UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : OHCHR Press Conference

Good morning, everyone.

And ahead of Human Rights Day tomorrow, let me also take this opportunity to wish you a happy Human Rights Day.

Here we have, of course, the UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Folker Turk.

I'm not going to take up time by introducing him.

I'll give the floor to the **** Commissioner right away.

He will deliver a statement and then, of course, we'll open the floor to questions.

Hi, Commissioner, please.

What?

Very good.

Good morning to all of you.

It's always good to see the Geneva press corps here in the United Nations.

And I understand that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the UN Correspondents Association in Geneva.

So I really warmly congratulate you for your sustained reporting on human rights and humanitarian issues.

More than ever, we need and the world needs, quality journalism.

Of course, I appreciate that the extraordinary events in Syria are very much on your minds, and I will come to that shortly, but let me start with Human Rights Day, which we mark tomorrow at a time when human rights are not only violated but also increasingly instrumentalised.

As I look back at the year, I would like to highlight three key issues that continue to have massive ramifications for human rights around the world.

First, the proliferation of armed conflict, the erosion of respect for international law in the conduct of hostilities, and the apparent indifference of powerful actors to immense numbers of casualties and suffering.

Second, the blurring of lines between reality and fiction.

In this mega election year we witnessed an increase in the politics of diversion and even gas lighting, and the dangerous proliferation of disinformation.

And 3rd, the focus on waging war and disinformation as a distraction from some of the biggest challenges to our long term security.

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, as well as the huge inequalities that we face in the world today.

The disregard for international law and the apparent indifference to civilian lives and infrastructure has been starkly in focus in the conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon, as well as in Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar, to name a few very stark examples.

My office has continued to report to the world in detail on the human suffering wrought in conflict in Syria.

Yesterday we saw a regime driven from power following decades of brutal repression and after nearly 14 years of relentless conflict.

Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost during this time.

More than 100,000 people disappeared and some 14,000,000 were driven from their homes, often in the most atrocious circumstances I've met.

Many of them over the years witnessed their despair and trauma as they bore testimony to the most serious human rights violations committed against them, including torture and the use of chemical weapons.

Yesterday, Syrians took to the streets with much hope and much anxiety for the future.

Hope that this would be an opportunity for the country to build a future grounded in human rights, Freedom and Justice and anxiety.

Because so much is uncertain, any political transition must ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations and guarantee that those responsible are held to account.

It is imperative that all be collected and preserved meticulously for future use.

Reform of the security apparatus will be key.

This transition must also ensure that the tragedy of missing people is addressed.

Hostilities are are reportedly ongoing in some parts of Syria, including in the North East.

It is really important, imperative in fact, that all parties abide by their obligations on international humanitarian law and human rights law.

All measures must be taken to ensure the protection of all minorities and to avert reprisals and acts of revenge.

The only way forward is a nationally owned political process that brings an end to the litany of suffering, fulfils the aspirations of all Syrians, and ensures truth, justice, reparation, healing and reconciliation.

It is essential that the human rights of all Syrians are at the core of such a process through meaningful and inclusive participation, including notably of women and young people.

Serious sovereignty.

Unity, independence and territorial integrity must be restored and my office is ready to support this transition process.

This year has been marked by horrific numbers of people killed and severely injured in conflict on and off the battlefield.

Just this past weekend, at least 184 people were killed in violence orchestrated by the leader of a powerful gang in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, in the Cite Soleil area.

The late These latest killings bring the death toll just this year in Haiti to a staggering 5000 people.

We need to stem the flow of arms into Haiti, Sudan and Myanmar to put on notice those providing arms, including to Israel and non state armed actors in Lebanon, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territory.

That international law requires states to exercise care that weapons they provide are not used to commit violations.

We need to insist that it is not OK and not legal to use entire personal minds in Ukraine.

It is not OK to provide them for use there and it is not OK to reduce the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.

Instead, there should be an all out effort by states to make it harder, not easier, to use such horrific weapons in the 1st place.

I urge all states to refrain from taking any steps that could fuel conflict and lead to further escalation.

The cost of war is so ****, the human toll is incalculable.

States need to do all in their power to insist that such senseless conflicts and suffering end.

The world must turn away from the death spiral of militarised approaches to security and find its way back to mediation, dialogue, negotiation and confidence building.

We need to stand in solidarity and insist on the protection of the human rights of Syrians, of all ethnic and religious groups, of Ukrainians and Russians affected by repression, for Palestinians and Israelis, for Sudanese, for the diverse peoples of Myanmar, for people on all sides.

It is time for renewed activism, for overcoming divisions and forging alliances for peace.

Making the viral spread of disinformation on social platforms and in some traditional media, including state sponsored and state funded disinformation campaigns, is sowing divisions and hatred and discrediting human rights defenders, independent journalism and international institutions.

People in leadership positions must stop.

The othering that dehumanises entire communities, fuels hatred and violence and feeds toxic ideologies and racism, including white supremacism.

There has been a worrying proliferation this year of politicians who scapegoat minorities, blaming them for depriving people of their economic, social, cultural rights, invoking so-called family or cultural values.

And this amounts in reality to anti human rights and anti human values and and for unfortunately in my line of work I also see a strong tendency to ***** the messenger rather than focus on the seriousness of the message and engaging meaningful debate around difficult issues.

But we cannot lose the profound values and principles underpinning human rights.

We need to go back to the basics.

Human rights are not abstract ideas or ideologies.

They are about who we are and how we live.

They're grounded in facts, in law and in compassion.

They embody our needs and our hopes.

A safe home, food and clean water, healthcare, education, decent work, decent work and a liveable minimum wage.

To live in peace.

To be free.

To express your opinion.

Human rights do not belong to any political party or to any region of the world.

They belong to all of us.

They are simple, powerful ideas that motivate people to stand up for themselves and for others.

And with all the push back, the extremes, human suffering and the gaslighting we're dealing with today, we need to double down and insist on respect for the human rights of all.

We need to invest in human rights States and political leaders, business and community leaders.

In fact, all of us need to support, defend, preserve and strengthen the fundamental human rights values and support those at the forefront of this challenge, human rights defenders, civil society groups, and grassroots human rights movements.

In my role, I encounter great suffering and despair, but I also see glimmers of hope and determination.

I see vibrant networks of human rights around the world, people joining forces to combat discrimination, to build allies, to counter disinformation with facts and with compassion.

People young and not so young are taking to the streets, going to their lawmakers and to the courts to fight for their rights and those of others, for climate action and against discrimination.

People are calling on their leaders to work for equality, justice and peace, using their voices and their votes, and defending their freedoms, their democratic institutions, and the feed and the future of their planet.

It is crucial that states summon the leadership and political energy required to tackle the massive, ongoing and worsening catastrophe that is the triple planetary crisis.

I'm concerned by the lack of ambition shown in the most recent climate negotiations and by reports that some countries are considering backing out of their commitments to climate action.

We cannot continue like this.

States have a legal obligation to prevent foreseeable harm to their people and their rights.

It is also crucial that States and political leaders support and defend international institutions.

It's intolerable that the institutions themselves become the object of unrelenting attack for doing their job without consequence.

In Yemen, 50 humanitarian and human rights staff, including eight of my own colleagues, have now been detained arbitrarily and without any access for us for six months and counting.

This is unacceptable.

States must also ensure that international institutions are adequately funded.

Funding for human rights represents less than 5% of the total regular budget of the United Nations, and the liquidity crisis that has impacted the entire UN Secretariat has had significant consequences for the human rights office.

With strong headwinds and much uncertainty ahead, ensuring an adequate, adequately funded UN human rights office is is essential for this Human Rights Day.

I, I invite you and all of us to build and support alliances in our, in your own lives, in our lives, in our cities, in our communities and workplaces, to stand in defence of the human rights and dignity of every person.

Thank you.

Thank you, **** Commissioner.

We'll take three questions at a time.

If you could just stick to one question per journalist initially, that would be appreciated.

I know it's a tough ask.

And please introduce yourself and the, the agency that you represent.

So we'll start with Laurent, Jamie, Antonio and then the next round.

Swiss News Agency.

Thank you very much.

I, Commissioner for the press conference.

I'd like to follow up on Syria.

What is your mood this morning regarding HDS?

Do you trust them when they say they're ready to work for an inclusive process respecting all a non sectarian approach or as it is still considered as a terrorist group?

Are you concerned with that situation?

Thank you.

Is the call from OHCHR to ensure that accountability for the half million or more victims who have been killed during the Syria war, in particular, should Assad be brought to justice, and how?

I would like you to to speak as well about Venezuela.

What is your view on the opposition persecution allegations?

If you would ask the government to respect the right of Mr Edmundo Gonzalez to return, what do you think about the fact that the Corina Machado has to be hidden for fear to be detained?

And also if you can update us on the situation on the office of your **** Commission aid in in Venezuela, do you think it can be back soon and in which conditions your officials could work there?

Thank you.

Look on, on the first question.

I think it's very early days, that's very clear.

But at the same time, let's not forget that what we see in front of us is a not only one particular group, HDS, but we have many other groups as well.

You have those who have formed the opposition and we have a very active civil society, especially outside that, as I haven't had a chance to meet with many of them, is is extremely engaged precisely on the issues that are speaking to the rights of people.

And so I hope that within this current environment that obviously there will be this inclusive, very inclusive dialogue that involves, we always talk about women, peace and security that involves women, that involves young people, that involves each and every segment of the Syrian society to, to afford a vision for the future of the country.

There is a huge chance for this to happen.

And what we have seen initially is indeed cooperation, including by the, by the authorities that are still there, the institutions of the state.

You saw that with, with the Prime Minister and, and the, and the various factions that are currently that have taken over control.

But it's very important for all of us to be very vigilant to make sure that this is indeed an inclusive, participatory and meaningful process to forge a vision for the future of the country and, and to ensure the transition that that respects each and every Syrian in this country.

And, and then come, come to the next question.

Because of course, the question of accountability is absolutely crucial.

We know that from so many situations around the world, if impunity and accountability are not addressed head on, we're going to face problems in the future.

We have seen, and they have been documented for over close to 14 years.

We have seen the systematic and widespread human rights violations that have taken place in Syria by different parties and it is critical that those who are responsible for it are held to account.

The human rights system has now 3 institutions.

One is one that deals with the humanitarian consequences.

It's the institution for missing persons that we have in the process of establishing, dealing precisely with, with what many of the families are telling us.

They don't know where their loved ones are.

So hopefully there will be a new way of cooperating also with this transition to ensure that finally we can find that people can bring closure to, to those who have been missing, to the disappeared.

And we have seen, you know, even when people got released now from, from some of these notorious prisons that indeed they, they feel very, they, they feel elated that finally some of their relatives, they, they find them again.

But this is an important process of, of healing.

There are the other two institutions, the triple IM and, and the independent and, and the one that was created by the Human Rights Council.

They have collected a lot of evidence.

They have collected a lot of work.

My own office has done regular reporting on it.

We will need to make sure that those who are responsible for these violations, be it on the side of the previous government, the the president and, and others, but also all others who are responsible for violations, that they are brought to account.

And and that's going to be a key piece of the transition because we cannot afford that.

We, we, we go back to those periods where indeed impunity reigns and people who, who committed horrific, who committed horrific violations can continue.

So I think that's going to be absolutely key.

And we will do everything we can to support that.

Venezuela I we have been able to resume partly our activities.

We're in the midst of hopefully being able to go back in full.

That's currently still being worked on.

I also hope that we can then resume what we were able to do in the past, which means prison visits, trial monitoring, commenting on on legislation.

I think this is very important throughout, despite the fact that we were kicked out in February this year, I have in my office has been able to remain in touch both with the government authorities but also with human rights defenders, with civil society and with members of the opposition.

That's what we do.

And I hope, and that's really very key to also what you asked before, that those who are currently arbitrarily detained are released.

We have seen some releases.

We want to see more and and that's absolutely key.

And we also hope that there will be indeed a a renewed focus on bringing the different political actors together that they are able to forge a vision also for the future in this country.

Thank you.

Thank you, **** Commissioner.

Next round of questions, we have Dina, Moussa and Nina.

Please.

I'll start.

Yeah, I'll start here.

Thank you.

Actually I'll go back to Syria as well.

My question is about the occupation, the Syrian occupation.

Yesterday they occupied a new parts of Conitra which was liberated and the Syrian part of Haramun Mountain.

This is a new movement in this region since the 70s.

And also they ordered 5 villages in the southern, southern Syria.

They they are preventing them to leave their houses, 5 villages.

So how do you see this new changes in this part of Syria?

Thank you.

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Yeah, thanks for taking a question.

I wanted to ask about, you mentioned the the state of democracy a little bit.

If you could say a little bit more about that in this year of numerous elections where there's been this tilt towards more authoritarianism and also about the the impact of what seems to be an increasing number of billionaires who are controlling the media and also having more political influence.

If you would consider someone like Elon Musk As for instance, an oligarch now in the way things are turning out in the US.

Thank you.

Over to you, **** Commissioner.

Look, I, as I mentioned before, what is extremely important at this point in time is to ensure that the territorial integrity, the sovereignty, the unity of and the independence of Syria are restored.

And this means that there is a process, an internal process that is absolutely needed, which brings all the actors together in the, the various civil society, the the different armed groups, the the existing state institutions in, in a, in a process that that defines the future of the country.

That's the internal process.

But there needs to also be an external process of ensuring that all those who are currently in any way impinging on the sovereignty of the country, that there are negotiations to ensure that indeed the sovereignty of the country is restored and the territorial integrity is restored.

And that's these are two, they are related, but these are two very important processes that that need to happen.

And you, you saw the special envoy, Gar Peterson of the Secretary General is embarking precisely on, on, on, on this process.

I mean, as I mentioned, it's not about one particular armed group.

And that's, by the way, a decision of the Security Council.

It's not a decision that the **** Commissioner for Human Rights takes whether someone ends up on a list.

But I think what is more important is that there is now that this regime has, has fallen and these are very, very fraud transition periods.

Always.

We have seen it in in many other countries around the world that all actors, all civil actors, the, the people from outside, the ones who have followed this, all the, the, the, the journalists that are now reporting on it really come together and, and really help the country transition.

And this has to be so much nationally owned and include all segments of the society.

And, and, and I mean, we, we always, you know, the Security Council, as you know, has pronounced itself on the need to involve women in in peace processes.

And I hope very much that this is going to be the case.

And, and indeed, that I've met myself over the years, many Syrian women who became refugees.

And one thing that I've always taken away from from that experience was precisely that they told me they often learned about solidarity because of what they went through and that they had a lot of social cohesion among themselves.

And they told me that when they go back, because they have become so much stronger and more resilient, when they go back, they want to have a say in, in the type of Syria of the future.

And I hope that these women will have a chance to sit at the negotiation table of crafting a Syria that is built on human rights and, and strong institutions.

And I think that that is very clear.

Look on, on the yes, it is, it is very clear to us that indeed sexual violence was perpetrated by by these groups, by these armed groups on the 7th of October.

And, and I have condemned it as I have condemned all the other violations that we have seen that indeed that is confirmed on the state.

Well, look, we have of course seen many elections this year.

And I what I take away from looking at what's happening around the world, there's a certain malaise that we see within populations and it's a malaise about not being taken seriously, about deep seated grievances, about all kinds of things that when you actually go into an electoral.

Some unfortunately have manipulated, they have taken advantage of these malaise and they have taken advantage of, of grievances in a way that they offer solutions to it that frankly may not work out.

And unfortunately, this has also affected human rights in in some ways.

And we have forgotten that human rights is about adequate housing, is about access to education, is about access to healthcare.

These are all fundamental human rights issues.

And I wish that as we go into the future that that human rights will be seen as what they are affecting each and everyone's lives, that demanding, that requires.

And this is also called to to the political elites around the world, including the mainstream ones.

They have to take seriously what people feel, but they should also find Ways and Means to create again a free and open public space that allows for debates to occur.

Where you agree to disagree but you can at least have a debate.

And where the debate is based on facts and evidence and not based on hearsay, conspiracy theories and what I often term throwing the clitor in the eyes of the others.

And there of course, you as as media play an extremely important point.

Because what we have seen is indeed a tsunami of disinformation in many different platforms, including the social media platforms.

And not enough has been done about stemming this and making sure that there is more analysis about where this disinformation leads to because this information and and frankly, non evidence based public debate is extremely dangerous.

And because otherwise you will see it almost atomized within societies.

And, and that, and we need precisely the opposite.

We need an open and free public space and free and independent media play an extremely important role.

Look, on the, I mean the, the private sector or, or, or especially I would say big tech companies more generally, they have become very powerful actors.

There's no doubt about that.

As you know, I've engaged with them.

I went to Silicon Valley earlier this year.

For us, it's important to be in contact with them, but it is also important.

And the Global Digital Compact in a way did this to show that we need a basic consensus around the the incredible opportunities of the digital world, but also the incredible risks.

And it was very good that all states decided that the risks are very much linked to human rights.

And as a result, we will do even more work, both with the companies because of the incredible power that they wield, but also with governments and regulators and all the international organisations that are involved in it.

So indeed there are guardrails in place so that we are not seeing a further erosion of of public space, of fundamental understandings of facts and of making sure that these areas are not used to incite more violence and hatred.

We have next Emma, Gabriella and Catherine.

Good morning.

Hi, Commissioner, UMM, you mentioned headwinds ahead for your office.

Could you elaborate on what you meant and does it have anything to do with the change of administration in the US?

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Hi, Commissioner for coming Gabriela Sotomayor Proceso Mexico.

UMM, I want to know your opinion on the new reform in Mexico for the judiciary power in Mexico, where judges will be elected by both and not for their capacity.

So it isn't your party, the independence of powers and therefore maybe democracy, I don't know.

What do you think?

Also the killing of human rights defenders in Mexico, like the last one of a priest in Chiapas.

And I have another question, but yes, Catherine fianconbo conga France van Catra.

I have a question related to the BRICS.

As the vision of the BRICS is now extending to global politics, do you office have contacts or is working with this organisation to help it to uphold its commitments to human rights?

Thank you, please.

Hi, Commissioner.

Well, the headwinds are frankly ones that if you look at the state of the world today, that's what I mean by headwinds.

And to be honest, it's very much related to the fact that we have this what I mentioned before, this proliferation of conflicts.

We, we see that hardly any of them have an end insight.

Well, let's see what happens now in Syria, But it's also headwinds when it comes precisely what I also mentioned before is this loss of public space, open public space, because any society, any social cohesion in a society is, is only then guaranteed if you have an open and, and, and, and safe public space.

And that I'm, I'm afraid we see less and less of it.

And we see you look at what just happened in in Romania, look at what happened in, in, in countries in different electoral cycles around the world, in Europe and North America, and but also in other parts of the world.

And I think these are headwinds that, that go to the heart of, of, of the message of human rights, because we can only really survive as humanity if we are built on principles and values.

And, and if these principles and values are shared.

I, I, I believe they still are, but there are attempts to chip away from it and that, and that's dangerous especially.

That's why I'm always talking about the erosion of the international legal framework.

We need to be very guarded about this.

Look, when it comes to you mentioned also the US, obviously we aim to engage with whatever new administration comes in.

That's part of our job.

Let's also not forget that irrespective of political change in government, that obviously the obligations that states have in terms of human rights remain.

It doesn't, they don't change because you have a, you have a different, you have a different political leadership.

And we will continue to work with also the new administration on those issues that have come up in, in various reports, including sexual and reproductive health rights, areas of minority, the migration issue, the refugee issue, women's rights, death penalty and and so forth.

So for us, that doesn't stop with a new administration.

And as I said, it's also important to make sure that human rights are not under and not understood as ideological or belonging to one party or the other.

They belong to all of us.

And we need to do precisely that type of work.

And we, we want to work and we hope very much that the new administration also sees UN and human rights as a partner on Mexico.

I have, you probably saw this, I have made a statement on those constitutional reform issues that are currently being discussed.

We have seen reforms that want to strengthen women's rights, for example, gender equality, but also the rights of indigenous people and, and Afro Mexicans.

I remain concerned about the judicial reform.

I've made that very clear because we fear that some of the provisions that are currently there risk seriously undermining the independence of the judiciary, but also its ability to effectively uphold the rule of law.

So I have called on decision makers to ensure the independence of the judiciary, to ensure that the candidates who are put forward are people of integrity and ability without with the appropriate trainings and qualifications.

And you have also seen I've made comments on the widening of pretrial detention, which a mandatory pretrial detention, which we we never think is the answer in this type of circumstances.

This has been a concern not only in Mexico, but in many other situations as well.

In fact, we need almost the contrary.

We need to move away from incarceration policies more generally.

We are obviously working with the different countries of the bricks, but not we have not been engaged with bricks as such as an as a as a formation of governments.

But we are obviously in touch with with the governments that that constitute bricks.

And the message is always very clear that in whatever form you want to engage on governance and multilateral issues, human rights have to be at their core.

And we, yes, we hope that that message comes comes through loud and clear.

We have Anyes in the room and Jamie had a quick follow up and then we'll go to the platform for three questions.

So let's start with Anyes and Jamie.

Yes, thank you for taking my question.

And yes, from AFP, it's a question on Syria.

You, you mentioned the the importance of accountability and you mentioned the importance of the transition that should be an internal process.

But what about the sorry, you mentioned that it was a national process.

What about the international justice?

How much do you think that this issue should be put now on the table and how much the international justice and should be involved?

Thank you.

Yes, thank you.

Mine is similar.

It's an extension.

I just wanted to follow up on my question before because you said it kind of in passing about the fact that, you know, the president, former president and and others in his coterie should be should be held to account.

But will you say here today clearly that you believe that Bashar Assad, that his brother Maher Assad, who is been reputed for for much of the mistreatment of many, many people, both of those people should be brought before international justice because this is an opportunity that comes rare for, for, for international accountability?

Is there an would would you be satisfied if those two people and others in their entourage spend the rest of their days in a dacha somewhere in Russia without having a full accountability for their for their roles?

Or do you think that it's more important to ensure a smooth transition process that's peaceful and and put that aside for the moment.

Look on, on trust is more generally, there are different mechanisms.

One mechanism is to ensure that universal jurisdiction, universal jurisdiction is increased and we have been calling and in fact a number of countries have established universal jurisdiction for atrocity crimes.

We encourage them to do this even more.

I mean, I, I can't remember the exact figure.

We can find it for you.

I think there are about 40 countries that now have established universal jurisdiction.

But I I wouldn't need to check the exact number and we have seen cases.

Over the last couple of years of Syrians who were brought to justice in national courts in Germany, France and elsewhere in Europe.

And that process is very important.

And it was because of, you know what they had committed torture, various other human rights violations.

This was also possible because precisely of the mechanisms that the international community has established and it helped to identify not only perpetrators, but it also helped to find the evidence base to bring them to justice.

This will have to continue and we we see in in so many situations around the world that in fact strengthening domestic systems, including by making sure that universal jurisdiction applies is going to be extremely important in the future.

We have also I have called for the whole of the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

As you know, at the current there is the ICC does not currently have jurisdiction, which is why one way to do it would be to to get the Security Council to create to agree to that.

Another way of doing it is that the new the news, new Syria decides to ratify the ICC statute, in which case the ICC would have jurisdiction.

I hope that all of this is again being considered.

In fact, we would strongly encourage it.

But it is also true that the ICC is not going to replace.

What needs to happen in Syria itself is to build up a domestic legal system that allows for fair trials in relation to all those where indeed there are serious grounds to believe that they have committed atrocity crimes.

And that goes also for the, and for the president or the former president of of Syria and whoever was in, in senior leadership positions.

There are indeed serious grounds to believe that they may have committed atrocity crimes.

And as a result, yes, they should be brought to justice.

And I do not see this different from a transition process.

I I think we, we should not confuse peace making transition, finding political solutions from the issue of accountability.

We, we have actually seen that precisely in this type of process is it is important to bring that dimension in because justice and serving justice and and countering impunity is important.

And there are these are not 2 separate things.

Thank you.

Our Commissioner, we have Nick, Peter, Graham, Yuri and then a follow up from Musa and then we will have to end the press conference.

We've actually already gone over time.

Nick, please go ahead.

Thank you.

Thank you for the briefing.

After 15 months of war in Gaza, we're hearing Israeli voices calling for settlement of new settlements in Gaza.

We have the advent of an American administration, which is where key people are taking positions absolutely in defiance of international law and also not recognising any requirement of A2 state solution.

So how worried are you that we're heading toward the conclusion of this conflict in Gaza that ignores the human rights of Palestinians?

And how do you think that can be avoided?

Thank you.

On the platform we have Peter Kenny.

Peter, can you unmute?

Peter.

Hello.

Yes, we hear you now.

You hear me?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Yes.

This is also a question regarding Syria, and the activities that took place by Israel in the Golan Heights this weekend effectively seems to nullify the disengagement agreement.

So what effect do you think this is could have on the local population there?

Thank you, **** Commissioner.

OK, Graham, Denver, hello.

Thank you very much.

Graham Dunbar from The Associated Press question about Saudi Arabia On Wednesday, FIFA will confirm Saudi Arabia as host of football's World Cup in 2034.

And after the the decade, the journey that everyone went through before the previous World Cup in Qatar, no one can say they're not aware of the risks built into this project for human rights, especially when 8 stadiums currently do not exist and will rely heavily on migrant labour to build them.

Are you comfortable with the way this decision is going ahead on Wednesday, given that there've been so few assurances from Saudi Arabia on working with international civil society and NGOs?

Yes, Yuri is online.

Yuri, can you unmute?

Yes, thank you for taking my question.

Sorry about the technical, and thank you for the briefing.

Of course, my question is regarding the law and the prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In August and September, your office told me that it is analysing it.

It also told me that this law could be a violation of the freedom of religion.

I'm just wondering is if your office have been able to complete the analysis of this law and if we are clearly facing a violation of the freedom of religion or not.

Just a follow up on this question.

Thank you.

Moussa, please go ahead for a quick follow up.

Mercy la, this is John.

La, this is John de la Corpenal, International Concerno Minister Song Minister de la Defence.

The declaration of the mark let's you see Yeah, the PE and don't say killer, expectorate killer.

Netanyahu a gallant is on the queue.

Say this is the only cover Pennsylvania.

Look, I'm always very concerned about the trajectory of, of what is happening currently in Gaza and in the West Bank.

And I, I, because I, I see that we're still in this logic of escalation, we see the violations that have been committed and continue to be committed and the defiance of, of fundamental norms of, of the rules of war warfare in fact documented by my office over the last year in, in quite some detail.

So the only way out of this is precisely to come to a ceasefire agreement.

I mean to have A to have a ceasefire, to have the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages, to ensure that there is a pathway for a negotiated way for both Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side and and in peace.

And we have, at the moment, it seems quite far away from it if, but I also look at some of the statements and some of the, what is happening even within Israeli society.

And I, I see that I, I noticed a couple of commentators who are also getting increasingly worried about the conduct of hostility.

So I hope that there is a rethink of of, of this particular situation, not just in Israel, but also in all those countries that continue to provide full support to this way of conducting issues.

And I hope that indeed there will be a rethink that this is not the future, neither for Palestinians nor for Israelis, but indeed that there needs to be a solution out of this extremely difficult situation.

And yeah, to avoid it, we need much more focus on on.

Precisely the type of the escalation measures that are required that humanitarian aid comes in in adequate measure and and that indeed a ceasefire occurs.

That's the top priority in this look on, on the latest developments on the on the Golan Heights.

I mean, I think you will have to address this obviously also to, to special envoy, the political special envoy because they, they are dealing precisely with this type of areas.

It is key that before any escalation, again, there are political negotiations to find a way to meet the various security concerns that have been raised in this regard.

And of course, as I said before, it is very important whoever engages in, in any military activity that civilians have spared and and that indeed we go back to the negotiating table to, to see what can actually happen.

But it's, it's something that is, is, is clearly has to be dealt with because we need indeed the restoration of, of serious sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence on.

I'm as you know, we are not involved with FIFA on, on the World Cup.

What we are involved in though, is to make sure that indeed in each and every major sporting event, human rights are part and parcel of the way that sport events are not only conceived but also conducted.

And we have provided and will also provide whenever, whatever the decision is to whoever is going to organise it, we will provide precisely that type of advice to the organisers.

And that will include also, of course, the need to make sure that migrant labour standards are, are properly respected and, and all the the other, the various other human rights dimensions of, of major sporting events on, on the church.

We continue to obviously follow all of those issues.

And we are in touch also with the green and authorities about this.

Freedom of religion is, is absolutely critical.

But indeed, there are also restrictions when it comes to the exercise and these when it's necessary, it has to be lawful, it has to be proportional.

But I, I don't have the unfortunately the latest details on that.

But it is definitely an issue that that we're looking into following up on and raising with the authorities.

Look, the International Criminal Court is a very important institution.

It is an institution that is part of the broader accountability framework that we have in this world.

It is an institution that requires support.

It fulfils a very important function, not just in in this particular conflict, but in in all the others.

And the only thing I can say is it needs to be supported.

It needs to be respected.

And it is an international legal institution where laws that are there are to be respected in full.

Thank you very much.

OHCHR Press Conference - 09 December 2024