Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
February 23, 2026 Human rights
Delegates from more than 120 countries gathered in Geneva on Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council and reaffirm their shared commitment to international law – against a backdrop of rapidly growing global instability, wars and conflicts.
Recalling the geopolitical uncertainty associated with conflicts in the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan and other regions, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres He called on the Council to uphold human rights. In the current situation, they are under threat worldwide, he emphasized.
Speaking about Ukraine, the UN chief recalled that Tuesday, February 24, marks four years since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, which killed more than 15,000 civilians.
“It is high time to put an end to the bloodshed,” Guterres stressed.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for human rights and justice to be placed at the centre of any ceasefire or peace agreement.
"Silence has consequences"
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said that "silence is a choice… and it has consequences."
"History teaches us that great systems rarely collapse in a single, dramatic moment; they are eroded gradually, rule by rule, obligation by obligation, while those who are supposed to protect them choose to remain silent. And then, one day, what seemed eternal simply vanishes," Baerbock said.
She recalled the dire and ever-worsening situation of women in Afghanistan, including the Taliban's latest decree that allows husbands to beat their wives, as long as the beatings do not result in broken bones or open wounds.
"We must always remember that silence in the face of the most serious human rights violations never works," Baerbock said.
“We are seeing not only a sharp rollback in the area of women’s rights, but also in the area of human rights in general, as well as other rules and standards that were considered inviolable and are now openly questioned, rejected, or violated,” she added.
The President of the General Assembly also stated that “recognizing the abduction of Ukrainian children as a war crime” is the responsibility of every HRC member state.
The two-state solution is being dismantled
Speaking about the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlement expansion continues, António Guterres warned that the two-state solution is being "dismantled."
"The international community cannot allow this to happen," he stressed.
"We live in a world where mass suffering is justified, where people are used as bargaining chips, where international law is treated as a nuisance," he emphasized.
AI exacerbates discrimination
Even technology – and above all artificial intelligence – is increasingly being used to “suppress rights, deepen inequalities and subject marginalized groups to new forms of discrimination,” the UN chief warned.
"Human rights are not a West or East, a North or a South issue. They are not a luxury or a bargaining chip. They are the foundation of a more peaceful and secure world. And states are bound by their obligations under the UN Charter and international law," Guterres said.
Volker Türk, in turn, emphasized that in a situation where some governments are weakening the multilateral system, violations of international law must be clearly and unambiguously assessed “regardless of who is at fault.”
The High Commissioner announced the upcoming launch of the Global Alliance for Human Rights, which will bring together states, businesses, cities, philanthropists, scientists, artists, youth and civil society.
“Our future depends on our shared commitment to protecting the rights of every person, always and everywhere,” Türk stressed.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.