Edited News , Conferences | HRC , OHCHR , UNITED NATIONS
Rules of war and human rights must be upheld, UN Secretary-General says, as global divisions and disinformation threaten the UN’s founding principles
In conflicts across the world, nations and their governments are ignoring “the rule of law and the rules of war” enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and the UN Charter, an alarming development highlighted by United Nations chief António Guterres at the opening of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
“From Ukraine to Sudan to Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gaza, parties to conflict are turning a blind eye to international law, the Geneva Conventions and even the United Nations Charter. The Security Council is often deadlocked and able to act on the most significant peace and security issues of all time,” he said.
Mr. Guterres added that “the Council's lack of unity on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and on Israel's military operations in Gaza following the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October has severely - but perhaps fatally -undermined its authority. The Council needs serious reform to its composition and working methods.”
In addressing these urgent crises and advocating for other significant human rights challenges globally, Mr. Guterres underscored the upcoming Summit of the Future, convening at UN Headquarters in September, as an occasion for Member States to reaffirm their dedication to fostering peace and security grounded in human rights.
Mr. Guterres also announced a new framework for integrating human rights in all aspects of the UN’s work, called the UN Agenda for Protection. “To support states in meeting their obligations” he said, “I am launching a system-wide United Nations Agenda for Protection, together with High Commissioner for Human Rights. Under this Agenda, the United Nations, across the full spectrum of our work, will act as one to prevent human rights violations, and to identify and respond to them when they take place. That is the Protection Pledge of all United Nations bodies to do their utmost to protect people.”
Echoing warnings that international humanitarian law and even the UN Charter were coming under increasing threat around the world, the President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, told the Human Rights Council that it was time for all global citizens to “do our part”.
“Across the globe, the inhuman brutality and suffering must stop. We must not simply stand-by as callous observers, less we be seen as complicit in the expanding web of dehumanization. No! We must do our part. The decisive role of this august Council is crucial in our collective efforts.”
Referring to the war in Gaza where “the suffering of innocent civilians has reached an unbearable tipping point – with over 90 per cent of the population displaced, teetering on the brink of starvation”, Mr. Francis insisted on the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. “In the name of humanity, we the United Nations, must vehemently use our commanding platforms to speak up and to speak out louder in demand for an immediate humanitarian cease fire in the Gaza Strip and for the opening of corridors to render urgently needed assistance and care to the 1.5 million displaced and unhoused Palestinians.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a stark warning about “attempts to undermine the legitimacy and work of the United Nations and other institutions. They include disinformation that targets UN humanitarian organizations, UN peacekeepers and my Office.” Mr. Türk added that “the UN has become a lightning rod for manipulative propaganda and a scapegoat for policy failures. This is profoundly destructive of the common good, and it callously betrays the many people whose lives rely on it.”
In an effort to transform societies and the global community, the UN Rights Chief also announced the launch of "Human Rights: A Path for Solutions", a vision statement which sets out eight key messages to guide renewed action for peace; economies that work for people and planet; effective governance; and guardrails for digital and scientific progress.
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STORY: HRC 55 Opening UN SG António Guterres, PGA Dennis Francis and HC Volker Türk
TRT: 3:55”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 26 February 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
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Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.
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Edited News | OCHA
Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians
Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.
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Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA
As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.
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Edited News | OHCHR
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Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.
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Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis - UN humanitarians
Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
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Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO
UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount
Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday, But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.
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Edited News
A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.
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Edited News | ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
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Edited News | WHO , OCHA
Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege
Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.
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Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.
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Edited News | WHO
Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO
In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.