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Fighting crimes against humanity in a world of crisis
Volker Türk, the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is surprisingly candid about one of his organization's most famous shortcomings.
The Security Council, which includes Russia as a permanent member, is "dysfunctional" on Ukraine. On the other hand, he adds, the General Assembly has seen a sort of revival in how much it's been able to help the country.
In a Global Stage delegate interview on the ground in Davos, Türk tells Ian Bremmer that believes it is critical that the Ukrainians, just as much as the Russians, abide by international human rights law. And he's been in close contact with the Ukrainian prosecutor general, who assures him he is investigating potential war crimes within his country's military.
Moving elsewhere in the world, Türk did not mince words when it comes to the Taliban, “There is no country in the world that treats women in the way that Afghanistan does and the Taliban do.” So, what can we do about it? Türk calls for "a unified stance that this is not part of the international order."
Russia's tragic brutality and the humbling of the West
After two years, we returned to Davos, braving the Swiss mountain cold for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.
The 2023 WEF is all about "polycrisis," which in WEF-speak means many crises all at once, which compound each other, like tangled knots. But how do you untangle those knots?
That's a question that the world's business and political elite is struggling with at a time when the globalization they adore is being questioned by the developing world.
On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer speaks to former Finnish PM Alexander Stubb in Davos. Stubb analyzes why Crimea is crucial for Ukraine to win the war against Russia and why Finland views its eastern neighbor with suspicion.
Ian also interviews Volker Türk, the UN's high commissioner for human rights, who (for a UN official) is surprisingly candid about the Security Council's track record so far on Ukraine.
UN official: Security Council Is “dysfunctional” - but UN is not
Volker Türk, the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is surprisingly candid about one of his organization's most famous shortcomings.
The Security Council, which includes Russia as a permanent member, is "dysfunctional" on Ukraine, while the General Assembly has seen a sort of revival in how much it's been able to help the country.
In a GZERO World interview on the ground in Davos, Türk tells Ian Bremmer that believes it is critical that the Ukrainians, just as much as the Russians, abide by international human rights law. And he's been in close contact with the Ukrainian prosecutor general, who assures him he is investigating potential war crimes within his country's military.
"When you conduct hostilities," he explains, human rights law and international humanitarian law both apply.
Watch the GZERO World episode: Russia's tragic brutality and the humbling of the West
- No place worse for women than Taliban's Afghanistan, says UN human rights chief ›
- Why is Russia on the UN Security Council? ›
- The UN rule you may not know ›
- António Guterres: Ukraine war united NATO, but further divided the world ›
- UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Russia, human rights, & the Security Council presidency - GZERO Media ›
- Russia undermines everything the UN stands for, says Linda Thomas-Greenfield - GZERO Media ›
- Ian Explains: Why Russia has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council - GZERO Media ›
- Can the US be a global leader on human rights? - GZERO Media ›
Podcast: Davos, meet humility: grappling with Russia & egregious violations of international law
Listen: For the 53rd time, a tiny town called Davos in the Swiss Alps became the epicenter for discussion and debate about some of the biggest issues the world is facing. In total, 2700 leaders from 130 countries attended the 2023 World Economic Forum, including 52 heads of state. The big theme of the event this year: cooperation in a fragmented world. Is it possible?
On the ground at Davos, Ian Bremmer interviews two prominent participants on the GZERO World podcast. Former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb analyzes Crimea's crucial importance for Ukraine in the war against Russia, and explains how Finland views its aggressive eastern neighbor. Ian also speaks to Volker Türk, the newly-appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who shares very candid views about the Security Council's track record so far on Ukraine, and discusses the need for a UN unified stance on the treatment of women to ensure basic their human rights around the world, especially in countries like Afghanistan.
Subscribe to the GZERO World Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.
No place worse for women than Taliban's Afghanistan, says UN human rights chief
When the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, there was some hope that they would reformed. Now it's clear they have not changed a bit.
And nowhere is that more obvious than in the Taliban's abominable treatment of women.
“There is no country in the world that treats women in the way that Afghanistan does and the Taliban do,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World, on the ground in Davos.
So, what can we do about it? Türk calls for "a unified stance that this is not part of the international order."