UN rights chief deeply worried about shift in direction in US under Trump

3/3/2025 19:11

The United Nations rights chief expressed deep concern on Monday about a "fundamental shift in direction" by the United States under President Donald

Trump, warning that divisive rhetoric is being used to deceive and polarise people.



"We have enjoyed bipartisan support from the U.S. on human rights over many decades ... I am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally," the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said in a speech that did not mention Trump

by name.



"Policies intended to protect people from discrimination are now labelled as discriminatory...Divisive rhetoric is being used to distort, deceive and polarize. This is generating fear and anxiety among many," he added.



Turk's speech to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva -- a body which Trump disengaged from in February-- are his strongest remarks so far on the impact of the new U.S. administration's policies.