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Human rights are at risk of “unravelling” under unprecedented pressure and the “rhetoric of fascism” is being normalised, the United Nations has warned.
The UN’s human rights chief Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein also described 2016 as a “disastrous year”.
Ahead of the International Human Rights Day on Saturday, Mr Hussein's speech gave a thinly veiled assessment of conflicts in the Middle East and of the recent wave of anti-immigration politics.
“2016 has been a disastrous year for human rights across the globe,” Mr Hussein said. “If the growing erosion of the carefully constructed system of human rights and rule of law continues to gather momentum, ultimately everyone will suffer.”
Mr Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for Human Rights , referenced the war in Syria .
No End to Torture in Bahrain - Human Rights Watch An estimated 11 million Syrians have fled their homes since the outbreak of civil war in March 2011 and around one million of them have requested asylum in Europe.
He said it had unleashed a massive refugee crisis, extremist movements that are subjecting people to “horrific violence”, climate change, discrimination and “yawning economic disparities”.
The Jordanian warned that the failure of many leaders to deal with such issues has pushed many to turn to “the siren voices exploiting fears, sowing disinformation and division, and making alluring promises they cannot fulfil”.
Human rights attacks around the worldShow all 10 1 /10Human rights attacks around the world Human rights attacks around the world China Escalating crackdown against human rights activists including mass arrests of lawyers and a series of sweeping laws in the name of ‘national security’.
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Human rights attacks around the world Egypt The arrest of thousands, including peaceful critics, in a ruthless crackdown in the name of national security, the prolonged detention of hundreds without charge or trial and the sentencing of hundreds of others to death.
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Human rights attacks around the world Gambia Torture, enforced disappearances and the criminalisation of LGBTI people; and utter refusal to co-operate with the UN and regional human rights mechanisms on issues including freedom of expression, enforced disappearance and the death penalty.
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Human rights attacks around the world Hungary Sealing off its borders to thousands of refugees in dire need; and obstructing collective regional attempts to help them.
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Human rights attacks around the world Israel Maintaining its military blockade of Gaza and therefore collective punishment of the 1.8 million inhabitants there, as well as failing, like Palestine, to comply with a UN call to conduct credible investigations into war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict.
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Human rights attacks around the world Kenya Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and discrimination against refugees in its counter-terrorism operations; and attempts to undermine the International Criminal Court and its ability to pursue justice.
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Human rights attacks around the world Pakistan The severe human rights failings of its response to the horrific Peshawar school massacre including its relentless use of the death penalty; and its policy on international NGOs giving authorities the power to monitor them and close them down if they are considered to be “against the interests” of the country.
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Human rights attacks around the world Russia Repressive use of vague national security and anti-extremism legislation and its concerted attempts to silence civil society in the country; its shameful refusal to acknowledge civilian killings in Syria and its callous moves to block Security Council action on Syria.
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Human rights attacks around the world Saudi Arabia Brutally cracking down on those who dared to advocate reform or criticise the authorities; and committing war crimes in the bombing campaign it has led in Yemen (pictured) while obstructing the establishment of a UN-led inquiry into violations by all sides in the conflict.
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Human rights attacks around the world Syria Killing thousands of civilians in direct and indiscriminate attacks with barrel bombs and other weaponry and through acts of torture in detention; and enforcing lengthy sieges of civilian areas, blocking international aid from reaching starving civilians.
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His comments follow the 23 June Brexit vote, the surprise US election of Donald Trump and the defeat of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s referendum on constitution change.
All have been claimed, including by former Ukip leader Nigel Farage and far-right French politician Marine Le Pen , as victories for anti-establishment populism.
Hate crimes have spiked dramatically after the 70-year-old billionaire tycoon's 8 November election triumph.
”In some parts of Europe, and in the United States, anti-foreigner rhetoric full of unbridled vitriol and hatred, is proliferating to a frightening degree, and is increasingly unchallenged,“ said Mr Hussein.
World news in picturesShow all 50 1 /50World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican
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”The rhetoric of fascism is no longer confined to a secret underworld of fascists, meeting in ill-lit clubs or on the 'deep net'.
“It is becoming part of normal daily discourse.”
During her tour of the Gulf earlier this month, Theresa May has dined with the leaders of the human rights abusing countries of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
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