United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk press conference

“It is clear that we won’t solve the problem of police brutality against people of African descent until we deal with the broader manifestations of systemic racism that permeate every aspect of their lives. The racial abuse faced once again by Real Madrid football player Vinicius Junior in Spain just this past Sunday, is a stark reminder of the prevalence of racism in sport,” the High Commissioner said.

“I call on those who organise sporting events to have strategies in place to prevent and counter racism. Much more indeed needs to be done to eradicate racial discrimination. And it needs to start with listening to people of African descent meaningfully involving them, and taking genuine steps to act upon their concerns,” he said.

“I think I would like to provide a guide to those who are organisers of sporting event, which is so important because of course sport is also I mean, it brings people together. There are so many positive things that are engrained in sport events. And that's why we want to put forward a number of ideas, ideas of human rights standards and sport events,” Türk added.

“Very deeply troubling reports of sexual violence in Darfur have emerged. We are aware of at least 25 cases, but we also know how difficult it is to document these cases. So we are sure that the real number of cases is much higher. General al Burhan, General Dagalo, you must issue clear instructions in no uncertain terms to all those under your command that there is zero tolerance for sexual violence, that perpetrators of all violations must be held accountable. Civilians must be spared, and you must stop this senseless violence now,” the UN Human Rights Chief said.

“Nowhere is the devastating impact of human rights violations more stark than in the midst of conflict and in the aftermath of natural disasters. And I would like to refer in particular to cyclone Mocha, which has cast a swathe of destruction throughout particularly western parts of Myanmar. It is the latest, disturbing, painful manifestation of a manmade disaster resulting from the climate event for decades. As you know so well, the authorities have deprived the Rohingya of their rights and freedoms, they have relentlessly attacked other ethnic groups, eroding their capacity to survive in the face of adversity peacefully. Communities have subsisted, for example, in temporary bamboo structures, some since 2012, with Myanmar’s military repeatedly denying requests of humanitarian agencies to build more sustainable living conditions in areas that are less prone to flooding, that I saw myself. on my several visits to Myanmar, especially to the West and to Rakhine State,” the High Commissioner said.

“In Afghanistan, the Taliban continue aggressively to seek to erase half of the population from everyday life. Such a system of gender apartheid ruins the development potential of the country as a whole. I would never understand how anyone can trample so cruelly upon the spirit of girls and women. Chipping away at their potential and driving one's country deeper and deeper into abject poverty and despair. It is crucial for the sake of the people of Afghanistan, the future of the country and the wider region that these repressive policies against women and girls are immediately overturned,”Türk said.

For more information and media requests, please contact:

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

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