‘Rules of war shredded, no accountability’, says UN human rights chief at 60th session in Geneva

While opening the Human Rights Council, Volker Turk said there was increase in glorification of violence. He condemned various armed conflicts worldwide.

Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends the Human Rights Council at the UN European headquarters in Geneva on 8 September 2025. | Denis Balibouse | Reuters

Geneva: The United Nations human rights’ chief warned on Monday that “disturbing trends”, including the glorification of violence and the retreat of some states from the multilateral system, are undermining human rights and the international order worldwide.

“Rules of war are being shredded – with virtually no accountability,” said Volker Turk, who heads the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR), in his opening address to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

He condemned widespread violations in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as well as the conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gaza.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Miranda Murray)

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