Every year on December 10th, International Human Rights Day is observed. Just before this, High Commissioner Volker Turk, in his speech in Geneva, highlighted that not only are human rights being violated in the present era, but they are also being weaponized. According to him, the international community is facing three major issues: the spread of armed conflicts, the rise of deliberate disinformation, and the neglect of long-term security.
During violent conflicts, actions are undermining respect for international law, and it seems that powerful parties are indifferent to the high number of casualties and suffering. In this context, Volker Turk mentioned crises in Israel, occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti, and other areas.
Critical voices are under attack. The backlash against human rights is growing. Legitimate protests are curbed, repression is rising, and public space is shrinking.
— Volker Türk (@volker_turk) December 9, 2024
Human rights defenders stand up for what is right, often at great personal risk. We must protect them. pic.twitter.com/P9VFlQjG3w
In the past 12 months, a significant number of civilians have lost their lives. In Haiti alone, 5,000 people have been killed due to violence. Just this weekend, 184 people lost their lives in gang violence. High Commissioner Turk noted the increasing use of landmines targeting civilians, nuclear threats, and the use of weapons causing rapid destruction. “We need to stop the flow of these weapons. Countries must take every possible step to make the use of these dreadful weapons more difficult, not easier,” he emphasized.
He also called for the cessation of militarized approaches to security and stressed the importance of prioritizing mediation, dialogue, and peace-building efforts. The human rights chief expressed concern over the growing cases of disinformation, which are being used as tools to deepen divisions, weaken human rights defenders, and distort reality. He criticized anti-humanitarian values, which blame minorities for problems and deprive people of their economic, social, and cultural rights.
Volker Turk emphasized that leaders must stop promoting “othering” of communities, which dehumanizes entire populations, fuels hatred and violence, and nurtures ideologies like white supremacy, toxic ideologies, and racism. The UN High Commissioner also stressed the urgent need to address the triple crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, as well as global inequality.
Volker Turk pointed out that despite established legal obligations for damage prevention, some countries are backtracking on their climate commitments, increasing risks to long-term security. Against this backdrop, he urged countries to tackle these crises with leadership and political energy, as conditions are rapidly deteriorating. He also noted that international human rights institutions are struggling with a lack of financial resources, receiving less than 5% of the UN’s regular budget. He urged countries to provide adequate resources to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stating that financial constraints are weakening efforts to uphold human dignity.
On this Human Rights Day, High Commissioner Turk called for the building and support of alliances in cities, communities, workplaces, and lives, to ensure the protection of every individual’s human rights and dignity.
