Human rights are facing a global assault, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday, citing widespread violations of international law and escalating civilian suffering in conflict zones, including Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine.
Speaking at the opening of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Guterres said, “The rule of law is being outmuscled by the rule of force,” and stressed that international human rights should not be treated as a menu from which governments pick and choose. He urged member states to uphold their legal obligations to protect civilians and prevent abuses.
As reported by Reuters, Guterres described the UN human rights system as being in “survival mode” due to funding cuts, political pressure, and attacks on independent experts. He highlighted the United States’ withdrawal from a key universal rights accountability mechanism, along with reduced contributions from other governments, as major challenges to the organisation’s ability to operate effectively.
“The humanitarian needs around the world are exploding while funding continues to collapse,” he said, emphasizing that the UN faces a growing gap between global crises and the resources available to respond to them.
Budget Shortfalls and U.S. Contributions
The broader United Nations is struggling with a significant budget shortfall. According to a UN spokesperson, the United States, traditionally the UN’s largest donor, recently paid about $160 million toward the more than $4 billion it owes. Funding cuts have left several programs under-resourced, including those supporting human rights investigations, humanitarian relief, and conflict monitoring.
Guterres also stressed that deliberate efforts to roll back human rights protections worldwide are putting millions of civilians at risk. Conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine continue to generate mass displacement, civilian casualties, and severe violations of international law.
He concluded by urging global leaders to recommit to multilateral cooperation, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure that human rights remain a priority in policy decisions.
