Volker Türk said to Human Rights Council that the investigation and the analysis undertaken by his office, Ohchrhad revealed “an apparent total contempt for the protection of civilians during and after military operations”.

The Ochch’s mission of investigation in the DRC Orientale is also investigating other alleged violations of international humanitarian law, “many of which can constitute war crimes,” he said.

Arbitrary arrests

After capturing cities and villages at the beginning of 2025, the rebels supported by the M23 arbitrarily arrested the police and a large number of other civilians, including children, reported the United Nations Human Rights Office.

According to witnesses, the captured people were and are still held under “inhuman conditions”, and many have been recruited by force in the ranks of the M23.

The mission is also investigating alleged arbitrary arrests and the forced disappearance of alleged supporters of M23 by the military intelligence branch of the DRC armed forces.

Extrajudicial killings

The OHCHR also indicated that members of the M23 had made a summary and extrajudicial executions, which probably constitute war crimes, said Türk.

The mission is also investigating summary executions presumed by members of the DRC armed forces and Wazalendo militias supported by the DRC.

UN human rights are also investigating death threat reports, detention and other reprisals against human rights defenders, journalists and civil society members perceived as criticism of the M23; Including the alleged murders of at least two activists.

Sexual violence

The mission has received reports on the “horrible” use of sexual violence by all parties as a means of reprisals against communities, parents of perceived adversaries and people from other ethnic groups, said Türk.

In northern and southern Kivu, almost 40% of survivors of sexual and gender violence are children. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) estimated that during the most intense phase of the conflict, a child was raped every 30 minutes.

Türk called on “all the parties to the conflict immediately committed to a ceasefire and to resume negotiations, and to respect the international law of humanitarian rights and human rights”.

António Guterres announced the move a declaration published on Monday, in response to plans of several UN member states to withdraw from The anti-prison convention of anti-personal mines.

The 1997 Treaty, also known as Ottawa Convention, prohibits the use, storage, production and transfer of these weapons.

Mondial accepted money

Since then, it has led to a Virtual judgment in the global production of anti-personal miners and a drastic reduction in their deployment“And” more than 40 million stored mines have been destroyed “,” according to The United Nations Bureau for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

To date, 165 states have gone to the treaty and 133 have signed it.

Five European countries – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – recently announced that they intended to leave or take measures in this direction, which would have security problems linked to Russia.

Weaken protection, undermine progress

Without the countries of naming, the secretary general expressed serious concerns concerning development.

“At a time when civilians are faced with increased risks of the expansion of conflicts, It is imperative that we strengthen the frameworks that protect human life and dignity“He said.

“These announcements are particularly disturbing because it may weaken civil protection and undermine two decades from a normative framework that has saved countless lives.”

He urged all states “to join the treaties of humanitarian disarmament and immediately stop the stages towards their withdrawal”, and called on the 32 states which have not yet joined the Treaty to do so without delay.

These countries include China, Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States.

About the campaign

The secretary general’s campaign will focus on maintaining the standards of humanitarian disarmament, accelerating the action of mines as a catalyst for human rights and sustainable development, and advancing the vision of a mine -free world.

“To achieve these objectives, over the next six months, this campaign will aim to reinforce public support to disarmament and will also facilitate concrete actions of states to comply with humanitarian standards and strengthen the action of mines,” he said.

He concluded by stressing that “The urgency of this question cannot be overestimated“, Saying” the protection of innocent lives depends on our collective action and commitment “.

This will involve reducing a little less than half of all the management positions of the registered office of the agency and regional offices.

About 3,500 permanent personnel positions have been interrupted, hundreds of temporary personnel positions have been interrupted and certain offices have been reduced or closed worldwide.

According to the report, the decisions on which to reduce costs have been guided by priority to maintain operations in regions with the needs of the most urgent refugees.

Financial realities

The announcement follows a warning in March from Hcr This serious reduction in funding put millions of lives of refugees in danger, with immediate and devastating consequences.

The agency provides that it will end the year with funding available at about at the same level as a decade – despite the number of refugees forced to flee after having almost doubled Over 122 million.

“In the light of difficult financial realities, UNHCR is forced to reduce the global scale of its operations“Said Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”We will focus our efforts on activities that have the greatest impact for refugeesSupported by the rationalized headquarters and regional office structures. »»

“Unshakable” commitment to refugees

Despite the prioritization of refugee needs, key programs – including financial assistance to vulnerable families, health, education and water and sanitation – have been considerably affected.

In response, UNHCR coordinates with UN partners, aid groups and host countries to mitigate the impact on those that count on support by rationalizing operations, exploring new models and using technology to improve efficiency.

“Even if we are faced with painful cuts and to lose so many dedicated colleagues, our commitment to refugees remains unshakable,” said Mr. Grande.

“Although the resources are rarer and our delivery capacity is reduced, we will continue to work hard to respond to emergencies, protect the rights of refugees and pursue solutions.”

“The aim of the Israeli government is obviously: the destruction of life in Gaza.”

This is how Navi Pillay, president of Commission of inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territoryopened his statement to the 59th council session on Tuesday.

Calling for war in Gaza “the most ruthless, prolonged and widespread attack on the Palestinian people since 1948,” said Pillay of the Commission’s conclusions reportreleased at HRC on May 6.

Attacks against educational facilities in Gaza

He found that 90% of Gaza schools and universities have been damaged or destroyed By Israeli attacks – including air strikes, bombings, burns and controlled demolitions.

“With the loss of education, the Palestinians also lose their source of stability, hope and possibility of a future,” said Ms. Pillay.

By not emitting adequate warnings to civilians who are reflected inside, these attacks have caused many victims, equivalent to war crimes, in particular the knowing launch of attacks which caused excessive and disproportionate civil damage and crime against humanity of extermination.

The Commission found no military necessity to justify the destruction of schools, concluding that the intention was to restrict Palestinian access to the education.

In particular, while Israeli forces have often claimed that they were targeting Hamas agents were based in schools, the Commission has checked only one case of Hamas using a school for military purposes, compared to the systematic use of Israeli schools as military bases.

Education restrictions in the West Bank

Ms. Pillay also warned that education in the West Bank has remained threatened. Demolition orders, military raids, restrictions and operations have considerably reduced school days, while the violence of the colonists has endangered students and teachers. The Israeli government has encouraged or has not prevented such violence, she said.

Attacks against religious and cultural sites

In Gaza, Israeli forces have damaged 53% of religious and cultural sites.

Many were used for refuge or worship, causing new civil losses, constituting war crimes and, in some cases, crime against extermination humanity.

These completely avoidable damage “have a cascade effect and deeply affect intangible cultural elements, such as religious and cultural practices, memories and history, undergoing the identity of the Palestinians as a people,” said Ms. Pillay.

Since the Israeli forces should have known where these sites were and plan their assaults accordingly, the Commission noted that these acts constituted war crimes, in particular by intentionally targeting historical and religious sites and generalized destruction without military necessity.

Seizure of cultural heritage sites in the West Bank

In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Commission has documented repeated cases of Israeli authorities or settlers grabbing the cultural heritage sites, moving the Palestinians, excluding non-Jewish history and restoring Palestinian access.

The report highlights increasing restrictions and attacks against the Palestinians from Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount, a long-standing flash point in East Jerusalem.

Ms. Pillay argued that thanks to these actions, “Israel has used cultural heritage and colonies as a lever effect for its illegal territorial allegations in occupied West Bank, at the flagrant challenge of multiple United Nations and West Bank resolutions 2024 Advisory Notice of the International Court of Justice (Icj). “”

These actions violate international law, including the right to cultural life, freedom of religion and the protection of cultural heritage.

Recommendations

Ms. Pillay concluded her speech by stressing that the attacks of Israel against education, infrastructure and heritage sites aim to “erode the historical links of Palestinians with the earth and weaken their collective identity, which thus hinders their right to self -determination” and the possibility of a peaceful and lasting solution to two states.

Consequently, the Commission calls on Israel to end the illegal occupation and to allow Palestinian self -determination; Stop attacks and convulsions of educational, religious and cultural sites; end the systematic erasure of Palestinian history; And fully comply with international law, including the Decision of the ICJ 2024.

The Sudan war is intensifying in the middle of the famine, the defense of rights warn

Meanwhile, in Sudan, heavy fighting continues to degenerate as “direct result” of the continuous weapon flow in the country, which means that the war is far from over, the best independent investigators said on Tuesday Human Rights Council.

In an emergency update in the North-East African Nation, the Independent international mission for Sudan highlighted the increased use of heavy weapons in populated areas – and a strong increase in sexual violence.

“Many Sudanese die from hunger and especially those who have been detained and in detention – they are dying and millions affected”Said Joy Ngozi EzeiloExpert member of the mission of teaching the facts.

“In terms of international responsibility, we urge all the States to respect and apply the embargo on the weapons of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1556“, She added.

Humanitarian aid continues to be armed and hospitals and medical facilities remain besieged, warned the investigators, whose mandate was created by the Council in October 2023.

Direct link

“” There is a direct link between the flow of arms in Sudan, armed hostilities and the resulting violence Evaluating violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations, “said Mohamed Chande Othman, president of the mission of inquiry.

“” We know the type of weapons used: heavy artillery, modern war, drones and in fact, they have increased. “”

The naughty Mona Rishmawi insisted that the testimonies gathered stressed that “the two parties” continuing to commit war crimes – a reference to the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the rapid support forces (RSF) which turned against each other in April 2023, following a break in transition to the civil regime.

Around El Fasher, for example, Civilians were “attacked, detained and killed while the villages have been attacked, burned and looted” by the RSF. During an RSF attack from April 10 to 13, more than 100 civilians were killed, while SAF bombardment in Al Koma killed at least 15 civilians.

Now in its third year, the war has so far killed tens of thousands of civilians, moving more than 13 million Sudanese and subjecting much more to sexual violence, looting and destruction of houses, health establishments, markets and other infrastructure.

Crimes against humanity continue, “in particular in the context of the persecution of certain ethnic groups,” insisted Ms. Rishmawi.

The result of restrictions to help relief was to stimulate famine, “in particular Darfur,” said investigators, who are respected human rights experts and not UN staff.

In their latest update of the Human Rights Council, investigators have documented a strong increase in sexual and sexual violence, with women and girls subject to rape, gang rape, kidnapping, sex slavery and forced marriage, mainly in travel camps controlled by the RSF.

About UN experts

The members of the commission of inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territory and the mission of teaching the facts for Sudan receive their mandates from the United Nations Human Rights Council.

They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.

But recently, the level of participation has reached a new low – zero.

Zero women in national or local decision -making organizations.

Zero Girls should be in secondary education after a ban by December 2024.

These figures are part of the index published Tuesday by Gender Equality Agency United Nations This is the most complete study on gender inequalities in Afghanistan since the Taliban resumed de facto control in 2021.

He paints an image that gives reflection on the state of gender equality in Afghanistan.

” From [2021]We attended a deliberate and unprecedented assault against the rights, the dignity and the very existence of Afghan women and girls. And yet, despite almost total restrictions on their lives, Afghan women persevered, “said Sofia Calltorp, head of women of humanitarian action, in a briefing in Geneva.

The widest genre gap in the world

The report published by the UN women noted that although the Taliban regime presided over “unrivaled” gender inequalities, the disparities existed well before 2021.

“The question of gender inequality in Afghanistan did not start with the Taliban. Their institutionalized discrimination is superimposed above the deep barriers which also prevent women“Said Ms. Calltorp.

According to the index, Afghanistan currently has the second worst gap between the sexes worldwide, with a disparity of 76% between the achievements of women and men in matters of health, education, financial inclusion and decision -making.

Afghan women are currently Achieve only 17% of their potentialAnd recent de facto government policies-including the December 2024 ban on women in secondary education and increasingly strict restrictions on the women’s movement-will perpetuate and perhaps worsen this under-elected potential.

Systematic exclusion and social effects

This type of systematic exclusion of women from society at all levels not only hinders progress on the Sustainable development objectives (ODD) and gender equality but also worsely aggravates poverty and instability, which makes it more difficult for the economy to diversify the sources of workforce.

“Afghanistan’s biggest resource is his wives and daughters. Their potential continues to be unexploited“Said the Executive Director of UN Women SIMA BAHHE.

Currently, only 24% of women are part of the active population, compared to 89% of men. The continuation of prolonged economic conflicts led the number of women on the labor market.

“The economic, political and humanitarian crises that overlap – all with women’s rights – have pushed many households on the edge. In response – often by necessity – more women enter the labor market, ”said Calltorp.

However, women still work mainly in less well paid and less safe positions and are extremely responsible for all unpaid domestic work.

Ms. Calltorp noted that despite the daily “devastating” constraints with which Afghan women face, they continue to defend themselves and their rights.

“” [Afghan women] Continue to find ways to manage companies and defend their rights – and the rights of all Afghans … Their courage and their resilience extends over generations, “said Calltorp.

Choice struck

In addition to a deterioration of the sex equality landscape, the prospects for help in Afghanistan are more and more dark with only 18% of the humanitarian response plan of 2025 for funded Afghanistan.

This has tangible field impacts, leading the United Nations agencies and partners to call for action and funds.

“Most times in Afghanistan, we have seen how donors’ support can make the difference between life and death … We make an urgent appeal to donors to increase flexible, opportune and predictable funding,” they said.

Women, girls and other vulnerable groups are particularly affected by these financing shortages – 300 nutritional sites for Mothers and Mal -fed children closed and 216 gender -based points of violence have suspended the work impacting more than a million women and girls.

“The choices we make now reveal what we represent as a global community. If the world tolerates the erasure of Afghan women and girls, it sends a message that the rights of women and girls everywhere are fragile and consumable“Said Ms. Calltorp.

“Afghan women and girls have not abandoned, and we will not abandon them.”

“We were forced to take a sorting of human survival,” said Fletcher. “Mathematics are cruel and the consequences are heartbreaking. Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as possible with the resources given to us. “”

New priorities

The call aims to redefine the plans of individual countries in search of two main objectives: first, to achieve people and places faced with the most urgent humanitarian needs, and secondly, to prioritize vital support based on existing planning for the humanitarian response in 2025.

This is intended to ensure that limited resources are directed where they can do the most good as quickly as possible.

Rather than limiting rescue aid to a predetermined matrix, humanitarian partners focus on the most urgent needs so as to respect the dignity of affected people, allowing them to choose what they need most, Ochha said.

The call gives priority but does not replace the Global humanitarian overview 2025 (GHO), launched last December, which covers 180 million vulnerable people in 70 countries. The GHO provides $ 44 billion, but halfway through the year, less than 13% of this amount has been received.

A call for global solidarity

“The brutal financing cuts leave us brutal choices,” said Fletcher. “Everything we ask is one percent of what you have chosen to spend last year on war. But it is not only a call for money – it is a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end suffering. »»