60 armed conflicts in the world
Human Rights Council
“The use of force to resolve disputes and settle conflicts must not become the norm,” said Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. A senior UN official warned in Geneva on Wednesday against the normalization of force in conflict resolution, highlighting its unforeseen consequences and the increasing fragility of the world. These remarks come as the conflict triggered by the Israeli-American offensive against Iran spreads in the Middle East on the fifth day of this war. “At first glance, our discussion today may seem somewhat ironic. Unfortunately, at the very moment we speak, the entire Middle East is plunged into chaos, with unforeseen consequences that will reverberate far beyond the region,” said Ms. Al-Nashif, recalling the words of High Commissioner Volker Türk about “a world turned upside down.” Beyond this region, she described a broader fragmentation of the world. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), “division is omnipresent.” In Sudan, hate speech fuels atrocious crimes and crimes against humanity. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has torn families and societies apart. And Gaza illustrates “the results of decades of inhumanity and persistent violence.” Beyond these examples, she noted a more global drift. A world colored by “the militarization of societies, the arming of civilians, and the recruitment of children.” This observation emerges through the work of the Human Rights Council. The human rights forum has thus dedicated much of its time to “some of the most blatant human rights violations committed in more than 60 armed conflicts raging around the world.” In this context, Ms. Al-Nashif warned against the limitations of solely military solutions. “Militarized solutions can be necessary. But they come with enormous human and financial costs,” she said. According to a study, the rate of resolution of violent conflicts is lower today than it has been in the past 50 years. Wars ending in decisive victory have dropped from 49% in the 1970s to only 9% in the 2010s. A quantitative observation that strengthens her plea. But according to the UN Deputy Human Rights Chief, militarization and hatred have never made anyone safer. Before the Human Rights Council, Ms. Al-Nashif thus advocated for approaches based on prevention and human rights, including early warning, which “allows for quick action.” In regions marked by recurring violence, it helps to break the cycle. For the OHCHR, in countries as diverse as Sierra Leone, Colombia, the Gambia, Costa Rica, and Timor-Leste, placing human rights at the center of transitional justice has helped societies establish lasting peace. An concrete example of this successful approach is seen in Colombia with the peace agreements of 2016. “Our longstanding presence and cooperation with civil society have allowed us to facilitate the direct participation of victims,” she argued, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with civil society, which has facilitated the direct participation of victims in negotiations. In conclusion, Ms. Al-Nashif called for a more united response to a world where powerful states weaken the multilateral system. “In this context, the vast majority of nations must show even more audacity and commitment to once again end war as an instrument of international relations,” she emphasized. “States must speak with one clear voice in favor of the United Nations Charter, international law, and a culture of peace.”
Samir Sabek
