UN rights chief warns of unprecedented assault on human rights order

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday denounced what he described as an «unprecedented and shameless assault» on the international human rights-based order, as he opened the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The UN rights chief welcomed the agreement between the United States and Iran providing for a permanent ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, he stressed the «devastating» consequences the conflict has had for people across the region and urged all parties to exercise «maximum restraint».

Türk also expressed concern over the situations in Iran, Gaza and the West Bank, condemning violence against Palestinian civilians and initiatives that could undermine the prospects for a Palestinian state.

He further warned of growing human rights violations in several parts of the world, particularly in the Sahel, Somalia and Haiti.

For her part, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo reported that missile and drone attacks launched by Iran against several Gulf countries and Jordan had killed 19 civilians and injured nearly 850 others. She called for immediate de-escalation to avert a deeper humanitarian and economic crisis.