The United Nations (UN) has issued a stark warning on Saturday, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day saying that global antisemitism is on a dangerous rise.
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged the world to use the occasion not only to reflect on the past but to scrutinise the present and safeguard the future.
UN Calls For Urgent Action Against Growing Hate In Holocaust Remembrance
The UN High Commissioner has described the Nazi Holocaust, which systematically murdered millions of Jews and other minorities, as a stark lesson born not in medieval darknes but in the broad daylight of a supposedly modern society.
“The genocide did not begin with concentration camps and gas chambers; it started with apathy and silence in the face of injustice, and with the corrosive dehumanisation of the other,” the UN rights chief stated.
Highlighting a disturbing contemporary trend, Mr. Türk pointed to a sharp increase in threats and assaults against Jews in recent years. He noted that while high-profile attacks, such as those in Sydney and Manchester, capture global headlines, countless daily abuses that don’t make the news leave lasting scars on people and communities.
He further warned that hatred and dehumanisation are now creeping into our daily lives, including through our social media feeds.
However, Mr. Türk expressed reason for hope, asserting that humanity is now better equipped to resist these patterns. He cited the powerful tools of historical memory, education, and a human rights framework forged from the ashes of World War II.
“We need to use these tools at all times against the plague of racism, antisemitism, and dehumanisation,” he emphasised.
The High Commissioner called for concrete actions, including laws that prohibit all forms of discrimination, politicians who unite against injustice rather than polarise communities, and robust education on the Holocaust and human rights for all ages.
Agencies Urge Global Vigilance And Institutional Reforms.
In a separate statement for the Holocaust Remembrance, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the foundational role of the rule of law in achieving lasting peace. He affirmed his commitment to a relentless push for just and sustainable peace to address the root causes of conflict.
Mr. Guterres emphasised the unique, Charter-mandated authority of the UN Security Council in matters of international peace and security. He stated that it stands alone in its ability to adopt decisions binding on all member states.
“Its responsibility is singular. Its obligation is universal,” he said, while also stressing that reform is essential to enhance the Council’s representation and effectiveness.
The Secretary-General outlined three areas for action: strengthening partnerships with regional organisations, investing in development and trusted institutions to prevent conflict, and upholding the rule of law to protect the rights and dignity of all people.
“Poverty, hunger, inequality, corruption, injustice and exclusion corrode people’s hopes for the future, drive communities further apart, and send shockwaves of unrest, violence and even conflict across countries and regions,” Mr. Guterres warned, linking sustainable development directly to the adherence of rule of law.
In another development, energing reports indicate that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Barham Salih, has met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. While details of the discussions are still under wraps, Barham Salih hailed the Pope’s commitment toward refugee support in recent months.
In Nigeria, a new United Nations (UN) report has revealed that pervasive poverty is rendering millions of Nigerians vulnerable to conflict, hunger, and disease.
The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) identified poverty, alongside 16 years of armed conflict, devastating floods, and disease outbreaks, as the core drivers of the catastrophe.
