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CONTINUITY: OHCHR - Press conference of Volker Turk - 06 December 2023
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Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR
OHCHR - High Commissioner Volker Türk Press conference - 06 December 2023
- Exteriors shots: Palais des Nation with HR75 banners
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “Human rights have not failed. It is the cynical disregard for human rights, and the failure to respect and heed warnings on human rights that has got us here.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “Human rights are inherent to every human being. Leaders who ignore this truth imperil the people they are meant to serve. Unfortunately, leaders in many parts of the world have done just this. As a result, we are seeing violent conflict increase and intensify across the globe.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “The catastrophic situation we see unfolding in the Gaza Strip was entirely foreseeable and preventable. My humanitarian colleagues have described the situation as apocalyptic.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “In these circumstances, there is a heightened risk of atrocity crimes. Measures need to be taken urgently – both by the parties concerned and by all States – particularly those with influence – to prevent any such crimes. The international community needs to insist with one voice on a ceasefire, immediately, on human rights and humanitarian grounds.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “History has shown us where this kind of language can lead. This is not just unacceptable, but a competent court may view such statements, in the circumstances in which they were made, as incitement to atrocity crimes.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “As more information emerges on allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by members of armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas, during their attacks on Israel on 7-8 October, it is painfully clear that these attacks need to be fully investigated to ensure justice for the victims.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “Now, as ever, it is necessary that all parties ensure that the civilian population is adequately protected. There must be intensified efforts by the international community for an end to the violence and the peaceful restoration of an inclusive and representative government.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “We have documentation of rape being used as a weapon of war, particularly by RSF and affiliated forces. Ethnic and racial tensions are being stoked. And there is a general breakdown of the rule of law across Sudan. Neither party to the conflict has sought to address seriously the conduct of their own forces.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- Soundbite (English)— Volker Türk, High Commissioner for UN Human Rights: “Fulfilling the rights to health, life, and a healthy environment requires the equitable phase-out of all fossil fuels,” Türk said. “The future of our planet and generations to come are at stake and it is essential that the voices of civil society representatives are heard loud and clear in crafting actionable solutions.”
- Exteriors shots: Palais des Nation with HR75 banners
“Human rights have not failed. It is the cynical disregard for human rights, and the failure to respect and heed warnings on human rights that has got us here,” Türk told a news conference in Geneva, ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December.
“Human rights are inherent to every human being. Leaders who ignore this truth imperil the people they are meant to serve. Unfortunately, leaders in many parts of the world have done just this. As a result, we are seeing violent conflict increase and intensify across the globe,” the High Commissioner said.
There is an utter and deepening horror for Palestinians in Gaza, two months after the horrific 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, and nowhere is safe.
“The catastrophic situation we see unfolding in the Gaza Strip was entirely foreseeable and preventable. My humanitarian colleagues have described the situation as apocalyptic,” Türk stressed.
“In these circumstances, there is a heightened risk of atrocity crimes. Measures need to be taken urgently – both by the parties concerned and by all States – particularly those with influence – to prevent any such crimes. The international community needs to insist with one voice on a ceasefire, immediately, on human rights and humanitarian grounds,” the High Commissioner said.
The human rights crisis in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was also extremely alarming, Türk highlighted. This includes an increase in unnecessary or disproportionate, even militarised, use of force by Israeli forces resulting in a rise in unlawful killings, much more aggressive and frequent settler violence leading to the forced displacement of Palestinian communities, record increases in arbitrary arrests and detention, an alarming spike in deaths in custody and allegations of ill-treatment of Palestinians in detention, including sexual violence. The Israeli authorities must take immediate steps to end widespread impunity for such violations.
Türk also reiterated his grave concern at dehumanizing statements by current and former high-level Israeli officials, as well as Hamas figures.
“History has shown us where this kind of language can lead. This is not just unacceptable, but a competent court may view such statements, in the circumstances in which they were made, as incitement to atrocity crimes,” Türk said.
“As more information emerges on allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by members of armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas, during their attacks on Israel on 7-8 October, it is painfully clear that these attacks need to be fully investigated to ensure justice for the victims,” he added.
In Myanmar, the human rights crisis caused by the military continues to inflict an unbearable toll on civilians. To date, credible sources have verified that military forces have killed over 4,232 civilians since the coup. Civilians have suffered countless violations – facing airstrikes, artillery shelling, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions, as well as sexual violence, displacement, denial of humanitarian access and the burning of their homes, fields and villages.
“Now, as ever, it is necessary that all parties ensure that the civilian population is adequately protected. There must be intensified efforts by the international community for an end to the violence and the peaceful restoration of an inclusive and representative government,” he said.
In Sudan, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces rages, with significant risk of a protracted civil war and fragmentation of the country. More than 7,000 civilians, including women and children, have been killed since April 2023, and 6.3 million displaced.
“We have documentation of rape being used as a weapon of war, particularly by RSF and affiliated forces. Ethnic and racial tensions are being stoked. And there is a general breakdown of the rule of law across Sudan. Neither party to the conflict has sought to address seriously the conduct of their own forces,” the UN Human Rights Chief said, calling on both parties to ensure all personnel responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights are held accountable.
At COP28, the UN Human rights Office is joining others to press for more action to address the climate crisis and secure the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
“Fulfilling the rights to health, life, and a healthy environment requires the equitable phase-out of all fossil fuels,” Türk said. “The future of our planet and generations to come are at stake and it is essential that the voices of civil society representatives are heard loud and clear in crafting actionable solutions.”
ENDS
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In Geneva
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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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Teleprompter
Good morning, everyone.
Uh, thank you for those of you in the room and those joining us online as well.
we have today the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Uh, Volker Turk, uh, who will be delivering some opening remarks to you,
Um, for about 15 minutes, Uh, and then we'll open the floor to to questions, uh,
High Commissioner, please.
So,
yes, Now you can see good morning. It's good to see so many of you here
today.
In just
over a year as high Commissioner for Human Rights,
I have met during my
many travels
with people from numerous countries,
in fact, across all continents,
including those in the midst of major crises.
I've also talked to civil society actors from many other parts
of the world that I have not been able to visit
across each and every country.
I heard and witnessed the universal desire for human rights to be respected
and protected.
I heard it from young women in Khartoum, taking to the streets
to drum up participation in protest rallies, demanding their voice to be heard
in government.
I heard it
from a human rights defender working on environmental rights
in the marshes of southern Iraq
from indigenous peoples representatives in Ecuador, Canada, Norway and Sweden
from people of African descent
in the US and Colombia.
From civil society in countries at war.
Deeply worried about the impact of the violence on human rights,
but also about what kind of society will emerge the day after
in many of my interactions with people.
I'm also asked,
given the pervasive
conflicts and coups, climate change and other crises
have human rights failed,
no
human rights have not failed.
It is the cynical disregard for human rights
and the failure to respect and heed warnings on human rights
that has got us here.
The conflicts and crises talking us today
should be
Wake up calls for the international community,
a wake up call
that when human rights are violated or sidelined
conflicts erupt
a wake up call
that failure to respect human rights results in instability,
suffering more inequalities and economic crises.
A wake up call
that when human rights defenders
and the
and
my office, the UN human rights office ring alarm bells, you must listen
and you must act to prevent violations.
Human rights must be at the centre of governance,
not just beautiful speeches by high level officials.
They must be in policies and laws
and guide how these laws and policies are implemented.
The nuts and bolts of human rights work.
They must be the common thread
running through all aspects of governance, economy and society.
The universal Declaration of Human Rights was crafted
with lessons drawn from two global wars.
The Holocaust at
atomic destruction, profound economic devastation
and generations of colonial exploitation, oppression, injustice and bloodshed.
It was conceived as a road map
to a more stable, more just world.
Human rights are inherent to every human being.
Leaders who ignore this truth
imperil the people they are meant to serve.
Unfortunately,
leaders in many parts of the world
would have just done just have done justice.
As a result, we are seeing violent conflict increase
and intensify across the globe.
Two months after the horrific attacks
on Israel on the 7th and 8th of October by Hamas
and other Palestinian armed groups in
which civilians were directly targeted and hostages taken,
civilians in Gaza
continue to be relentlessly bombarded by Israel
and collectively punished
suffering, death, siege,
destruction and deprivation of the most essential human needs, such as food,
water, life saving medical supplies and other essentials on a massive scale.
Palestinians in Gaza are living in utter,
deepening horror.
Military operations, including bombardments
by Israeli forces, continue in north, middle and south Gaza, affecting people
who have already been displaced multiple times, forced to flee
in search of safety.
But no place is safe
as we speak. Some 1.9 million
out of the 2.2 million Palestinians have been displaced
and are being pushed
into ever diminishing and extremely overcrowded places in southern Gaza
in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions.
And humanitarian aid is again virtually cut off
as fears of widespread disease and hunger spread.
The catastrophic
situation we see unfolding in the Gaza
Strip was entirely foreseeable and preventable.
My humanitarian colleagues
have described the situation as apocalyptic.
In these circumstances,
there is a heightened risk of atrocity crimes.
Measures need to be taken urgently
both by the parties concerned
and by all states, particularly those with influence.
To prevent any such crimes,
the international community needs to insist
with one voice
on a ceasefire immediately on human rights
and humanitarian grounds.
The human rights crisis in the occupied West Bank,
including East Jerusalem is also extremely alarming,
including an increase in unnecessary or disproportionate even
militarised use of force by Israeli forces,
resulting
in a rise in unlawful killings.
Much more aggressive and frequent settler violence leading
to the forced displacement of Palestinian communities.
Record increases in arbitrary arrests and detention,
an alarming spike
in deaths in custody.
And allegations of ill treatment of Palestinians in detention,
including sexual violence.
The Israeli authorities must take immediate steps
to end widespread impunity for such violations
as the catastrophic consequences for civilians in Gaza Mount.
I want to again express my grave concern
regarding dehumanising and insightful statements made by current and former
high level Israeli officials as well as Hamas figures.
History has shown us
where this kind of language can lead.
This is not just unacceptable,
but a competent court may view such statements
in the circumstances in which they are made
an incitement to atrocity crimes.
As more information emerges on serious allegations of sexual
violence perpetrated by members of armed Palestinian groups,
including Hamas, during their attacks on seven and 8 October,
it is painfully clear that these attacks need to be
fully investigated to ensure to ensure justice for the victims.
It is crucial that there are rigorous investigations
and accountability for all breaches of
international human rights and humanitarian law.
Individual criminal
criminality,
individual criminal responsibility must be established
as an immediate step. I call
for an urgent cessation of hostilities
and the release of all hostages.
All parties are aware
of what is really needed to achieve peace and security.
For Palestinians and Israelis,
violence and vengeance can only result in more hatred and radicalization.
The only way to end
the accumulative sufferings is ending the occupation
and achieving the two state solution.
In Myanmar,
the human rights crisis caused by the military
continues to inflict an unbearable toll on civilians.
To date, credible sources have verified
that military forces have killed over 4232 civilians since the coup.
Civ civilians have suffered countless violations facing airstrikes,
artillery shelling, enforced disappearances,
arbitrary arrests and prosecutions,
as well as sexual violence, displacement,
denial of humanitarian assistance and the burning of their homes,
fields and villages.
The situation of the Rohingya Muslim community is ever more protracted,
with no prospect for safe and sustainable return.
Many are taking to dangerous journeys in the region by sea.
The Myanmar military has lost critical ground since the end of October as a
result of co ordinated attacks by ethnic
armed organisations and anti military armed groups.
Civilian casualties and internal displacement have been rising at a rapid rate.
Now as ever,
it is necessary that all parties ensure
that the civilian population is adequately protected.
There must be intensified efforts by the
international community for an end to the violence
and the peaceful restoration of an inclusive and representative government
in Sudan. The conflict between the Sudanese armed forces
and the Rapid support forces rages with
significant risk of the protracted civil war
and fragmentation of the country.
More than 7000 civilians, including women and Children,
have been killed since April 2023
and 6.3 million displaced.
Half the population is in need of assistance.
We have documentation of rape being used as a weapon of war, particularly by RSF
and affiliated forces.
Ethnic and racial tensions are being stoked
and there is a general breakdown of the rule of law across Sudan.
Neither party to the conflict has sought to
address seriously the conduct of their own forces,
so both parties
and I call on them again
must ensure that all personnel that is responsible for
violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law
are held accountable.
In Ukraine,
more than 10,000 civilians have now been verified killed since
the Russian invasion into Ukraine territory on 24 February 2022.
The actual death toll
may be significantly higher.
Ukrainians living in territory occupied by the Russian Federation,
encounter appalling restrictions on their fundamental rights and freedoms.
This protracted, destructive war
must be brought to an end.
Unconsti
Unconstitutional changes in government,
including military coups in Burkina Faso, in Chad, in Guinea, in Mali,
in *** have significantly weakened human rights protections and the rule of law
in these countries.
It is vital that the transitional
authorities commit and adhere to timelines towards
a return to democratic rule and take effective steps to protect human rights.
During that process,
I'm also following with growing concern
the political crisis in countries like Guatemala, Peru and Nicaragua
and their impact on human rights in Guatemala.
I'm particularly alarmed at continued and systematic attempts,
in particular by the Attorney General's Office
to undermine the outcome of the general
elections that were held in June and August this year.
I urge all Guatemalan authorities to refrain from
any further attempt to challenge the election results
and to ensure that all human rights,
including the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression,
are fully respected.
The will of the majority of the Guatemalan people must prevail
and democracy safeguarded with the support of the international community.
In the coming year,
elections are scheduled to take place in more than 70 countries,
covering half of
the world's population
in the pre electoral period.
It is particularly important to ensure
that the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly,
association and political participation
are fully respected.
Unfortunately,
pre electoral periods are often fertile ground for extremism,
stoking of fears,
hate filled rhetoric and the politics of division,
distraction and deception.
I urge political and other leaders to refrain
from sowing fear of the other,
creating divisions
and instrumental differences to win votes.
These elections will be among the first in the era of widely available
generative artificial intelligence.
There are obvious risks of unusually powerful
propaganda and disinformation being produced at scale
by growing assortment of actors.
It will be more important than ever to ensure that states and technology companies
can respond to online harmful content in
a way that upholds our rights to information
our right to debate openly and freely
and which also uses human rights
as a guide to address harmful speech
that discriminates and incites to violence.
Over the past two months,
there has been a sharp rise in hate speech, both online and offline,
in particular, anti
Semitism and anti Muslim bigotry.
Homes and religious buildings around the globe have
been defaced to frighten and provoke hate.
Political leaders have also used inflammatory, toxic and hateful rhetoric.
This must be vigorously condemned,
and international human rights law is absolutely clear on this.
Also unacceptable is the vilification of human rights defenders,
including civil society actors,
UN independent experts, UN officials and others
who speak about rights violations.
I urge states
to engage on the substance of allegations rather
than unjustly attempting to discredit the messenger.
At Cop 28 my office is joining others to press for more action to address
the climate crisis
and secure the right
to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
I am worried
that those trying to highlight
the harmful impact of climate change
and the need to act now
may be drowned out by powerful voices who have at best, mixed agendas, including
in support of the continued use of fossil fuels.
Fulfilling the rights to life
and the healthy environment
requires the equitable phase out of fossil fuels.
And we know that human rights law requires responsible
requires that those responsible for climate harms,
including states and businesses, to be held accountable for remedying them.
It is time that we ensure
that environmental destruction carries criminal sanctions as
an essential deterrent.
The future of our planet and our generations
to come are at stake,
and it is essential that the voices of civil society representatives are heard
loud and clear in crafting actionable solutions.
At this sombre moment in history,
I look forward to hosting next week on the 11th and the 12th of December,
high level event marking the 75th anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to
take stock of where we are,
how we got here,
what lessons to be learned
and what can we do to craft a better future for all human beings,
no matter where and no matter
who,
thank you.
Thank you High commissioner.
We will be sending the high Commissioner's
opening remarks by email to you all shortly
a reminder as well that this time we
have simultaneous interpretation into French and Arabic.
The High Commissioner will have to respond to all questions in English,
but they will be translated
into French and Arabic because of the arrangements with the interpreters.
So we'll start with questions from the room.
We'll take two at a time in order to get as many in as possible.
We'll start in the front row here, please, Stefan and then Laurent.
And
thank you.
Thank you, Commissioner, for this briefing.
As you said,
we're days away from the 75th anniversary
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
You you drew a very dark pictures of human rights in, in, in,
in the
in the current conflicts.
How do you see the UN trying to bridge the gap and to restore some kind of, uh,
universality of human rights since universality
is under assault from different parts.
Thank you,
Laurent, please.
Thank you for the press conference.
A question on both Gaza and the Palestinian detainees that were freed on one side.
Uh, now the US say that,
the the the the truce was not extended because there were,
uh, sexual violences against some of the hostages. And on the other side,
the Palestinians detainees that were freed said that they were
increasingly beaten since October the seventh before being freed.
Uh,
so what do you know about both the situations and what kind
of appeal you want to to to launch in relation with that?
We'll do two at a time.
Yes. No, that's
look. I mean,
it is true
that I have painted a very sombre picture because
we are in a time of incredible crisis.
I mean, 55 conflicts.
We haven't had so many for a very long time, probably since the end of the,
uh, world of the Second World War.
Plus, we have about a quarter of humanity in our living
in extremely dire, precarious situations affected by violence
and conflict. And I've only just highlighted a few situations.
I didn't even highlight Haiti.
The deteriorating situation in Syria, for example, Afghanistan and so forth.
I mean, we could we could go on.
it is true also
that it was
in the wake of the cataclysmic events of the two world wars of what happened,
including in Europe, with the Holocaust, with atrocious human rights violations,
that there was among the political leadership,
the hope to and is never again sentiment that was very strong
and that never again sentiment led
to the adoption of the universal Declaration of Human Rights.
And it paved the way for
the world to come out of misery,
inequalities of conflict. And
I think precisely at a time when we see so many challenges,
we need to remember that and we need to see
it as the measure against which to look at things
and to look at developments. If we
did not have it, we would be even in a more
serious situation because then you would have different standards.
And let's also be very clear. It is the universal standard.
I know that I.
I sometimes hear it that some say well,
it doesn't apply in our religion in our culture doesn't apply in our region.
Well, actually that's
that's absolute nonsense because
this has been negotiated for years.
We know that the Universal Declaration,
but also the Vienna Declaration Programme of Action,
has been painstakingly negotiated by all countries
it inspired the decolonization movement.
It inspired the entire apartheid movement and in in inspired freedom,
fight fighters all
all around the world,
be it on gender issues, be it on LGBTI Q plus issues, be it on
race against racism. So we need to honour
the achievements and the successes.
We need to look at the failures, and we need to learn from them.
So it's a deep moment of reflection for us so that we do better in the future.
And if I have one message, it's to make sure that
the centrality of human rights
is seen
as
something that is taken much more seriously by everyone.
look, I first of all,
if you look at the situation at
the moment in Gaza,
where you have a combination of multiple displacement
combination of ongoing conduct of hostilities,
including the use of explosive weapons with
wide area affecting extremely densely populated areas
where you have an ongoing
well,
I can't even describe it,
I can't even know I don't know, a word which says more than precarious. I mean,
the humanitarian situation is is catastrophic. Catas
Whatever word you want to find, it's undescribable,
in a situation like this. The only way to get out of it is to say
to all who have any influence over the two parties or various parties
to stop and and and and and call for.
I mean, not only call for,
actually seize hostilities because you need to come back to your senses.
You need to see what can be done.
And you need to finally get the humanitarian aid in that is so desperately needed.
I mean, you saw Martin Griffiths, the emergency relief coordinator,
yesterday, talking about an apocalyptic situation.
I think the world needs to wake up to this.
Thank you. Um, sorry, Laurent.
We've got a lot of, uh, questions, Nina and then Kathrine.
All right, Just one
second.
thank you. Very. Thank you very much for taking my question.
activists have accused the UN and international groups
of maintaining a conspiracy of silence on the
alleged rapes and other sexual crimes committed by
Hamas militants during the October October 7th attacks.
And I. I don't think I've seen too much from your office on that as well.
So I was wondering, um, are you investigating this specifically?
And do you have information indicating the
level of sexual violence committed that day.
Thank you.
Put this on. As I said, also in my statement, we have now.
I mean, it's last week that I met someone who in fact showed me
or recorded to me a number of issues that raise very,
very serious concerns about possible sexual violence having been
committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.
And, of course, this has to be taken very seriously.
I have asked the Israeli authorities in the first week of October
or in the second week of October after the 78 October events,
to deploy a team my team
to monitor, document, investigate the issues of the I mean,
the hor horrific attacks on Israelis.
I have repeated this call, and I hope it will be heeded.
But so far I haven't received a response. It is clear
atrocious forms of sexual violence
need to be thoroughly investigated.
And we need to make sure that justice is served because that's what we owe the victims
Kathrine.
And then, um Jamil.
Yes. Good morning, sir. Thank you for being with us this morning.
I'll go back to Gaza. Israel, but regarding journalists
Uh, journalists have been openly targeted
by the Israeli army, not only in the
DS, but also in Lebanon.
Casualties are reaching more than 60 of our colleagues that have been killed.
Is your team or one of your teams monitoring those deaths?
And, uh, what is your call about, uh,
targeting civilians that are just doing their jobs?
Thank you,
Jamil.
Yes, sir. Uh, Jamil
Shade from UOL in Brazil.
Uh, you mentioned fossil fuel and cop 28.
Uh, despite some reduction in, um, in, uh, deforestation in the Amazon.
Uh, President Lula has the plan to explore oil
in the Amazon. What is your message
in that case specifically, Thank you.
Look on the first one.
Yes, we are, to the extent possible,
monitoring
and trying to document while we have an ongoing conflict situation
of all civilian deaths.
In fact, we have just managed to verify a number of casualties.
We will come out with the numbers that
according to our own methodology and of course,
this includes also
journalists and people and professionals.
I mean, it's absolutely clear when it comes to journalists,
we have and you know, we have a whole
strategy. And together with
UNESCO to work on the protection and safety of journalists.
And we keep making that point
time and again.
And we we really call on on everyone to
respect the safety and protection needs the journalists have.
And that's absolutely critical
when it comes to civilians. More generally.
I mean, you saw that we have lost colleagues within of the United Nations as well.
So that's an extremely serious matter,
and and one that preoccupies us enormously because
we have never had in any situation so many colleagues killed,
uh, within such a short time frame,
Uh, with within one conflict situation, and that's obviously very, very,
very dangerous.
Look on
on the fossil fuels. I mean,
I mean, the world knows what needs to happen, right?
I mean, we know that the targets
at the moment we are in a trajectory that by the end of this century,
if if it continues as business as usual, we will have an increase of three
°C.
I mean,
we can't we don't even know.
I mean, no one.
I mean, there may be some who know more about it,
but any modelling of strategic foresight of the tipping points that it would
that would
that it would bring about
are again beyond
apocalyptic.
It's a dystopian future because it would mean
the increase in sea
in, in, in, in, in sea level,
uh, and water levels around the world.
To a degree that some of what we know now
as as habitable would not no longer be habitable.
We know that
it would lead to massive displacement.
It would lead to massive competition over scarce resources.
We already see this happening if you look at the Sahel
region, for example. But even my own situation when I went to Iraq, I could see
the tensions.
But it also means that we need,
I mean, that an equitable
ending to fossil fuel use and
and exploitation.
I think if if there is a call to be made, it's just keep the fossil fuels under earth
and find alternatives as quickly as you can. Because fossil fuels have
have been
bringing us to the brink of
or can bring us if it's continued to happen to the
brink of extinction.
Mohamed
and then Gabriela
Yes.
Ah,
I thank you so much. Ah, sir, for the bring
ah last night Ah, Israeli foreign Minister
Ken wrote Ah on ah each
platform. We will no longer be silent
in the face of the bias of the United Nations.
And ah, I decided to revoke the residents visa to ah Israel of
a
United Nations. Ah, humanitarian coordinator has think,
Ah,
I was wondering, what would you like to say about his? Ah, comment?
Ah, about the United Nations
and ah, his ah,
against the ah, United Nations staff person. Thank you.
Thanks, Mum. Gabriella?
Yes, Thank you. High Commissioner Gabriela Sotomayor
in Mexico.
Uh, only one question. Can we ask? Ok,
OK,
because
I
can ask too. Ok,
um what is your assessment of the human rights situation in Mexico
in the last five years?
Especially if you could tell us about the points that concerns you the most,
Thank you very much.
And thank you for being here.
Look, I on the resident coordinator
and humanitarian Coordina Lynn Hastings.
I've known her personally for many years.
I have the highest professional regard for her.
I have seen the vilification against her, and I have seen also
the amount of disinformation that is spreading, and I find it unacceptable
on Mexico.
I mean,
it's obviously a
to look at one particular country situation.
I mean, we have seen we have of course, seen.
I have to say progress when it comes to reduction of poverty,
improving of social welfare
just to look at.
I have some statistics here from my colleagues,
with over 5 million people escaping poverty between 2018 and 2022.
But it's also clear that challenges remain
and it is about the recognition
that actually Mexico has recognised that there
is a crisis of enforced disappearances.
I had a chance also to talk to the
Committee on Enforced Disappearances that you know the prob as
you probably know they they conducted a visit to
it and there are efforts to address the situation.
But we also know that further progress is needed because the disappearance,
the issue of disappeared of disappearances is a very serious concern,
especially for for the family members and
and for the society as a whole, because it creates a feeling of of, of fear
and there are very strong recommendations that came from the committee,
and I really hope that they can be implemented as as quickly as possible,
in fact, and then I looked at a number of ongoing concerns,
especially violence against journalists.
I mean, we mentioned journalists before.
Um
uh, there is,
uh in fact, between January 2019 and September 23
my office was able to document the killing of 41 journalists,
six media workers
and five disappeared journalist. So this is obviously very serious
I. I know that there is an initiative deree
ala
libertad,
um, which which is important,
which also counters the the vilification that we have seen
and and again incredibly important as we as we go through.
I also
I think it's
it's also very critical
to ensure when it comes to human mobility issues.
And I, myself in a previous life was several times in Mexico.
that there is stronger recognition of what is
happening internally when it comes to displacement,
but also to build up the protection structures needed
for refugees who come in particular from from countries from
from the from the northern part of Central America.
Thank you.
We have, uh, Nick with The New York Times. And Yuri with re university.
Yes, Yes. You're on the list.
Yeah. Good morning. Thank you for the press. conference.
Um, I wonder if you think states with influence
over Israel.
And that means particularly the United
States have used that influence effectively in
upholding commitments to international humanitarian law in this conflict.
Or do you also share concerns that double standards are are very much in evidence?
And do you think that there is a price to be paid,
uh,
in terms of adherent to the standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
You read, Please.
Yes. Uh, thank you for taking my question.
you can't hear me. You can hear me now, OK? Yes. Sorry.
Uh, thank you for this briefing.
Uh, you a RE talking, uh, about the fact that, uh,
you need some investigations in Gaza, in West Bank, in Israel.
But we all know that Israel is not allowing your office to work there.
Even they didn't give you a visa the last time that you
ask for it.
So don't you think that
this is showing the limit of the UN? If nobody can verify and investigate the
crimes that a RE committed right now in Gaza,
when we a RE we see now seeing a lot of casualties and especially Children's, uh,
way more than I
even
conflicts that we had in the past time. Thank you.
Look,
it's clear
that when it comes to a conflict, any conflict, really,
that
there is a particular responsibility for countries
who are not party to the conflict
but who have influence over the warring parties to use that influence to ensure
that there is compliance with international humanitarian
law and international human rights law.
And that is an expectation from all the state parties to these instruments,
because it's a common trust.
It's something that we cannot avoid because even if you
are not directly involved in the conduct of hostilities,
So I hope that in the discussions that are taking place,
and I can only deduct this from media reports that I've seen,
uh,
that indeed there are discussions about the absolute need for
compliance with IHL and international human rights law standards.
do I wish this to be stronger?
Of course, we want this to be absolutely clear,
and we want this to be part of a robust discussion,
Um, and
because we also see the consequences.
I mean, the combination of factors that I described earlier are such that
raise the highest levels of alarm.
And there is then an obligation, even more so
for states with influence
to exercise that influence robustly.
When it comes to what you also mentioned terms of double standards when it comes to U,
SI,
N the UN we don't apply these double
standards because we have a non selectivity approach.
And I can tell you whenever it comes to any of these type of violations,
we a RE very clear about
what they constitute.
Uh, what what more we need to do and and how we document them.
Um, and it is, of course, much more difficult when you have an active, ongoing, uh,
war, uh, happening,
uh, it is easier if you know,
the dust settles and you can actually start your investigative work as,
for instance, we could do in Ukraine, for example.
I mean,
it took us about nine months to come up with
our first report on on what happened in butcher,
for example, just to give you just to give you also the the comparison.
I mean, we it's important to
for us to do according to our very rigorous methodology to do this type of work.
Um, and
of course,
this is much more difficult now because you have
an ongoing war and you have contested narratives.
Uh, as a result again, much more important
that there are independent investigations and they they are taken seriously.
Look on accountability and investigations.
Yes, there are limits
at the moment.
But at the same time,
as you can see,
there are ongoing investigations by the
prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
You have the commission of inquiry that that is looking into both
what was happening in Israel as well as in in Gaza.
Uh, you have my own office
that tries to do its best, uh, including through its remote work.
Um, and there is universal jurisdiction
because I,
I believe that one of the missing links has always been that impunity reigns and
accountability is not served.
And I hope with a combination of these different accountability mechanisms
that
impunity ends and we all need to work towards it.
There will always be temporary setbacks.
There will always be lack of Cooper operation by some,
but we have also seen situations elsewhere
where suddenly that Cooper operation starts or where
you are actually able to do the type of job that you need to do,
and
and then we can do it so
you can never
You can never be sure to escape justice.
Thank you, High Commissioner. Now we have Taha
and Imogen,
and then we've got John
Yank and Gunilla online. I'm afraid we will have to end after that.
We'll see if we can take a follow up question or two, but I'm not
convinced we will manage.
Taha,
please. Yes.
We have noticed that a
United Nations is not doing enough,
uh, regarding ongoing conflict in Sudan,
Uh, in Darfur as well. In Gaza,
they are serious violation
atrocities.
What
have you done and what you are going to do?
I mean, do you have action? Planned to stop what is going on
in Sudan and in Gaza?
Imogen?
Yes.
It's back to Gaza.
The women who
came to you with reports of sexual violence
want you and the UN
to condemn this
unreservedly. That's
where some of the tension is is coming from.
Uh, can you
Can you do that
on on Sudan?
We my office?
As you probably know,
I It was my first mission when I took
over as High Commissioner because I wanted to pay particular
attention to the situation in Sudan. It was in November last year,
so it was obviously before the current crisis.
We have followed it
very, very closely. We we have a I have a presence, quite a big presence.
I used to have quite a big presence. Now we unfortunately
only doing it out of Port Sudan with with some colleagues.
But we have continued working
both out of Nairobi and in neighbouring countries to actually interview
those who fled the circumstances,
especially in Darfur but also in other parts of Sudan and we have
as a result been able to provide regular reporting on what is happening,
which is also why I was very clear today
on the type of crimes
on the type of violations that we have seen in particular
the very serious allegations of rape by RSF and affiliated troops.
Again, the issue is accountability in Sudan. Accountability
was the missing link
and I really hope
that both when it comes to
ICC investigations that are also ongoing in relation to Sudan,
but also when it comes to universal jurisdiction that accountability is, is is,
is served and needs to be served.
And we will do whatever we can to continue monitoring,
documenting and reporting the situation.
I did not meet with women who are survivors of sexual violence.
I met with an academic who informed me about
some of the things that
and that was only last week.
it is clear.
I can only say it again. We owe it to the victims
that there are serious investigations of any of such
allegations
and
that justice is served. And of course, if by if I mean the the sexual violence
I mean, there is a very long standing practise of condemning sexual violence,
but it is also important for us to be able to
investigate these allegations.
All right, we've got, uh, John Yan
and Gunilla on the platform. Um, if I can take three questions this time so we can
move faster, John, please.
Yes. Uh, good morning. Thank you. Hi, Commissioner.
I was I was wondering, sir, if you have any comment on the
latest data from the World Health Organisation,
there have been 499
attacks on health in the OPT and 60 attacks on health in Israel.
in the last two months of this conflict. Uh,
and also,
if you have any views on the more than 130 UN
personnel that have been killed in this conflict Thank you.
Yeah. And Dirk.
Jan Di
Heber.
We can't hear you.
Yes, we hear you. Now.
OK, great.
Well, many things. Um Hi, Commissioner.
Uh,
I would like to ask you to elaborate a little bit
more on the next week's high level meeting in Geneva.
Uh, what do you expect from this meeting?
Be beyond nice and carefully drafted speeches. Many Thanks.
Thanks for that. And Gunilla?
Uh, yes, thanks. Can you hear me?
Yes. Good.
look, my question is similar to to Nina. Imogen.
It's actually on rape as a weapon of war.
Um, how, uh, and the war in, In, in Gaza and Israel, how concerned are you that this
has been used, uh, widespread. And even as a premeditated strategy,
uh, in the conflict. And what do you say to the criticism from Israel
that the UN has been slow in the
response to accounts of Hamas militants raping women?
Thanks.
Look, first of all
it is and I think I may have said something
incorrectly before it is 130. The number of colleagues
killed in Gaza is 130. So it's it's important to get the figure,
which is a shocking number,
and you can imagine what this means, including, by the way,
I also have a lot of our own staff who
keep telling us that their family members have been killed.
Some of them live. I mean, they have all become victims in Gaza themselves.
So it is obviously an extremely
an extremely
worrying and troubling situation for our staff and the security of our own staff,
which is really unprecedented.
It
comes to the hospitals. I mean,
we have.
But I mean, because, of course, under international humanitarian law,
these are protected.
Uh uh, civilian. This is protected civilian infrastructure.
And we have seen a number of cases where there have been air strikes on schools,
on hospitals or medical facilities,
um, refugee camps.
And we have serious concerns about the proportionality of these attacks,
which
you know there are the principles of necessity, distinction,
precaution and and proportionality,
and they need to be looked at very vigorously whether
they were properly applied in in these cases.
But if you look at the number of civilians
you you have a lot of Obviously it raises huge,
huge, huge concerns and and and and very serious and and and and very,
very serious areas.
And especially if you look in particular at the the fatality rate, I mean,
uh, we have,
uh,
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 16,000 Palestinian killed,
including 6150 Children,
more than 4000 women.
And our own office has done the
initial verification according to our own methodology.
And we have so far verified 1114 fatalities.
Um, and our own indication. It's about 65% being women and Children.
So that gives you already quite a good indication of of
the type of questions that would have to be asked.
If you look at
the application of IHL
in these circumstances,
look, next week's high level meeting in Geneva, I mean,
it was extremely important
for us taking advantage of the 75th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
for us to look to the future for us, especially when we have such
geopolitical tensions when we have such a polarised
both society within within countries,
but also at the at the geopolitical level to actually recall
that there is something
that was developed,
like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
that had
a vision for the future of humanity.
Um and
and it's not just
a nicely written document, but it is
law,
and it has given birth to
hard
law that are state obligations.
And
as a result, we had a whole one year
preparation at national level with different stakeholders,
with businesses with civil society, with member states, with governments
at both national and regional level
to to look into
what are the successes, what are the achievements, but what are also the failures,
and what lessons do we learn from it?
The event itself. We have tried to innovate it.
We didn't go into the usual plenary type meetings. We wanted
an interactive dialogue, including by heads of government, heads of state,
foreign ministers and so forth, and
we hope that it will not.
I mean,
we have asked them not to be scripted to actually share with us their thinking,
because we do think that the political leadership of the world
needs to
not only
live and breathe human rights but also needs to make
sure that the centrality of human rights is understood.
So that's what our expectation is that we would
1st 1st of all, see a lot of pledges
and we have now an indication that
over 100
countries, probably even more as we speak.
I mean, we keep getting more and more pledges, pledges,
meaning commitments to the human rights cause with,
hopefully transformational changes that come with it,
that we would get a huge collection of commitments from member states,
from civil society from businesses.
And so there's a lot a huge we harvest.
We will hopefully harvest a very rich material
of commitments on the human rights front.
We will hopefully also have very important discussions at different levels
that point to the future that are a deep reflection moment,
but also make sure that the strengthening of the human rights pillar
is going to be part also of the summit of the future next year.
Because we know that there's going to be a big summit of the future in New York,
human rights has to be central to it, in all its aspects. And I hope
we have a clarion call coming out of this meeting for that purpose.
as I said, uh,
I
mean
I. I
think
it is absolutely clear
when sexual violence happens by whoever by wherever.
These are very, very serious allegations and they need to be investigated.
They need to be properly documented and justice must be served for the victims.
I cannot. We don't have.
I mean, as I said, I even asked Israel to allow us to send a team.
I hope it will be possible at some stage.
But all the you know,
you need to go into quite some detailed examination of whether it's premeditated,
whether it was widespread, systematic.
I mean this I cannot. I'm not in a position to confirm this,
but obviously we take the allegations extremely serious.
And
I can tell you
we don't lose time on such things.
And we will find other ways and means to to talk to whoever we need to talk to in order to
get to, to find more of what can be done,
because absolutely justice has to be served for the victims.
Hi, Commissioner. If I can take one last question from, uh, FA. Isabella.
Uh, thank you very much. I have two questions, but finally, I will
I will ask you a different one on Gaza.
What is the
what is really the
the influence that you feel you have on the Israel government?
Two
help to stop
this war.
What kind of, uh, lines do you have with them?
What kind of lines do you have with Hamas, too?
And
we have to have, uh we have seen, uh, some of your colleagues UN colleague,
high high officials visiting,
having been in in Gaza.
And you have not been able to visit Gaza. Why
you couldn't go there
in any means by Egypt.
And?
And how do you see the the the end
of the this conflict?
Thank you.
So
I have asked to go to both Israel
to the occupied Palestinian territory, Gaza and the West Bank. But so far,
I have not received a response. I hope it is still possible. So I cannot.
You cannot just go into
into Gaza.
You need the authorization from all the parties.
So that's that's why why it is so that's that's how it is
I
hope that we have influence in
over the over both parties in the way that
we both intervene with them behind closed doors,
but also in the way that we talk about and advocate about what we are seeing publicly.
Uh, I cannot give you a measure of whether that has led to this, that or the other.
But
one thing I can say, I think we can say that
in some
public discussions
it was
becoming clearer
that there are very serious concerns from
an IHL and international rights law perspective.
And I think it has helped influence some of the discussions in the
public in a number of countries that have influence over over Israel.
and I should say, of course, Israel is the occupying power in the
I mean for the
T so they
they can decide who enters and who doesn't enter.
So I depend on on their on their authorization for it.
Um, how do I see the end of it? I think one thing is very clear.
It cannot go back to what it was.
Um
I mean,
it's clear that,
and I've said it. At the March Human Rights Council meeting
very,
very clearly that the only way out of this situation is
to end the occupation and to find a political solution that
that leaves that that that has been on the table for for decades,
which is the two state solution.
There's no other way around it. You cannot. I mean, if if I don't know how many,
what else needs to happen to actually come to that conclusion?
And I think that's absolutely critical
that we do think about the day after and how to get there
and that we work with both Palestinians and the Israelis
who who want the future a peaceful future for both. And I have met them.
I have met Palestinians and Israelis
who are not.
You're not hearing their voices but who actually believe
in peace and who want to make it happen.
And I hope that they will be much stronger in the future.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. High Commissioner.
Um, I've just received information about next week's event.
Uh, from Liz over there.
100 and 20 states will be pledging in person at last count.
Uh, the figure keeps changing, as the high Commissioner was saying,
Um we've received 48 pledges also from civil society organisations
17 from national human rights institutions,
11 pledges by UN Entities and international um go
intergovernmental organisations
And we've received another 52 Precor videos with pledging messages,
including eight by heads of state and government
and eight by ministers of Foreign Affairs.
Um so we really look forward to seeing you next year next week, um,
at the high level event Thanks very much.