Human Rights Day 2024: UN Secretary-General urges global action

On Human Rights Day 2024, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful message, highlighting the urgent need to address ongoing human rights violations around the world.

“Human rights are under assault,” the Secretary-General stated, pointing out that tens of millions of people are struggling with hunger, poverty, education systems still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and poor health. The global landscape is further marred by rampant inequalities, escalating conflicts and a blatant disregard for international law, Secretary-General Guterres added.

Guterres warned that authoritarianism is rising, civic spaces are shrinking and hateful rhetoric is fueling discrimination, division and violence. He also expressed concern over the rollback of women’s rights in both legal and practical terms.

Speaking about UN’s Human Rights Day 2024 theme, Guterres said that this year’s theme — Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now — emphasizes that human rights are crucial for building a better future, starting now. The Secretary-General stressed the indivisibility of all human rights — economic, social, civic, cultural and political — asserting that when one right is compromised, all rights are affected.

He called for a united stand to uphold all rights, emphasizing the need to heal divisions, build peace, combat poverty and hunger, ensure access to healthcare and education, advance justice and equality for women, girls and minorities and defend democracy, press freedoms and workers’ rights. The promotion of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment was also highlighted, alongside the protection of human rights defenders, whose day was celebrated on November 9.

The Secretary-General concluded by referencing the recently adopted Pact for the Future, which reinforces global commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“On this important day,” he urged, “let’s protect, defend, and uphold all human rights for all people.”

This #HumanRightsDay, we face a harsh truth:

Human rights are under assault.

Whether economic, social, civic, cultural or political, when one right is undermined, all rights are undermined.

Let’s protect, defend and uphold all human rights for all people. pic.twitter.com/uNFGRsapaI

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 10, 2024

Featured image credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe