Human Lives Human Rights: Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized during the opening session of the 13th Business and Human Rights Forum on December 6 that economies and business activities must be grounded in human rights to achieve stability and justice. He noted that while progress has been made in the past decade, human rights violations remain widespread in certain areas, particularly in fossil fuel industries, mineral extraction in conflict zones, and surveillance technologies. Turk stressed that voluntary approaches are insufficient and that a mix of mandatory and voluntary policies and actions is necessary.
At the Human Rights Recovery and Human Dignity conference held in Kyiv, the High Commissioner reiterated the importance of Ukrainian unity in protecting human rights, ending violations, and fostering trust in democratic institutions. He condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities during the harsh winter and underscored the urgent need to halt human rights violations, including drone strikes, territorial occupation, and cultural suppression. Turk expressed support for the unity of Ukrainians in upholding human rights, human dignity, and trust in democratic entities, reaffirming his office’s commitment to justice and accountability.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned Afghanistan’s ban on medical education for women as a discriminatory and dangerous act that limits women’s access to healthcare and exacerbates the health crisis. She emphasized that this decision violates women’s rights and Afghanistan’s international commitments, urging the authorities to revoke the directive.
In a recent speech at a drug policy conference, Volker Turk called for fundamental changes in drug policy. He stated that the war on drugs has failed and that punitive policies should be replaced with public health and human rights-based approaches. He underscored the necessity for the involvement of communities, youth, and drug users in decision-making processes, advocating for the removal of harsh penalties for individuals and a focus on social rehabilitation instead of punishment and social ostracism, thereby giving them a chance to reintegrate into society.
A group of UN human rights experts expressed concern over the execution of three Egyptian nationals in Saudi Arabia on December 3, 2024, and called for the immediate cessation of the executions of three others, including Egyptian and Jordanian nationals. They pointed out violations of legal rights, particularly for foreign nationals, urging Saudi Arabia to abolish the death penalty for crimes other than premeditated murder. They highlighted that executing individuals without irrefutable proof of guilt constitutes a violation of human rights.
UN human rights experts welcomed the Malaysian Parliament’s passing of a constitutional amendment allowing children born abroad to one Malaysian parent to obtain citizenship. However, they raised concerns about the lack of retroactive application of this amendment.
The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria issued a report on December 3 warning of the critical and escalating conflict situation in Syria. According to the Commission, fighting has intensified significantly since November 27, 2024, raising concerns about the potential spread of conflict to other parts of the country. The Commission urged all parties involved to respect human rights and international law and to prevent a recurrence of past violence.
