New York, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged the international community to pursue a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and ensure accountability for violations of international law. Speaking before the General Assembly’s Third Committee, Türk emphasized that recovery must go hand-in-hand with justice.
He welcomed the recent release of hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians as part of the ceasefire’s first phase, but stressed that “this needs to lead to a permanent ceasefire, with humanitarian aid flowing in at scale.” He called for investigations into “gross violations and abuses of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
Türk also addressed global crises, condemning the “utter disregard” for human rights in Sudan, the escalating civilian toll in Ukraine, and ongoing repression in Myanmar. He praised peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but warned they must be matched by real change on the ground.
The High Commissioner highlighted the precarious financial state of his office, warning of a $103 million shortfall that threatens its ability to monitor and report abuses. “Without adequate funding, grave violations may stay hidden from the world,” he said, urging full-scale political and financial support for human rights work.
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