UN SG warns of rise in threats to human rights

UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the 40th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on Monday by denouncing an increase in threats to human rights worldwide.

Guterres began his address by emphasizing the HRC’s role as “the epicentre for … the protection of all human rights” and highlighted areas of progress including a global reduction in poverty levels and increased access to clean drinking water. Guterres also celebrated “tremendous progress in the fight for women’s rights and gender equality in recent decades” and noted a recent rise in female political leadership as well as falling maternal mortality rates. He noted, however, that significant inequalities persist: “I do not accept a world that tells my granddaughters that economic equality can wait for their granddaughter’s granddaughters. … Our world cannot wait.” Guterres also called for more efforts to protect freedom of speech worldwide, expressing concern over increased targeting of journalists and activists.

Guterres specifically denounced the global impact of xenophobic rhetoric:

We are also seeing a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance—including rising anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. … Indeed, hate is moving into the mainstream—in liberal democracies and authoritarian States alike. Some major political parties and leaders are cutting and pasting ideas from the fringes into their own propaganda and electoral campaigns. And parties once rightly considered pariahs are gaining influence over governments.

To combat these trends, Guterres indicated that Special Advisor for the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng will be leading a UN effort to identify and curtail hate speech. Guterres closed his remarks by calling on the HRC to take action to safeguard human rights, especially those of refugees.

Source: Jurist