UN chief links politics of division to global ‘assault’ on human rights

’Fears are growing’, said Antonio Guterres, as he pointed to ‘alarming levels of femicide’ and the persecution of ethnic minority groups

In every region of the world ‘vulnerability and despair’ are being preyed upon, the UN secretary general told the Human Rights Council

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Women attend a vigil for victims of femicide at the Column of the Angel of Independence in Mexico City on Saturday. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:30pm, 24 Feb 2020Updated: 7:30pm, 24 Feb 2020

UN chief Antonio Guterres launched a “call to action” on Monday against rising attacks on human rights, highlighting the persecution of minorities and “alarming levels of femicide”.

“Human rights are under assault,” said the secretary general as he opened the UN Human Rights Council’s main annual session in Geneva.

“People are being left behind. Fears are growing,” he said, pointing to swelling divisions and political polarisation in many countries.

“A perverse political arithmetic has taken hold: divide people to multiply votes,” he said, warning that “the rule of law is being eroded”.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 43rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council. Photo: DPA

Guterres said civilians were being “trapped in war-torn enclaves, starved and bombarded in clear violation of international law” as well as “human trafficking, affecting every region in the world, preying on vulnerability and despair”.