HC unveils human rights vision for a better future

“Human rights have the power to unify us at a time when we need to come together to contend with the existential challenges we face as humanity.”

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday unveiled his vision to renew the commitment to human rights, which sets out to address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges, including climate change, conflict, inequality and new technologies, by restoring trust on a universal human condition and making human rights a propulsive force for change.

Presented during the 55^th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, “Human Rights: A Path for Solutions” sets out eight messages for a better future: supporting the global constituency for human rights; human rights as the centre of prevention and peacebuilding; equal and sustainable economies that work for people and the planet; environmental action; responsive and effective governance; technology and science that uplifts all; meaningful decision making by youth and children; and strengthening the human rights system.

The vision’s outlook is informed by an extensive engagement with diverse actors throughout the year-long Human Rights 75 Initiative to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which concluded in December 2023 at a High-Level Event hosted simultaneously in Geneva, Bangkok, Nairobi, Panama and globally online. The vision is also a contribution to the upcoming Summit of the Future in September, which will be held in New York. The Summit of the Future is a high-level event that will bring world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how to deliver a better present and safeguard the future.

In his address, Türk called on States, people and all actors to embrace and trust the full power of human rights as the path to the world we want: more peaceful, equal and sustainable.

“We must seed that better future now.”