World Leaders Urged to Address Global Human Rights Crises at UN General Assembly

As world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly from September 20 to 30, 2024, Human Rights Watch calls for urgent action to tackle escalating global human rights crises, the organization’s website revealed. Key issues on the agenda include the situations in Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.

A pivotal focus will be the “Pact for the Future,” a nonbinding declaration aimed at promoting economic justice and a healthy environment. The pact emphasizes the centrality of human rights and advocates for reforms in global economic policies. However, concerns have arisen that countries like Russia and China may attempt to weaken human rights language within the document.

Human Rights Watch urges leaders to commit to holding perpetrators of atrocity crimes accountable and to endorse proposals addressing poverty and climate change. The draft also suggests limiting the veto power of the UN Security Council’s permanent members to enable timely action against atrocities.

Specific regional issues demand attention: compliance with international court rulings in Israel-Palestine, the need for a civilian protection mission in Sudan, and calls for accountability in Venezuela under President Maduro.

With the world facing numerous human rights violations, leaders are encouraged to leverage the General Debate to initiate meaningful actions and uphold human rights globally.