Today’s “trying times” highlight the need for a recommitment to human rights, which are central to solving global problems, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his message for Human Rights Day on Saturday.
The annual commemoration celebrates the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948.
“Human rights are the foundation for human dignity, and the cornerstone of peaceful, inclusive, fair, equal and prosperous societies,” said Mr. Guterres.
“They are a unifying force and a rallying cry. They reflect the most fundamental thing we share – our common humanity.”
Unprecedented interlocking challenges
The world is currently facing unprecedented and interlocking challenges to human rights, the UN chief said, such as increased hunger and poverty, shrinking civic space, and a “dangerous decline” in media freedom and the safety of journalists.
Meanwhile, trust in institutions is evaporating, especially among young people, while the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of violence against women and girls.
Racism, intolerance and discrimination are running rampant, the UN chief continued, and new human rights challenges are emerging from what he called “the triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
Reignite global commitment
“And we are only beginning to grasp the threat posed to human rights by some new technologies,” he added. “These trying times call for a reignition of our commitment to all human rights – civil, cultural, economic, political and social.”
Mr. Guterres reminded that two years ago, he issued a Call to Action which puts human rights at the centre of solutions to the challenges facing the international community.
This vision is further reflected in the Our Common Agenda report, with its appeal for a renewed social contract, anchored in human rights.
Universality of human rights
He said the 75th anniversary of the landmark Universal Declaration on Human Rights next year must be an opportunity for action.
“I urge Member States, civil society, the private sector and others to put human rights at the heart of efforts to reverse today’s damaging trends,” he said.
“On this Human Rights Day, we reaffirm the universality and indivisibility of all rights, as we stand up for human rights for all.”
SOURCE: UN News
UN secretary needs to be bold and call us all stupid in our faces and stop political mambo Jambi… UN secretary has informations about the countries responsible for the endless killings in eastern DRC and he’s sitting on it. It’s been more than 20 years that innocent lives are being lost because countries like Canada, France, USA, Belgium, Rwanda, Burundi and others cannot stop stealing natural resources. SHAME ON YOU MR. GUTIERREZ
The spate of missives from Guterres, is a desperate attempt to fulfill the words of the nursery rhyme, to wit:
“Little Tommy Tucker
Sings for his supper.
What shall we give him?
Brown bread and butter.
How shall he cut it
Without a knife?
How will he be married
Without a wife?”
This address by the UN Secretary General is as hollow as a piece of dried bamboo floating down the river. For the past 10 months, Russia, with an insanely cruel Putin at the helm — and which is a Permanent UN member with Veto Power, has been committing genocide against the sovereign nation of Ukraine in a cynical, unprovoked doomsday war! Among other acts of unbelievable cruelty, Russia is committing torture and rape against thousands, while also wantonly bombing to rubble Ukraine’s schools, malls, residential buildings, industries, stadiums, museums, cultural centers, farmlands, etc., etc. Then, as if that wasn’t evil enough, Russia is now systematically destroying Ukraine’s energy sector and water supply as winter descends on the nation, with the hope of freezing millions into submission or death! I could recount more, but suffice it to say, the words of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on the issue of Human Rights, are completely empty and useless against the backdrop of Putin’s genocidal assault and wanton destruction of Ukraine that he has been allowed to do unchallenged by the UN for the past 10 months! In this utter travesty that is unfolding before the eyes of the whole world every day, the abbreviation U.N. seems to more accurately mean, “Useless Nations”!
@Truth Be Told – Well said. The UN stands by and watches while a nation/s is destroyed…
Also take Iran for example, all the sanctions on them but no action against their cruel and vindictive rules which the people right now are dying fighting for their rights to live freely, the authorities there are literaly firing live rounds at peaceful protesters and raping young girls and boys. This regime has been around long enough for countries that sanctioned them like America, Canada, Australia and the UN to know when to take action on Iran’s abuse of its people, but then again it has something to do with oil does it.
So there you have it, all TALK no ACTION.
@TRUTH BE TOLD, @Words, words, words, @Ron:
Could you share a link with us, where we can verify for ourselves whether your opinions are valid?
Forget links broda, its not hidden. Ukraine and Iran are making international headlines everyday. Just go on CNN, FOX etc or search differents websites that give you in depths reporting.
Well said, Kingsley. People just need to read critically, watch traditional or standard news outlets, or otherwise appropriately educate themselves concerning what is going on in our world each day!
@Kingsley, @TRUTH BE TOLD: Thanks for the clarification!
I didn’t know you well enough to have realized that you were just a tag-team of comedians, just previewing your routine on St. Lucia Times (you omitted the sarcasm tags).
Sorry for the spoiler alert by having you reveal your punchlines, CNN & FOX (what’s with the bias against MSNBC?), ahead of your show’s debut; I hope it does not reduce your ticket sales!
Nudge the only clown around here is you bud, you just trolling me and @Truth be Told comments because you hate the USA. Thats why you support Russia’s violence in Ukraine cause Ukraine is democratic and has ties with USA and you support Iran because it has closer ties now with Russia, Iran is sending them missles and drones to cause more destruction in Ukraine. Did I lie? Do I need a news outlet or a link of your choice to prove it? Absolutely not buddy. Who ever that has a T.V or a phone or computer with internet can see or read it.
You can continue reading the articles thats suites your ideology and come back here and act like you smart, you the only one talking for your dunce self that spends too much time reading bullshit on the internet burning your brain into what you want to believe. Maybe if you had a girlfriend your life would of been better scumbag troll.
Oh one more thing nudge, if you haven’t already done so
Go screw yourself
Without comment:
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 – Anna Fedorova – Live Concert HD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNfpMRSCFPE
NATO’S INFO WAR HIDES THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT THE UKRAINE CONFLICT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZiEFoqT5G8