In a stark warning, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the Human Rights Council in Geneva, illustrating a troubling global landscape where warmongers and authoritarian figures are undermining human rights. He portrayed a world dimmed by violence and oppression, particularly highlighting conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Guterres described human rights as being, “on the ropes and being pummelled hard” amidst unrelenting turmoil.
Guterres pointed to severe human rights abuses often fueled by economic interests, technological misuse, climate crises, migration issues, and gender disparities. He decried a “morally bankrupt global financial system” focused more on profits than on social and environmental responsibilities. Furthermore, he warned of the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence in the hands of unscrupulous individuals and the leaders who vilify migrants or curb women’s rights.
On the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Guterres urged the international community to intensify efforts towards achieving a just and lasting peace. Stressing the fragility of the ceasefire in Gaza, he stated that the world must do everything possible to prevent a return to conflict. His concerns extended to the West Bank, where escalating violence by Israeli settlers and troubling annexation calls pose a grave threat to peace.
Addressing the DRC’s dire situation, he condemned the inhumane acts happening amid the recent fighting between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and government forces. His remarks coincided with a crucial UN debate, where competing resolutions from the US and Ukraine sought to address the ongoing war stemming from Russia’s aggression. The US proposal called for Russia’s withdrawal without acknowledging its initial aggression, amidst a backdrop of a growing international call for accountability.
Adding to the complexity, the wisdom of the UN was overshadowed by the US’s decision to leave its seat unoccupied at the Human Rights Council, a clear nod to former President Trump’s disengagement policy. This second-hand abandonment leaves an eerie silence in a forum that once advocated strongly for human rights, presenting an unsettling picture of a world that appears to turn a blind eye to the suffering at its fringes.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that warmongers and autocrats are stifling global human rights, highlighting abuses centred in Ukraine, Palestine, and the DRC. He critiqued the economic systems and leaders contributing to these crises, advocating for global unity to address the conflicts and protect human rights amidst increasing violence and oppression.
In an impassioned address, Antonio Guterres illustrated the rampant erosion of human rights globally, exacerbated by key conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, and the DRC. He urged the world to confront economic, technological, and political forces that facilitate such abuses. As vital debates unfold at the UN regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, the call for accountability and human rights protection remains ever pressing, even as disengagement strategies raise concerns about future action.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
