The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, warned this Sunday of the growing threat that inequality, authoritarianism and armed conflict pose to the rights and freedoms of the planet’s people.
“The world is losing its way,” Guterres said during his speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Conflicts spread violently. Poverty and hunger are increasing. Inequality is widening, climate change has become a humanitarian crisis, authoritarianism is on the rise, civil space is shrinking, the media is under siege, gender equality is a distant dream and women’s reproductive rights are being set back,” lamented the Secretary General of the UN.
All these crises threaten the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN official said.
“All people are born free and equal in their dignity and rights,” Guterres said, adding that this principle “should be the roadmap to end wars, heal divisions and promote a life of peace and dignity for all.”
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights shows us the way to resolve tensions, practice common values and create the security and stability our world longs for,” said the UN Secretary General.
In this sense, Guterres called on UN Member States to “strengthen their commitment to the timeless values” reflected in the Declaration, especially in view of the Future Summit, which will take place in September 2024, where world leaders will adopt new social, cultural and economic aspects that will follow in the next ten years.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, today also reaffirmed the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Now more than ever is the time for human rights,” he noted, saying the Declaration is “not just a historical document, but a living testimony” of the humanity we share, “a timeless guide.”
According to the High Commissioner, the world is currently suffering levels of violent conflict never seen since the end of the Second World War, with rising inequality, increased discrimination and hate speech, impunity, increased division and polarization, in addition to the climate crisis.
“This further underlines the need to take stock, learn lessons and jointly outline a vision for the future based on human rights. The Universal Declaration offers a promise that we are all born into equal rights and dignity and a plan for action. This law represents a moment of great reflection to jointly search for common solutions focused on human rights,” Türk emphasized.
Source: DN
