GENEVA (Feb 24, 2026) The global security landscape is undergoing profound and destabilizing change, warned António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, as he called for the urgent creation of a renewed international security architecture.
Addressing the opening session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Guterres described the current period as one of “chaos and change,” cautioning that the global order that has shaped international security relations for nearly eight decades is rapidly eroding.
“We are living through a period of chaos and change,” he said. “The international order that defined security relations for nearly eight decades is shifting rapidly.”Call for a Renewed Global Framework
Guterres stressed that the world must respond with clear-eyed analysis and collective resolve.
“Moving forward, we need to create a renewed international security architecture,” he said, emphasizing that any new framework must be grounded in a realistic understanding of current geopolitical dynamics.
His remarks come at a time of escalating geopolitical tensions, prolonged wars, and growing divisions among major powers, trends that threaten to undermine long-standing multilateral institutions and norms.
Human Rights ‘Under Full-Scale Attack’
In a stark assessment, the UN chief declared that human rights are facing unprecedented global pressure.
“Human rights are under a full-scale attack around the world. The rule of law is being outmuscled by the rule of force.”He warned that these violations are not hidden or covert, but increasingly visible and often led by powerful actors.
“This assault is not coming from the shadows. It is happening in plain sight and often led by those who hold the greatest power,” he said.
Ukraine War and Civilian Toll
While refraining from naming specific governments in many cases, Guterres expressed particular outrage over the ongoing war in Ukraine. He noted that more than 15,000 civilians have reportedly been killed over four years of conflict.
“It is more than past time to end the bloodshed,” he urged, reiterating the UN’s call for peace and accountability.
Concerns Over the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Guterres also drew attention to what he described as “blatant violations of human rights, human dignity and international law” in the occupied Palestinian territory.
He warned that developments on the ground are steadily undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
“The trajectory is stark, clear, and purposeful: the two-state solution is being stripped away in broad daylight,” he said. “The international community cannot allow it to happen.”His comments reflect mounting international concern that prolonged occupation, settlement expansion, and recurring violence are eroding the viability of a negotiated peace settlement.
Final Address to the Rights Council
In what marked his final in-person address to the UN’s top human rights body, Guterres broadened his warning beyond active war zones.
“We are living in a world where mass suffering is excused away, where humans are used as bargaining chips, where international law is treated as a mere inconvenience,” he said.Echoing these concerns, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned of a troubling resurgence of domination and supremacy politics worldwide.
‘Domination and Supremacy’ Resurfacing
Türk cautioned that fierce global competition for power, resources, and control is intensifying at a pace unseen in nearly 80 years.
“The use of force to resolve disputes between and within countries is becoming normalised,” he said.He warned that some leaders act as though they are above international law and the UN Charter, invoking “exceptional” circumstances to justify unilateral or coercive actions, including the weaponization of economic leverage.
Türk urged governments and civil society to unite in defense of universal rights and democratic principles, calling for a strong counterbalance to growing autocratic trends.
Read More: More than 1,500 Venezuelan political prisoners apply for amnesty
FAQs
What does the UN chief mean by a “renewed international security architecture”?
Guterres is calling for a reformed global framework that reflects today’s geopolitical realities. This could involve strengthening multilateral institutions, reinforcing international law, reforming the UN Security Council, and improving mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Why does the UN say human rights are under attack?
According to UN leadership, human rights are being undermined by armed conflicts, authoritarian governance, suppression of dissent, erosion of judicial independence, and the normalization of force over diplomacy in international relations.
What concerns were raised about Ukraine?
The Secretary-General highlighted the high civilian death toll and ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from the prolonged conflict, urging an immediate end to the violence and renewed diplomatic efforts.
What is the issue with the two-state solution?
The two-state solution refers to the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Guterres warned that ongoing developments in the occupied Palestinian territory are making this outcome increasingly difficult to achieve.
What did Volker Türk mean by the return of “domination and supremacy”?
Türk was referring to a global trend in which powerful states or leaders prioritize control, national dominance, and unilateral decision-making over cooperation, equality, and adherence to international law.
Conclusion
The warnings delivered in Geneva reflect growing anxiety within the United Nations about the fragility of today’s global order. From protracted wars and geopolitical rivalries to systemic human rights violations, the multilateral system established after World War II is facing unprecedented strain.
Both António Guterres and Volker Türk underscored that the erosion of international law and the normalization of force threaten not only vulnerable populations but the very foundations of global stability. Their message was clear: without renewed commitment to cooperation, accountability, and universal rights, the world risks sliding further into division and disorder.
