United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the “rule of force” is increasingly replacing the rule of law, as powerful actors sideline international norms and weaken global protections. Addressing the opening of the UN Human Rights Council’s annual session in Geneva, he declared that human rights are facing a full-scale assault worldwide. He stressed that these violations are happening openly and are often driven by those wielding the greatest political and economic power. His remarks signaled deep concern over the direction of global governance.
Guterres expressed particular outrage over Russia’s war in Ukraine, noting that more than 15,000 civilians have been killed during four years of violence. He said it was long overdue to end the bloodshed and restore respect for international law. In addition, he condemned what he described as blatant violations of human rights and dignity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He warned that the two-state solution is steadily being undermined in a visible and deliberate manner.
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However, he emphasized that conflict zones are not the only places where rights are deteriorating. Around the world, governments and power centers are deliberately pushing back human rights protections, sometimes even defending such actions publicly. He warned that mass suffering is increasingly normalized, while international law is treated as optional. According to Guterres, vulnerable communities are paying the highest price as accountability weakens and impunity spreads across borders.
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk echoed these concerns, describing a deeply troubling resurgence of domination and supremacy in global politics. He warned that intense competition for power and resources is unfolding at a scale not witnessed in decades. The normalization of force to settle disputes, both between and within countries, reflects shifting global power dynamics. Turk urged societies to unite and create a counterbalance against rising authoritarian and top-down governance trends.
Furthermore, Guterres highlighted widening inequality, accelerating climate disruption, and the misuse of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to suppress freedoms and deepen discrimination. He cautioned that migrants, refugees, minorities, indigenous groups, and LGBTIQ+ communities face increasing harassment and marginalization. As democracies erode and humanitarian needs grow, he called for urgent collective action. He urged the international community not to allow power to reshape global rules in ways that leave the vulnerable without protection and the powerful without limits.