United Nations Human Rights HC Türk Global Update to the 52nd HRC

 Here is a selection of quotes from his speech:

“I am aware that discussions of complex human rights issues may be difficult or sensitive, for some. Others may feel they are best whispered behind closed doors. Yet, we need to regain the space where we can discuss them in a constructive and open spirit, undisturbed by the tug of geopolitics and bearing in mind that nobody is perfect. In the spur of the moment you may not like what you hear but over time you may appreciate what we had to say. My only consideration, and in fact my duty, is to stay true to the mandate, the normative human rights framework and the imperative of improving people's lives,” he said.

“Contempt for the human being reaches agonizing levels when war breaks out, and violence becomes a daily occurrence. One quarter of humanity is living today in places affected by violent conflict, and it is civilians who suffer the most. Peace is precious and fragile. We must nurture it. First and foremost, by respecting the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including international human rights law,” Türk said.

“Discrimination and racism are virulent threats, both to human dignity and to our relationships as human beings. They weaponize contempt. They humiliate and violate human rights, fuelling grievances and despair, and obstructing development,” he said.

“I am shocked to the core by the contempt for women, and women's equality, that is spawned across the Internet by some so-called “influencers,” feeding social attitudes that make it possible to ignore, or even condone, gender-based violence, and the pervasive commodification of women,” the UN Human Rights Chief said.

“More generally, the scope and magnitude of discrimination against women and girls makes this one of the most overwhelming human rights violations worldwide, and dismantling it will be a major focus of our work,” he said.

“Vicious hate speech is directed not only at women and girls, but also people of African descent; Jews; Muslims; LGBTIQ+ people; refugees; migrants; and many other people from minority groups. Deliberate provocations, such as recent incidents of burning the Qu'ran, are intended to drive wedges between communities. This is deeply dangerous,” he said.

“The violence that is so disproportionately inflicted on people of African descent by law enforcement officers is an example of the deep structural harm rooted in racial discrimination,” Türk said.

“To face these challenges of structural injustice and inequalities, we need to build economies that build trust in government and advance people’s rights and well-being. A human rights economy is one in which the aim of advancing human rights informs all national economic, fiscal, monetary, investment and business decisions,” he stressed.

“Harsh restriction of the civic space is the Achilles heel – the fatal weakness – of governance. If I have one message to deliver to every Head of State or Government it is this: listen to the people – and in particular, to victims and defenders, the people who have the deepest experience of issues. They have something to say that you need to hear,” Türk said.

“Transparent governance is critical, to repair harms and build resilience. Climate finance funds need to reach those most affected and most vulnerable, building in strong human rights safeguards,” Türk said.

“In every country, I strongly encourage the following. Public access to information on environmental risks and Government policies. Full participation and consultation on environmental laws and measures, notably for indigenous peoples and others who are first in line for climate harms. And protection of those who raise concerns over environmental crimes or policies that result in harm,” he said.

 “Bashing climate protests; designing laws that unfairly  restrict activities that call the public's attention to climate harms; and allowing attacks on activists to go unpunished: these are tactics that harm all States and all human beings. This needs to be addressed urgently,” Türk said.

“Conflict, discrimination, poverty, restrictions on civic space and the triple planetary crisis. We face the continued and compounding effects of these crises – while also confronting a surge of new human rights challenges, notably in the digital realm and involving artificial intelligence and surveillance. Fresh thinking, political leadership, renewed commitments, and dramatically scaled-up financing — with the centrality of human rights at their core — are urgently needed to meet these challenges,” the High Commissioner said in conclusion.

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 

Jeremy Laurence +  +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or

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

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