Rights chief Türk condemns ‘glorification of violence’
UN rights chief Volker Türk on Monday condemned what he called the “glorification of violence” worldwide, as well as “coordinated efforts” to undermine fundamental birthrights.
“It is time for States to wake up and to act,” Mr. Türk insisted, in a warning that the rules of war “are being shredded”.
“Pro-war propaganda is everywhere, from military parades to ramped up rhetoric. Sadly, there are no Peace parades, or Ministries of Peace…The glorification of violence is coupled with a troubling erosion of international law. This law is the foundation of peace, our global order, and our daily lives, from trade rules to the global internet, to our fundamental rights…When States ignore violations of the law, they become normalized. And when States apply the law inconsistently, they undermine the legal order everywhere.”
The High Commissioner also warned that governments today are “disregarding, disrespecting and disengaging” from the existing rules-based world order that was established after 1945 – precisely to prevent another world war.
Gaza: chances of preventing famine spreading are narrowing: OCHA
In Gaza, amid the Israeli military’s push to take full control of Gaza City, aid agencies remain deeply concerned that too little is being done to prevent the spread of famine.
The UN’s emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, is leading the appeal to allow aid into the Strip at scale.
He warned that without a massive and immediate influx, by the end of September, famine will have likely spread south, to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis.
Famine was confirmed in Gaza City on 22 August by UN-backed food security experts, although aid teams have warned repeatedly of mass starvation across the war-torn enclave, citing the Israeli blockade.
“We continue to insist that this horror can be stopped,” Mr. Fletcher said in a statement at the weekend.
He called for the release of all remaining hostages taken during Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel that sparked the war in October 2023.
The UN top aid official also insisted on the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures last year, requiring Israel to ensure the prevention of genocidal acts and the immediate and effective delivery of urgent basic services to Gaza’s civilian population.
Ukraine’s people pick up pieces after latest deadly Russian strikes
To Ukraine, where people in the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere have been recovering on Monday from one of the heaviest Russian bombardments of its full-scale invasion so far.
The attacks killed and injured children who were sleeping, according to the UN’s top aid official in the country, Matthias Schmale.
He said that among the targets, homes, a large government building and a nursery had been hit in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities.
Working with the Ukrainian authorities, Mr. Schmale added that the UN and aid partners are providing urgently needed support.
He stressed that civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected under international humanitarian law and are not a target.
Latest UN data indicates that more civilians were killed and injured in July in Ukraine than in any month since May 2022, as Russian forces intensified attacks along the frontline and on Ukrainian cities.
Daniel Johnson, UN News
Source of original article: United Nations (news.un.org). Photo credit: UN. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of Global Diaspora News (www.globaldiasporanews.com).
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