UN Chief: ‘Law of the Jungle’ Is Replacing International Rule of Law

UN Chief: ‘Law of the Jungle’ Is Replacing International Rule of Law
——————————–
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the illegal use of force, attacks on civilian infrastructure, human rights abuses, and blocked aid are dealing a blow to global order.

He said commitments to international law are increasingly ignored, allowing what he described as the “law of the jungle” to replace the rule of law worldwide.

The reports note that violations of international humanitarian law have surged in recent years, particularly in prolonged conflicts involving state and non-state actors.

According to UN briefings and international legal experts, enforcement gaps and political deadlock at the Security Council have weakened accountability mechanisms.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting convened by Somalia, the council’s rotating president, Guterres called the rule of law the cornerstone of global peace and security.

He said from Gaza to Ukraine and beyond, international law is treated like an “à la carte menu,” with governments choosing which rules to follow.

Guterres warned that such violations set dangerous precedents, encourage impunity, and undermine trust between states.

He urged countries to uphold peaceful dispute resolution, protect human rights, respect sovereign equality, and use tools such as dialogue and mediation.

Without accountability through fair and independent judicial processes, Guterres said, a just and lasting peace will remain out of reach.