UN rights chief laments ‘shift in direction’ in United States
Mar 3, 2025, 4:38 AM
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) Volker T眉rk speaks during a press conference about the publication of UN Human Rights fact-finding report on Bangladesh protests, at the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)
GENEVA (AP) 鈥� The U.N. human rights chief has expressed concern about a 鈥渇undamental shift in direction鈥� taking place in the United States when it comes to human rights.
Volker T眉rk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, also praised bipartisan support for human rights for decades and the 鈥済enerosity and compassion鈥� of the American people in a sweeping address on his concerns on dozens of issues and country situations, including China, India, Russia, the United States and beyond.
He expressed new concerns about a change in tack in Washington.
鈥淚 am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally,鈥� the rights chief told the Human Rights Council. 鈥淒ivisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive and polarize. This is generating fear and anxiety among many.鈥�
T眉rk did not specifically refer to the Trump administration, which announced pulling the United States out of the 47-member-country council in January 鈥� even though the Biden administration had already said last year that the U.S. would not seek a new three-year term.
A seat reserved for a U.S. representative sat empty on Monday, the start of the Week 2 of the council’s 5-1/2 week session. The rights body holds three sessions a year.
Alluding to the United States, T眉rk lamented how policies aimed to protect people from discrimination 鈥渁re now labeled as discriminatory,鈥� and said intimidation and threats 鈥渘otably against journalists and public officials鈥� risk undermining the work of institutions and independent media.
The rights chief also issued a stark warning about the threat from unchecked use and development of technology. He mentioned the power of 鈥渁 handful of unelected tech oligarchs鈥� and insisted it鈥檚 time to adapt fast to the threat of rising oppression and autocratic rule.
鈥淚ndividuals and corporations have never had so much control and influence over our lives,” T眉rk said.
“A handful of unelected tech oligarchs have our data: they know where we live, what we do, our genes and our health conditions, our thoughts, our habits, our desires and our fears. They know us better than we know ourselves. And they know how to manipulate us.鈥�
鈥淎ny form of unregulated power can lead to oppression, subjugation, and even tyranny 鈥� the playbook of the autocrat,鈥� T眉rk said. 鈥淲e must adapt 鈥� fast.鈥�
