United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk delivered a stark warning to the international community on Monday, condemning the glorification of violence, widespread impunity, and the ongoing erosion of international law around the world. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Türk urged states to uphold human rights as the basis for peaceful societies.
"Human rights - all human rights - are the solid foundations of flourishing societies," Türk stated.
"They are the bonds of trust between people and their governments. They are a beacon of hope in the search for a better world that rejects violent conflict, brutality, and injustice."
However, in his opening address to the 60th session of the HRC, the UN rights chief noted that disturbing trends undercutting human rights are gaining ground globally.
Pro-war propaganda is prevalent, accompanied by military parades and increased rhetoric. Meanwhile, the glorification of violence is coupled with a troubling erosion of international law.
“When states ignore violations of the law, they become normalized. And when states apply the law inconsistently, they undermine the legal order everywhere,” Türk said, urging states “to wake up”, and to act.
“Around the world, the long-established rules of war are being shredded – with virtually no accountability,” he added.
Several governments are disregarding, disrespecting, and disengaging from the law, which leads to normalized violations and inconsistent application, thus undermining the legal order.
Türk highlighted specific instances of severe human rights violations across the globe, including the war in Ukraine, where civilians have been targeted and international humanitarian and human rights laws are being disregarded.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned even more deadly. In July, more civilians were killed and injured than in any month since May 2022, as the Russian Federation intensified attacks along the frontline and on cities across the country,” he said while highlighting deliberate attacks on civilian energy systems and other infrastructure essential to civilian life.
“Recent weeks have witnessed some of the most massive air strikes since the war began, with countrywide drone and missile saturation attacks resuming and intensifying.”
In Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces have both shown disregard for international humanitarian law, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and intensifying hostilities in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
“Both sides target health facilities, markets, and water plants. The scale of the suffering of the Sudanese people across this vast country is unfathomable, demanding the full attention of the world,” the UN rights chief said.
He warned that after more than a year under RSF siege, the situation in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur State, is catastrophic.
“People are struggling to find food, water and medical supplies under constant bombardment. Sexual violence is widespread, predominantly against displaced women and girls,” Türk said.
“There are no safe routes out of the city, and I have repeatedly raised the risk of further atrocities and ethnically motivated violence.”
He added that in Myanmar, the military continues to target civilians with aerial attacks, bombardment, arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence, and forced recruitment, while in Rakhine State, the armed group Arakan Army is committing many of the same crimes against people.
“The people of Myanmar are caught up in a harrowing human rights calamity, four years since the coup,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, there is damning evidence of continued grave violations and abuses by all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Office released a report accusing all involved in the conflict in the DRC's eastern provinces of North and South Kivu of committing severe violations of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel is committing "war crime upon war crime"
Türk also addressed Israel's actions in Gaza, condemning the mass killing and starvation of Palestinian civilians, as well as the obstruction of lifesaving aid.
The UN human rights chief said Israel’s “commission of war crime upon war crime, are shocking the conscience of the world.”
“I am horrified by the open use of genocidal rhetoric, and the disgraceful dehumanization of Palestinians by senior Israeli officials,” he added, and demanded that Israel comply with International Court of Justice orders to prevent genocide, punish incitement, and ensure enough aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza.
“My Office’s monitoring and reporting are an important contribution to future accountability. Israel has a case to answer before the International Court of Justice, and the evidence continues to mount,” Türk said, referring to the growing body of evidence showing that Israel’s actions against the Palestinians in Gaza are in fact genocide.
He called for decisive action to prevent further atrocity crimes.
“But we need action now, to end the carnage. The international community is failing in its duty. We are failing the people of Gaza”; he said.
“Where are the decisive steps to prevent genocide? Why are countries not doing more to avert atrocity crimes?”
Türk emphasized that remaining inactive is not an option and called on countries to stop the flow of arms to Israel that risk violating the laws of war.
“They must apply maximum pressure for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained, as well as the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza – through all the means at their disposal,” he urged.
Retreat from multilateral frameworks, institutions, and international agreements by some states
Another concern raised by Türk was the retreat by certain states from multilateral frameworks, institutions, and international agreements.
He denounced the arrest warrants issued by the Russian Federation, the sanctions imposed by the United States on International Criminal Court judges and prosecutors, and the US sanctions against a UN Special Rapporteur.
“Gradually, the web of global and regional cooperation carefully crafted over decades for the common good is being weakened. Some states are becoming an extension of their ruler’s personal power,” Türk said.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening and reforming global and regional frameworks rather than unraveling them, as some states are doing.
“We cannot return to the outdated thinking and approaches that led to two World Wars and the Holocaust,” said the UN rights chief.
“As crises grind on and international law is eroded, global progress on human rights stalls or even goes into reverse.”
Since taking office in 2021, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has been speaking out loudly and clearly against human rights violations around the world. Türk has consistently pressured states to honor their obligations under international law and take action to protect civilians and prevent human rights violations.
Further information
Full text: HC Türk updates the Human Rights Council: “We need to safeguard eighty years of progress on freedom, equality and justice”, remarks, delivered by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, September 8, 2025
https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2025/09/hc-turk-updates-human-rights-council-we-need-safeguard-eighty-years