In what he described as his final address to the Human Rights Council before his term concludes this year, Secretary-General António Guterres sounded the alarm on a global crisis. His message was clear: the world is entering an era where “the rule of force” is aggressively outmuscling the rule of law.

Struggling to sell one multi-million dollar home currently on the market won’t stop actress and singer Jennifer Lopez from expanding her property collection. Lopez has reportedly added to her real estate holdings an eight-plus acre estate in Bel-Air anchored by a multi-level mansion. The property, complete with a 33-seat screening room, a 110-seat amphitheater and a swimming pond with sandy beach and outdoor shower, was asking about $60 million, but J. Lo managed to make it hers for $32 illion. As the Bronx native acquires a new home in California, she is trying to sell a gated compound.

The Three-Front Assault

Guterres highlighted that human rights are no longer just being ignored—they are being dismantled “deliberately, strategically, and sometimes proudly.”

Economic Exclusion: Crushing debt in developing nations is being framed as a human rights violation, depriving billions of the right to healthcare, education, and basic dignity.

Conflict & Impunity: From the “genocidal hallmarks” in Sudan to the continued devastation in Gaza and Ukraine, the UN chief warned that mass suffering is being excused away as political expediency.

Digital Authoritarianism: He warned that Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being weaponized to suppress dissent, deepen inequality, and poison online spaces with disinformation.

The “Survival Mode” Crisis

Beyond geopolitical shifts, the UN’s own ability to protect these rights is under threat. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk noted that his office is currently in “survival mode” due to:

• Funding Gaps: Many Member States are withholding or delaying their 2026 contributions.
• Targeting Experts: Independent UN monitors (Special Rapporteurs) are facing unprecedented physical and verbal attacks while conducting investigations.
• Withdrawal of Support: Major powers continue to distance themselves from universal accountability mechanisms.

Spotlight: Global Flashpoints

Region	Status Update
Sudan	Reports of “carnage” in El Fasher; risk of genocidal violence spreading to Kordofan.
Palestine	Over 25,000 deaths in one year; the UN warns the two-state solution is being “stripped away.”
Ukraine	4th anniversary of invasion marked by 15,000+ documented civilian deaths.
Iran	Guterres renewed condemnation of the “violent repression” of peaceful protests.

“Human rights are not a menu from which leaders can pick and choose. When human rights fall, everything else tumbles: peace, development, and social trust.” — António Guterres