The Human Rights Council (HRC) opened its 60th session with a powerful oral update from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Addressing delegates in Room XX of the Palais des Nations, Türk stressed that human rights are the fundamental pillar of peace, and warned that the erosion of international law risks steering the world “onto the tracks of another world war.” He underscored that accountability is indispensable and that the active participation of civil society remains a cornerstone of the Council’s legitimacy. “Wake up,” he urged, cautioning against the normalization of violations by States that disregard international law.
Crises Under Scrutiny Türk’s update covered a wide range of country situations:
Ukraine: July marked the deadliest month in recent times, with intensified drone attacks, deliberate strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure, and the imposition of an unlawful legal order in occupied territories. Lasting peace, he said, depends on full respect for international law.
Sudan: The conflict continues to spiral, with attacks on water infrastructure, severe shortages of food, water and medical care, sexual violence, and ethnically motivated killings. He urged respect for Security Council resolutions and an immediate ceasefire.
Myanmar: A humanitarian calamity persists, marked by deliberate targeting of civilians, forced recruitment, and sexual violence. Accountability for atrocities against the Rohingya and other minorities remains absent.
Gaza & Israel: Türk denounced widespread destruction, the killing of journalists and aid workers, and alleged war crimes. While acknowledging the trauma caused by the October 2023 attacks in Israel, he described Gaza as having become a “cemetery.” He called for maximum pressure to achieve a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and an end to military occupation.
Other contexts highlighted included the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Haiti, Nigeria, Syria, Ethiopia, and emerging violence in Sweden. He welcomed the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Civic Space and Repression
The High Commissioner expressed deep concern over shrinking civic space worldwide. Executions remain alarmingly high, with Iran reporting 840 and Saudi Arabia 230 this year, while figures from China are unverifiable. Peaceful demonstrations are suppressed in China, Turkey, and Venezuela, and emergency powers are misused in Hong Kong.
Even within Europe, some EU Member States have adopted restrictive measures against NGOs and peaceful assembly. In Latin America, setbacks were noted in Peru and Argentina.
Minorities and Vulnerable Groups
Türk highlighted: The near-total exclusion of women and girls in Afghanistan four years after the Taliban takeover, with maternal mortality rising. He also alerted about the persistent systemic racism against people of African descent, the denial of land rights and consent in development projects to indigenous peoples, and the police violence and exclusion from healthcare and housing that Roma communities face. He also mentioned the severe restrictions on Uyghurs and Tibetans in China, as well as the new laws in West Africa that criminalize consensual same-sex relations.
Migration, Statelessness, and Displacement
The High Commissioner informed about the weakening of international protection systems for migrants and displaced persons. He condemned India’s deportation of Rohingya Muslims, the worsening crisis in Bangladesh and Myanmar, and restrictive asylum measures in parts of Europe that undermine non-refoulement. He also highlighted statelessness in Dubai and Kuwait’s law enabling denationalization of critics. These cases, he stressed, reveal a global trend of governments exploiting migration and nationality as tools of control, and he urged States to reaffirm their obligations to protect dignity, equality, and justice for all on the move.
Hate Speech and Disinformation
Türk warned against the rise of hate speech, antisemitism, and disinformation campaigns fueling violence: from farmer–herder conflicts in Chad and Nigeria, to online incitement against migrants in Spain, and divisive rhetoric in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Freedom of expression, he emphasized, cannot shield incitement to violence.
Elections and Accountability
Elections, he said, are the ultimate test of governments’ commitment to human rights. Concerns were raised regarding restrictions in Cameroon and Tanzania, while in Ethiopia arbitrary detentions must end ahead of next year’s polls.
Positive developments included the agreement to open a UN human rights office in Bangladesh, abolition of the death penalty for some offences in Malaysia and Vietnam, and judicial steps against perpetrators of atrocities in Germany, the United States, and Libya under universal jurisdiction.
Education, Alliances, and the Future
Looking ahead, the High Commissioner called on all States to adopt national strategies for human rights education by next year, ensuring that every child learns from birth that human rights belong to them. He also urged new alliances: uniting States, civil society, philanthropy, academia, and the tech sector to counter efforts to erode the rule of law. Sustainable financing models for human rights must be developed, he said, to safeguard “80 years of human rights progress.”
Closing Message
Türk concluded that civil society and philanthropy are indispensable partners, and that States must align with the majority of people worldwide who demand human rights. Sovereignty, he underlined, is not ownership over peoples; governments have a duty to treat their populations and opponents fairly and in line with international obligations.
Conclusion
The opening act of HRC60 sets a decisive agenda: accountability for atrocities in Sudan, Myanmar, and Gaza, recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan, and alarm at the erosion of civic space worldwide. The calls for education, alliances, and sustainable resourcing offer opportunities for Global Human Rights Defence to strengthen its advocacy and partnerships throughout this session
