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05-03-2025
GENEVA: The United Nations Human Rights Chief has expressed deep concern about a “fundamental shift in direction” by the United States under President Donald Trump, warning that divisive rhetoric is being used to deceive and polarize people.
“We have enjoyed bipartisan support from the US on human rights over many decades. … I am now deeply worried by the fundamental shift in direction that is taking place domestically and internationally,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, during 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 in his strongest remarks so far on the impact of the new US administration’s policies.
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government. Many private US companies have followed suit.
Trump also paused US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs for 90 days while his administration reviews if they align with his “America first” policy.
Last week, the Trump administration announced it was cancelling nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants and contracts worth almost $60bn, accounting for nearly 90 percent of USAID’s work internationally.
The president has also disengaged the US from several international bodies and agreements, including the Human Rights Council, World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement.
Turk condemned Trump’s appointment of tech billionaire Elon Musk as head of his Department of Government Efficiency.
Without referring to him by name, Turk expressed concern over the growing influence wielded by “a handful of unelected tech oligarchs” who are privy to people’s data. Turk warned that those tech tycoons “know where we live, what we do, our genes and our health conditions, our thoughts, our habits, our desires and our fears”.
“They know us better than we know ourselves, and they know how to manipulate us,” he said, warning that unregulated power can lead to “oppression, subjugation and even tyranny: the playbook of the autocrat”.
The UN rights chief urged countries to protect their citizens from unchecked power and “work together”.
On 25th of last month, a group of civil service employees in the United States have announced their resignation from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in the latest sign of discord within the administration of President Donald Trump.
The 21 employees issued a joint letter to DOGE leadership, which was also obtained by media outlets including The Associated Press.
In their statement on Tuesday, they accused DOGE of carrying out ideological attacks and risking the integrity of government systems.
“We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations,” the employees wrote.
The workers involved in the resignation included engineers, data scientists and product managers, all of whom were previously employed by top technology firms including Google and Amazon.
“We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” they explained. “We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.” (Int’l News Desk)
