About 25 percent of people globally live in places hit by violent conflict with civilians suffering the most, the United Nations (UN) rights chief told the Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk cited gang-led violence in Haiti, police violence against Black people in the US, and conflicts in places such as Eritrea, Nicaragua, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Sudan, and Venezuela.

He said the war in Ukraine has led to civilian casualties and destruction of a “shocking magnitude.”

“The rights of Ukrainians will be harmed for generations to come, and the war’s impact on fuel and food prices, as well as geopolitical tensions, are impacting negatively on people in every region of the world,” he added.

Turk said such worldwide damage due to warfare in Europe betrays the promises of “transformative change” made at the foundation of the UN more than 75 years ago.

The UN rights chief said that he is “deeply concerned” by trends in Russia.

“The closures of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta and the Moscow Helsinki Groups are another sign of the demise of Russia’s civic space,” he said.

“Constant pro-war messages on state media feed stereotypes and incite hatred and violence. Over 180 criminal cases have been opened on charges related to alleged defamation of the Armed Forces,” he added.

On the 12-year war in Syria, Turk said: “Twelve long years of excruciating bloodshed: Syria is a microcosm of the wounds inflicted by utmost contempt for human rights.”

“Last month’s earthquakes have added to this tragedy. The only way forward must be through respect for human rights and proper accountability of all those who have committed atrocity crimes – both of which Syria has long lacked,” he added.

The UN rights chief said that security in central Mali is “particularly alarming” in the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nige with numerous armed groups capitalizing on inter-communal hostility and the absence of state authorities to expand influence and attack civilians.

Armed non-state groups have perpetrated most violations and abuses, he added.

“Serious violations have also been committed by the Malian Armed Forces, in some instances accompanied by foreign military and security personnel,” Turk said.

CURRENTPH NEWS SERVICE