Outgoing UN rights chief fires broadside at UN Security Council
UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay fired a parting shot at the UN Security Council before stepping down, saying that governments are putting short-term goals and national interests ahead of human suffering, global peace and security.
As she prepares to leave her post as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights after six years in her post, she said in her final address: “I firmly believe that greater responsiveness by this council would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.”
“Even after violence has broken out, international actors can help broker and enforce peace,” she added.
Pillay, a South African, cited 12 cases from around the globe, ranging from Afghanistan to Ukraine, where the international community has failed to prevent the outbreak of conflict.
“None of these crises erupted without warning. They built up over years – and sometimes decades – of human rights grievances,” Pillay said.
Pillay said that the Security Council’s “interest in human rights has increased” during her tenure, but cited Russia and the USA’s disagreements concerning Syria and Ukraine, saying, “There has not always been a firm and principled decision by members to put an end to crises.”
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