New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, sounded the alarm that the world is going through a period of "turbulence and unpredictability" that is affecting the very essence of the international order. He said: "We cannot allow the basic global consensus on international norms and institutions, painstakingly built over decades, to collapse before our eyes." In his global report presented to the Human Rights Council yesterday, Türk expressed his anger that across more than a hundred raging conflicts around the world, "legal frameworks designed to protect civilians, limit harm and ensure justice are being blatantly and repeatedly rejected." According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning, Tuesday

He explained that civilians are being deliberately attacked, sexual violence and famine are being used as weapons of war, humanitarian access is being denied and humanitarian workers are being targeted, while weapons flow across borders and international sanctions are being circumvented.
He said that the conflict in Sudan “threatens to explode across the region” as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster worsens and parties continue to attack civilians with impunity. He called on all states to use their influence to pressure the parties to stop the war, engage in inclusive dialogue, and transition to a civilian-led government.
On Gaza, Türk said that Israel’s warfare methods and tactics in response to the horrific October 7 attacks “have devastated the region and torn apart the social and physical fabric.” He stressed the importance of ensuring that the fragile ceasefire holds and becomes “a foundation for peace.”
He said that any solution to the cycles of violence “must be rooted in human rights, including the right to self-determination, the rule of law, and accountability.” He added that all hostages and arbitrarily detained persons must be released and humanitarian assistance to Gaza must resume immediately.
He also expressed his dismay at the use of military weapons and tactics against Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as the destruction and emptying of refugee camps and the expansion of illegal settlements. “Israel’s unilateral actions and threats of annexation in the West Bank in violation of international law must cease,” he said.
On Yemen, he expressed outrage at the death of a World Food Programme staffer in Houthi custody earlier this month, and called for the immediate release of all illiterate staff arbitrarily detained – including eight from his office.

He highlighted the importance of accountability, adding that “a clear line can be drawn between the lack of accountability for airstrikes on hospitals in Syria, attacks on health facilities in Yemen, and the destruction of health systems in Gaza and Sudan.”
He said the lack of accountability directly leads to the absence of peace, and stressed that “preemptive strikes cannot replace preventive diplomacy.”

He noted that today’s wars are becoming longer and peace negotiations less successful, saying: “For millions of people around the world, war has become a simple and devastating fact of life. This should shake us all. We need to build peace from the bottom up, to understand it, nurture it, protect it and promote it at every opportunity.” Türk said his office is working to put transitional justice back on track as it helps fractured societies heal, reconcile and rebuild. He said that Syria stands at a critical juncture and that the authorities there have the opportunity to meet the expectations of Syrians, guided by human rights for all regardless of their gender, ethnicity or religion. He stressed the need for women to play a full role in all transitional institutions and decisions.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the commitment of the new leadership in Lebanon to human rights, adding that the country now has a “unique opportunity to initiate legal reforms and address deep-rooted inequalities and other social and economic issues,” which will be crucial to restoring social cohesion, building trust in state institutions and fulfilling the aspirations of the Lebanese people.
He said he was deeply concerned about the “fundamental shift in direction” taking place in the United States domestically and internationally, after decades of support for human rights. “In a mirror image, policies that are meant to protect people from discrimination are now being labeled as discriminatory. Progress on gender equality is being rolled back. Misinformation, intimidation and threats – particularly against journalists and public officials – threaten to undermine the work of independent media and the functioning of institutions. Divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive and polarize. This generates fear and anxiety among many,” he said.
He said his office would continue to build on its long history of constructive engagement with the United States.
Türk said the solution to today’s “overarching concerns” lies in “greater, not less, respect for human rights,” and in uniting around more effective and efficient multilateral institutions and frameworks that protect everyone. He said he was deeply troubled by efforts by a number of countries to undermine and undermine international legal frameworks and institutions, including the International Criminal Court.
He said power dynamics were changing today, with individuals and corporations “never having had so much control and influence over our lives.” “A few unelected tech oligarchs have our data: they know where we live, what we do, our genes and health conditions, our thoughts, habits, desires and fears. They know us better than we know ourselves. And they know how to manipulate us. Any form of unregulated power can lead to oppression, enslavement, even tyranny – that is the playbook of the tyrant. We must adapt quickly. States must fulfill their duty to protect people from unchecked power, and work together to achieve that,” he said. Knowledge and facts are essential to meeting today’s challenges, he said, as are “a clear and unequivocal commitment to the rule of law, transparency and independent institutions grounded in human rights.” He called for a global coalition based on “wisdom, justice and compassion.”