Human rights are inherent to every human being and leaders who ignore this imperil the people they are meant to serve, says Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Türk stated this on Wednesday, during a news conference organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)
Human Rights Day, observed yearly, commemorates the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to Türk, human rights must be at the center of governance – not just in beautiful speeches delivered by high-level officials, and must be in policies and laws, guiding how these laws and policies are implemented.
“They must be the common thread, running through all aspects of governance, economy and society.
“Unfortunately, leaders in many parts of the world are ignoring human rights and as a result, we are seeing violent conflict increase and intensify across the globe.”
Türk noted that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was crafted with lessons drawn from two global wars, the Holocaust, atomic destruction, profound economic devastation, and generations of colonial exploitation, oppression, injustice and bloodshed.
This, he said was conceived as a roadmap to a more stable, more just world.
Türk said given the pervasive conflicts and coups, human rights had not failed, adding that it was the cynical disregard for human rights, and the failure to respect and heed warnings on human rights that got the world to its current situation.
According to him, conflicts and crises stalking the world 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 UN Human Rights Office ring alarm bells, you must listen and you must act to prevent violations,” Türk said.
Speaking on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, he called on the international community to immediately insist with one voice on a ceasefire, on human rights and humanitarian grounds.
He noted that the catastrophic situation unfolding in the Gaza Strip was entirely foreseeable and preventable, adding that his humanitarian colleagues had 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.
“As the catastrophic consequences for civilians in Gaza mount, I want to again express my grave concern regarding dehumanizing and inciteful statements made by current and former high-level Israeli officials, as well as Hamas figures.”
Türk said in Myanmar, the human rights crisis caused by the military continued to inflict an unbearable toll on civilians.
He said credible sources had verified that military forces had killed over 4,232 civilians since the crises.
“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 Myanmar military has lost critical ground since the end of October as a result of coordinated attacks by Ethnic Armed Organizations 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,” he said.
Türk also spoke on the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces rages, stressing that it had significant risk of a protracted civil war and fragmentation of the country.
He said in Ukraine, more than 10,000 civilians had now been verified killed since the Russian invasion into Ukrainian territory on 24 February 2022, adding that, the protracted, destructive war must be brought to an end.
On his part, unconstitutional changes in government, including military coups, in Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali and Niger have significantly weakened human rights protections and the rule of law in those countries.
He said it was vital that transitional authorities committed and adhered to timelines towards a return to democratic rule, and take effective steps to protect human rights during that process.
“Also unacceptable is the vilification of human rights defenders including civil society actors, UN independent experts, UN officials and others who speak out about rights violations.
“I look forward to hosting next week’s 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, and what we can do to craft a better future for all human beings, no matter who, no matter where. “he said.
