In our rapidly evolving world, technological and scientific breakthroughs offer alluring glimpses of a brighter tomorrow — one filled with peace, prosperity, and progress for both humanity and our planet.

However, this promise is tempered by the sobering reality of escalating geopolitical tensions, horrific conflicts, widening inequality gaps and stagnation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the potential dangers brought by the same technological advances, and an increasingly urgent climate crisis.

“Such daunting obstacles often seem insurmountable, leading to eroding social trust and a dangerous sense of hopelessness in far too many,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. “No country alone can solve the global issues at stake. International cooperation, grounded in human rights, is the best way to solve the massive challenges confronting us and bring positive change now and in the future.”

Finding common ground for our common future was the purpose of the Summit of Future, which took place at UN Headquarters in New York on 22-23 September. At the opening of the Summit, after long and intense negotiations by all countries, global leaders adopted a Pact for the Future, aimed at strengthening the multilateral system to better deal with global challenges. Given their centrality in addressing such challenges, human rights are a cross-cutting issue in all five chapters of the Pact: sustainable development and financing for development; international peace and security; science, technology and innovation and digital cooperation; youth and future generations; and transforming global governance.

As annexes to the Pact for the Future, two other documents were adopted at the Summit: a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.

The Summit of the Future was preceded by two Action Days (20-21 September) with dozens of diverse and inclusive panel discussions and side events with the participation of Governments, civil society, private sector, academia, local and regional authorities, young people and more. One of these events was co-hosted by the UN Human Rights Office examining the centrality of human rights to the Pact’s implementation.

“As all countries of the world come together at the UN to discuss our common future, let us remember that human rights can transform societies and our global community,” Türk said. “They offer concrete solutions to concrete problems — now and in the future.”

In a future of international cooperation, a strong human rights system is indispensable – to decisively respond to problems and deliver better solutions for the people and planet.

“Peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the UN – and the foundations of a future collective well-being. One is not sustained without the others – they are equally important, interlinked and mutually reinforcing,” Türk said.

Türks vision statement, “Human Rights: A Path for Solutions,” offers an important framework for addressing current and future challenges and aligns with the Pact. The document presents eight key messages to ensure human rights remain central to efforts for peace, people-centered economies, effective governance, and responsible digital and scientific progress.

Youth-led for the future

During the Action Days, the Office also co-led a key session focused on young people as key rights holders and active stakeholders for driving sustainable change.

“Young people are key agents of positive change and should be provided meaningful opportunities to shape the future,” Türk said. “Governments must strengthen their participation in the decision-making, support youth-led organizations and facilitate intergenerational dialogue.”

During the Summit and its Actions Days, the High Commissioner participated in several events, bringing the human rights problem-solving lens to a wide range of issues from dismantling patriarchal power structures to governing digital technologies to combatting hate and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people.

Türk also challenged all policy-makers to ensure that their every decision takes into account its impact on human rights, our planet, and generations down the line.