UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon [official website] called [transcript] Tuesday for the UN Human Rights Council [official website] to increase its impact in the next decade, citing the erosion of human rights around the world. In a speech marking the the tenth anniversary of the council, Ban said that because many state governments around the world are in conflict, there is a vacuum of human rights around the world. Ban cited the current refugee crisis and unrest, stating that the council needs to reinforce the links between human rights, stability, peace and development:

As we all know too well, human rights are sadly under attack around the world. Civilians caught up in conflict are treated as collateral damage, or deliberately targeted. Minorities are under assault; refugees are rejected instead of protected. In a growing number of countries, politicians are using divisive rhetoric to whip up fear and hatred. Courageous human rights defenders face oppression, demonization and even death.Some governments are attempting to restrict the work of the UN’s own human rights offices. Many fail to uphold human rights while countering terrorism or striving to prevent radicalization. While Member States have the primary responsibility for upholding rights, it is Member States that are all too often in breach of their commitments. We need the Human Rights Council more than ever to pursue its work with courage and persistence

The secretary urged the council to increase its impact in the second decade by engaging all regions and sectors of society to promote human rights.

The Human Rights Council examined multiple reports this week about human sighs issues around the world. The UN Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky [official profile] presented reports [press release] to the council Tuesday finding [JURIST report] that economic inequality has a negative impact on financial crises and undermines human rights efforts]. UN human rights investigator Marzuki Darusman [official profile] urged [press release] the UN Human Rights Council on Monday to push [JURIST report] for the prosecution of top North Korean government officials for crimes against humanity