Speaking at the opening of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Türk said that human rights are not in crisis, but political leadership is.
“In the world we see power dynamics to seize or retain powerat the expense of universal human rights,” Türk said.
Türk pointed out that racism, xenophobia and intolerance are still very present in societies for reasons that are rooted in legacies that seem very distant, but are alive, such as colonialism and slavery.
Read more: Volker Türk criticises Venezuela, Nicaragua and Guatemala for restricting rights and co-opting institutions
He also maintained that progress is so scarce resulting in greater socioeconomic inequalities, where Irresponsible politicians blame migrantsrefugees or minorities in election times, as is the case in Austria, France, Hungary, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“History has shown us that Hateful words can trigger hateful actions“, the High Commissioner said.
The High Commissioner explained that the candidates capitalize on anxiety and desperationpitting one group against another.
The candidates “seek to distract and divide,” the UN human rights chief argued.
Opening #HRC57 with a clear call: govts must urgently put human rights at the core of all policy & action.
Endless military escalation, deepening inequalities, rampant disinformation, #TriplePlanetaryCrises& discrediting multilateral institutions cannot become the new normal.
— Volker Turk (@volker_turk) September 9, 2024
Read also: US says Nicaragua “got nothing” in exchange for release of political prisoners
“He political leadership founded on human rights and evidence-based debate is the antidote to all this. Only in this way can we address challenges in areas such as health, housing, employment and social protection,” he said.
Türk said there is a shortage of data-driven public policieswhich are crucial for transparency and accountability in addressing social problems.
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#Human #rights #crisis #political #leadership
Table of Contents
Human Rights in Crisis: Volker Türk Calls for Accountability and Political Leadership
The 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, witnessed a powerful call to action from Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Speaking at the opening of the session, Türk emphasized that human rights are not in crisis, but political leadership is. He condemned the power dynamics that prioritize seizing or retaining power over upholding universal human rights [[1]].
Racism, xenophobia, and intolerance continue to plague societies, with roots in distant legacies such as colonialism and slavery. Türk criticized Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Guatemala for restricting rights and co-opting institutions, highlighting the scarcity of progress and the resulting socioeconomic inequalities [[2]].
Irresponsible politicians often blame migrants, refugees, or minorities for election-time gains, as seen in Austria, France, Hungary, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Türk warned that hateful words can trigger hateful actions, citing history as evidence. He argued that candidates capitalize on anxiety and desperation, pitting one group against another and seeking to distract and divide [[3]].
The High Commissioner emphasized the need for data-driven public policies, which are crucial for transparency and accountability in addressing social problems. He called for political leadership founded on human rights and evidence-based debate, stressing that this is the only way to address challenges in areas such as health, housing, employment, and social protection.
Türk’s message was echoed in his tweet, where he urged governments to put human rights at the core of all policy and action, warning that endless military escalation, deepening inequalities, rampant disinformation, and discrediting multilateral institutions cannot become the new normal [[3]].
As the world grapples with complex challenges, Volker Türk’s words serve as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and promoting accountability. It is only through evidence-based debate, data-driven policies, and political leadership that prioritizes human rights that we can hope to address the pressing issues of our time.
References:
SEO Keywords: Volker Türk, Human Rights Council, political leadership, human rights crisis, accountability, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, racism, xenophobia, intolerance, socioeconomic inequalities, migrants, refugees, minorities, data-driven public policies, transparency, accountability.
Human Rights Council members
The Human Rights Council: A Beacon of Hope in Turbulent Times
The Human Rights Council (HRC), a principal human rights institution of the United Nations, has been a vocal advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights globally. As the world grapples with rising instances of racism, xenophobia, and intolerance, the HRC has become an increasingly important platform for addressing these pressing issues. In recent times, the council has been at the forefront of condemning human rights violations and promoting accountability for perpetrators.
A Crisis of Political Leadership
In a powerful address at the opening of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that human rights are not in crisis, but political leadership is. Türk lamented that power dynamics have led to the exploitation of universal human rights for personal gain, while racism, xenophobia, and intolerance continue to plague societies worldwide. He highlighted the need for political leadership founded on human rights and evidence-based debate to address the challenges facing the world today.
Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance
Türk pointed out that racism, xenophobia, and intolerance are still prevalent in societies, fueled by legacies of colonialism and slavery. These harmful ideologies have been exploited by irresponsible politicians who capitalize on anxiety and desperation, pitting one group against another. The High Commissioner warned that hateful words can trigger hateful actions, emphasizing the need for concerted action to combat these scourges.
The Importance of Data-Driven Public Policies
Türk stressed the importance of data-driven public policies in addressing social problems, citing a shortage of such policies as a major challenge. He underlined the need for transparency and accountability in governance, highlighting the crucial role of the Human Rights Council in promoting human rights and ending inequalities.
Thailand’s Bid for a Seat on the UN Human Rights Council
In a related development, Thailand is currently bidding for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the third time, with the election for a three-year term set to take place soon [[1]]. This development comes as the 55th session of the Human Rights Council is underway in Geneva, with the European Union reaffirming its commitment to being a strong voice at the council [[2]]. The Human Rights Council has been a vital platform for promoting human rights globally, and Thailand’s bid is a testament to its commitment to upholding human rights standards.
Conclusion
As the world faces unprecedented challenges, the Human Rights Council has become an even more critical institution in promoting human rights and addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination. The council’s work is vital in promoting accountability, transparency, and good governance, and its importance cannot be overstated. As Volker Türk emphasized, political leadership founded on human rights and evidence-based debate is the antidote to the challenges facing the world today. The international community must continue to support the Human Rights Council in its mission to promote human rights and dignity for all.
References:
[1] https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/thailands-bid-for-a-seat-on-the-un-human-rights-council-is-poorly-timed/
[2] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-geneva/european-union-%E2%80%93-strong-voice-human-rights-council-0en
[3] https://www.eda.admin.ch/content/dam/eda/en/documents/aussenpolitik/internationale-organisationen/uno/2018/CDH-guide-pratiqueEN.pdf
