Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ukraine topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UN Secretary-General reiterates call for respect of human rights on third anniversary of Russia27s invasion
Summary
At a U.N. press briefing, the secretary-general warned that human rights progress is under strain and repeated calls for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine; U.N. officials declined to characterize General Assembly voting patterns beyond noting recorded votes.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the third anniversary of Russia27s invasion of Ukraine urged the international community to push for a just and lasting peace and stressed that respect for human rights is essential to sustainable peace.
Guterres, in remarks delivered earlier in Geneva and summarized at a U.N. press briefing, said human rights are "the oxygen of humanity," and warned they are being "suffocated" in many places. He linked human-rights protection to other global priorities, saying progress on human rights supports development, climate action and governance of technology.
At the briefing, the U.N. spokesperson said the secretary-general reiterated his support for steps by member states to seek peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations, applicable international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions. The spokesperson added that the secretary-general also stressed the need for leadership "rooted in facts, the law, and compassion."
When asked about six votes in the General Assembly held that day, the spokesperson declined to analyze voting patterns and said results are a matter of public record. The spokesperson reiterated that the secretary-general27s position on the conflict has been consistent and that the secretariat will continue to press for respect for international law and civilian protection.
Guterres also used the forum to reiterate support for nuclear disarmament and referenced member states27 commitments in recent diplomatic agreements described as part of a broader "pact for the future." The secretary-general called for renewed international cooperation among major powers and for members of the Security Council to reaffirm the principles of the U.N. Charter.
The briefing included a range of other updates on conflicts and humanitarian crises; separate U.N. statements at the same event detailed situations in Sudan, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and other regions.
Looking ahead, U.N. officials said the Security Council was scheduled to receive a briefing on Ukraine later in the day from Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo.
