The United Nations chief warned on Monday that human rights are under attack worldwide, pointing to widespread violations of international law and severe civilian suffering in conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine.
“The rule of law is being outmuscled by the rule of force,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the opening of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Guterres urged countries not to treat international human rights selectively, stressing that rights are being deliberately undermined. He defended the UN human rights system, which he described as being in “survival mode” due to funding cuts, attacks on experts, and the US withdrawal from a key accountability mechanism.
“Humanitarian needs are exploding while funding collapses,” he added, highlighting the UN’s budget challenges following reduced contributions from the United States the top UN donor and other governments.
In February, Washington paid roughly $160 million of the over $4 billion it owes to the UN, according to a spokesperson.