People around the world rely on us to secure & protect their rights: UN Secretary-General

While saying that every corner of the globe is suffering from the sickness of violations of human rights, Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres said people around the world are relying on us to secure and protect their rights.

He said this in his message to the Opening of the 46th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council today.

“With the pandemic shining a spotlight on human rights, recovery gives us an opportunity to generate momentum for transformation and now is the time to reset.  To reshape.  To rebuild.  To recover better, guided by human rights and human dignity for all,” Secretary-General said.

“Of course there are a number of extremely concerning country situations — some of them very prolonged – and this is where the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms are so vital in raising awareness, protecting people, maintaining dialogue and finding solutions,” he pointed out.

“Human rights are our bloodline; they connect us to one another, as equals. Human rights are our lifeline; they are the pathway to resolving tensions and forging lasting peace. And, human rights are on the frontline; they are the building blocks of a world of dignity and opportunity for all – and they are under fire every day. The Human Rights Council is the global locus for tackling the full range of human rights challenges. I thank you for that vital work — and welcome the engagement of Member States and civil society,” Secretary-General added.