Warmongers and authoritarians suffocating global human rights, warns UN

Warmongers and authoritarians are “suffocating” human rights across the world, the chief of the United Nations has warned.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described a world where human rights were “on the ropes and being pummeled hard” during a Monday speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Highlighting the devastating effects of conflicts, including in the Middle East, Ukraine and Congo, Guterres noted abuses linked to economics, technology, climate change, migration, and gender.

Guterres criticized the “morally bankrupt global financial system” that favors profits over environmental protections. He also spoke of leaders who seek to demonize immigrants or impede women’s rights, as well as those who might use artificial intelligence to harm people.

The international community “must spare no effort to put an end to this conflict, and achieve a just and lasting peace,” Guterres said on the occasion of Russia’s third invasion of Ukraine.

The Gaza ceasefire is “precarious” and the world “must avoid at all costs a resumption of hostilities”, he continued. “Gravely concerned” over escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, he noted violence committed by Israeli settlers and calls for annexation, which he described as alarming developments.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have fought to take control of large cities in the east in recent weeks, he also condemned horrifying human rights violations.

The comments came before a crucial UN debate between the United States and Ukraine, which is being sparked by Russia’s massive invasion in February 2022.

His remarks came ahead of a crucial UN debate in New York on Monday as the United States sought the support of a resolution urging Russia to leave its forces and put an end to the conflict.

The UN’s long-standing call for Russia to end hostilities is met with opposition from Ukraine and its European allies, who have proposed a competing text.

Not surprisingly, the US proposal doesn’t mention Russian aggression. Kyiv has recently been accused of being responsible for the invasion and subsequent war by President Donald Trump.