Last Updated: Friday, 26 May 2023, 13:32 GMT

New UN rights chief calls Syria, Iraq top concerns

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 8 September 2014
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, New UN rights chief calls Syria, Iraq top concerns, 8 September 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/542ac73614.html [accessed 30 May 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

September 08, 2014

By RFE/RL

The new UN rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, says Syria and Iraq are the world's top humanitarian crises.

Making his first address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 8, he said the international community must immediately stop the violence in Syria and Iraq to end human rights violations there.

He said the international community has so far failed to end violence in the Middle East and has not brought perpetrators of rights violations to justice.

Turning to Ukraine, he said "every effort must be made by both the Ukrainian government and the armed groups – as well as by neighboring states, including the Russian Federation – to protect civilians."

Al Hussein succeeded South Africa's Navi Pillay as UN high commissioner for human rights on September 1.

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

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