Human rights wars

The fifty-sixth session of the Human Rights Council, which ends on Friday, July 12, witnessed important sessions and many complex issues of various concerns. For the Arabs, the issue of Palestine and the war in Gaza was strongly present and influential in most of the delegations’ interventions and in various axes. In terms of side events, the issue received its share of attention. On the other hand, Israel was also present through its own presence and through its Western allies who provided it with the support and assistance it needed. Israel also organized an art exhibition of children’s drawings in Israel with the aim of highlighting “the suffering of the Israelis” in this war.

In the United Nations, there is a margin of freedom without borders or restrictions. Everyone who enters there has the right to express his opinion and express the point of view that he believes in  ̶  of course in accordance with the regulations and laws of the United Nations  ̶  so we can see and listen to the opposite sides at the same time and in the same place with calm and peace.

The important issue of this terrible war, however, did not make the world forget the other human rights challenges that humanity faces. In addition to what armed groups and states do by ignoring and circumventing the rules of war, we discover that racism lies at the heart of these wars, and in many cases it is the main element in nourishing and continuing them. This confirms that the human rights system was unable to impose its presence and achieve its desired effect, and that its demands are not implemented on the ground despite the countries’ pledges to abide, as if they are at war with human rights!

Among the issues discussed by attendees at this session, and which continue to be discussed in the halls of the United Nations, is the issue of the increasing phenomenon of incitement to hatred and other harmful content published through social media and on the internet in general against certain groups, such as Arabs, based on religious or ethnic grounds, which leads to more tension and confrontation. This requires further action by the Human Rights Council, its member states, and the United Nations, especially after what has been observed with the use of artificial intelligence and the amazing and rapid progress it is witnessing in limiting freedoms and violating human rights.

This is a small part of what took place during this session, but the issues that require action by civil society and states together have not ended.