Regarding Ukraine, specifically, the UN chief noted that Tuesday, February 24, will mark the fourth anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has killed more than 15,000 civilians. “It is time to end the bloodshed,” he insisted, and his comments were precursors to those by UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who called for rights and justice to be at the center of any ceasefire or peace agreement.
‘Silence has consequences’
Echoing those concerns, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock insisted that human rights “are not a spectator sport” for UN Council members, ambassadors, ministers or officials, for whom “silence is a choice… and has consequences.”
“History teaches us that Large systems rarely collapse at a dramatic moment; They are slowly eroded, rule after rule, compromise after compromise, and those who should defend them prefer to remain silent.. Until one day, what seemed permanent just disappears,” Baerbock said.
In her opening remarks, she highlighted the current situation of Afghan women who, according to a new Taliban edict, can apparently be beaten by their husbands, as long as they do not leave visible marks.
“We must remember once and for all and again that Appeasement in light of the most serious human rights violations never prevails.“We are seeing not only a dramatic backlash in women’s rights, but also in human rights and other rules and standards that were thought to be set in stone and are now being questioned, dismissed or openly violated.”
Ukrainian children in the spotlight
The President of the General Assembly also called for “a clear commitment from all Member States that the abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime”, referring to young people separated from their families since 2014 – when Moscow annexed Crimea –, including those transferred within occupied Ukrainian territory and those deported to Russia.
The two-state solution “stripped”
Regarding the occupied West Bank, where the expansion of Israeli settlers is accelerating, Guterres warned that the two-state solution was being “stripped in broad daylight. The international community cannot allow this to happen..”
And amid multiplying conflicts where aggressors continue to act with impunity, Guterres argued that this was because governments continued to ignore fundamental human rights enshrined in international law, at a time when needs are “exploding” and funding collapsing.
uncomfortable truths
“We live in a world where mass suffering is excused, where human beings are used as currency, where international law is treated as a mere inconvenience,” he insisted.
In his final address to the Council as UN Secretary-General before his second five-year term ends on December 31, Guterres reiterated his long-standing concerns about the causes of insecurity and inequality that had left migrants “harassed, arrested and expelled”, refugees scapegoated and LGBTIQ+ communities vilified.
“Countries are drowning in debt and despair, climate chaos is accelerating”, he maintained, particularly small and vulnerable nations lack adequate investment.
AI failures
Even technology – and especially artificial intelligence – is increasingly used to “suppress rights, deepen inequality and expose marginalized people to new forms of discrimination both online and offline,” the world’s top diplomat warned, before urging a renewed commitment to the values of multilateral solidarity set out in the UN Charter.
“Human rights are neither West nor East, North or South, they are not a luxury, they are not negotiable. They are the foundation of a more peaceful and secure world.. And States are subject to their obligations under the Charter and international law.”
Expanding on that theme, UN human rights chief Türk said that at a time when some governments were weakening the multilateral system, it was necessary to denounce violations of international law, “regardless of the perpetrators.”
To confront the current “vertical domination”, the High Commissioner highlighted the upcoming launch of his Office’s Global Alliance for Human Rights, which will bring together States, businesses, cities, philanthropists, scientists, artists, philosophers, youth and civil society.
“Our future depends on our joint commitment to defend the rights of all people, at all times and everywhere,” Mr. Türk insisted.