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On Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern about the “fundamental change in direction” of the United States’ policy. This was reported by Reuters.
“For decades, we have enjoyed bipartisan support from the United States on human rights issues… Now I am deeply concerned about the fundamental change in direction that is taking place at home and internationally,” Turk said during a speech at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
He noted that policies aimed at protecting people from discrimination are now being labelled as discriminatory, while divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive and polarise. This creates fear and anxiety among many, Turk stressed.
“The drastic cuts to national social protection systems, climate finance and foreign aid represent a major setback for human rights, conflict prevention and global stability,” the High Commissioner said.
In a global review of the state of human rights, Turk warned that the foundation of the international order, which he said had brought unprecedented stability, was at risk of collapsing as 120 conflicts raged around the world.
Turk expressed concern about national security laws that restrict civic space in Hong Kong, saying he would raise this and other issues, including the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and Tibet, with the Chinese authorities.
He also expressed concern about the use of military weapons against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and called on Israel to stop threatening annexation.
