GENEVA — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed grave concerns over the state of human rights globally, characterizing them as being “suffocated” due to rising voices of division and hostility that view these rights as obstacles in their pursuit of power and profit.
In his address to the Human Rights Council, Guterres condemned Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, which has now reached its third anniversary. He also called for a lasting cease-fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, while emphasizing the need to uphold the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among various other pressing issues.
Reiterating his worries about conflicts and climate change, the U.N. leader indicated plans to introduce new strategies to the Security Council aimed at enhancing stability and security in Haiti, where there is an ongoing multinational security support mission deployed to help restore order.
Guterres painted a stark picture of a world where human rights are “on the ropes and being pummeled hard” by those who seek war. He criticized a “morally deficient global financial system” that prioritizes profits over environmental welfare, and pointed to the potential risks of artificial intelligence being used to harm individuals. He also denounced leaders who incite fear against migrants or impose restrictions on women’s rights.
According to Guterres, these rights are being “suffocated by authoritarian regimes that repress opposition out of fear of what empowered citizens might achieve,” alongside those voices of division who perceive human rights as threats to their quest for power and control rather than as fundamental goods for humanity.
Recent developments included U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of the country’s withdrawal from the council, although the Biden administration had previously determined that the United States would not pursue a position on the 47-member council when its term expired last year.
The Human Rights Council convenes three times annually, with the current session that opened this past Monday scheduled to continue until April 4.
