United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the world faces «interrelated and unprecedented» challenges to human rights, including rising hunger and poverty, shrinking civic space, and the «dangerous decline» of media freedom and the safety of journalists.
In his speech on the occasion of Human Rights Day, the representative denounced that new challenges are emerging from what he called «the triple planetary crisis», made up of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
In addition, Guterres referred to the fact that trust in institutions is «evaporating», especially among young people, and how, as a result of the pandemic, there has been an increase in violence against women and girls.
«These difficult times demand a reactivation of our commitment to all human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social,» he said, after which he recalled that in 2020 he issued the Call to Action to put human rights at the center and seek solutions at the international level.
Finally, he pointed out that the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will be reached next year, should be understood as an opportunity for action.
«I urge Member States, civil society, the private sector and others to put human rights at the center to reverse harmful trends,» he concluded.
