Geneva (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep apprehension concerning a “fundamental shift in direction” by the U.S. under President Donald Trump, warning that divisive rhetoric is being employed to mislead and polarise people.
In a speech that did not cite Trump by name, the United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said,
“We have enjoyed bipartisan support from the U.S. on human rights over many decades … I am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally.”
“Policies intended to protect people from discrimination are now labelled as discriminatory…Divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive, and polarize. This is generating fear and anxiety among many,”
He also said.
Turk’s address to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva is his strongest statement so far on the consequences of the new U.S. administration’s policies.
Why did Trump criticise the United Nations?
A month ago, U.S. President Donald Trump blamed the United Nations as
“not being well run,”
Although he expressed it has potential, while he prevented U.S. engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council, formed a halt to grant for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and demanded a review of the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO.
“It’s got great potential and based on the potential we’ll continue to go along with it, but they got to get their act together,”
Trump briefed journalists.
“It’s not being well run, to be honest and they’re not doing the job.”
“A lot of these conflicts that we’re working on should be settled, or at least we should have some help in settling them. We never seem to get help. That should be the primary purpose of the United Nations,”
Trump stated.
How did the U.N. respond to Trump’s remarks?
In reaction, the U.N. pushed back against Trump’s statements. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
“has worked tirelessly to implement many reforms … to increase efficiency and innovation,”
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed.
“U.S. support for the United Nations has saved countless lives and advanced global security,”
Dujarric also said.
“The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing his productive relationship with President Trump and the U.S. Government to strengthen that relationship in today’s turbulent world.”
