UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, Remarks at event with National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia

Dear friends, colleagues, supporters of human rights,    

Sain bain uu? [“How are you?” in Mongolian – culturally appropriate greeting] 

It’s a pleasure to be together with you here today, and I thank the National Human Rights Commission for hosting us. First, let me pay tribute to the wonderful hospitality and beauty of Mongolia. The ancient traditions of the steppe and the modern facilities of the city make your country a place of unique contrasts. I look forward to learning more about your culture over the next two days.  I am here in Ulaanbaatar to stand in solidarity with Mongolians at a time of deep global challenges. For decades, Mongolia has been a beacon of peaceful dialogue, dealing with big geopolitical players skilfully and successfully. As an Austrian, I know something about living in a landlocked country with big neighbours.  

Mongolia’s history is international. Your influence stretches from the Pacific to the North Atlantic. And in modern times, you are a strong supporter of global cooperation and multilateral solutions, promoting peace and confidence-building across this region. When I heard that Mongolians see the international community as your “third neighbour”, it made perfect sense. Mongolians have an ear to the world. You have helped bring stability to war-torn countries far away for decades, through your contributions to UN peacekeeping. Your status as a nuclear-weapons-free zone is a model for other States, as the nuclear threat grows by the day. And your hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in August reflects your leadership on environmental issues.   

Mongolia has also recognized that in our troubled world, human rights offer solutions based on principles that have stood the test of time. You have signed and ratified all the key human rights Conventions. You have participated successfully in four rounds of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review. Mongolia engages regularly and constructively with Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, reflecting your commitment to international monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Your national human rights institution is accredited internationally at the highest level, and has an official oversight role on data privacy. And you have an impressive record of leading the way on human rights. Mongolia passed the first law on human rights defenders in the region, and created one of the first business and human rights action plans.    

Dear friends,  

Mongolia today faces challenges from several directions. You are at the forefront of the climate and environmental crisis; you are going through a surge in urbanization; and you are dealing with the economic consequences of wars being waged thousands of miles away.  This reflects the growing turbulence of our world, which is experiencing an intense struggle for power, control, and resources. There are those who believe that their own country’s interests come first, without appreciating how deeply interwoven our world has become.  

There was a time when diplomacy was the crown jewel in efforts to resolve disputes and conflicts. War was shunned; it was considered a last resort, after all other options had been exhausted. Today, sadly, the use of force has once again become a tool of choice to resolve disputes between and within countries. Armed conflicts have nearly doubled since 2010, while attacks on civilians have risen by one‑third. From Ukraine to Sudan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, parties to conflict are ignoring the laws of war with attacks on hospitals, schools, and civilian infrastructure.  

I have called repeatedly for steps to tackle weapons transfers, hate speech and dehumanization; and for investigations and accountability for war crimes. These steps are dictated by respect for human rights law, and my staff around the world are working to support them.  We are also developing confidence‑building measures based on human rights, that can help build trust between warring parties as a first step towards dialogue. I commend Mongolia’s role as a convenor and a conduit, through the Ulaanbaatar Security Dialogues.  

The bigger picture is that we need a much stronger focus on human rights to prevent conflicts from starting in the first place. Many are rooted in discrimination, inequality, oppression, racism, and neo-colonial attitudes. If we tackle these approaches, we make our world safer. However, today’s global trends point in the opposite direction. Inequalities are worsening; the Sustainable Development Goals are badly off track. One in four people around the world face food insecurity, and one in three lack adequate housing. These are shocking figures, particularly at a time when billions are being spent on waging war. The issue is not about money; it is about priorities.  

The recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s counterattacks, have made matters worse. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy markets and supplies, with the potential to create serious hunger and healthcare crises. The United Nations, together with many countries in the region and beyond, is doing everything possible to bring this crisis to an end, and to free up shipping in the Strait as soon as possible.  But we should all learn – or maybe relearn – an essential lesson: we are all connected, and nothing can insulate any country from what happens in the rest of the world.  

This is one of the fundamental lessons of Buddhism – that we are all part of a greater whole. Mongolians are the living embodiment of this. You know well that global problems require global solutions. From health to economics to climate to emerging technologies: we need to tackle these challenges together. And Mongolia has an important part to play.  

Dear friends,  

Human rights are the bedrock of a more peaceful world based on stronger, more resilient societies. I see three areas for action both around the world, and here in Mongolia. First, sustainable, inclusive development. The success of economic development should not be based on money, but on policies that have a positive impact on people’s lives. Mongolia’s Vision 2050 development strategy, with clear goals and indicators, shows the way forward. I welcome its recognition that Mongolia’s nomadic heritage is a core pillar for sustainability, cultural identity, and economic growth. This is key to protecting and promoting the human rights of all Mongolians.    Sustainable development also calls for a global reform to enable all countries to access the resources they need. Countries made important commitments on financing for development in Sevilla and Doha last year. But these promises need to be backed by the political will to reform the international financial system, and bring developing countries to the decision-making table.  

Second, climate action.  

I often wonder how future generations will judge the actions of today’s leaders on the climate crisis. On the current trajectory, our planet will heat up by at least 2.3°C by 2100 – which could be catastrophic for entire countries and regions, including Mongolia. Temperatures here are rising three times faster than the global average, with a clear impact on extreme weather. Millions of animals have died in intense cold and ice in recent years, deepening poverty in herder communities. 

Dust storms and desertification are devastating communities, while air pollution from burning fossil fuels is a public health crisis. Mongolia is responsible for less than a fifth of one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, the most recent climate negotiations in Brazil failed to agree on phasing out fossil fuels. The International Court of Justice has made clear that countries have a legal obligation to act; but still, they distract and delay.  

In some years from now, could this inadequate response be considered ecocide, or even a crime against humanity? Climate action is a human rights imperative that requires both national action, and joint global commitments.  

Third, corporate responsibility. Business plays a major part in Mongolia’s development. I urge the corporate sector to base your business practices and relationships firmly on human rights. This will be crucial to build a mining sector that respects labour and land rights, prevents environmental harm, addresses air pollution, and benefits Mongolia’s people rather than billionaires outside the country.   

Human rights are also crucial to the digital technologies that are transforming economies around the world. Without human rights safeguards, AI and other digital tools can deepen inequality and discrimination, enable surveillance, and supercharge disinformation and dangerous content. I welcome the work being done by your National Human Rights Commission to protect human rights and personal data in digital health services and social protection systems. There is a long-standing misconception that business and human rights are somehow in opposition. This is wrong. There is plenty of evidence that companies that respect human rights also perform better financially.  Attention to human rights strengthens the trust of investors and communities, attracts better employees, and builds a stronger and more sustainable foundation for success.   I am struck by how many business leaders around the world are speaking out against today’s troubling trends.   

Dear friends,  

Those trends include what I call an authoritarian playbook – a set of policies and decisions that are often taken up by anti-democratic governments and movements around the world. Authoritarians often start to extend and consolidate power through vague national security laws that criminalize peaceful criticism and dissent. Then they try to control information, by capturing some media outlets for propaganda. They may arrest and harass human rights defenders, and portray civil society groups as enemies of the state. They undermine the independence of judicial institutions – or simply abolish them. And they often target women and minorities for abuse -- like migrants, and the LGBTIQ+ community. They blame these groups for everything that is wrong with society.    

This playbook is being used today in many countries around the world. The food is different, the culture is different, but the repression is the same. And it exerts a powerful influence across borders. Countries with democratic traditions, including Mongolia, must stand together and do everything possible to resist its pull. Elections are important. But on their own, they are not enough. Individuals and communities need to be heard and represented consistently. Their rights are just as important between election periods. Policies that promote education, healthcare, and social protection for all, as set out in Vision 2050, are an excellent way to build human rights into decision-making from the ground up.   

An open civic space, and a free media, foster creativity and new ideas – the foundations of the knowledge economy Mongolia is striving to build. Gender equality is essential to making all people feel heard and valued, creating bonds of trust across all sectors of society. Here in Mongolia, where gender gaps are having a negative impact on women, girls, men and boys, efforts towards greater equality could lead to better health outcomes, more diverse leadership, and a more dynamic economy, for the benefit of all.   

I commend Mongolia’s introduction of quotas for both women and men in parliamentary elections. Building strong, resilient communities means protecting and valuing the contributions of all – including women and girls, older people, those with disabilities, the LGBTIQ+ community, and minorities of all kinds. The rule of law, with strong, independent judicial institutions, is the foundation of free, open, democratic societies and economies that work for all. My Office is working with the Mongolian government in support of all these goals, from people-centred governance to civic space and the protection of human rights defenders. We are your steadfast ally in efforts to fulfil the promise of Vision 2050 for all Mongolians.  And our joint efforts can serve to promote human rights across the wider region. 

Dear friends,  

I spoke earlier about troubling trends around the world. But at the same time, I see a counterbalance to these trends – a movement being built from the ground up, founded in dignity, equality, and justice. People around the world, including here in Mongolia, are mobilizing against corruption and the denial of their rights; against violence and conflict; and against injustice and oppression of all kinds. They are calling for peace, human rights, freedom, and opportunities for all.  Young people are at the forefront of these movements, which bring communities and activists together across dividing lines. The time for single-issue campaigns is over.   My Office is working together with many of these movements to launch a new initiative, a Global Alliance, of Governments, civil society, cities, academia, philanthropy, the private sector and more. We urgently need to build bridges and work together as one united team for human rights and human dignity.  

Let’s stand in solidarity with each other to champion what unites us and build a better world for all.