International Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 every year. Just before this, High Commissioner Volker Turk in his speech in Geneva pointed out that human rights are not only being violated in the present era, but also being used as a tool.
According to him, the international community faces three important issues: the proliferation of armed conflicts, the increase in cases of willful confusion and the neglect of long-term security.
Respect for international law is being undermined by conduct during violent conflicts and powerful parties seem indifferent to the large number of casualties and suffering.
In this context, Volker Turk mentions Israel, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar, Haiti and other crises.
A large number of civilians have lost their lives in the last 12 months. Five thousand people died in the violence in Haiti alone. This weekend alone, 184 people lost their lives in gang massacres.
High Commissioner Turk said that the use of explosive weapons including landmines and nuclear threats targeting people is increasing.
“We have to stop the flow of these weapons. “Countries must take every step possible to make the use of these terrible weapons not easier, but more difficult.”
He said the use of militarized approach to security should be stopped and instead priority should be given to mediation, dialogue and peace building efforts.
Deliberately spreading misinformation
The human rights chief expressed concern that cases of deliberate disinformation are on the rise, a tool used to deepen divisions, undermine human rights defenders and distort reality.
He criticizes anti-humanist values whereby problems are blamed on minorities and people are deprived of their economic, social and cultural rights.
According to Volker Turk, those in leadership positions must stop demonizing other communities, which dehumanizes entire communities, incites hatred and violence, and feeds toxic ideologies and racism, including white supremacy.
Triple crisis in the world
The UN High Commissioner emphasized that the triple threat facing the planet – climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity – urgently needs to be addressed and global inequality must also be addressed.
Volker Turk noted that despite established legal obligations to prevent harm, some countries are backing away from their climate commitments, raising long-term security risks.
Against this backdrop, he called on countries to respond to these crises with leadership and political strength, as the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Investing in human rights
Volker Turk says international human rights organizations lack financial resources, receiving less than five percent of the UN’s total regular budget.
He called on countries to provide adequate resources to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, saying financial constraints were undermining efforts to protect human dignity.
According to High Commissioner Turk, this Human Rights Day, we must build and support coalitions in our cities, communities, workplaces and lives, to protect the human rights and dignity of every person.