed key investigations, such as probes into possible war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and mistreatment in Afghanistan set for 2025. As the world grapples with these challenges, the UN leaders urged a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and respect for all people.