U.N. Human Rights Chief Voices Concerns Over Trump’s Policies

Geneva (Eurotoday) – The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed serious concerns about a “fundamental shift in direction” in the U.S. under President Donald Trump, warning that divisive rhetoric is being used to mislead and polarize people.

In a speech that did not mention Trump by name, U.N. rights chief Volker Turk stated,

“We have enjoyed bipartisan support from the U.S. on human rights over many decades … I am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally.”

“Policies intended to protect people from discrimination are now labelled as discriminatory… Divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive, and polarize. This is generating fear and anxiety among many,”

he added.

Turk’s address to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva marks his strongest statement so far on the impact of the new U.S. administration’s policies.

Why did Trump criticise the United Nations?

A month ago, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the United Nations as

“not being well run,”

although he acknowledged its potential. Meanwhile, he limited U.S. engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council, halted funding for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, and called for a review of the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO.

“It’s got great potential and based on the potential we’ll continue to go along with it, but they got to get their act together,”

Trump told journalists.

“It’s not being well run, to be honest, and they’re not doing the job.”

“A lot of these conflicts that we’re working on should be settled, or at least we should have some help in settling them. We never seem to get help. That should be the primary purpose of the United Nations,”

Trump added.

How did the U.N. respond to Trump’s remarks?

In response, the U.N. pushed back against Trump’s statements. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

“has worked tirelessly to implement many reforms … to increase efficiency and innovation,”

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated.

“U.S. support for the United Nations has saved countless lives and advanced global security,”

Dujarric added.

“The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing his productive relationship with President Trump and the U.S. Government to strengthen that relationship in today’s turbulent world.”