Destruction in a village in southern Lebanon. Top news of the day | Tuesday: UNGA debates, Ukraine in the Security Council, Lebanon, Russia UN
Top news of the day in the UN and in the world: first day of general debates in the General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took part in a meeting of the UN Security Council, escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, report on the human rights situation in Russia.
UN General Assembly
In his address to the UN General Assembly on the first day of the general debate, Secretary-General António Guterres said that the current state of affairs in the world is characterized by fragility, which stems from three key factors: impunity, inequality and uncertainty. Violations of international law and the UN Charter are committed with impunity; inequality breeds grievances that can undermine stability within countries; uncertainty creates unmanageable global risks. These factors, the Secretary-General emphasized, are interconnected. The UN Secretary-General is convinced that by joining forces, these challenges can be overcome.
UN Security Council on Ukraine
Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the UN Secretary-General reiterated that “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – following the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol ten years ago – is a clear violation of the principles [of the UN Charter].” Despite enormous difficulties, the United Nations is providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. This year alone, more than 6.2 million people have received it.
Escalation in Lebanon
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), expressed alarm on Tuesday over the “sharp escalation” of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and called on all parties to “immediately cease violence and ensure the protection of civilians.” According to her, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for immediate de-escalation. He called on world leaders gathering in New York to focus on resolving the conflict. The UN Refugee Agency reported that two colleagues from its Lebanese office were killed in the shelling.
Human Rights in the Russian Federation
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation Mariana Katsarova addressed the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council. She expressed deep concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia, stressing that the level of repression in the country has increased significantly over the past year. In her report, Katsarova painted a grim picture of abuses legitimized by new and amended laws that suppress civil and political freedoms. She noted that the Russian authorities continue to use repression and violence against activists, opposition politicians, journalists and members of minorities.