UN Chief Urges Action Against Human Rights Violations

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that human rights are being suffocated worldwide. Guterres was speaking on February 24, 2025, while addressing the Human Rights Council, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We begin this session under the weight of a grim milestone,” he remarked, citing the dire consequences of the conflict: over 12,600 civilian deaths, widespread injuries, and communities reduced to rubble. Hospitals and schools lie in ruins, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution. Guterres emphasized the necessity of achieving a just and lasting peace aligned with the UN Charter and international law.

Guterres said the toll of conflicts like the war in Ukraine extends beyond immediate casualties; it undermines fundamental principles such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the rule of law—principles essential for sustainable peace. “Without respect for human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political, and social—sustainable peace is a pipedream,” he asserted.

However, Guterres has warned that human rights are increasingly under siege. “Human rights are the oxygen of humanity,” he stated, yet they are being suffocated by various forces. Autocrats crush dissent, fearing the empowerment of their citizens.

According to the Secretary General, the climate crisis and a morally bankrupt global financial system further exacerbate the situation, obstructing pathways to equality and sustainable development.

Guterres has also highlighted the rapid development of technologies like artificial intelligence, which, while promising, pose significant risks to human rights. Additionally, growing intolerance threatens vulnerable communities, from Indigenous peoples and migrants to the LGBTQI+ community and persons with disabilities.

“This represents a direct threat to all of the hard-won mechanisms and systems established over the last 80 years to protect and advance human rights,” he cautioned.

He has however expressed optimism, citing the recently adopted Pact for the Future as a source of solutions. The Pact serves as a roadmap for winning the fight for human rights across multiple fronts.

Guterres outlined three crucial pillars of the Pact. First, he emphasized the connection between human rights and peace: “Human rights through peace, and peace through human rights.”

He has condemned the massive scale of human rights violations in conflict zones, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where violations have surged since the Hamas attacks on October 7. He has expressed grave concerns about rising violence in the West Bank and called for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and progress toward a two-state solution.

The second pillar of the Pact focuses on advancing human rights through development. Guterres stressed that the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights are intertwined, representing essential human needs such as health, food, and education. With many of the Goals off track, he called for a significant acceleration through an SDG Stimulus, reforming the global financial system, and addressing the pervasive issue of inequality, particularly for women and girls.

The third pillar recognizes the vital link between the rule of law and human rights. Guterres asserted that the rule of law founded on human rights is essential for protecting the most vulnerable. It serves as the first line of defense against crime and corruption, promotes inclusive economies, and ensures accountability for human rights violations.