UN Human Rights High Commissioner delivered Global Update at 57th Human Rights Council
/
3:35
/
MP4
/
500.5 MB
Transcripts
Teleprompter
Download

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

Volker Türk Global Update at 57th Human Rights Council opening

“It seems to me we are at a fork in the road. We can either continue on our current path — a treacherous ‘new normal’ — and sleepwalk into a dystopian future. Or we can wake up and turn things around for the better, for humanity and the planet,” Türk said.

“The ‘new normal’ cannot be endless, vicious military escalation and increasingly horrifying, technologically “advanced” methods of warfare, control, and repression. The ‘new normal’ cannot be continued indifference to deepening inequalities within and between States,” he said.

“It cannot be the free-for-all spread of disinformation, smothering facts and the ability to make free and informed choices. Heated rhetoric and simplistic fixes, erasing context, nuance, and empathy. Paving the way for hate speech and the dire consequences that inevitably follow,” Türk said.

“The ‘new normal’ cannot be that national sovereignty is twisted to shroud – or excuse – horrific violations,” he added.

“We can and must make a different choice. Reconnect with our common humanity, nature, and our planet. In other words, we could choose to be guided by human rights and the universal values that we all share,” he said.

I have been speaking about the negative impact on peoples’ rights of entrenched power structures, and of the misuse of power. And yet, movements such as those against apartheid, racism, for women’s rights, for environmental rights, and many others have shown us how human rights can trigger positive change in society, steering us towards greater justice and stability,” he said.

Amid elections scheduled during 2024, Türk called on voters to keep in mind the issues that matter most to them – be it a home, education for their children, their health or job, justice, their family and loved ones, the environment, to be free from violence, tackling corruption, being heard.

I urge voters to ask themselves which of the political platforms or candidates will work for the human rights of everyone, he said.

Türk stressed that States must not – cannot – accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice.

He highlighted how, in many situations, even minimal humanitarian aid to civilians has been instrumentalized, diverted or indeed blocked altogether, as is access for human rights monitors.

“For those of us engaged in this work, it is as if we are standing on the banks of a river watching people drown, with lifebuoys piled at our feet,” Türk said.

“States themselves have designed international human rights and humanitarian law to preserve and guarantee our common humanity. These norms are our mainstay against unbridled power. All parties to conflicts and other States, particularly those with influence, must do everything they can to put an end to violations,” he stated.

ENDS

STORY: UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk – “Human rights are our mainstay against unbridled power

TRT: 03:35

SOURCE: OHCHR/ UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 9 September 2024 – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior shot: Palais des Nations
  2. Interior shot: Human Rights Council
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:It seems to me we are at a fork in the road. We can either continue on our current path — a treacherous ‘new normal’ — and sleepwalk into a dystopian future. Or we can wake up and turn things around for the better, for humanity and the planet.”
  4. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:The ‘new normal’ cannot be endless, vicious military escalation and increasingly horrifying, technologically “advanced” methods of warfare, control, and repression. The ‘new normal’ cannot be continued indifference to deepening inequalities within and between States.”
  6. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:It cannot be the free-for-all spread of disinformation, smothering facts and the ability to make free and informed choices. Heated rhetoric and simplistic fixes, erasing context, nuance, and empathy. Paving the way for hate speech and the dire consequences that inevitably follow.”
  8. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:The ‘new normal’ cannot be that national sovereignty is twisted to shroud – or excuse – horrific violations.”
  10. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:We can and must make a different choice. Reconnect with our common humanity, nature, and our planet. In other words, we could choose to be guided by human rights and the universal values that we all share.”
  12. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:I have been speaking about the negative impact on peoples’ rights of entrenched power structures, and of the misuse of power. And yet, movements such as those against apartheid, racism, for women’s rights, for environmental rights, and many others have shown us how human rights can trigger positive change in society, steering us towards greater justice and stability.”
  14. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:I urge voters to ask themselves which of the political platforms or candidates will work for the human rights of everyone.”
  16. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  17. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:For those of us engaged in this work, it is as if we are standing on the banks of a river watching people drown, with lifebuoys piled at our feet.”
  18. Cutaway: Human Rights Council
  19. SOUNDBITE (English) — Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:States themselves have designed international human rights and humanitarian law to preserve and guarantee our common humanity. These norms are our mainstay against unbridled power. All parties to conflicts and other States, particularly those with influence, must do everything they can to put an end to violations.”


Documents 1
Download Storyline
Download

Audio Files 1
Download UN Human Rights High Commissioner delivered Global Update at 57th Human Rights Council (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

Gaza, Lebanon update OHCHR - WHO 11 October 2024

1

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR , WHO

Gaza, Lebanon update OHCHR - WHO 11 October 2024 ENG FRA

Amid reports of intensifying Israeli bombing in Lebanon and Gaza overnight and continuing Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, called on Friday for an end to the “killing, destruction [and] bellicose posturing” by those in power.

HRC 57 - Volker Türk on Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

HRC 57 - Volker Türk on Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk updates the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the situation in Haiti

HRC 57 - Volker Türk on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - in FRENCH

1

1

1

Edited News | HRC

HRC 57 - Volker Türk on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - in FRENCH ENG FRA

Volker Türk, Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l'Homme au sujet de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC)

Lebanon crisis - WFP, OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP , OHCHR

Lebanon crisis - WFP, OHCHR ENG FRA

UN humanitarians in Lebanon on Tuesday described the massive challenge of trying to reach some 1.2 million people who have fled heavy Israeli bombardment and evacuation orders, driven by the fear that what happened in Gaza may befall them, too.

Lebanon displacement crisis - UNHCR, IOM

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , UNHCR

Lebanon displacement crisis - UNHCR, IOM ENG FRA

Main road connecting Lebanon to Syria closed to vehicles after Israeli strike, says UN refugee agency

The major road connecting Lebanon to Syria was hit by Israeli airstrikes overnight near the key Masnaa border crossing where tens of thousands have been fleeing Lebanon into Syria in the past two weeks, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Briefing by Liz Throssell and Danielle Bell on Ukraine

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Briefing by Liz Throssell and Danielle Bell on Ukraine ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday published its latest report on Ukraine. It covers key human rights developments from 1 June to 31 August 2024, during which civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure increased significantly. 

Lebanon update and appeal OCHA – OHCHR 01 October 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR

Lebanon update and appeal OCHA – OHCHR 01 October 2024 ENG FRA

Amid the start of a reported Israeli ground offensive against the Hezbollah armed group in southern Lebanon and fears of more civilian suffering, the UN launched an urgent humanitarian appeal on Tuesday to support those most in need in the country.

UN Human Rights Briefing by Liz Throssell on Lebanon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Briefing by Liz Throssell on Lebanon ENG FRA

At the bi-weekly press briefingUN Human Rights spokeperson Liz Throssell made the following comments on hostilities in the Middle East.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Haiti ENG FRA

"No more lives should be lost to this senseless criminality" - A UN Human Rights Office report on Friday called on the Haitian authorities and the international community to step up efforts to stem the gang violence that has blighted the Caribbean nation.   

Lebanon crisis update - OCHA, UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR

Lebanon crisis update - OCHA, UNHCR ENG FRA

The sudden and massive escalation between Israel and the Hezbollah armed group in Lebanon has created widespread fear that even worse is to come, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday voiced alarm at the loss of life as a result of the escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. 

Lebanon escalation UNICEF - OHCHR - WHO 24 September 2024

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNICEF , WHO

Lebanon escalation UNICEF - OHCHR - WHO 24 September 2024 ENG FRA

As Lebanon mourns the victims of a wave of Israeli airstrikes believed to have left hundreds dead, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday against a return to the “dark days of 2006” when full-scale war broke out, calling for an urgent de-escalation and the protection of civilians.