Why the UN Chief’s Silence on Human Rights is Deeply Troubling

Expand U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends a news conference in Istanbul, Turkey, February 10, 2017. © 2017 Reuters Halfway through his first five-year term, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres is becoming defined by his silence on human rights — even as serious rights abuses proliferate. U.N. secretaries general have all struggled with when to speak out, trying to balance their role as quiet mediators of disputes with the need to represent core U.N. values. Outspoken support for rights can close some diplomatic doors but keeping quiet leaves the perception that the United…

© Human Rights Watch - jeudi 25 avril 2019